The distinctive nose on this wine shows charred beef, concentrated cola, sweet blackberry jelly, black olive and chopped weeds, the last element reminiscent of a day spent gardening. The flavors are sanguine with bloody meats, showing a touch of dark red cranberry fruit and pepper on finish.
Aromas of underbrush, sawdust, toast and espresso lead the nose. The palate offers raw red berry, licorice and oak alongside bracing tannins that leave an astringent finish.
An intriguing blend of grapes both red (Touriga Nacional and Baga) and white (Bical), this is a fruity wine, deep in color although with a lightness from the lively acidity and fresh red-berry fruits. The wine is juicy, with the tannins already softening and rounding out. Drink from 2016.
With residual sugar at 15 grams/L, this definitely drinks off dry. The fruit is spicy and bright, rounded off with a lick of honey. Apple, pear, lemon verbena and even a suggestion of breakfast tea come through.
The color is already fading into brick around the rim, and this light Merlot is already drinking at or near its peak. It's soft and smooth, slightly nutty, with round and mature fruit flavors of cherry and berry. All in all it's a pleasant, lightly toasty wine with no rough edges.
Bright and fruity, this crisp wine also has a rich undercurrent. Toast and vanilla flavors give a round character to this tangy, fresh and ripe wine. Drink now.
Plum and berry aromas are mild and a bit metallic. A drawing, grapy mouthfeel and generic but solid flavors of blackberry and blueberry finish with a touch of oak. This doesn't have a ton of character, but it's balanced and tasty.
This wine is spicy and brooding on the nose, with dark forest berries and herbal tea aromas rising from the glass. The palate follows suit, offering additional notes of wildflowers and tart black currant. With 20 months in American oak, this red shows ample weight, supported by ripe tannins and balanced by a driving acidity.
Blackberry and animal aromas precede a rubbery, tannic, full-bodied palate. This rugged, black-colored Malbec pumps out big blackberry flavors in front of a chocolaty but short finish with emerging oak.
Spiced briar-fruit aromas meet star anise and smoke on the nose. Light in profile, yet showing a sense of roundness on the midpalate, the flavors lean toward juicy black and red berries accented by pulverized stone and cracked pepper. The mild tannins provide just enough structure to carry a gamy sanguine finish.
A bold, juicy and fruit-forward wine that is ready to drink young. The tannins are already well integrated into the black fruits and acidity. Drink from early 2016.
Produced from vines in the Lima Valley in northern Portugal, the home of the Loureiro grape, this light and fruity wine is immediately attractive, with its gentle citrus flavors and intense acidity. Drink this aromatic wine right now.
Soft blue and black fruit play on the palate in this straightforward, well-made wine, which is layered and robust in tannin. A savory taste of gunpowder and tobacco pique on the finish.
Zesty lime and lemon notes lend a high-toned vitality to this dainty, off-dry Riesling. Tart yellow peach and tangerine flavors are thirst-quenching and crisp, finishing brisk and bright. Drink young.
Floral scents of carnation, baby's breath and garrigue abound on the nose of this bright rosé. Notes of small red cherry and berry ground the herbal character, while pure, citrusy acidity enlivens the palate. Drink this direct but attractive gem now.
This hits 15.5% alcohol—amazingly high for a Columbia wine. The tart red fruit is offset with sweet grain and dried herbs, almost like an old vine Zin from northern California. Somehow the herbs overmatch the berry flavors, which seem a bit on the light side, despite the high alcohol. Young vines?
This is 23% Sauvignon Blanc, an unusual choice in light of the sweetness (3.1% residual sugar) of the finished wine. It's hard to tell what the winemaker was thinking here, but the result is a bit diffuse, both sugary and lightly lemony without coming together harmoniously.
As is most often the case with Sangiovese, this comes across as a pleasant, rather generic red wine that could be almost anything. The fruit tastes of light cherry and plum, with a rather sour finish. Tannins are earthy and there is a hint of sweaty saddle as well.
Soft and supple, this quite approachable wine has simple, lightly fruity flavors. It's generic, pleasant and ready to drink, with some milk chocolaty oak in the finish. Though it lists at 14.6% alcohol, it does not have commensurate weight or density of flavor.
There's a lot of good stuff going on in this blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Syrah and 20% Petit Verdot, with a nose of plump blackberry fruit dosed by scents of smoky vanilla, asphalt and licorice. There are sesame and teriyaki touches to the palate, along with charred blueberries, coffee, chocolate and firm tannins.
The aromas bring notes of toasty spices, black currant, green pepper and blue fruit. The fruit and smoke flavors are smooth and easy drinking, with lightly grainy tannins providing support. It needs some more time to fully come together.
A fruity blend of local Lisboa grapes along with Chardonnay, this wine is rich and full of citrus and crisp apple flavors. It is a ripe wine with a creamy texture enhanced by toast from the wood aging. Drink this wine from late 2017.
This concentrated wine is dense with black fruits. Dark with chocolate and richness, it is still young and firm. Wood aging has smoothed the tannins and given extra fullness. The smoky aftertaste promises well. Drink from 2018.
Wood flavors dominate this young wine. It has structure and tannins, with concentrated toast and chocolate flavors. The extraction of the fruit gives the wine a bitter character. It should soften, so drink from 2019.
The winery's consistently flavorful version of this grape puts a New World spin on an Old World grape. It's ripe, round and lightly spicy, with jicama, cucumber and fleshy pear fruit. The finish is persistent and tags you with a touch of heat.
Produced from organically grown grapes, the wine is soft, ripe and full of fruit. Red cherries dominate, with a touch of wood from the 12 months of barrel aging. It has a bright, crisp and juicy aftertaste.
This wine is ripe and rich, with fine tannins and structure. Great swathes of blackberry fruits come with a mineral edge and some tight tannins. Give this balanced wine until 2019.
A perfumed wine with soft tannins and juicy red fruits, this offers a concentrated aftertaste, giving spice as well as fruitiness. Drink this accessible wine now.
Aromas of mature plum, French oak and a whiff of exotic spice lead the way. The full-bodied palate offers vanilla, espresso, coconut, sour cherry and grilled herb alongside assertive close-grained tannins that grip the finish. Drink soon to capture the remaining fruit.
There's deep density to the aromas of this wine, with black olive, crushed lava rocks and baked black-plum scents. An herbal kick to the front of the palate conveys bay leaf and oregano, followed by rich blackberry, turned loam and black-rock flavors.
This is a fleshy, voluptuous white, offering smooth, creamy texture around well-defined characteristics of melon, honeysuckle and peach.
Slightly rustic earthy aromas of animal, blackberry, plum and cola feed into a jammy palate with just enough acidic pop. Chocolaty blackberry flavors are touched up by resiny oak, while this blend of 85% Monastrell and 15% Syrah tastes similar on a persistent finish.
This is a traditional, dry Clare Riesling, with a linear, lean profile and crisp acids. Crushed stone accents lemon-lime flavors. Oyster me, please!
Saturated raisiny aromas include notes of clove and nutmeg. This is huge and also tartaric in feel. Baked raisiny flavors are chocolaty, while savory, leathery notes add complexity to a hard, tannic finish.
Wiry aromas of berry fruits settle upon airing to show a more earthy and toasty side. This Malbec feels chewy and fat, with oak resin making things grabby. Flavors of hickory and oak grain outmuscle generic black-fruit notes, while this suggests beef jerky on a cured-tasting finish.
This ticks all the boxes of young Hunter Semillon: green, acidic, underripe. Serve it with oysters now (it makes a convincing pairing), or wait 5–8 years for additional richness and complexity to emerge.
Blue flower, baking spice, sun baked earth and mature berry aromas come together on this solid red. The enjoyable, medium-bodied palate offers red plum, raspberry and a hint of cinnamon framed in supple polished tannins.
A thick, sweet and meaty dessert wine made from older vines, this offers a richness of Dr Pepper, baked plum and dried cherry.
Briny, bready aromas of apple cider set up a smooth but slightly soft palate. Flavors of nectarine and green herbs finish short and briny, like an echo of the nose. Drink now.
Spicy generic berry aromas come with an herbal component and a note of licorice root. This feels tight and compact, but not overly ripe. Berry fruit flavors are herbal and the slightest bit green, with a black-pepper note in front of a rubbery finish with clamping tannins.
Aromas of ripe black fruits, graphite, dry herbs and licorice root are solid and encouraging. This Tempranillo blend from La Mancha feels choppy and tight, while screechy red-plum and cherry flavors finish a bit raw and hollow.
The nose is rather shy but eventually reveals aromas of dried black fruit, sunbaked earth, pressed flower and a touch of menthol. The solid medium-bodied palate offers black cherry, coffee and clove framed in close-grained tannins. Drink soon.
Ripe raisiny aromas are soft, maybe to a fault. This feels wide, grabby and modest in structure. Jammy raspberry and raisin flavors finish plump and easy, with low acidity. Drink now.
While the small coastal appellation of Colares, just north of Lisbon, is better known for its reds, it does produce even smaller quantities of white Malvasia de Colares. This wine is perfumed, ripe with honeyed notes as well as a salty, mineral character. The aftertaste shows the spice from short wood aging. Drink now.
This might be the only commercial Trousseau from Argentina, and it's rusty in color, with translucence. Savory challenging aromas of orange peel and burnt orange include notes of dried cherry and fallen leaves. A tightly knit palate is home to flavors of dried cherry and plum as well as tomato sauce. A hint of maple vies with dried red-fruit flavors on a light finish that shows some elegance.
Extracted aromas of dried black cherries, vanilla and clove show on the nose of this bottling from west of Paso Robles. The palate packs lots of action, from root beer and cola to dark mulberry, green peppercorn, black pepper and a lingering anise finish.
Big and bold, this is a structured, dark wine. Its wood aging still shows, although this will integrate. It will be a powerful, rich wine, dense and with dark tannins. Drink from 2020.
The aromas of yellow apple, pear and spice are light but enchanting. The tart flavors bring a lightly creamy feel, showing a sense of poise.
This smooth and toasty effort offers aromatic hints of cracker, coconut and raw cashews. The rhubarb and strawberry fruit flavors are in the background, streaked with cola and root beer. A touch of chocolate carries through the finish.
Upfront floral aromas—think honeysuckle, orange blossom and a touch of jasmine—are pretty and attractive, with supporting fruit tones of pink apple and firm peach. The pleasantly crisp mouthfeel offers medium acidity and a lingering sweet-spice flavor on the close. Drink now.
This wine's ripe, mineral texture balances its yellow and white stone fruit flavors. It has a toasty, caramel character, giving extra richness. Drink from late 2017.
Blackberry, soy, purple flower and caramel scents show on the nose of this bottling from a cool-climate vineyard. Deep blackberry and black currant fruit shows on the palate, accented with hints of beef char, lavender and thyme.
You'll find aromas of tilled soil, leather and black-skinned berry on this forward red. The chewy accessible palate offers blackberry jam, star anise and a touch of vanilla alongside ripe, round tannins. Drink through 2020.
Aromas of prune, underbrush, leather and toasted oak lead the nose. The firm palate offers dried cherry, licorice and espresso while tightly packed tannins leave a rather drying finish. Drink through 2020.
Constellation purchased this brand in 2015 for its superripe Pinot Noir, but this balanced Chardonnay may be the key to its future. Sea salt, marcona almond and yellow pear scents show on the nose, while the palate leads with strong acidity, settling on lemon peel, subtle smoke and dried herb flavors.
This flavorful wine smells citrusy and lightly herbaceous, offering just enough richness on the palate to feel complete. Spicy oak aromas meet crisp apple and lightly butter flavors, making it fun to sip.
Quite reserved in aroma, this bottling from Duckhorn made with fruit from a Dierberg-owned site shows light cranberry and chaparral scents on the nose. The palate is straight-forward with tangy cranberry and cedar flavors.
This wine has benefited from the warm vintage. It's ripe with attractive cherry fruit and a touch of spice from wood aging. It will be ready to drink from 2018.
Aged for nine months in used and new wood, this wine is rich and smooth. Its acidity and blackberry fruit are balanced and ripe while staying crisp and tight on the mineral-laced finish. Ready to drink.
This offers aromas of black-skinned fruit, tilled soil and worn leather. The ripe palate delivers prune, coffee and toasted hazelnut with chewy tannins and the heat of evident alcohol. Drink through 2021.
Softly layered with blue fruit and clove, this bold, full-bodied wine is densely concentrated with ripe tannins. Dusty cocoa powder and a gravelly minerality show through its richness.
This wine, named for the present owners' mother, is full of red berry fruit, attractive acidity and toasty wood to balance. It has soft, generous tannins, an open, juicy texture and is very ready to drink.
From the estate's oldest vines, this Castelão brings flavors from the Setúbal peninsula further south. With its warm tannins and juicy red fruit, it's open and only lightly structured. Drink now.
This is Vallado's entry-level wine, full of open, easy, expressive fruit. Yet, it also shows the natural structure and texture that comes from schist soil. Its tannins remain in the background, with black currant fruit and acidity in the fore. Drink now.
This opens with aromas of mature yellow apple, citrus and acacia honey. The savory medium-bodied palate delivers juicy grapefruit, white peach and a hint of vanilla alongside bright acidity.
Here's a creamy white that delivers aromas and flavors of white peach, pear and white almond. A mineral note and fresh acidity lift the finish.
Rum-raisin cake comes to mind when smelling this robust, ripe wine that wears its intensity well. Fruit-forward with cherry and berry flavors, its texture is soft and luxuriously simple.
There's a natural herbal beauty to this wine, with pleasant notes of green pepper, fynbos, thyme, laurel, fennel bulb and lemongrass that dance around the green plum and white melon-rind fruit. The medium-weight body is balanced by lime-flavored acidity and a bitter pithy accent on the close. Drink now.
This shows the subtlest hints of the apricot character so often found in Viognier. That gives richness to contrast its crisp acidity and apple and pear flavors. The finish is long and perfumed. Drink now.
For being one of the more widely available Chardonnays around, this vintage performs strongly against more expensive wines. Pineapple, vanilla and light caramel aromas lead the nose, while vibrant acidity kicks off the palate. Pear, Gala apple and pineapple flavors make it a reliable weeknight sipper.
This bold, firm wine strikes a fine balance between structure and ripe black plum fruit. It has dense tannins that indicate it needs time. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca, it will be ready from 2018.
Always a terrific value, this refreshing white has aromas of fragrant white flower, mint and orchard fruit. The straightforward palate offers crunchy Granny Smith apple, a hint of orange zest and a crisp clean finish.
This hearty blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot and 14% Petit Verdot offers blackberry, smoked beef, vanilla, cola and anise scents on the nose. The palate is tightly wound, its boysenberry fruit and dark soil minerality leading into a finish laced with licorice spice.
This savory white opens with aromas of exotic fruit, apricot, hay and a whiff of wild flower that follow through to the palate along with grapefruit and a vegetal note. A mineral accent lifts the finish.
While there are plenty of tannins in this wine, there is also great fruit. Blackberry and plum flavors explode in the mouth. They are backed by the serious tannins and dark texture that will allow the wine to age. Drink this bold wine from 2019.
Powerful, ripe wine with black fruits and a great swathe of dark tannins. The flavors of berries, black plums, black figs and sage are echoed by the warm, herbal and wild flower aromas. This is a big wine, which needs at least a year to age.
Tinta Roriz (in Spanish Tempranillo) is recognized in the Douro as a great table wine grape, and this big-hearted wine is good proof. It is surprisingly elegant for its weight and alcohol, a smoothness coming from wood aging. The fruits are black cherry and black plum skin, with tannins showing a tight, mineral edge. For aging.
Starts off slightly gamy and meaty, then adds bright blueberry fruit and hints of peppery spice. It's creamy-smooth in texture, medium-bodied and nicely balanced on the juicy, mouthwatering finish. A good value red to lay in for summer grilling.
A rich, powerful wine that shows great aging potential. Spiced and perfumed, it brings in dark, black fruits, tight tannins and layers of acidity. It has ripeness as well, with sweet jelly flavors on top of the firm character of the wine. Keep for 3–4 years.
The T is for Touriga Nacional, the Merlot for Merlot, and the two blend easily into a wine that revels in the perfumes and tight tannins of the Touriga and the smoothness of ripe Merlot. The fruit is black, dense, but not too powerful, leaving fresh ripeness as well as a dry, tannic structured core.
A little gassy and sulfuric upon first blush, but airing scares the funk away, leaving deep black-fruit scents and mineral. In the mouth, it's a saturated softy with black cherry, coffee and chocolate flavors. And it unwinds in several stages on the finish, which indicates complexity and layering. With mild tannins, it's a good one to drink now and over the next few years.
Rich, flowery wine that shows the potential for white wines in the Dão region. While it keeps plenty of lemon zest acidity, the apricot and peach flavors combine well with pears. There is spice from wood, but the fruit is the thing with this great food wine.
Concentrated raspberry and cassis flavors, almost liqueurish in their intensity, open this pure and delicious wine. It combines the sweet appeal of the best California Pinots with the structure and steely underpinnings of Oregon fruit. Youthful and firm, its best years are surely ahead.
This wine spent time in French, American and Hungarian oak, 25% of it new. It offers a classically herbal expression of the variety, exhibiting notes of black olive and leather over fruity tones. Tight and grippy, it needs to open over time to let the aromas catch up on the palate.
This opens with aromas of wet leaves, forest floor, menthol and prune. Made from Alicante and a drop of Montepulciano, the palate delivers mocha, crushed herb, licorice and a fig note alongside evolved tannins. It's already tired, so drink soon.
Popcorn, mustard, pickle brine and a heavy blast of oak create a barrel-driven bouquet. This is acidic and juicy on the palate, but also resiny. Flavors of briny citrus, nectarine and raw oak finish long and woody, with a cidery aftertaste.
Gently herbaceous with a character that also allows room for a creamy texture, this is a refreshing wine with a crisp edge, always in moderation. Drink this fresh wine now.
Extremely deep and nearly impenetrable aromas of black cherry fruit mix with a bit of creosote and a tiny whiff of fresh raspberry on this nose of this wine from a relatively unexplored appellation in San Benito County. It's dense and heavy on the palate, with decent acidity and tannins, making for a pleasant dark sipper.
Spunky, lively cherry, plum and currant aromas come with a whiff of rubber and Band-Aid. This blend of Tempranillo, Carignan and Grenache is dainty, with mid-level intensity. Oaky, medicinal plum and raspberry flavors run lean and herbal on the finish, and overall this is a light-framed red that's mild in character.
Bramble notes mingle alongside fresh lemon and pear in this off-dry Riesling, lending a savory, earthy tone throughout. Bright citrus flavors lead a brisk, clean finish. Drink now.
Mauve in color, this wine—an ode to Hearst Ranch architect Julia Morgan—shows strawberry pie and pink rose petals on the nose. Mouthwatering acidity on the palate is a touch boozy, with flavors of ripe strawberries, raspberries and lemon zest.
Fresh raspberry and plum aromas lead to a crisp, zesty palate, with a touch of oaky weight. Red plum, pie cherry and raspberry flavors are not overly defined but they are clean and moderately elegant.
Very light in color, this wine has a pungent nose that features white flowers, cold steel and lime juice. The palate is bright with racy acidity, showing lots of honeysuckle, some ripe green apples and hints of honeydew and kiwi.
Herbal peppercorn gives this wine an edge on the nose that speaks to grapes that were picked not overripe. The palate offers thick, smoky oak and perceptible sandalwood and cedar. On the finish is more of that herbal greenness. The wine is blended with tiny amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Light citrus and floral aromas meld with richer, riper flavors and a generous texture. More than just a palate cleanser, this unoaked wine has some depth and is rich enough to hold interest.
Very light in the glass, this offers lime juice, lemon peel and tuberose on the nose. There is decent acidity and minerality on the palate, with apples, white flowers and melon.
Blending Négrette with Syrah and Cabernet Franc, this rich, full-in-the-mouth rosé is ripe and packed with red berry fruits and a touch of spice. The up-front fruitiness of the wine is leavened with a fresh, crisp aftertaste.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, this easygoing red offers aromas and flavors of red currant, black cherry, white pepper and a hint of clove. Smooth, rather fleeting tannins provide the easy-drinking framework.
Hard, cool-climate aromas of asphalt and black olive are offset by stewy, savory notes. This Syrah is chewy and tannic in feel, with herbal, roasted flavors that suggest marginal ripeness. Earthy berry and salty flavors carry the finish.
This warm, robust expression of Sangiovese opens with aromas of underbrush, scorched soil and mature black-skinned fruit. The densely extracted, monolithic palate offers blackberry extract, coffee and black pepper alongside raspy tannins that leave an astringent finish. It lacks fruit richness and freshness. You'll also notice the heat of evident alcohol on the finish.
Wild strawberry and a soft layering of fresh earth form the core of this blend, based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon, with a healthy dose of Merlot and then smaller supporting handfuls of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Blackberries come to fore as the wine develops, along with a swathe of bittersweet chocolate.
Briny aromas of seashell and beach grass fold in red fruit scents and leather. This high-acid wine delivers a crisp one-note mouthfeel and zesty, herbal flavors of red fruits and oak.
Passion fruit and citrus aromas are straightforward and a bit sharp. This feels lemony yet wan, with tangy, lean flavors of lemon-lime mixed with fresh green herbs. Notes of scallion and tarragon blend with lingering lime on the finish.
A fresh, lightly honeyed blend of Gros Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc, this is a fragrant, fruity wine with a twist of lemon and herbaceous acidity. It is light, touched by yellow fruits and with an orange tang at the end.
Dusty and mineral, yet full of crisp lemon, lime and grapefruit flavors, this off-dry wine is a refreshing example of one of the Mosel's unsung grapes, Elbling. Delicate in body, it finishes briskly on a slightly smoky, mineral tone. Drink now.
This medium-bodied effort comes across a slightly crisp and lacking in richness, but nevertheless delivers ample raspberry and cherry fruit before ending with some slightly tough tannins. Drink now with grilled meats, or hold through 2017 and see if it mellows a bit.
Mellow peach and nectarine aromas come with a dusting of talcum powder. On the palate, this is citric and lemony, while a jumble of orange and stone-fruit flavors finish clean and crisp. Overall this is fine but undistinguished.
Trim and tannic, this distinctive effort mixes bright black cherry and cassis fruit with peppery herbs, notably rosemary. The balance is right on track, and the wine holds together through a medium-long finish.
This bold and fruity rosé carries scents and flavors of cherry candy. It's a fine bottle for chilling and sharing with summer picnic foods.
Ripe and rounded, this is a smooth wine given richness from the Gros Manseng in the blend. Citrus vies with pear and apricot, cut with intense acidity. It is fresh and textured with a steely character at the end. Wait to drink until the end of 2015.
This tart, lean wine is not welcoming, but earthy, lively aromas and sour-cherry and tart raspberry flavors give it personality. The tannins are severe and sharp, too. It tastes light in alcohol and high in acidity so there is no hurry to drink it. Some mellowness and maturity may develop by 2018.
Black cherries, sagebrush, dried rose petals, black loam and a tiny bit of tar frame the nose on this blend of 43% Grenache, 27% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre and 5% Durif (a k a Petite Sirah). The palate offers flavors of dried blueberries and Bing cherries, with a touch of asphalt and black pepper.
The nose on this wine from regional pioneer Gary Eberle is reserved at first, then releases seared lemon, tightly wound stone fruit, soft butter and caramel nibs. There is a pleasant weight on the medium-density palate, with sour-leaning flavors of Granny Smith apple peels, lime rinds and some riper honeydew melon.
Dry and structured, the wine has a way to go before the fruit shows. It is over-extracted giving a hard bitter edge. Give the fruit a chance and wait until mid 2018.
Slightly funk kiwi, dried apples and dried white-flower aromas show on the nose of this appellation blend. Flavors are flat and muted, with a flash of sweet apples.
The wine is tight and perhaps firm. Its extracted tannins and dry core are too much for the fruit.
It is a tough wine with too much wood for the fruit. Wood aromas show strongly in the taste as well. Some balance will come, but probably not enough.
Smoky aromas lead to a wine that is dominated by wood. It is about structure rather than fruit.
This gold-colorerd wine has fruitless, oaky aromas of squash and pumpkin. It feels flabby, with a resiny oak component to the mouthfeel. Flavors faded if not slightly spoiled white fruits finish with a loud echo of oak.
Massively oaky aromas of spice and clove dominate the nose on this blend of Monastrell, Syrah and Garnacha. It's tannic and burnt on the palate, with little but creosote and clove for flavors. An all-oak finish brings bitterness.
The wine has a southern character with very ripe fruit that seems unbalanced for the tannins and acidity. It's an odd wine.
Light and unfocused, this simple wine has fruit but misses out on structure and much interest.
Jumpy, punchy berry aromas are high-toned. This blend feels creamy, candied and syrupy. Sweet flavors of baked fruits and Boston baked beans finish with hints of berry syrup.
This tough wine has overripe fruit. There are tough extracted tannins. It's a hard wine to like.
This is a wine that has been spoiled by the over-use of wood aging. The fruit is still struggling to come through. It will be a tough call as to which wins.
This is a dry wine, more about structure than fruit. The tannins and the firm extraction shows strongly. It is not enjoyable.
This heavily oaked Garnacha smells like clove and horsehide. A drawing, scratchy, resiny palate offers clove and barrel-spice flavors. The wine feels tannic and rubbing on a finish that tastes exclusively of oak-based clove.
A cloudy rusted color and soupy aromas render this less than fresh. A chunky, melony palate is low on elegance and acidity, tasting heavily of grape skins.
Jumpy raspberry and candied plum aromas are akin to Kool-Aid. A rubbery, grabby palate and foxy, medicinal flavors of latex and berry fruits culminate on a strained finish.
Although 2012 was a ripe, warm year, this wine is tomatoey and herbal. Stalky, salty flavors are barely acceptable.
Aromas of golden raisins, fig, licorice and vanilla lead to full-feeling dark-fruit flavors, with the tannins bringing a sense of grittiness. Time might smooth things, but the aromas already seem a bit dried out.
This wine is a blend of Sangiovese (69%), Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) and Syrah. Dried raspberry, herb and cocoa aromas lead to reserved cranberry and cherry flavors that linger.
Roasted coffee bean, ember and spice aromas take the lead on this blend. The flavors display the same, showing a surprising amount of restraint for the vintage.
This is on the more herbal side of the Sauvignon Blanc spectrum, showing obvious notes of tomato leaf and boxwood, but there's ample white grapefruit to back up those green elements. This medium-bodied wine finishes long and crisp.
This may only weigh in at 12% abv, but the flavors are nicely ripened, ranging from gooseberry and peach to citrus. It's medium in weight, with a refreshing, mouthwatering finish.
Warm earth, leather, black fruit and herbal aromas set up a palate that's bolstered by tartaric acidity that doesn't last long. Flavors of olive, lactic oak, herbal plum and blackberry finish creamy and chewy.
This lovely, creamy and medium-bodied expression of pineapple offers a touch of ginger spice as it goes along. From a cooler area of the Napa Valley, the wine never gets sloppy in its use of oak, allowing the fruit and acidity to speak.
Villa Maria's entry-level Sauvignon Blanc remains a solid bargain year after year. Delicate leafy notes provide lift to gooseberry and pineapple flavors. It's a very good, fruit-driven introduction to the regional style at a fair price.
Produced from organically grown grapes, this wood-aged wine from the Dupuy family is rich and full, packed with black plum and ripe berry flavors. With 30% Cabernet Franc in the blend, the wine is perfumed and structured with a smoky aftertaste that is balanced by acidity. Drink this well-made wine from 2017. The vineyard was certified organic in 1996, early in Bordeaux terms, and is managed by Gérard Dupuy.
Close to Margaux, this château has produced a ripe, soft wine that brings out the fruitiness found in the best of 2013 wines. It is full of black-currant juiciness, with acidity and soft tannins. It should be ready to drink soon, certainly from 2017.
This wine is dry, full of tannins that mask the fruit and give the wine an austere character that will need time to soften out. The aftertaste contines the dry theme, but with hints of a more fruity future. Drink from 2018 when the fruit will have asserted itself.
This smooth, ripe wine offers attractive black-currant fruits. It is spicy, with balanced layers of wood along with acidity and a juicy aftertaste. The structure is there, although the fruit dominates. Drink from 2017.
Although this is still young, it's already possible to taste the outlines of a dry, lightly fruity wine that has considerable tannins. Some juicy black-currant acidity is showing freshly against the lean structure. The wine will age quickly, and should be drunk from 2017.
This fresh, ripe wine has plenty of juicy black-currant flavor. It is crisp, strengthened by tannins and with a great burst of acidity. It needs to calm down and round out before it will be ready to drink. Wait until 2018.
This ripe wine shows plenty of blackberry fruits balanced well with some dry tannins. It is fresh, juicy with plenty of acidity, For a light vintage, it's perfumed, full of fresh flavors and will be ready to drink from 2017.
This pure Merlot is racy, ripe and ready to drink, with fruit that shows maturity. Tannins are well integrated into the structure, leaving plenty of room for the juicy fruit and mature, spicy flavors. Drink now.
Half of this wine is Merlot, with the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Blueberry, coffee and vanilla aromas are followed by sultry plum flavors speckled with barrel accents before a mocha-flavored finish.
A blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato, this opens with heady aromas of cut rose, red berry and dark spice. The round, simple palate doles out juicy Maresca cherry, crushed raspberry and a note of white pepper alongside silky, smooth tannins. There's no complexity but it is easy drinking and delicious.
This is a great wine for a great price, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Never overly complicated, it delivers juicy waves of blackberry, tobacco and cedar, varietally classic in chalky tannins and a dry finish. Stock up.
Bright and refreshing, this lively rosato opens with aromas of red woodland berry and a pleasant whiff of geranium. The vibrant palate doles out wild raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate while tangy acidity leaves a crisp finish.
Aromas of ripe plum, blue flower and baking spice lead the nose on this easy-drinking red. The chewy, straightforward palate doles out juicy black cherry, fleshy blackberry and a clove note alongside round tannins. It's made to drink young so enjoy soon.
Vanilla, coconut shavings, earth and dark-fruit aromas are followed by full-bodied fruit and barrel flavors. It delivers enjoyment, but the variety seems to get lost in the oak.
With an aroma like buttered toast and mouth-filling flavors like pear juice, this medium-bodied wine is generous and satisfying. The texture is soft and smooth, coating the mouth in a good way after each sip.
Aromas of dried apricot, almond and pressed jasmine lead the nose. The firm palate offers fig, chestnut honey and a hint of baking spice. Pair it with vanilla ice cream or cream filled pastry.
Aged in bottle for a bit, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and other Bordeaux red grapes is integrated and approachable, persistent in the requisite cassis, cinnamon and clove.
A light and tart nose of boysenberry fruit, anise, wild mint and chaparral scrub starts this wine. The body is lighter than most Cabs, with pine sap, cigar lead, raspberry-blackberry fruit, plum skins and lively herbal characteristics. It's a decent Cab for lighter fare or everyday quaffing.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (52%), Petit Verdot (25%) and Malbec. Aromas of violets, herbs, plum, vanilla and mesquite are followed by palate-coating fruit flavors, with firm, slightly dry tannins and bright acids.
Light, fruity and off dry, this is a fresh and crisp wine. It has sweetened lemon juice flavors that are cut by intense, young acidity. Balanced and ready to drink now.
This is a soft, soothing and light-bodied wine with fresh fruit and herb aromas. Mild but bright flavors recall apple and lemon, and a touch of sweetness rounds off any edges.
Stewed berries and crème de cassis aromas meet rubbery balloon and savory broth notes on the nose. The medium-bodied, mildly-tannic palate follows suit, with tart cranberry flavors offering acidic lift.
Very crisp and fresh, this young wine has tight acidity as well as touches of yellow fruits. It is a fruity wine that needs to soften over the next few months. Drink from 2016
This light-bodied red brings freshly sawed wood aromas over spiced cranberry and cherry. Driven by tart red fruit, the palate is lively with driving acidity, ending in a delicate, peppered finish.
Raspberries cooked in butter with a clove spice appear on the nose of this wine from Monterey County. It's rich with sage-tinged blackberry juice flavors on the palate, also showing a plum-skin tartness and pencil shavings.
Thick and dense in oak, this is a basic and generic version of the variety. Medium in weight it hints at elements of forest floor, tea and black cherry fruit.
From the Vinho Verde region in northern Portugal, this tightly crisp, bone dry wine is fresh, almost shockingly so. Red currant flavors dominate along with a lively, light texture. Drink now.
Heavy oak aromas are dominant in this wine. Drawing in feel and showing a high level of tartaric acid on the palate, this tastes woody and resiny, with blackberry flavors ending on menthol and heat.
This Bordeaux-style blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. It's on the rough and rustic side, showing ample stem and herbal flavors. Tannins are stiff and carry the impression that they did not achieve optimal ripeness.
Fruity and medium dry, this is soft, with citrus hits to balance the sweetness. The wine is bright and light in the mouth, better as an apéritif than with food.
Light garnet in color, this Tuscan-charmer shows notes of charred raspberry, violet and smoked meat on the nose. The light-bodied palate of tart red berries is carried along by driving acidity, with dried herb notes accenting a short finish.
Dark purple in color, the nose is oak-laden, with toasted vanilla, sawdust and coconut pervading. Medium to full bodied, the palate is dark and brooding featuring rich black fruit, extracted tannins and a cocoa-dusted finish.
Menthol and savory herbs juxtapose rich black cherry and berry flavors in this off-dry Dornfelder. It's simple in style but enjoyable now for its juicy, fresh black fruit character.
Honeyed and caramel aromas are followed on the palate by a ripe, rich creamy texture. Yellow fruits are further smoothed by buttery flavors. This is a rounded wine, ready to drink.
Scratchy aromas of raspberry and licorice gumdrop precede a grabby, sticky palate with raw tannins. Plum and berry flavors are standard for Malbec, while the finish shows a mild baked character.
Rich fruit and cream flavors and a smooth, almost sweet impression in the mouth add up to a palate-pleasing taste. This smells like lime, honeydew and cream, feels rounded on the palate, tastes like poached pears and has a soft finish.
Floral red-berry aromas come with a note of bath soap. A heavy palate feels buttery, while woody blackberry and plum flavors finish solid but a touch bitter, with an echo of floral black cherry.
Earthy aromas and flavors define this medium-bodied, rather lean-tasting wine. The tannins and acidity are firm and the fruit flavors light, so the non-fruity notes of leather and wet earth seem to dominate.
For an Australian Cabernet, this is surprisingly delicate on the nose and medium bodied on the palate. Herbal notes intertwine with cassis and licorice, ending with finely ground baking spices. Drink now.
This wine offers fresh lemon and a lightly creamy fruitiness. It is floral in character with attractive acidity. Fruity, with a crisp citrus tang at the end, it is ready to drink.
This light-bodied, Bordeaux-style red blend is tart red currant driven on the palate, with darker shades of black plum skin speckled with black pepper. Soft tannins and vibrant acidity make this an easy-drinking, enjoyable everyday red.
A pale pink-orange color, this Pinot Noir rosé displays unusual aromas of blood orange, herbs and reduction. It drinks off dry, with mandarin orange and herb flavors, finishing tart.
This structured wine offers bright, tight acidity and tangy, nervy texture. Crisp and full of young fruit, it will age well. Drink from 2016 or even 2017.
Leathery berry aromas are balky and dusty. Hard, dry and tannic on the palate, this shows blackberry flavors followed by dry, bitter notes. A simmering finish says this badly needs food.
A traditional style of Rioja with earthy, peppery, dry aromas in front of a healthy, lively palate. Tastes like vanilla and buttery oak on top of zesty but restrained raspberry and red plum. Shows spice, character and a wholeness that makes it a winner. Drink now through 2015.
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.
If a whiff of volatility doesn't turn you off, this tightly layered reserve from Hogue has a lot going for it. Gobs of cherry and cassis fruit, dense and deep, roll into veins of earth, olive and graphite. A big wine with plenty of life ahead.
Powerful and entering its mature stage. Aromas on this Cab-Carmenère blend are typically earthy and lightly baked, with leaf, tobacco and nutmeg accents. Feels solid and ready, with rooty berry, olive, cocoa and vanilla flavors setting up a spicy, earthy finish. A fine wine if you can tolerate some classic Chilean olive and tobacco qualities.
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.
Rich, wood-aged wine, smooth and ripely fruity. Aromas of mint lead to the polished, ripe, elegant fruit, the tannins surrounded by a comfortable fruit texture. It will age over 4–5 years.
Soft and ripe wine that shows the richness of the year while offering a core of tannins. It is immediately attractive, although the structure and final tannins do promise aging potential.
This new vintage of Chaleur Estate Blanc is still quite young and tight. It shows the toasty scents of pretty new oak, set in an elegant frame of mixed fruits. Cucumber, apple, citrus and melon flavors emerge, suggesting an overall lighter style from a cooler vintage. Graceful and polished.
Although this starts off showing loads of vanilla and bright, boysenberry-like fruit, this is not a simple fruity concoction; there's some elegance here, and some savory notes of coffee and roasted meat as well. Drink this rich, full-bodied Shiraz over the next few years.
Almost black in color, the Hovey Petite is layered and concentrated, deep and soulful with flavors of lavender, berry and licorice segued by a coffee and tobacco kicker. A true Petite Sirah lovers' Petite Sirah.
Here's yet another excellent wine from this modern-leaning Riojano producer. The nose is full of spice, tobacco and deep berry aromas. Feels quasi-jammy and very rich, with thickness and mild tannins. Tastes baked, like a mix of prune, spicecake and chocolate. Warm and figgy on the finish, and ready to drink now.
This is just the third Sauvignon Blanc from Stevens (none was made in 2008), sourced from Klipsun vineyard and stainless steel fermented. Richly textural, with a creamy minerality, this has a pleasing intensity, a sort of nervosity (as the French might put it), limned with a sweet grain character. The fruits are tart and racy, a mix of citrus rind and pulp, tangerine and pineapple, finished with natural acidity.
You won't be disappointed with this attractively priced Saint-Chinian. Floral and herbal, with strong scents of lavender, licorice, laurel and menthol all infusing the black cherry, currant and boysenberry center. Rich and concentrated with a tecture like crushed velvet and fine but well-structured tannins. Hints of black pepper and bittersweet chocolate grace the close.
Aged 18 months in French oak, this wine is moderately aromatic, with notes of blueberry and mushroom. It's syrupy in feel yet has dry tannins.
Dark gold in color, this Viognier tastes of ripe apple compote and vanilla custard with a generous texture of tropical fruits.
Gritty aromas of grilled meat, rubber and baked plum lead to a candied tasting, syrupy feeling palate that's sweet in flavor and mildly oaky. This results in a rich finish that's sticky, a bit hot and ripe.
Aged in 20% new French oak, the wood overwhelms the fruit with notes of char and toast. While the variety gets lost, this off-dry wine still offers enjoyment though the alcohol distracts on the finish.
This very crisp, cool-climate sparkling rosé is a blend of Castelão and Merlot. It has acidity, a touch of raspberry fruit and a just off-dry ripeness.
Chewing gum dust, red plum and cherry aromas define the bouquet on this racy, slightly abrasive feeling Malbec. Things taste short and snappy, with red fruit flavors backed by peppery dryness.
This is a juicy, ripe style of Vinho Verde that's soft, clean and refreshing. It's a summer-evening wine, light and bright. Screwcap.
There's a fine line between ripe and overripe, and this awkwardly toes that line with syrupy aromas and a sticky mouthfeel. Along the path are flavors of maple, fudge and stewed blackberry. A jammy, soupy, candied finish is apropos for a heavy, superripe wine such as this.
Young and fruity, this a crisp, lightly acid wine. Its raspberry fruits are already delicious.
Merlot leads the pack in this blend of six Bordeaux varieties with a dash of Syrah (5%). The fruit is taken from five different vineyards across Washington and Idaho. It has notes of candied cherry, licorice and ash, with tart flavors and dry, astringent tannins.
Hot, syrupy aromas are rooty and intense. This Nebbiolo offers plum, raspberry and red currant flavors offset by tomato and noticeable oak. The finish is propelled by acidity and carries tangy flavors of roasted tomato and plum.
Price aside, this is a ponderous wine with rooty aromas of Dr. Pepper mixed with burnt toast, coffee and baked berry fruits. It's very rich and syrupy in the mouth, while caramel, chocolate and baked berry flavors bring this overripe wine to rest.
Aged in stainless steel, this is lightly aromatic, with notes of nectarine and overripe apple. Labeled at 14.5% alcohol, it surprisingly never shows it. Rather the fruit concentration comes off as a bit wanting.
Dry oak, pepper and wood resin are prominent on the bouquet, which also brings minty black fruit scents and finally a pinch of sawdust. The palate is boosted by firm acids and tannins, while the flavors of baked berry and black plum are driving. A lot of oak and bite here, but also plenty of dark fruit.
Very dry, the fruit losing some freshness with the wood aging. However the structure is firm and dark. With the acidity, this could be a wine for aging over 1–2 years.
Smoky and leathery on the nose, with earthy blackberry aromas, tobacco and tree bark aromas. The palate runs sort of heavy, tannic and raw, with grapey flavors of black currant and roasted plum. A chunky, earthy, roasted style of Cab to drink now.
A touch of vanilla unfolds amid the ripe stone fruit and soft acetone scents. Melon rind and honeysuckle mixes with rich grilled peach flavors on the palate. Round and creamy but balanced and lifted on the finish. Drink now.
One of a pair of wines under the Grilos name, this Alentejo blend is soft and generous, its ripe berry fruits laced with licorice. Juicy and ready to drink.
A wine that emphasizes the black currant acidity and firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit layers acidity, wood and some herbs. Age for another year.
Black currant leaf and juicy plum guts abound on the nose of this Bordeaux-style blend, and those aromas transition into the dominating flavors of the palate alongside suggestions of pepper and sweet smoked meat. Balanced, with fine tannins and a clean but lingering finish.
A whiff of smoke on entry, then it turns tannic and tight, with thin cranberry fruit driving vertically through the midpalate and on into the finish. Good persistence, though as it fades it turns a little sour.
A well-made blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Barbera, this value wine is a stunner with black cherry, plum and cassis notes surprisingly spiced with accents of mint and flint. Creamy in the mouth with medium-grain tannins and a solid finish.
Full-bodied wine, with red fruits, an attractive bite of spice and a background of the crispest acidity. The wine has richness, making it food friendly. Screwcap.
La Nerthe's late-ripening Mourvèdre typically shines the brightest in warm vintages, which 2008 was not. The result is a leathery, peppery wine with rather crisp, cherry-inflected fruit. Drink it over the next several years.
A bit anonymous, but for a big-production négoce blend from a difficult vintage, you could do a lot worse. Plums and black cherries predominate, but tinges of cinnamon and earth peek through. Tannins are soft; drink now.
Plummy and savory, this plump, supple-textured wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre. It offers an easygoing mouthful of fruit in an early-drinking style.
Aromas of black berry and spice are accompanied by black cherry, raspberry and white pepper flavors. Simple but well made, this wine should be enjoyed young to capture the fresh fruit flavors.
Minty, herbal, lightly stalky aromas of plum and cherry lead to a blocky-feeling palate with lactic flavors of resiny plum and vanilla. Creaminess on the finish creates an almost cloying feel, while berry fruit leftovers run sweet.
Tannic while also fruity, it shows the structure of 2010. It has a fragrant character with its black currant and berry fruits, laced with acidity. A wine that could age, it will be better drunk from 2016.
This powerful and ripe wine is a blend of juicy Merlot, perfumed Cabernet Franc and fruity Petit Verdot. It has weight, richness, layers of spice and peppered black plums. There are some tannins, but the wine is really ready to drink now until 2018.
Fruity with black cherry and cassis, this includes 22% Lemberger; both grapes sourced from Kiona. It's peppery and herbal, with a slightly pickly character, likely from aging in 30% new American oak.
This is a thick, almost syrupy Riesling, packed with fruit flavors of peaches and apricots. It's tilting toward off dry, with residual sugar at 15 g/L, drinking well though somewhat one-dimensional.
Displays a cooler climate profile with notes of lime leaf, quinine, white peach and flowers. The palate drinks off dry, with well balanced acidity and a stone-fruit-filled finish.
This Bordeaux-style blend is enticing on the nose with bold scents of cherry-pie preserves, spice and menthol. It's juicy and concentrated on the palate with soft, ripe cherry and plum flavors, but accompanied by raw, jagged tannins.
Crushed granite notes lend a distinct minerality to ripe black cherry and plum flavors in this wine made from the Georgian (the republic, not the state) Saperavi grape. It's dry in style with a delicate frame marked by gentle tannins and soft acidity.
55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot aged two years in new French oak, the wood notes are quite prominent along with mint, cherry, and chocolate. True to the vintage, it's lighter in style with tart fruit flavors, mouthwatering acids, and firm tannins that still need some time to come into their own.
A balsamic nose of menthol and sage comes along with notes of exotic incense, black plum, cola and ginger. The palate offers muddled flavors of prune, black currants, fennel and grilled red peppers contrasted by sensations of sugar-sweetened espresso. It doesn't have enough fruit richness to support the very evident alcohol.
Light, clean, fresh aromas of tropical fruits and lychee resemble those of a Torrontés. The palate is light and mild, while flavors of melon, lychee and citrus pith are forward but don't come with a lot of backing or complexity.
Leesy, yeasty notes lend a savory feel to freshly-pressed apple and herb flavors in this easy-drinking Chardonnay. It's dry in style with a delicate mouthfeel that's accentuated by bright streaks of lemony acidity.
Flavored with pear and apricot, this wine is soft and ripe. The crisp texture comes from the tangy orange zest and acidity. Light and fresh, the wine should be ready by late 2014.
A dry, tannic wine that is firmly structured. A sense of extraction masks the light and fresh black currant fruitiness. Give it until 2017 to soften.
Concentrated, smoky aromas of dark fruits, graphite and toast are direct and potent. A grabby mouthfeel is defined by elastic, staunch tannins. Blackberry, cassis and a hint of lemony oak create a fine flavor profile, while the finish is loamy and tastes of licorice and peppery spices. Drink through 2018.
Pato's pair of old vine wines, a red and this white, are beautifully complex. With its rich melon, tropical fruits, spice and light toastiness, this wine is concentrated with still-young acidity and currant fruit flavors. It's a great wine that needs to develop before drinking. Wait until 2016.
Powerful, with tannins that are seamlessly woven into the fruitiness, this is a rounded, ripe and concentrated wine. The berry fruits and the juicy damsons are as important as the generous, soft texture. The wine will develop over the medium-term; drink from 2017.
Scents of pine pitch, tomato, smashed kalamata olive and wild berry combine for a clove-soaked punch experience. Spice hits the palate hard, with oregano, thyme, sagebrush and more pine, set against strong tannins as well. Lay this one down for additional development and maturity, and try after 2018.
This dry, savory, small-production sparkler has deep layers of fresh-baked brioche and orange blossom. The golden yellow color provides a sign of its longer evolution in bottle. The finish is long and lingering, making this a memorable wine.
Ripe, jammy raspberry and blackberry aromas come with pastry notes and a strong blast of woodspice. This strapping wine has staunch tannins and hard-pushing acidity. Flavors of toast, blackberry and pepper lean toward the dark side, while the wine's handsome finish is secure in structure, balance and length. Drink through 2020.
From an outstanding vintage in the Willamette Valley, here's a beautifully blended Pinot with impressive concentration and detail. Spicy berry and red plum fruit is speckled with chocolate drops, coffee beans and a whiff of clean straw. Drink any time; it's ready to go.
Based in Nuits Saint-Georges, Manuel Olivier understands the appellation well. That is shown in this bottling that manages to combine the structure of a Nuits wine with dark fruits and a juicy texture. It's rich while also firm. Drink from 2017.
Expressive aromas of white flower, acacia, citrus and pear float from the glass of this elegant and organic sparkling wine. The lively palate delivers mature yellow apple, lemon zest, bread crust and toasted almond alongside a silky mousse and vibrant acidity.
This blends modesty with clarity, and the end result is excellent. Crisp and minerally at all check points, the palate is juicy and citric, but with good body. Citrus, mango, melon and green-fruit flavors drive the palate into a cleansing, finely cut finish.
This wood-aged wine has juicy black fruits that are given shape by the firm tannins and dense, concentrated structure. Initially austere and packed with acidity, it needs time to develop. Drink this powerful wine from 2016.
Sta. Rita Hills stars Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton deliver a golden-hued sparkler with aromas of yellow flowers, fresh picked pears and pressed apples. It explodes on the palate with lemon zest followed by a cooked apple soda, with a touch of tannic tartness on the end.
Luscious honeydew and mango aromas entice on this fruit forward yet elegantly styled Riesling. It's off dry in style, yet powerfully concentrated with peach and tangerine flavors. Brisk with acidity and nuanced with hints of tea leaf and honey, it's a beautifully complex, yet effortlessly quaffable sip.
There's a wild array of aromas to this appellation blend, including wild mint and huckleberries. It's bright red fruit at first sip, then the wine downshifts into cloves, wet asphalt and anise. A direct but clean and very appealing selection, ready for enjoyment now.
A new entrant into the world of fine Carneros Pinot Noir, Gehricke is named for a prominent road in the area. The wine is perfumed in fresh gardenia and sassafras, with grippy and exotic overtones of dark cherry and spice throughout.
While there are still plenty of firm tannins, the wine also is now showing its red berry fruits and enticing texture. Great acidity cuts through the structure, giving freshness to the naturally dense character of this Grand Cru wine. It's for aging, but not for too long, so drink from 2017.
Well structured, this combines ripe red fruits with a firm texture. It has a good concentration and a mineral, terroir-driven character that shows through in its dry core. The juicy acidity at the end gives a lift, but the wine needs to age. Drink from 2017.
Every Burgundy merchant seems to have a Clos de Vougeot. The Aegerter's version is relatively light, as much fruit as tannins even while it is young. Berry fruits comes forward, while the layer of tannin is in a supporting role. It's a solid wine, not one that has a long future. Drink from 2018.
Dusty, earthy, soil and mineral notes lend complexity to sprightly lemon and honey aromas on this sweet, concentrated Riesling. The palate reverberates with tangy citrus flavors that cap off on a lingering kiss of honeysuckle.
Block 10 was made with 25% whole cluster fermentation, the result bold and impressive in cola cherry and soft baking spices, an intriguing floral note akin to geranium or gardenia highlighting the palate. Midway, expect an expansive opening of the wine, before notes of cocoa and espresso delve in.
Showing breeding and class, this opens with aromas of tropical fruit, white peach and citrus that all carry over to the palate. The creamy texture and juicy fruit are balanced by crisp acidity.
Whiffs of candle wax and lime zest accent pretty floral notes on this slightly off-dry Riesling. Flavors of yellow cherries and peach are juicy and ripe on the palate, extended through the finish with steely streaks of mineral and acid. It's an elegant wine with power and complexity.
Delicate flavors of baking spices like cinnamon, allspice and ginger light up this very dry, firm-textured bubbly. Vivid acidity keeps it light and lively. Plenty of citrus and green apple notes and a refreshing dryness make the mouth water.
A superb value, this estate-grown Pinot brings dense fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry, sourced from Dijon clones. Firm and slightly high-toned, it spent 17 months in one-third new oak, resulting in baking-spice notes that unfold on the finish.
A sour-spicy nose of stewed cranberries, chai and floral infusions reveal the nuances of this single-vineyard offering from a coastal appellation, just over the hills from Pismo Beach. Bright red fruit flavors are laid across an herbal backbone with anise and black olive in the midpalate, finishing with bitter greens.
Savory notes of saffron and pressed apple are countered by heady blossom and honey on this elegantly balanced Riesling. The palate is unctuously fruity with flavors of sweet peach and hibiscus nectar, but cut with a shock tangerine acidity that reverberates through the finish.
The terroir range of wines from Philippe Zinck is made to showcase the vineyards, in this case a chalk and clay property near Eguisheim. The wine is textured and full of tropical fruits—mangos and pineapple—along with a complex pepper and spice structure. Drink from 2016.
A spicy wine, this is full of dark fruits and great perfumes. Tannins are integrated into the concentrated fruits and stylish structure. The wine could be drunk, but this style of LBV will be better after a couple of years in bottle. Drink from 2017.
This full-bodied, strongly flavored and firmly structured wine can tackle the juiciest cuts of meat. It smells like blackberries, black pepper and a little wood smoke, tastes rich with ripe fruit and feels somewhat astringent, in a good way.
This is full of personality, with a vivid herbaceous aroma, and savory, herbal accents surrounding the raspberry and cranberry flavors. The balance is great, with firm tannins and fresh acidity. Flavors are tasty, unconventional and memorable.
Raspberry, dark cherry, cola and vanilla aromas are harmonious and introduce a tight, racy, pure palate with toughness and grip. Bold flavors of cassis, cherry, black pepper and vanilla finish with oak-based notes of mocha and vanilla, all pushed to the fore by juicy acidity. Drink through 2019.
This vibrant, dry expression of the Moscato grape from Noto, Sicily opens with an intense floral fragrance of wild rose, jasmine, orange blossom and citrus. The palate delivers nectarine zest, white peach and a hint of Mediterranean brush balanced with fresh acidity. Sip as an apéritif or pair it with shellfish.
Saint Odile is patron saint of Alsace, with this walled vineyard in Obernai named after her. This complex wine is moving in the direction of sweetness although it still has a nervy, almost mineral character. Textured and young, it needs to develop. Drink from 2016.
Ripe and full bodied, this has aromas of lightly toasted oak, vanilla, red berry and coffee. On the palate, notes of mocha, anisette and grilled herb accent crushed wild cherry while bracing tannins provide structure. It closes on a licorice note.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc, this vibrant wine delivers aromas and flavors of tilled soil, underbrush, juicy red berry, leather, mint and mocha. It's elegant and balanced with fine-grained tannins.
Firm and full bodied, this conveys aromas of mature, dark berry, allspice, coffee and Mediterranean herb. The rich palate offers a core of juicy black cherry, while notes of black pepper, cinnamon and clove provide backup. It's smooth and round with supple tannins.
Made with organic grapes, this conveys enticing aromas of jasmine, Spanish broom, dried herb, pear and a hint of beeswax. On the palate, bright lemon zest and crisp acidity energize the juicy core of crunchy Bartlett pear and tart Granny Smith apple.
This fairly bursts with a luscious mix of tropical fruits. Pineapple, guava, starfruit, kiwi and more occupy center stage, leading into a creamy finish with suggestions of banana cream pie.
Estate-grown and bottled, this is the winery owner's ode to his mother, and the highest-end white he makes. Deeply layered in fennel and oak, it is a hearty, generous expression of ripe apple and wild vanilla, softly textured, that will benefit from time in the cellar, through 2020.
Graham Tatomer is bringing Austria to California with his exciting wines, in this case delivering aromas of tight banana, poached apple and guava along with steely gunmetal. There is great zing on the tip of the palate, with apple and pear as well as a lime zest backbone.
Dried yellow and white wild flower, flint and lychee aromas lead the nose on this structured, savory wine. The palate delivers creamy Bartlett pear, mature Granny Smith, saline and Mediterranean herb. It's round but fresh, with a mineral finish.
A bright character comes through in this full-bodied wine. A distinctive fruit component reminiscent of strawberry and rhubarb comes with savory herbal accents that unfold on the palate and on the finish. Firm tannins and good acidity keep it balanced.
Riesling that is just becoming mature is the foundation of this perfumed, white fruit and complex wine. Dried apricot and spice cake flavors give the wine richness and balance the fruitiness that is now maturing. Drink this fine wine now.
Structured and elegant, this opens with aromas of yellow flower, acacia, Mediterranean herb and just a slight whiff of petrol. The palate delivers mature green apple, citrus, mineral, oregano and aniseed balanced by bright acidity.
Intriguing aromas of Spanish broom, hay, mature pear and dried Mediterranean herb carry over to the palate along with green apple and dill. It's balanced and fresh, with a mineral-driven finish.
Drawn from the cool Awatere Valley, this just off-dry wine features exceptional smoothness on the palate. Pear, guava, citrus and cinnamon aromas and flavors finish creamy and harmonious.
Fresh, fragrant peaches are dusted with minerals on this deeply aromatic, intensely floral wine. Off dry in style and opulent in mouthfeel, it's balanced by a honed, steely minerality. It makes an impressive buy for a diminutive price.
Black pepper, cranberry and iron consume the nose on this wine from the Creston district's Italian-minded producer. It's tart and breezy on the palate, with lighter cranberry and pomegranate juices, and plum-skin tannins keeping a bit of sourness in there too. It's tasty, if not particularly Nebbiolo-like.
Medium-gold in the glass, this wine has a bouquet of clementine and brioche. It is clean and crisp in the mouth, with flavors of lime sorbet, vanilla and toasted bread. It offers a good balance of citrus fruit and toasty notes right into the bright, lasting finish.
From a vineyard originally planted in 1922 to what is thought to be 100% Zinfandel, this wine brims with notes of yeasty baked bread, leather and high-toned raspberry and boysenberry. Layered and supported by oak, the medium-bodied weight supports a long finish.
This blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot is dark garnet in the glass, offering a slightly wild nose of blackberry and green pepper. Flavors of cassis, blackberry, toffee and leather are joined by a potent burst of cranberry. Well-integrated flavors continue into the lasting finish, which offers comforting warmth before culminating in a jolt of acidity.
From three vineyard sites, this wine benefits from the skill of its blender, who composed lemon and lime fruit crispness with more sultry full-bodied creaminess to the texture. Apple skin and herb complete the picture, finished off by a lovely accent of subtle spice.
This wine packs a punch of flavor for the price, and is made in large enough quantities to find easily. Vibrant in lemon, lime and mandarin orange, it's smooth, refreshing and delicious.
Scorched soil, toasted oak, dried sage and roasted coffee bean aromas lead the nose. The approachable, full-bodied palate offers dried cherry, espresso and a hint of clove alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit.
Pinot Noir is a relative rarity in Washington, especially coming from this appellation. This one charms with abundant aromas of strawberry and sarsaparilla followed by an elegantly styled yet flavorful palate. One of the better examples coming from the state.
Made entirely with Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas suggesting scorched earth, cassis, porcini mushroom and grilled bell pepper. The firm austere palate offers dried black currant, prune and star anise alongside tightly knit, close-grained tannins that leave an astringent finish.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec, this wine is fresh and fruit filled, with aromas and flavors of plum and black currant, sprinkled with light barrel spices and mocha tones. It shows a lovely sense of balance and poise that kicks it up a notch.
The small Briante parcel in Annick and Jean-Marc Lafont's Brouilly vineyard has produced a fruity cherry-flavored wine. With hints of blueberry, and layers of tannin and acidity, it is still young. Let this cru soften from its total fruitiness and drink from late 2017.
This is a fruity wine, full of red-cherry flavors. They are framed by the firmer texture and tannins that give the wine its character. The wine is delicious and crisp with a lively aftertaste. Drink now.
Georges Duboeuf follows this cru estate, owned by the Meziat family, and produces the wine. It is a ripe wine, shot through with young, juicy acidity. There is structure as well as minerality to give the wine shape. Drink from late 2017.
Gentle fruit and ripeness are apparent in the ripe pear notes that dominate on nose and palate. This is easy, light bodied, fresh and fruity. Drink soon while aromatics are at their peak.
Lifted, primary notions of pear drop make for an appetizing opening. The palate is light and bouncy and full of sunny pears—both green and yellow. The finish is fresh and clean. This is lively and thirst-quenching. Drink soon.
Intense aromas of vanilla and sweet spice waft throughout this ripe voluptuous Merlot. Ruddy rich flavors of plum preserves and black-cherry cola penetrate deeply on the palate edged by fine persistent tannins. Bright cranberry acidity lends freshness, lingering nicely on the finish. Drink now through 2023.
Aromas of black coffee blend with lightly herbaceous, spicy notes of olive and green herbs as well as plum and currant. A fresh moderately big palate tastes of spicy red plum, tomato, oregano and chocolate. On the finish, this retains a spicy dry character.
Uncomplicated berry and plum aromas are easy to process. This everyday Cabernet feels complete despite showing rubbery grabby tannins. Lightly herbal plum and berry flavors finish tight, bright and fresh.
Made in a clean, refreshing style, this is a medium-bodied wine that bursts with aromas and flavors of pear, melon and ginger. A pineapple note on the finish adds zest and freshness. Drink now.
Certified Sustainable applies to almost all New Zealand wines these days, so it's a bit of a gimmick to place it so prominently on the label, but what's in the bottle is very good. It's got those “good green” notes of snow pea, a hint of struck flint and tart pineapple flavors that linger on the finish. It's only light in body, but concentrated in flavor.
Blackberry and bramble tones are laced with cinnamon and vanilla on this perfumed blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It's ripe in fruit flavor, but sprightly in body and acidity, giving it a lean refreshing demeanor. Fine tannins and warming vanilla and spice notes linger through a long finish.
Open-knit and approachable, this is a warm, velvety wine. Cedar, chocolate and cherry notes glide easily across the palate. Drink now–2020.
Young and fresh, this opens with delicate scents of red berry, pressed violet and tilled soil. On the bright enjoyable palate, notes of white pepper and dark spice add interest to a core of wild cherry. It's easy drinking, thanks to zesty acidity and silky tannins.
Lovely aromas of black olive and dried spices (cinnamon and clove) are followed by dark, earthy flavors. It's full in the mouth and a bit creamy in texture, with supple, velvety tannins on the somewhat abbreviated finish.
Mellow, smooth and lightly spicy, this wine is well balanced and polished. It shows lots of berry flavors plus a bit of cedar and cinnamon while cleansing the palate with good fruit acidity and light tannins.
Unusual aromas of freshly rubbed herb, peppery spice, plum and pencil eraser lead to a supple full-feeling palate with a coffee-filled finish that lingers. It has nuances that hold the attention.
This wine is bold and brawny, defined by big, oaky tannin and concentrated weight. Fresh black cherry develops a candied quality in the glass, while an earthy undercurrent of minty forest adds complexity.
Light in color and texture, this wine at first is muted and shy, getting spicier and earthier as it goes, with a baked strawberry-compote flavor at its core.
Enticing floral aromas of fragrant blue flower mingle with whiffs of fresh berry. On the easy-drinking savory palate, notes of white pepper and orange zest accent a core of wild cherry while supple tannins lend soft support. Drink through 2017.
Kim Crawford is the leading Sauvignon Blanc in the U.S., but it turns out Winemaker Anthony Walkenhorst knows a thing or two about making Pinot Gris as well. This dry, medium-bodied wine is partially fermented in acacia barrels. Baking spices, like cinnamon and clove, add welcome nuance to the fresh pear and pineapple flavors.
Ripe, dark and leathery, this full-bodied, rounded wine blends 45% Syrah with 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot plus handfuls of Malbec and Petit Verdot. Aged in French and Hungarian oak barrels and puncheons, it shows its heritage in a perfume of woody chewiness and meaty dried herb.
Sunbaked earth, mature black-skinned berry and brown spice aromas take center stage. The round easygoing palate doles out dried Marasca cherry, blackberry and a hint of star anise. Pliant tannins lend easy drinking support.
A blend of Sauvignon and Chardonnay, this has subdued aromas of toast and orchard fruit. The linear palate is on the lean side, offering yellow apple skin, oak and a hint of citrus. It closes on a bitter-almond note.
This wine is somewhat shy in aroma, with rust, light raspberry, cherry, gravel, dust and a slight cola element arising with patience. Bright red-cherry fruit and hibiscus shows on the sip, yet it's a tad dried out. Slate and riverstone touches add minerality, and the structure is defined by a rocky grip.
Made entirely with Merlot, this opens with subtle aromas of black-skinned fruit and cocoa. The straightforward palate delivers ripe plum, vanilla and clove alongside close-grained tannins that clench the finish.
There's a lot to like about this dense, deep, lush and totally ripe blend of 60% Petit Verdot plus smaller doses of Cabernet, Carmenère, Malbec and Mourvèdre. It glistens in the glass and shows plush aromatics and generous flavors of berry, plum, chocolate and spice. Toasty and smooth on the finish. Drink this excellent blend now–2018.
A new addition to Steven Kent's lineup of exemplary Cabernets, this is 100% Cabernet from Ghielmetti Vineyard, one of Kent's favorite pieces of Livermore ground. The wine is concentrated and rich, with heady notes of dark cherry, cinnamon and clove, plus a trace of mint hiding in the background. This will please fans of California and Bordeaux wines.
This wine has concentration, but it also demonstrates great elegance in its crisp acidity, lemon-zest-like texture and bright fruitiness. It's a wine to age for several years, but it can also be consumed soon.
The sophistication of Luisa Ponzi's wines increases from vintage to vintage, especially at the high end. Here is a Chardonnay for butter lovers, but there is much more to enjoy than just lush barrel flavors. Thick and full bodied, it has notes of caramel apple, poached pear and passion fruit, sprinkled with baking spices. It's a flavor jamboree.
The 2011 Resonance Reserve has just a bit more concentration than the elegant regular bottling. There seems to be more new barrel influence as well, offering proportioned touches of milk chocolate, nougat and caramel. All in all, this is a tasty wine with fine length and impressive detail.
Profiting from the ripe 2009 vintage, this full, elegant wine has a dense, concentrated texture. Named in memory of winemaker Luc de Conti's father, this is packed with stylish blackberry fruit and ripe tannins. Age for at least four years.
A special, 25th anniversary bottling, this is a knockout. Dark, smoky and tannic, this has a deep, black fruit flavor, threaded with rich streaks of licorice, coffee and chocolate. Further detail comes in the form of peppery herb. This is thick, muscular and integrated.
Fermented in wood, this rich, sweet effort shows the roundness, rather than the flavor, of barrel maturation. It's dominated by full-bodied flavors of honey and lemon, fig and quince. The finish shows acidity, keeping this opulent wine in balance.
A wood-matured wine that is made for aging, this is closed, firm and dry, with considerable potential evident in the rich fruit that sits underneath the structure. Keep this for 5–6 years.
Initially, this is tight, minerally and structured, but as the wine opens, intense dark fruits and rich tannins surface, creating an opulent, juicy character. The vineyard is planted with 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, and it's the combination in 2010 that gives such a vital, rich and structured selection.
Januik makes just four barrels of this 100% Walla Walla Cabernet. The usual plushness of the Seven Hills Vineyard comes with a harder, steelier edge—a hallmark of Januik's style. It's structured for aging, with black cherry fruit that's annotated with tobacco, coffee and baking spice.
This iconic Chilean Cabernet is firm on the nose, with cola, cassis, cherry and leather aromas. It's racy, juicy and powerful, with flavors of cassis, blackberry, plum, nutmeg and coffee that swim in harmony. This is big, but also elegant and clean. Drink through 2019.
A blend of 70% Gros Manseng and 30% Petit Manseng, this is a serious, full-bodied wine that's rich and concentrated. It has weight, ripe quince and green plum flavors, and strong herb and honey elements. It is ready to drink, although it should last up to a year.
Aromas of wild red berry, pressed violet and a whiff of baking spice flow through this simple, easygoing wine. On the easy-drinking palate, round tannins support mature black cherry, cinnamon and a hint of mocha. Drink through 2017.
Leesy, cheesy aromas fall apart as this struggles a bit to present a clean front side. Almost dilute in feel, this tastes of cidery apple, nectarine and lees. On the finish, a hint of popcorn rises up.
This easygoing red opens with delicate aromas of violet and red berry. The fresh, easy-drinking palate offers juicy wild cherry and a light note of white pepper alongside pliant tannins and bright acidity. It's made for sheer drinking pleasure so enjoy soon.
A blend of fruit from Williamson, Bitner and Hells Canyon vineyards, this wine offers aromas of woodspice, mulberry, vanilla and mesquite. There's texture to the flavors along with some astringency to the tannins.
Forest floor, iris, menthol, mature blackberry and leather aromas unfold on this firmly structured red. On the palate, ground pepper, licorice and a green note of powdered sage accent a core of mature black cherry. An assertive tannic backbone provides support but leaves a somewhat gritty, astringent finish.
This offers aromas of coffee bean, coconut and plum. The firm palate delivers espresso, oak-driven spice and a green note of sage accompanied by grainy tannins that leave an astringent, mouth-drying finish.
Creamy aromas of vanilla and toasted marshmallow are noted on this fresh blend of Tempranillo and Trepat. Although the palate is short and limited, this offers earthy flavors of plum, currant, tomato and herbs. A lightly baked finish is integrated and mildly complex.
What a great wine for the price. This doesn't have too much tannin, but instead features plenty of tempting black cherry and olive flavors. It's a delicious, dry wine in a classic style.
There is more of the stemmy, herbal side of the grape than many tasters might wish for, but plum and cranberry fruit flavors are also in the mix. The tannins have an earthy, grippy character.
The Hope Family Wines' blend of 50% Marsanne and 50% Viognier offers aromas of ripe melon, smoked lemon rinds, apple custard and roasted chicken on the nose. Creamy flavors of ripe apple and pear are cut with a clean space of lemony acidity in this rich white wine that could handle a variety of food.
Light cherry and raspberry aromas are subdued but fresh. This blend of 85% Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium body, while plum and cherry flavors are straightforward. A lightly baked flavor and spice notes help the finish along, as does the jolt of Cabernet.
Leesy aromas of vanilla and almond skins set up a vital palate with bold malic acid and a sense of lime. The flavor profile holds onto the nose's leesy essence while delivering nectarine notes in front of a finish with good acidity.
While delicate in frame, layers of exotic spice and vanilla amidst creamy peach and tangerine flavors lend flamboyance to this Chardonnay. It's forward and a bit oaky, but finishes vibrantly and briskly.
Aromas of lees and baked apple lead to lightly viscous feeling sweet fruit flavors that linger. It's a crowd pleaser.
The aromas offer notes of spice, dark cherry, medicine cabinet and shoe leather. The tart flavors trail toward the finish.
Fresh apple, pear and tangerine flavors revitalize the palate in this crisp, approachable Sauvignon Blanc. It's uncomplicated yet elegant, finishing on a penetrating streak of lemon-lime acidity.
The extra richness often found in Pouilly Fumé is apparent here, giving this wine weight as well as a rounded texture that hints at minerality. Fresh and fruity with apple and ripe pear flavors, it's ready to drink now.
Easygoing apple, pear and citrus aromas precede a mild palate that's a touch dilute. Melon, papaya and tropical flavors finish with a sense of lightness. This is 70% Treixadura with Torrontés and other white grapes.
This wine is superripe and fruit-forward, loaded with black cherry and plum fruit. It might even be a bit warm on the palate, but ends on a supple, silky note. Drink now–2020.
This opens with aromas of oak, toast, licorice, coconut and sugared plum. The taut palate offers dried cherry, star anise and a green note of powdered sage but not a lot of fruit richness. Raspy tannins leave a tongue-drying finish.
Even though the nose still offers aromas of French oak, scorched earth, dried berry and menthol, this wine has seen better days. The lean, bracing palate shows firm acidity, assertive, fine-grained tannins and a hint of spice but the fruit has almost completely dried up.
Densely concentrated, this delivers aromas and flavors of fig, raisin, mature black cherry, chocolate and dark cooking spice while a coffee note signals the close. Showing the heat of the vintage, it's already evolved so enjoy sooner rather than later.
A blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, this robust wine shows the heat of the vintage. It opens with aromas that recall scorched earth, espresso, French oak, dark spice and a balsamic note while the warm palate offers dried black cherry, raisin, licorice and menthol framed in bracing tannins. The finish is dominated by evident alcohol that throws it somewhat off-balance.
Aromas of tilled soil, overripe black plum, fleshy black cherry and a hint of farmyard lead the nose and carry through to the full-bodied palate. It's ripe, round and ready, with evolved tannins and soft acidity so drink soon.
Aromas of mulberry, savory herb, green tea, vanilla and spice lead to medium-bodied, easy-drinking cherry flavors.
Made with 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has aromas of blue flower and red berry. The easy-drinking palate offers black cherry, black currant and ground pepper while mellow tannins offer soft support. Drink soon.
With its bitter cherry flavors and light, smoky tannins, this perfumed wine has a richer juicy element in the background. Lightly textured, it's more about fruit that is up front and refreshing. Drink now, although the wine will be better from 2017.
Grown on gravel terraces that rise up from the Loire, this wine is both structuredand fruity. Fresh juicy black currant flavors bring acidity along with them, leaving a light tannic structure at the end. Drink now.
Light, fragrant and aromatic, this wine has beautiful acidity and a bright lemon and yellow fruit that combine richness and freshness at the same time. Its touch of honey fills the palate, while the crisp aftertaste leave a refreshing feeling in the mouth.
Restrained, smooth and soft, this vineyard-designate is pillowy on the palate while remaining satisfying and expansive in juicy red fruit. Holding 25% Merlot, it offers undercurrents of dried herb and coconut flake atop quiet oak and is a beautiful wine for the table.
The winery's largest vineyard, Mount Richmond encompasses 105 acres, and yet just 752 cases of the vineyard-designated version were produced in this vintage. The demanding selection process worked wonders. This is a smoky and seductive wine with aromas of incense and Asian spice. Bright, ripe cherry fruit is highlighted with a dash of dark chocolate. Subtle and elegant, this is an all-star effort from a challenging vintage.
With its wire caged bottle, the wine appears as though it is Spanish. The flavors, though, are all Portuguese. Dominated by Touriga Nacional's distinctive perfumed and dry tannin character, with the addition of the powerfully juicy Alicante Bouschet, the wine is dark, solid and still coming together. It is concentrated and rich, shot through with acidity. Drink from 2017.
Fresh-pressed boysenberry, darker blueberry and a subtle white sage lift gives lots of complexity to the nose on this equal parts blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. It's relatively light in body, yet throws off lots of verve with purple fruit, pencil shavings and herbal spice.
Inky violet red to the eye, this wine made of native Turkish variety Öküzgözü offers a beautiful combination of fruit and spice flavors that are only hinted at by aromas of black cherry, talc and violet. Harmonious flavors of cassis, blackberry jam, anisette, vanilla bean and coffee roll on the tongue among silky tannins through a finish that features a lasting sense of black cherry and anise.
Loamy, rich aromas of blackberry, licorice and chocolate cake come before a bold, balanced palate with acidic kick. Loamy blackberry, prune and licorice flavors finish with jammy richness and lingering flavors of blackberry, chocolate and anise. Drink through 2020.
Production of this barrel-fermented reserve is roughly half of what it was in 2013, and in this instance, less is more. A sleek, sophisticated effort, it's bursting with flavors of pear flesh and skin, set against a wash of stony minerality. It's leesy, long and luscious.
Swathes of violet and lavender scent this pretty Spätburgunder, or German Pinot Noir, highlighting a rich, sultry black cherry palate. Tart cranberry tones brighten the midpalate. Subtle tones of oak and spice, with a flurry of soft tannins accompany a moderately long finish.
Enticing aromas of perfumed berry, pressed rose and violet emerge on this elegant, structured wine. The delicious palate doles out juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper, clove and aniseed while firm, fine-grained tannins provide the framework. A tobacco note closes the finish. Drink 2018–2025.
Robust and forward, this opens with aromas of dried rose petal, truffle, forest floor, baked fruit and sweet cake spice. The warm palate doles out notes of high-toned cherry, cinnamon, clove and anisette alongside big, velvety tannins. Hold for a few years and then enjoy. Drink 2017–2023.
This is a limited-production wine made principally from 45-year-old vines. Dry, textural and complex, it mixes Key lime, tangerine, orange peel and citrus oil with a burnishing hint of Cointreau.
This is a solid and structured wine that is rich and full on the palate. With ripe tannins and black plum flavors, it is dense, packed with big, bold flavors and a velvety texture that is looking towards a long future. Drink from 2017.
Aromas of wild berry, blue flower and cooking spice lead the nose on this quintessential Barbaresco. The palate has youthful tension, showing black raspberry, dark cherry, licorice, chopped mint and menthol alongside firm, refined tannins and fresh acidity.
Rubus is a label for wines selected by the fine American importer Fran Kysela, MS. The 2013 is a full-bodied, velvety-textured Barossa Shiraz, offering a rich, luxurious mouthfeel. Cedar and mocha notes are apparent, but there's ample underlying plummy fruit and a long, plush finish. Drink now–2020.
Bay Area biotech scientist-turned-vintner Kristie Tacey offers a solid wine with sandalwood, pomegranate and a slight bitterness on the nose. The palate also shows pomegranate along with rhubarb, backed up by graphite minerality and brown spice throughout.
Fleshy, herbal black-fruit aromas include mild leafy notes. This blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ancellotta and Caladoc is intense in feel, with chewy depth and mild tannins. Meaty, baked flavors of boysenberry and blackberry finish solid, with creaminess and herbal notes. Drink through 2020.
This lovely wine sings in rich red and black berries, a celebration of juicy, ripe fruit that's balanced by a firmness of acidity. Inviting wafts of clove and vanilla play backup with finesse, atop soft, well-behaved tannins.
This unusual blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec comes from the folks who own Stagecoach Vineyard high atop Atlas Peak. A bombastically dense and concentrated wine, it's gamy, meaty and brawny all around. Black fruit, tar and tobacco combine to full-bodied effect. It would be best to wait on this one, cellaring through 2020.
From a parcel of the Fourchaume premier cru vineyard that is on the same slope as the Grand Crus, this is a ripe, full-bodied wine, packed with fruit while still firmly structured. Tropical and yellow fruits, hints of pineapple and apricots give richness, set against a mineral, textured aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
Young and tight, this requires aggressive aeration before it begins to show much flavor. It's worth the effort, as it evolves into a dense, delicious wine that marries its juicy stone fruits to a rich mix of vanilla, coconut and caramel components from the barrel aging. Drink 2018 to 2030.
This is nearly equal parts Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache, full bodied and creamy in texture. Black cherries and peppery spice show up on the nose, while the palate adds brighter red raspberries, bass notes of ripe plums, sweet hints of brown sugar and savory, meaty complexity. Drink now–2020.
Vanilla, cedar and mint notes mark the nose, while this wine boasts just enough fruit on the plate to carry the lavish oak. It's full bodied, creamy and supple, amply concentrated but still very approachable. Drink now–2023.
Black sage, wispy black cherry, dried violets, star anise and a woody character combine for a wondrous nose on this wine by regional pioneer Dan Lee. It's rich on the palate, with clove and nutmeg adding complexity to the plum, dried cherry and fennel bulb flavors.
You'll find classic Nebbiolo scents of perfumed berry, rose, violet, tilled earth, leather and a hint of game in this striking wine. On the palate, notes of sage, white pepper and clove accent a core of red and black cherry. It's balanced with nervous acidity and gripping tannins.
The stately hillside line of cypress trees gives its name to this estate on the south bank of the Douro. This complex, rich and dark wine is densely textured. The tannins are still young, while the black berry fruits pack into the solid structure. This is a wine to age, so drink from 2018.
Ripe pomegranate seeds, red cherry juice, chai tea, a touch of iron and a stemmy crushed herb element powers the nose on this bottling from a special part of the estate vineyard. The flavors are sanguine at first, then open up onto red fruits, but are all held together by crushed marjoram and thyme.
Vanilla, saffron and other exotic yellow spices are laced amidst the dried apples, dried pineapples and just-cut lemons on the nose of this wine from a vineyard on the cool western fringe of the appellation. It's fairly broad in the mouth, with lots of lemon zest, cooked apples and more vanilla, cut by a pithy bitterness.
The third (and newest) of Trisaetum's estate vineyards, Wichman's grafted-on Riesling vines (originally Pinot Gris) have found their grip in 2014. Citrus, pink grapefruit and citrus peel components pile on more subtle details of orange rind, mineral and a whiff of vanilla wafer. The acids are juicy and the finish has a crisp, lemony tang.
Roussanne, with barely seven years history in Washington, is making good headway, thanks to efforts such as this. It seems to capture the floral and citrus complexity of the best Viogniers, while adding in richer layers of fruit through a pleasingly honeyed middle. Lively and lingering, it has the balance and depth to improve in bottle over the next four or five years.
Surprisingly tight for such a ripe and generous vintage; decanted if you plan on drinking it soon. The fruit is concentrated and pure: raspberry, cherry and cassis with a chaser of lemony acid. The acids are not quite integrated yet, and the oak seems unusually restrained. Looks set to evolve in interesting ways; purchase it in quantity, then check on it regularly to see what it's doing.
This is Gorman's reserve wine, a lovely mix of tart, sappy cassis, smoke and bright, brambly berry flavors. Young and tight, this is the quintessential Washington ‘garagiste' Syrah/Cab blend—a red wine that is sharp, spicy and detailed, with tangy red berry fruits, hints of pineapple and citrus, and a balanced mix of fruit, spice and smoke.
When O. Fournier tackles a new project, such as Sauvignon Blanc from Leyda, it doesn't mess around. This is an excellent example of Chilean SB with green fruit, citrus and a light touch of capsicum. It's a serious wine that challenges with its peppery crispness offset by grapefruit and green melon. Very nice mouthfeel; shows itself in a couple of waves.
This plump, succulent spätlese starts off with apple and citrus aromas, then delivers intensely mineral flavors reminiscent of crushed vitamins and green apples. Crisp and citrusy on the finish, with a fine sense of poise and balance.
A rich and beautiful wine with a lush, full weight and velvety texture. Typical black fruit abounds with accents of milk chocolate, thyme and eucalyptus. A hint of grapefruit oil adds vibrancy to the nose, transcending a more traditional Corbières offering. The finish is long and lingering but a bit tight with strong tannic presence; drink 2010 on. Only 50 cases imported.
From 40–70-year-old vines planted on red slate, this is a deeply mineral, almost earthy Riesling, loaded with smoke, diesel and slate aromas and just tinged with apple and citrus. The mouthfeel is slightly creamy, the flavors almost totally dry, the finish finely balanced.
Plump, mouthfilling and sweet, this is an easy-to-appreciate auslese loaded with fruit-driven flavor. Honeyed apples and pear lead the way, garnished by touches of stone fruit, orange marmalade and hints of slaty minerality. There's a slightly bitter tinge to the finish, but it actually helps the wine's overall balance.
Richly fruited and tropical, this is a medium-bodied, slightly creamy-textured Marlborough Savvy. Flavors hint at pineapple, honey and stone fruit, yet remain zesty and clean, with a refreshing citrus zing to the finish. Stock up for the summer.
As one might expect, this is Washington rosé with a French touch, courtesy of consulting winemaker Christian LeSommer. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc, given a four-hour soak and then fermented in neutral oak, it is exceptional in every way. Silky and flavorful with a mix of peach and strawberry, vanilla cookie and amazing length.
Bergevin Lane's wines show a rich mix of herbal and earth flavors, with ripe but not overly sweet fruit. This 100% varietal Syrah is herbaceous and aromatic, with rich scents that mix the purple fruits with intimations of herb, chocolate and cracker. It's elegant and tight, and should be decanted for several hours. Once it breathes open, it's perfectly balanced and drinkable right now.
Produced from a small acre of land in Margaux, this is made in the same extravagant style as the cult wines of Saint-Emilion. With 100% new wood, it is definitely modern in style, but there is sufficient concentration in the fruit to balance all that vanilla. It misses the 2006 freshness,but everything else is there.
This medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc strums the right chords, combining notes of crushed tomato leaf with citrusy fruit to make a pretty melody. A hint of creaminesss rounds out the midpalate, and the wine finishes long, with pristine cleanliness.
This is great fruit, sappy and loaded with bright, concise flavors of raspberry and pomegranate. Intense and juicy, this spicy and crisply defined wine shows great balance and detail, with just a hint of chocolate adorning the finish.
Complex, rich and weighty, this is a Chardonnay that avoids overt fruitiness in favor of scents of truffle, tobacco and earth, then folds in flavors of honey and spice. Drink now.
This full-bodied wine pushes the concept of rosé to its limits. Wood-aged and rich, it conveys a sense of structure, mature fruit and delicious toastiness. It has already been aged an extra year, but would benefit from cellaring even longer, so wait until 2015.
Consistent with prior vintages, this Malbec is a full-throttle wine with huge aromas of blackberry and cassis. This version is a bit more narrow and linear than in the past, but it's still excellent. Flavors of oak-based vanilla and coconut sit on top of vivacious berry fruit, while chocolate cake and coconut are the key flavors on a large, lusty finish. Drink through 2018.
Sourced from a vineyard in the region known as the Rocks, this is a bit like a Cayuse light—in a good way. Toasty, lightly funky and flavorful with a lively mix of purple and blue fruits, it has palate-coating but not oppressive weight. Highlights of cocoa, umami, pepper and earth keep things interesting through a long finish.
The palest of grey-pink rosés, this is classy, fresh and fragrant. It has a light, orange-zest texture as well as tannins and a mineral edge. Very fresh, it is also worth aging a few months.
A complex and layered wine, this is always one of South Africa's top Chenin Blancs. The bouquet opens with notes of chalk, lanolin, toasted apple skin, blanched almond and clove-studded orange peel. The palate is toasty, but well integrated; the apple, apricot and melon fruit core marry harmoniously with the wood and sweet spice characteristics. Round and smooth in texture, but with ample acidity to keep the mouthfeel fresh and the finish bright. Drink now–2017.
Merlot has long been a particular strength at Forgeron. Up front in this new release is a thick vein of chocolate around rich black cherry fruit. The wine dips a bit in midpalate, then re-emerges in a finish with chewy tannins and citrusy acidity. The odds strongly favor more improvement with further bottle age; try after 2016.
With rich apricot juice, sweet red apples and a dry spiciness, it is complex and has aging potential. A mineral element in the texture emphasizes the dry yet rich nature of the wine. Drink from 2015.
Attractive scents of whole clove and cinnamon stick add depth to the black fruit core of this wine. Lush, ripe flavors of blackberry, boysenberry and cassis flood the medium-weight palate, with medium tannins and notes of cigar box and licorice that remain through the medium-length finish. Drink now–2017.
Meaty, rubbery aromas of berry fruits come with hints of minty green and lemony oak. This feels wide and tannic on the palate, with ripe, oaky flavors of berry, cassis, vanilla and licorice. A creamy palate is healthy and completes the wine in fine fashion; drink through 2020.
Ripe blackberry and cassis aromas are pure and lusty. In the mouth, it shows chewy tannins, a stout structure and generous flavors of blackberry, chocolate, pepper and a spot of salty brine. A toasty, dark, heady finish confirms the overall quality. Drink through 2020.
This dense, purple wine is packed with roasted, charred aromas of burnt toast, espresso and plum. The palate is creamy and smooth, with good core acidity. Flavors of loamy berry, raw oak, chocolate and herbs finish smooth, woody and lush. Only 300 cases made; drink through 2019.
All Roussanne from the Gunkel vineyard, this is a fine expression of pure varietal fruit. A fresh and delicious blend of flavors, it touches on peach, apricot, lemon curd and pineapple, with impressive concentration through a long, clean finish.
Whiffs of herbs and green florals persist from start to finish on this elegant off-dry Riesling. The palate is lush with ripe white-peach flavor, but blossomy and bright with a streak of lemon-lime acidity. Finishes long with a delicately lacy sweetness.
On this medium-bodied, sweet Moscatel, the tangerine peel and lychee aromas require airing to get beyond the basics. Mango, melon and lychee are the lead flavors, while the finish is peachy and easy, with richness but nothing cloying. Drink through 2018.
Perfumed and elegant, this wine is a highlight within the producer's line up of consistently well-made wines. Waxy honeycomb and floral aromas accent fresh green notes on this off-dry Riesling. It's lean in style, yet plush with sweet white peach and melon flavors. Finishes long with a lingering spray of honeysuckle.
With only 56 cases imported, this may be one of the hardest Saint Clair wines to find, but it offers a refreshingly austere alternative to some of the winery's other bottlings. It's only medium bodied, with delicate, leafy aromas and pristine white-grapefruit flavors. Convincingly dry and bracing on the finish, it would make a brisk counterpoint to rich fish dishes.
The Cabernet is stiffened up with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Cab Franc and Malbec, resulting in a firm, herbal, but very well-balanced Bordeaux-style blend. There's compact cassis fruit, streaked with light stem, earth and herb. This is a wine that should improve with bottle age through 2019.
The crown jewel of the winery's ice-style wines, it's gorgeously aromatic with notes of tropical mango and pineapple adorned with honey and blossoms. Dripping with nectar and yellow peach preserves, it's lusciously sweet, yet impeccably balanced with acidity and an elegant mineral tone that lingers on the finish.
De Toren's Merlot-based Bordeaux-style blend also includes 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. It leads with earthy aromas of black-currant leaf, fresh tobacco and menthol that support the black-fruit core of plum, cherry and fig. The palate is full and round, but with enough tannic structure to keep it from feeling too rich or opulent. A toasty cocoa accent lingers long on the close. Drink now–2017.
Full of fresh raspberries, laced with red cherries and given a lift by the acidity and minerality, it is both ripe and full of brightness.
This is the top cuvée from Sainte-Roseline (you can tell from the weight of the bottle). It has power, a smooth texture and a rounded aftertaste. The red fruits are well integrated into the rich texture. It would be worth aging this until the end of 2014.
This benchmark rosé is round yet fresh, and crisp while ripely fruity. Red berry fruits are finely textured and attractive acidity cuts through the full body of the wine. It would be worth aging until late 2014.
Delicious and linear, this full-bodied, elegant wine has a subtle nose of white flower, grapefruit and flint. The fresh palate delivers nectarine, lemon zest, rosemary, sage and mineral. This will develop more complexity; drink through 2017.
This recent addition to the lineup at DeLille blends Cabernet from Klipsun, Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel and Upchurch vineyards. It's a fine effort, structured like the scaffolding on a high-rise building, narrow and vertical, with a spine of steel and a core of cassis. Firm acidity completes the picture.
Modeled on a white Bordeaux, this is a lovely, lightly toasty blend of two-thirds Sauvignon Blanc and one-third Sémillon. The pretty fruit mixes candied lemon, peach and pear with streaks of butterscotch and a suggestion of hazelnuts.
Black cherry and smoke beef show on the nose of this study of Pauillac, as do tobacco ash, leather and crushed black gravel. Dill, oregano and thyme give nuance to the dark red and black fruit of the palate, from black plum to dense mulberry. This needs a bit more time to reach full potential, but should cellar well. Drink 2018–2028.
This is a big, muscular wine with great structure and lots of enticing spicy oak and fruit flavors. It's full bodied, firmly tannic and very appetizing.
Sweetly satisfying and succulent, without being technically sweet, this robust, reserve-level wine offers a layered depth of red-cherry cola and leather that keeps it bright on the palate and impressively lengthy.
Appetizing, full-fruited but crisp pear notes are framed by very creamy, intense yeast notes. The palate, despite its slender linearity, surprises with immense concentration and a creamy but incisive texture. A wine of extremes with incredibly full flavour.
Co-fermented with 10% Petite Sirah, this red certainly impresses. With a fruity entry, it meets a leathery tightness on the midpalate, its mix of cherry and orange confounding expectations of darker expression from the varieties with its rose-tinged aromas. Spicy pepper rounds out the finish.
Baked strawberries, peppercorns and lavender flowers converge for a dynamic nose on this bottling, which also offers scents of sea-salt caramel and toasted oak. There's lots of vibrancy to the sip, where beef char, oregano, marjoram and thyme give nuance to the full-bodied, black pepper-laced blackberry jam.
Tightly coiled in fruit and oak, this is a young yet vibrantly lush, plush and juicy wine.It's ready to expand on the palate as it opens to reveal exotic baking spice, textured velvety softness and swathes of black cherry and pomegranate. Medium bodied and exuberant, it'll drink well with food.
Combining fruit from two different ranches, as well as 11% Petite Sirah from another site, this fulsome, sultry wine broods in blackberry, vanilla and coconut, presenting itself as friendly if buxom. Broadly appealing, it's full bodied and yet restrained in terms of oak, allowing the fruit to sing.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine offers aromas of pencil lead, blackberry and incense, with mint and other herbs in the background. The flavors are rich yet demonstrate restraint, with the tannins showing exceptional polish. It wins on finesse rather than power.
This is a dense and heavy take on the grape, but done with style, showing vanilla cookie, clove and deep anise spice atop the black cherry core. Gingerbread, red cinnamon and Christmas spice liven up the baked red-plum fruit of the palate, laced with rich oak flavorings. It's not a dainty wine, but it's certainly delicious.
This is ripe, round and lush. Cherry-scented goodness leads the way, accented by hints of cracked pepper, cinnamon and allspice that linger elegantly on the finish.
Aged for 10 years in underground tanks on its lees, this wine has just been bottled. That aging process has preserved the wine's freshness, keeping the crisp acidity in place. So while the wine is beautifully mature, it is still so bright and fruity. Drink now.
An almost tropical overtone of passion fruit precedes the zesty, herbal notes that fizz away on nose and palate. Citrus zest frames the palate which is streamlined, light-bodied but concentrated. This offers verve, clean-cut refreshment and zesty length.
Ripe stone fruit beckons: white peach and greengage are held within a taut frame of fragrant and expressive lime and grapefruit zest. The slender palate tingles with freshness and drive. This is clean, brisk and like a clarion call. Purity and focus are all.
From a vineyard smack in the middle of the Rutherford Bench, this delights in spicy clove, black plum and blackberry. Buoyant in acidity, the wine lifts its dusty tannins to a softness that tastes velvety. Chocolate and raspberry form an alliance on the lengthy finish.
The varietal is unmistakable from this young vineyard, with notes of dried herbs intermingling with spice, toast and dark cherry, bringing a real sense of perfume. The palate displays a compelling sense of texture, deftness and freshness to the tart cherry and cranberry flavors with a finish that persists.
All varietal, this wine is a blend of Scooteney Flats, Kiona and Canyons vineyards. Aromas of exotic spices, clove and purple fruit lead to elegant supple flavors that linger. It still needs time to fully blossom.
Crafted by Syncline winemaker James Mantone, the aromas of raspberry, kirsch and spice show a pleasing sense of harmony. The red-fruit flavors are layered, showing intensity and precision, with the tannins bringing some grip. The balance is spot-on throughout.
Among Genium's fine lineup of 2010 Priorat reds, this one stands out for it's schisty nose of cherry, currant and raspberry. A ripe, layered, chiseled palate is tough but rewarding. Cherry, cassis and plum flavors finish fiery and minerally, even by Priorat standards. Drink through 2025.
Miso and yeast are met by lemon zest and pear peel. The palate is streamlined and slender and homes in on a central vein of beautiful grass and herb-scented freshness. This literally dances on and off the palate and leaves you with wonder that such lightness can have so much flavor.
For now, funky yeast dominates the nose. The palate, however, abounds with friendly yellow Mirabelle plum and mandarin notes, all pulled into beautiful focus by lemon freshness. There is concentration and drive, energy and verve. This is beautiful, impressive and yet friendly and gentle. Lovely balance and aromatic length.
Hayflowers and savory lovage and arugula notes, inflected with piquant lime zest create an irresistibly spicy palate of such lightness and ease, there is a spring in the step of this light but intensely flavoured wine. If you want spicy refreshment, look no further.
The nose spells delicacy and the palate proves it: this is a light-footed filigree and yet has a firm, straight backbone of spice and zest. Its midpalate texture slowly grows on you and draws you in with mossy notes of pear and ivy.
Lots of funky yeast still hovers above the wine, underneath there is grassy, savory freshness, reminiscent of salty soy. Lime zestiness is edged with peppery verve. This is a layered superspicy Grüner that deserves your full attention. The textured palate makes it easy to linger and savor.
A majority of Merlot speaks in this nicely approachable wine, a high-toned expression of cranberry and cherry. Mid-tier complexity and full-bodied weight give way to a juicy backbone that's accented by dusty, interwoven tannin.
Black-cherry aromas meet with hints of tar and mineral on the restrained nose of this bottling from a historic property in the mountains behind Arroyo Grande. Tart black-plum skin, black raspberry and boysenberry show on the sip, framed by fine-grained, chalky tannins and lifted by a plummy earthiness and touches of dried mint, white sage and pepper.
A panoply of pear notes: the freshly cut peel of Conference, the juicy flesh of Bartlett, the scented fruitfulness of Comice. These full-fruited notes dominate nose and palate beautifully and are deftly framed with zesty lemon freshness. Tons of flavor in a light-bodied but very convincing package.
Clean, slender poise and quiet citrus conviction give this wonderfully light wine its chief character. There is gentle but pure lemon freshness at the very core of this, radiating weightless brightness. This leaves you thoroughly refreshed. With its energy and drive this wine means that conversation will be enlivened rather than dampened.
Intense aromas recalling chopped mint, red berry and a balsamic note lift out of the glass. The full-bodied palate offers mature wild cherry, leather, underbrush and star anise framed in velvety tannins.
This elegant Barolo from Verduno's famed Monvigliero hill shows plenty of character. It has layers of dark cherry, white pepper, mint, spice and chocolate. This has a wonderful creamy, silky texture and is just loaded with finesse. It's already very enjoyable.
This classically styled Barolo has hallmark Nebbiolo scents of rose, violet, spice, leather and forest floor. The creamy palate delivers wild cherry flavors, layered with spice, mint, licorice and eucalyptus notes. It's well balanced, fresh and structured. While it's already enjoyable, drink it after 2018 for more complexity.
Savory, rather austere aromas of fresh herbs, lemon and honeycomb belie the intensity of sweet, rich tangerine and peach preserves on this decadent, yet light-as-a-feather Beerenauslese. Tart, citrus acidity extends the orange marmalade finish. Enjoy now for it's ethereal juiciness, or hold back a decade or two to deepen its waxy, honeyed tones.
Cascina delle Rose is one of the denomination's brightest gems and its Rio Sordo is a textbook Barbaresco. It has an alluring and multifaceted bouquet of lilac, violet and wisteria, along with hints of spice, truffle and earth. The palate is focused, with intense cherry and spice notes balanced by firm but fine tannins and freshness. It already shows ample complexity and will age beautifully.
A high altitude vineyard yields a cool feeling wine that's very crisp and fragrant. Concentrated and full, it has great acidity, fruitiness and spice all blending together. This is a dense wine with singular intensity that needs time, so give it 3–5 years. Screwcap.
Smoky and earthy on the nose, this remarkably complex Beerenauslese highlights bright, sunny stonefruit flavors with layers of minerality. It's delightfully flinty, but lip-smackingly honeyed as well. Finishes briskly with a delicate saline note.
A five-grape Bordeaux-style blend from the estate vineyard, this has lovely aromatics, as well as firm yet supple tannins. The black fruits are dotted with details of licorice, black tea and coffee. It's smooth and balanced through the lengthy finish, and continues to improve overnight, suggesting it also has serious aging potential.
This Barolo shows ripe black cherry and plum aromas with spice undertones. The concentrated palate shows dark cherry, white pepper, mint and menthol. It has a delicious creamy texture and big, brooding tannins. While this will evolve nicely for the next few years, it's a tad shy on acidity so don't lay it down for ages.
This Barolo offers subdued but textbook Nebbiolo aromas of rose, wild cherry and truffle. The palate shows juicy wild cherry notes layered with spice and cinnamon, and it's nicely balanced and fresh. It's fast approaching ideal drinkability so enjoy it over the next few years.
This classically styled Barolo from one of the denomination's most storied houses shows archetypal Nebbiolo scents of dried rose petal, eucalyptus and hints of leather and berry. The palate delivers cassis and truffle notes, with layers of Alpine herbs. While tannic, the wine is surprisingly forward.
Named after the quail that inhabit the vineyard, this intensely fruity wine is ripe and full-bodied. Flavors of truffles, spice as well as black plums and berries abound. This is a serious wine for aging; keep for at least seven years, although with its great fruit it could be deliciously drinkable sooner.
Olsen vineyard Syrah and Upland vineyards Grenache combine in equal proportions, making a compelling blend that nicely counterpoints the winery's La Fraternité red. Here it's all about blue fruits, especially plums, along with some earthy, barnyard flavors. The structure and aromatics are outstanding, and the acidity of the vintage suggests this wine is the one to cellar, while the other wine is the one to gulp.
Old vines from the Bisamberg Vineyard have produced a rich, beautifully ripe wine. Its white and yellow fruit flavors give richness, concentration and a great spicy character. With its density, structure and intense acidity, it's likely to age well over 3–5 years. Glass stopper.
The best bottle in a strong 2010 William Church lineup, this pure, single-vineyard Malbec is flat-out lovely. Deep purple fruits—plums and cherries—meet silky tannins and just the right touch of French oak, a mix of new, once used and neutral. Young, compact and dense, it should reward up to a decade of cellaring.
Claudio Fenocchio's classically crafted Barolos are consistently outstanding even in tough vintages. His flagship Bussia delivers succulent black cherry, truffle, leather and balsamic sensations balanced by big but fine tannins. This is already developing some complexity. Imported by Masciarelli Wine Co, Moonlight Wine Co.
This elegant Barbaresco has an intensely floral bouquet of rose, violet and iris, plus whiffs of sage and balsam. The palate offers juicy, wild cherry flavors punctuated with truffle, and balsamic notes of Alpine herbs. It's impeccably balanced, with ample length.
The addition of 28% Grenache brings a punchy, upfront fruitiness to the umami-soaked Syrah. Tangy orange/raspberry fruit is concentrated and fills the mouth; then the peppery, earthy Syrah backbone brings flesh to the finish. Beautifully proportioned.
One of the finest Malbecs ever made in Washington, this pure varietal wine, sourced entirely from the Conner Lee Vineyard, is deeply concentrated with raspberry and loganberry fruit. Intense and structured for aging, it retains its clear, pure focus right on through an exceptionally long finish.
The core of the “K” range, this wine shows its wood and tannins right up front. It's certainly powerful, with a sense of concentrated black fruits behind the firm and dry structure. A dark and brooding wine, this has enormous potential, so give it at least six years.
This is a delicate wine with a very Margaux feel. The delicious red berry fruits and light layers of tannin are in balance, suggesting a wine that will age relatively quickly, and is already drinkable now.
With only 30 cases imported, this might be a tough find, but it's a great Terrasses du Larzac at an attractive price. Rich and concentrated dark fruit flavors of plum, cherry and boysenberry are infused with notes of chicory and herbal bark. The lush and creamy texture fills the palate, with a vanilla custard richness and a baking spice-flavored finish.
This is a particularly lovely vintage of the popular Three Legged Red from Dunham. The fruit is a luscious bowl of cherries, with a streak of fresh peach as well. Smooth and supple, it adds gentle barrel notes of light toast, continuing on its elegant path through an extended finish.
Saggi is the super Tuscan entry in the Long Shadows portfolio, made by Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari. Here it is a blend of 45% Sangiovese, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah —not much different from 2007. Smoky in the nose, broadly fruity in the mouth, with an attractive mix of black cherry fruit and bacon fat highlights. It fades a bit in the finish, and there is just the faintest hint of onion.
Undulating with richness and flavor. There's a textural brilliance that stands out on this sumptuous Trockenbeerenauslese-style Riesling from the North Fork's Roman Roth. Gorgeously perfumed with roses, freesia, lanolin and honey, it's a complex, composed representative of a fine American dessert wine.
This is an unusually complex Shiraz for the price, ably marrying meaty-savory notes with tart berries and plenty of weight on the palate. Crisp structure, finishes long, with lingering acids. Drink now–2018.
Aged a little more than two years in 90% new French oak and then in bottle, time has been kind to this wine, a Syrah of dark mushroom and baked blackberry, that's savory and silky with a slight hint of mint on the finish. Mighty and impressive.
Dusty and tight, with a whiff of coffee and cocoa introducing an elegant wine with interesting streaks of metal and graphite. Young fruit and fine tannins are in perfect balance, and the wine has a lovely delicacy.
It has taken a few years but Morlanda has reached a nice place with this wine. Look for ripeness and concentrated black fruit aromas, and then a ripe palate with herbal blackberry and chocolate. Smooth on the finish, with a tiny bit of burn. Drink now through 2014.
A wood-aged white, spicy and ripe. It has just the right balance of acidity to go with the ripe green plum and melon fruits. With a great bite of acidity to finish, this is a wine that will age for 3–4 years.
Big and ripe wine with sweet, jammy black fruits layered with new wood. The wine is powerful, to be sure, but it also has a stylish elegance from the interplay of fruit acidity and tannins.
Done in a dry style, this fine effort is sourced from the Wallula Benches vineyard. It's good juice, with a delicious mix of stone fruits, citrus zest and a hint of sweet honey.
Soft and lush when first opened, with a fragrant mix of oak and berry, this is broad in the mouth, oaky and liquorous. There is an impression of flatness; it lacks the lift and depth of the other Quilceda reds. But to find any Quilceda at such a modest price must be considered a gift from the wine gods.
An almost black wine, its soft and velvet tannins polished by wood. The structure is powerful, with plum skins, red berries and spice. There is a firm, dry core from the Cabernet that brings out a more austere side. Age for 2–3 years.
A big, sweet, fruity wine, with ripe tannins, mint and chocolate flavors from the wood aging. It is rounded, polished, full of black plums, spice and finishing with balanced acidity. Keep for 3–4 years.
Very structured wine that shows its wood aging as well as textured black plum fruits. It has spice, toast and a smoky character. Underneath are blackberry fruits and a strong layer of acidity. Age for 3–4 years.
Although this blend of 75% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache spends 18 months in French oak, the outcome is surprisingly balanced and elegant, with gorgeous mineral notes to the bouquet alongside earthy spice, garrigue and ripe red berries. Everything transitions seamlessly to the smooth mouth, with a silky structure that provides a bit of grip to the close. Drink now through 2014.
Dark colored wine, its fruit structured with building blocks of dense tannins, acidity and a plum skin texture. The wine has a fine balance, rich but also restrained and elegant. For aging over 3–4 years.
This salmon-colored blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and just a touch of Merlot is light, crisp and perfumed. It has a creamy mousse and a bright, red currant-inflected aftertaste. Drink now.
This structured, smoky wine is also full of ripe berry fruit. It has a generous texture and a fine balance between fruit and tannins but is likely to age quickly. Drink from 2019.
Blackberry jam aromas in this wine are followed by a lean palate and ample tannins. It's tough at this stage, but as it opens, the fruit will come through to give damson jelly flavors. Drink from 2020.
This wine is soft and juicy, with attractive red berry fruit. Reflecting the vintage, it's a light with a dry core that will soften soon. The aftertaste is dry. Drink from 2018.
From vines to the east of Saint-Émilion city, this wine is structured and firm. It will take time for the black fruit to come through, so drink from 2019.
This wine brings out the fruitiness of the vintage. Its bright red berry aromas presage the attractive fruit and juicy acidity. Wood aging gives it a dry core, although it is developing quickly. Drink from 2019.
Juicy with fine berry fruit, this is an open wine that will develop quickly. With its attractive acidity and smoky character from wood aging, it has the potential to be a delicious wine. Drink from 2020.
Red berry aromas signal an attractive wine that is fragrant and fruity yet has enough tannins to age. Drink from 2019.
This ripe, juicy wine is packed with red fruit. Its tannins are already soft, suggesting it will age quickly. With its crisp aftertaste and plenty of fruitiness, it will be best from 2019.
This wood-aged wine is seriously rich and powerful, with some bitterness from extraction. Dark chocolate flavors and firm tannins dominate it now; the fruit is there, but submerged. Give it until 2020 before opening.
The aromas are all high toned, with notes of baking spice, green herb, berry and wood spice. The palate is on the lighter side of medium bodied, with appealing well-balanced flavors.
This wine offers clean aromas of freshly-peeled clementine. Flavors of white peach, apricot, quince and a pleasing bouquet of flowers offer a nice interplay on the tongue, with smooth tannins that continue into the slightly chalky finish.
Coming from vines planted in 1935—some of the oldest vines in the state—this shows expressive but not entirely settled aromas of gardenia, orange peel and herb, followed by bone-dry broad-feeling fruit flavors. There's intrigue but it doesn't all come together.
Blended with 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 28 months in French oak, this broad-shouldered red is powerfully concentrated and tightly wound. Raisin cake, cigar box and baked plum play nicely together within an intense texture of leathery spice.
A strong thread of menthol eucalyptus plays along the palate of this wine, which offers a full-bodied firmness of grippy leather and bright red fruit. It finishes with a soft simple end.
This is a forceful, simple wine, with a slight herbaceous quality that keeps it varietal and cooler-climate in style and weight. Bright red fruit shines in a light-bodied frame.
The barrel aromas are far out front, with notes of vanilla extract, dill and wood spice. The oak shows heavily on the palate as well, making it nearly impossible to get at the fruit and giving the wine a gritty feel.
Strong char, toast and barrel aromas are at the fore, getting way out in front of the fruit. The fruit flavors are tart and considerably more elegant than the aromas might suggest. There seems to be a bit of disconnect between the two.
Kesseler's gems are the GG wines, but this is a medium-bodied, cleanly made introduction to the estate. Petrol, apple and wet stone notes are pretty standard Riesling fare, rendered in a crisp, refreshing style.
This needs some breathing time to soften its rough edges. Herbal notes compete with black raspberry fruit. Some spicy highlights lead into a tannic finish. The pieces are there but it needs time to flesh out a bit more.
Gritty berry aromas come with a strong dosage of olive, tobacco and old-school Chilean green herbs. The wine has a linear feel and herbal flavors of plum mixed with bell pepper and olive. Pointy acidity makes the finish a bit rough and scouring.
Tropical aromas include banana. There's good texture here framing toasted apple, melon and banana flavors. Tastes lightly buttered on the finish, with notes of apple and lemon. Normal and good.
A smooth wine, dominated by its creamed pear fruit flavors, light acidity and an edge of structure with spice bringing out some richness.
The aromas first convey a somewhat stemmy, weedy impression, and that is woven into the flavors as well. What ultimately brings the wine into better balance is the underlying red fruit, tangy and substantial, with good length through the finish.
A straightforward example of Chilean SB, meaning there's citrus and mineral on the nose, juicy acidity and lime, grapefruit and tangerine flavors. It's clean and solid, with slight pithiness. Delivers a lot for $9; drink now.
Pinched on the nose but solid in terms of aromas: blackberry, cassis and a touch of oak come together well. The palate is just big enough to hint at richness, while plum and berry flavors are good despite being a touch briney. Toast and mint come up on the finish.
Sweet and brambly, Heron Hill's Ingle Vineyard Cab Franc is fragrant with aromas of cherry pie filling, vanilla spice and dried, ripe wood. The palate is dry and lean, but quite concentrated in fruit with a pleasantly tart raspberry finish.
Citrus aromas are familiar. Lively and zesty in the mouth, with refreshing acidity. Orange and passion fruit lead the palate, which transitions to grapefruit. Crisp on the finish. Good for an everyday white wine.
Slightly green, like almost all basic Carmenères, but there's also spice and depth to the nose and blackberry aromas. Tight and saturated in the mouth, with weight, darkness and concentrated flavors of sweet blackberry and chocolate. Finishes hard and narrow. Contains 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
This unusual blend of Silvaner and Traminer shows a distinctly earthy edge to its grapefruit and melon flavors and a pronounced tart tang that balances its ripe plumpness on the palate. Drink now.
Ripe and rich on the nose with a harmonious black fruit and sweet vanilla bean aroma, this Virginia Cab is clean and pure with a remarkably pristine fruit profile. Bright and fresh with balanced acidity and a nicely concentrated midpalate.
Hints of lanolin and honeycomb accent bright lemon zest and grapefruit aromas on this dry, yet intensely juicy Riesling. On the palate, squirts of yuzu and lime add tang to pristine honeydew flavors. Finishes moderately long with a murmur of wet stones and crushed minerals.
Made with organically grown Chardonnay, this opens with aromas of chamomile, acacia and exotic fruit. The soft, round palate offers ripe yellow apple, vanilla and a hint of baking spices alongside a subtle mousse.
Aromas suggest leafy underbrush, tobacco, steeped plum and dried majoram. The palate delivers dried cherry, prune, ground pepper and licorice alongside tightly-knit tannins. The heat of alcohol shows on the finish.
Berry, toast and mineral aromas capture the essence of Mencía from Bierzo. A well-sculpted palate offers ripe flavors of black plum, blackberry and oak. A peppery, lush finish turns toward raisin as it fades away.
Willful is the reincarnation of Daedalus. The grapes are picked at low yields and fermented with native yeast. Here the Northridge vineyard fruit offers tart blue plum and black cherry flavors, with stiff tannins that carry some stem and herb character. Decanting or aerating helps to open it up and pull out more fruit.
A Pommard clone, single-block bottling, this is jangly and tart, with pleasantly tangy raspberry and cherry candy fruit flavors. The promising beginning is not matched with the depth and complexity that a more complete blend would offer.
While a tad savory and earthy on first whiff, this semi-sweet Riesling is surprisingly fruity on the palate, bursting with concentrated grapefruit and tangerine flavors. It's a satisfying sip that's zesty and tart with lemon-lime acidity.
At first impression, this wine seems a bit less ripe than its single-vineyard siblings. A hint of tomato in the nose gives an herbal edge, and there is more than enough tart acidity under the light red fruits. It's clean and refreshing, with tasty raspberry fruit, but does not show the density and detail of the other 2012 vineyard designates.
There's s great story about five generations behind this wine, which offers a nose fresh and clean with raspberry, cranberry and crushed clove. The flavors are lean, with steel, graphite and raspberry, perfect for serving with a wide variety of foods.
This wine opens with very flinty aromas of struck graphite and pencil shavings, with touches of fermenting orange and cranberry. It's light in weight but darkly flavored on the palate, with slate and clove spice.
Concentrated and powerfully structured, this features aromas of plum cake, blueberry, vanilla and baking spices. The palate delivers prune, raisin, crushed blackberry and white pepper but the searing alcohol sensations throw it off balance and give it a one-dimensional quality.
Wild, tropical fruit aromas are marked with saffron and pollen on the nose of this zingy, extroverted Riesling. Off dry in style, the palate is thirst quenching with sunny tangerine and peach flavors lifted by a vein of lemon acidity. Finishes moderately long on a sweet, honeyed note
Meaty aromas suggest baked berry, prune and other ripe fruits. The palate is almost soupy in its richness, while flavors of molasses, berry and toast are ripe and concentrated. A roasted-tasting finish features notes of cooked brown sugar.
This structured rosé packs a punch in tannins at first, but is balanced and dry. Refreshing bursts of wild berries and savory herb lead to a smooth and exotic finish. The subtle power reflects the vintage and Green Valley-sourced vineyards.
This firm wine fits well with the image of Pommard. A tannic core contrasts with the potential of the red cherry fruits. Wood aging is still prominent, and the wine needs time to balance out. Drink from 2017.
Light in color with an herbal profile, this lightly textured wine offers tart cherry and dry tannins with a bite of oak on the finish. Having undergone partial whole-cluster fermentation (30%), it also has a forested, savory character, streaked in cedar and baking spice. Most of the grapes hail from Sonoma Mountain, rounded out by Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Mendocino fruit.
This wine doesn't reveal much age at all, with fresh golden pear and tangerine rind aromas punched up with a hint of sour yeast. The yeast dominates the palate, though orange and rounded melon tones add to the full experience.
Acacia flower, Golden Delicious apple, honey and exotic fruit are some of the sensations offered by this blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero. It has a vivacious and persistent perlage and closes on a note of bitter almond.
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 oak-aged Touriga Nacional is rich and opulent. It offers fine tannins, flavors of dark chocolate and spice as well as black plum and berry fruit. It's dark and firm at this stage with tannins and dense fruit. Drink from 2020.
Woodland berry, dark spice, rose and balsamic notes waft from the glass. Vibrant, elegant and focused, it delivers crushed strawberry, red cherry and licorice flavors on the palate, with firm, refined tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2023–2033.
Maybe the friendliest Hirsch bottling, this wine has wonderful complexity, medium body and a broad supple texture that make it a pleasure to taste. It has spicy lightly earthy aromas, plenty of raspberry, red cherry and rhubarb for fruit flavors, and a good sense of layering on the palate, followed by a long finish.
Sourced from Ceja Vineyards, this wine impresses in crisp dried red fruit and perfumed floral aromatics that go on for days. Velvety in texture and robust in power, it offers big shoulders around a tartness of acidity and complex baking spice.
This is a great example of a dry well-balanced Zin to drink with dinner rather than as a sweet dessert. It's also a taste of history, coming from a vineyard originally planted in 1869. It's medium bodied, nicely structured with firm tannins and has aromatic complexity from cedar, tobacco and cardamom notes, plus delicious just-ripe cherry flavors.
Winemaker James MacPhail continues to refine his solo project with this Annapolis-sourced effort, a smooth layered expression of baked strawberry and rose petal herbaceousness. Lingering fruitiness makes it lovely to enjoy, as the oak remains a background player in full support of the succulence and ripe power. Still young, it should continue to open further over time.
This extremely aromatic bottling shows cola, dark red cherry, black plum, nutmeg, cinnamon and concentrated hibiscus on the nose, which remains light despite all of the aromas. The acid-driven zippy wine leaps onto the palate with exotic plum and mulberry flavors, proving quite amazing in how so many flavors can ride such a light frame.
This single-vineyard blend includes Jaen's fruitiness and Touriga Nacional's strength. That makes for a smooth, juicy wine, richly endowed with the spice of wood aging but more generously with the red fruits of the Jaen grape. Dusty tannins show behind all this delicious fruit. Drink this concentrated wine now.
Named for the address of the vineyard on Live Oak Road, this blend of 30% Grenache, 24% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 13% Cinsault, 10% Counoise and 3% Viognier shows powerful licorice, cola, caramel, baked plum and thyme on the nose. The tannins are extremely soft on the sip, where lavish but not overripe purple flowers and black fruit compete for attention.
Produced from the oldest vines of the Domaine, the wine is taut while also ripe. It has a crisp edge along with hints of the year's wood aging. That adds spice and a peppery edge to the ripe yellow and golden-plum flavors. Drink from early 2018.
Vibrant aromas of raspberry, tart cherry, lavender, red flowers and freshly plucked garden herbs show on the pretty nose of this bottling by Zac Wasserman. The sip starts with a touch of unexpected red-fruit richness, then rides waves of sandalwood, dried rose petals and thyme. The acidity is mouthwatering and the tannins a bit sticky. Altogether it is both light and lively.
This is a rich rounded wine that comes from the home estate of Michel Redde. The wood aging shows through in the toasty character while there is also a smooth vanilla character. Ripe yellow fruits give this wine its intensity. The wine is ready to drink.
This late harvest sweet wine has caramelized pineapple, beeswax and apricot aromas that carry over effortlessly to the palate. It's soft and silky in texture, with a delicately sweet finish.
Colheita must be barrel-aged for at least seven years, but Poças went for the long haul, bottling this in 2017. The result is a deep-gold color and richly mature flavors. Caramel, spice and a dry edge from the wood aging gives it character, just hinting at the brandy, with acidity at the end. It is rich and ready to drink.
Aged for 14 months in large new-wood barrels, this wine from the Quevedo siblings is lush and generous, with swathes of ripe, rich fruit. Firm tannins promise further aging, while the juicy fruitiness shines strongly. Drink from 2019.
This rich wine is concentrated and ripe with black fruits and juicy acidity. With its density, fruits, wood-aging and complex texture it provides a beautiful example of a Douro blend. Minerality in this still-young wine comes through strongly. Drink from 2019.
This 100% varietal wine is grown in Pope Valley on the eastern edge of the valley. Asian five-spice, strawberry and raspberry meld together seamlessly as a grip of tannin persists alongside a side note of oak. Ripe and rich, it has a pretty nose of bay and mocha, finishing smoothly etched in supportive, subtle acidity.
Lush and concentrated in texture, this vineyard-designate is bright and tart with a bite of crunchy tannin and a bouquet of rose and lavender lurking on the nose. Light bodied and ultimately balanced, it brightens on the palate with a whirl of blood orange that complements the cranberry, pomegranate and cherry cola.
This wine was aged in hogsheads (300 liter) and demi-muids (500 liter). The oak provides a subtle frame, adding hints of pencil shavings and scorched pie crust to the ripe berry flavors. The wine is still big, lush and unmistakably Barossa Valley, showing off raspberries and blueberries to an unusual (and welcome) extent. Supple enough to drink now, it should also age well through at least 2025.
The dense tannins of this wine balance the ripeness. With concentration and generous blackberry fruits, it is a rich wine, broadly structured and with swathes of opulent fruit. It will need plenty of time, so drink from 2026.
Warm spicy wintertime scents like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg meet baked fruit flavors and a broad soothing texture in this full-bodied wine. The color has an amber tint at the rim, the texture is absolutely mouth-filling but gentle, and the finish lingers nicely. The husband-wife winemaking duo let native yeast ferment the wine, and then aged it in 33% new French barrels from Remond.
This distinctive wine has a light-garnet color and intriguing raspberry and cranberry aromas that lead to full red- and black-cherry flavors accented by rosemary and wood smoke. Fermented by native yeast and using some whole clusters for the astringency and flavor that stems can add, it has a texture that's moderately tannic and nicely supported by acidity.
This wine's red berry, fragrant blue flower, aromatic herb and new saddle leather scents lift out of the glass. The firm palate offers juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon and anise notes set against tightly wound tannins and vibrant acidity. Youthfully austere, it needs time to fully come together. Drink 2022–2034.
This richly structured wine comes from the the state-owned Companhia das Lezirias, the largest estate in Portugal. With equestrian events, wine, olive oil and an ecological sanctuary just east of Lisbon, the property merits a visit. Named for the barn owl that nests in estate forests, the wine is opulent, dense and packed with tannins and ripe black fruits. Give it time, at least until late 2018.
This ripe, charred, dark-as-night Malbec captures the lush essence of Argentina at its finest. Deep aromas of licorice, blackberry, coffee and toast set up a full, layered palate, with vanilla, baking spice, black plum and blackberry flavors. A lusty finish with licorice, mocha and tobacco notes is generous and dandy. Drink through 2023.
This wine's forest floor, new leather, wild berry, clove and balsamic aromas lead the way, along with a heady whiff of violet. Its smooth, structured palate evokes dried black cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and white pepper, while tightly knit, polished tannins provide framework. Drink 2020–2030.
Despite 12.4% alcohol, this wine still has a healthy dose of residual sugar. The fat mouthfeel and sweet fruit flavors scream California, from the ripe apple and peach flavors to the squeeze of lemony acidity on the finish.
This is a very fruit-forward and flashy version of New Zealand Riesling. Aromas of tangerines, nectarines and pears are followed by ripe stone-fruit flavors that even bring a hint of red berries. Limes provide focus and delineation to the finish.
Deep but reticent on the nose, with somewhat muted cherry and blackberry aromas. Plum and black-fruit flavors come prior to a dark, mouth-filling finish that's properly tannic and entirely substantive. For a mid-price Rioja there's depth, and beyond that the flavors and feel are clean and attractive.
The Matariki style of late harvest wine is to avoid overly sugary renditions in favor of balance. In this, the 2000 succeeds admirably, combining bergamot, pineapple and apricot flavors in a lightly sweet yet tart wine. Best with fresh fruit and cheeses, as it's not rich enough to match with anything sweeter.
Medium-weight, with a touch of apparent sweetness, this tart-apple and lime-scented wine should prove versatile at the table. Pair it with anything from wursts and kraut to Thai dishes.
This wine comes from the négociant side of the Muré business, which buys grapes from the hot, sunny slopes above Rouffach, south of Colmar. The exposure gives this wine a particular richness for the year, with aromas of citrus fruits and apples. It is already ready to drink.
After a dark, earthy, leathery opening, this blend of Carignan, Grenache and Mourvèdre presents itself as a lively, bright wine with dark fruit flavors, leather, dry spice, oak and a touch of heat on the finish. This is a serious blend with a chewy body and no shortage of power. Drink now–2017.
Ripe blackberry, graphite, balsam wood, vanilla and kirsch aromas combine to provide a fine opening to this Cabernet-led blend. The palate is smooth and layered, with cherry, cassis, vanilla and herbal flavors. On the finish, it's a bit thick in feel, with moderate complexity. Drink now–2016.
Along with the PV comes smaller amounts of Cabernet, Merlot and (surprise!) Mourvèdre, aged in a mix of new and used, French and American oak. It's a complex wine, nicely woven together, with tart fruit, earthy spice, and a pleasing finish with some new barrel toast.
The translucent violet tint this gives off is as attractive as the wine's concentrated bouquet of cassis, blackberry and earthy richness. It's big and bulky in the mouth, with rubbery, exotic flavors of blueberry and Middle Eastern spices like cardamom and cumin. This is a bold wine for fans of fruit-forward reds. Drink now–2016.
The great 2009 vintage in the Loire has produced a rich wine, the wood flavors balancing with the full black plum fruit. There is a toasty character that acts as a counterpoint. Along with the acidity, the flavors suggest a wine for aging over 2–3 years.
The earthiness of Syrah dominates the aromas of this blended wine. The structure is dense and solid with perfume that elevates the black, juicy fruits. It is still beginning to integrate, so expect this fine wine to  age for at least 4–5 years.
This is a young, firmly tannic wine with its solid, dry structure still dominating the ripe fruit. It's concentrated and dense with a dusty texture giving both weight and the ability to age. With Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this is a wine that will go several years.
A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, wood-aged wine. It is rich, smooth with dense tannins and a spicy edge from the wood. Concentrated, this wine from the top Anjou wine village of Brissac, is likely to age several years.
This Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz blend has a lot of personality and individuality. It's full of earthy tobacco and blackberry aromas, while the texture is nice and the volume is generous. Flavors of oak-driven vanilla and cream accent core berry flavors, while there's depth and length to the finish. Drink now.
Until now I've found this winery's offerings to be underwhelming, but this small-production blend is a surprising winner. Hard spice, juniper, olive and compact berry aromas lead to a lifted palate with bright plum, berry, pepper and spice flavors. On the finish, it's stacked with juicy acidity and herbal berry leftovers. 200 cases made.
Though it seems to have some of the lightness of young vines in the cherry fruit flavor, there is clear Red Mountain terroir in the mouthfeel. Tight, dark, supple and almost steely, this layers its fruit atop a mineral base, and finishes with a whiff of smoke and pickle barrel.
Fairly large, dark and extracted, but also lush and rich, with aromas of raisin and stewed blackberry. The palate is rich to the point of almost being heavy, while the flavors of blackberry and roasted black plum are mildly leathery and salty. Nice, big, meaty and tasty for the price.
A round and smooth version of Albariño, with apricot and orange aromas. The palate has a layered, creamy feel and full flavors of bulky apricot, peach and also citrus. Fleshy on the finish, and definitely at peak maturity. Drink right away.
Hugh Hamilton proves that Yalumba's success with this tricky variety isn't a fluke, offering genuine Viognier expression at a realistic price. Ripe muskmelon and apricot notes leave a round, full-bodied impression on the palate, finishing with musky spice. Drink now.
This is one of the largest volume production Chablis, and it sings. Minerality and acidity go well with the ripe fruits and fresh acidity, bright and packed with grapefruit edginess.
Soft and fruity, with a balanced mix of tropical fruit flavors—banana and pineapple—and juicy caramel, this appealing Chardonnay is drinking perfectly. There is just enough green apple tang to the finish to keep it fresh and focused through the finish.
Deep and dark in color, this unusual Lodi bottling of Teroldego, an ancient Italian variety akin to California Zinfandel, is a beast of rich red fruit and chocolate mocha, still robustly tannic and a tad smoky, able to definitely lie down in darkness for several more years.
Full-bodied wine, but with an edge of fresh grapefruit flavor and bright acidity. This estate Muscadet balances ripeness with classic Muscadet lightness.
This new wine from importer Bart Broadbent offers cherry, raspberry and plum aromas along with a touch of well-applied oak. It's a little tannic and biting in the mouth, but with food that should be no issue. Flavorwise, it's dealing slightly burnt notes atop full-fledged black cherry and wild berry. A firm, edgy wine with many good qualities.
Baked and compact on the nose, which is dark, rubbery and offers hints of smoked meats. The palate has a rich, layered feel and robust flavors of baked black fruits, molasses, caramel and toast. It's warm, full and shows Old World notes of tobacco and toffee. Drink now.
Lightly wood-flavored wine, emphasizing also the ripe peach and quince flavors. There is a spicy touch, just a sprinkling of nutmeg, the wine ripe and full.
Aromatic with pepper and fresh-cut tobacco, well defined by herbal fruits and leafy tannins, this single-vineyard Malbec is stylish and balanced. What is missing is depth, but the balance and length are just right, and the wine does not overreach.
A very pure wine, its red berry fruits dominating lively acidity as well as a tight, tannic, dry core.
Gritty, roasted, oaky aromas out-muscle this Garnacha's fruit scents. A solid but aged mouthfeel and flavors of earthy, spicy plum and tomato finish desiccated and flat. Drink immediately.
Cellar floor, menthol and licorice aromas carry over to the simple palate along with oak and a green note of powdered sage. It lacks fruit richness while assertive tannins grip the finish.
Dry and smoky initially, this wine then fills out with ripe red-berry fruit and fine balanced acidity. Give this until 2018 to fully develop.
Lots of toasted, smoky, coffee-like aromas and flavors coat the raspberry and tart blackberry core of this medium-bodied wine. It's a bit much in terms of oak, but makes a fun exercise, especially when paired with its sister wine made in American oak.
This has aromas of medicinal herb, red berry and a whiff of adhesive bandage that carry over to the palate along with mature apple and a hint of orange zest. Bitter almond closes the finish.
Lots of sweet-smelling new-oak flavor permeates this dry, medium-bodied and moderately tannic wine. Aromas suggest toasted French bread and the flavors blend chocolate and cherries.
This is a nice, lower-priced option of the variety, spicy in raspberry and strawberry, with a medium-built weight. Bulky in tannins that soften in the glass, its simplicity doesn't dete. There's a lasting note of toasted oak on the wine as it winds down.
Extremely ripe raisin and prune flavors make this full-bodied wine seem almost sweet and unusually soft in texture for this varietal. It is tasty and easy to sip.
Smoky, oaky aromas rest on top of basic berry scents, with hints of leather and animal as the wine breathes out. This feels tight and juicy in the mouth, with pulling tannins. Oaked-up black-fruit flavors end with spice notes and a hint of chocolate.
Scents of oak, toast, bread crust and vanilla follow through to the lean palate along with bitter walnut and a hint of butterscotch. Sharp, vigorous bubbles provide the backdrop.
Pickled aromas of citrus and apple suggest sauerkraut. A bit flat and lazy on the palate, this tastes of briny citrus and green herbs. A grassy-tasting finish brings back pickled, briny notes.
This firmly structured wine has a good, gripping texture and lots of black cherry and black-plum flavors. Backed by bracing acidity and a modest layer of tannin, it's a versatile wine for lunch or dinner.
Varietal notes of pepper mingle with a tart, lactic freshness on the nose. The palate mirrors these flavors but balances them with soft creaminess. The body is light and dry with a slight phenolic edge pulling through all the way to the tart finish.
This is a rich, lush, full-bodied expression of the variety, exhibiting oak in its classic rendering of caramel apple. Textured and thick, it has a tartness that balances some of the ripeness on the finish.
Red berry, violet and a whiff of moist earth lead the nose on this simple red. The lean, rather diluted palate shows tart sour cherry, cranberry and a hint of graphite alongside bracing acidity. Fleeting tannins give it an abrupt finish.
A crisp, fruity wine, bright with red-cherry fruit and a touch of pepper. The acidity and the lively texture give this wine a refreshing character. Drink now.
The tropical nose on this wine is inviting at first, then seems sweet, with aromas of Key lime and guava sorbet. Fruit-punchy flavors pop on the palate, where honeydew melon, peach, apple juice and tuberose battle for attention.
Raw, green aromas suggest underripe fruit, green tobacco and green herbs. Following the nose, this feels astringent and clampy. Herbal flavors of plum don't taste as green as this smells, while the finish is rugged and tannic.
Overall, this wine is fruity and solid. Raw, slightly austere red-fruit aromas are basic but fresh and clean. Flavors of plum, currant and cinnamon are suitable, but this wine finishes quickly.
Overreaching aromas of sweet oak sit heavily atop herbal plum and berry scents. This feels sticky and oaky, while a forced, only partially integrated oak flavor dominates the palate. Even on the finish this tastes predominantly of sweet oak on top of herbal berry fruit.
With vines between Fronsac and Bourg, this estate has produced a forward wine with the 2015 vintage. Black currants and acidity are sustained by a youthful tannic structure. It can certainly be drunk now for its fruitiness, although kept until later in 2017 it will be richer.
This is a fresh wine, full of crisp red fruits and acidity. It needs a few months to calm down its exuberant fruitiness and it should be ready to drink from 2017.
Firmly tannic and with smoky flavors, this is potentially a rich wine with attractive acidity and red-fruit flavors. Drink this wine from 2018.
The wine is fruity with acidity and just a touch of wood aging. It is bright with red currants and a lively bright character. Drink from 2017.
This wine is fresh and juicy with fine tannins and ripe red berries. Owned by the Baylet family, the estate has produced a full and fruity wine. The aftertaste shows acidity and a light spice.
The wine is spicy and with toasty wood flavors. It has acidity and red fruits that are still developing. As the wood becomes better integrated, it will become rich and fruity.
Lightly herbal aromas and a touch of animal blend with oak-based notes of sweet plastic and vanilla on the nose. The palate is round but slightly flabby, with moderate acidity. Lactic oak creates a plastic-like flavor that is derivative of the nose, while the finish is drab.
Strawberry and herbal aromas are decent but a bit green. This has a jammy feel, with basic berry flavors that finish minty but fresh. Overall, this is a middle-of-the-road Malbec.
This is a dark and probably too-tannic wine. A very dry, extracted character gives bitterness more than fruit. It's still young and has the Saint-Estèphe tannins in abundance, although its future with this dryness is uncertain.
Priced affordably for the appellation, this is a somewhat balanced Cab suggestive of bell pepper and jalapeño that dance around in smoke, currant and cedar. It finishes dry and tannic in vanilla oak.
The volatility on this wine is distracting. It's a shame because it's otherwise well constructed with notes of Red Vines, vanilla and cherry, with a palate-coating feel.
Packed with fruit, this is a fine, simple Bordeaux. Red fruits leap out of the glass, allied to light tannins. They make for a wine that's ready to drink young and fresh.
The reductive scent of rubber meets with deep blackberry on the nose. The palate proves more interesting, with mocha and espresso notes laid over blackberry fruit, all framed in strong tannins.
Mounds Bar-like barrel notes dominate the plummy, slightly raisined-seeming fruit found on this 100% varietal wine. The lighter fruit flavors of the vintage can't match the oak's intensity.
This blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah is fairly weak on the nose, with black cherry, dark spice and crushed rocks emerging with steady swirling. Purple fruits and graphite minerality show up on the palate, but this wine still needs time to come out of its shell.
The aromas don't seem entirely settled, with notes of char, tire rubber, bacon fat and vanilla accents. The fruit flavors are smoky and sweet, with a slightly astringent feel.
Fragrant layers of cinnamon, toast and vanilla adorn this intensely ripe, fleshy red wine. Blackberry and plum flavors are ruddy on the palate, but brightened by a zip of acidity and fine, chalky tannins on the finish.
Aromas suggest green apple and melon. This wine drinks dry with a lightly spritzy feel but the flavor concentration seems lacking.
Mango, papaya and vanilla aromas are lightly tropical and chunky. The palate is plump and fair. Flavors of green melon, papaya and mixed tropical fruits finish steady and with a reprise of leesy, yeasty vanilla.
Though aged in neutral French oak, the wood shows fairly prominently, with vanilla and woodspice out in front of the lees and almond. The flavors are off dry with the variety seeming to get lost between the staves.
Jammy plum and currant aromas are light on complexity. This blend is crisp, fresh and ultimately modest in feel, with black cherry and plum flavors. A clean finish makes it good for everyday drinking.
This wine offers notes of black olive, sweet plum, confection and herbs. The flavors are lighter in style with gritty tannins.
Despite the label indication that this wine is Sauvignon Blanc, it does in fact have 20% Sémillon. That addition fills out the wine while retaining the natural herbaceous character with its grassy texture and strongly citrus flavors. Drink now.
Marked by red berry fruits and soft tannins, this has a juicy character, with touches of wood aging that are already integrated. The aftertaste, with its fresh currant acidity and rounded fruit, shows that this will be ready to drink soon. Drink from 2016.
There's a reductive funk at first on the nose, with singed rubber and creosote, but that quickly gives way to cherry, boysenberry and brown spices. Flavors are dominated by tart cherry and cedar, with hints of slate-driven, earthy minerals.
This wine offers notes of sugared plum, herbs and tire rubber. It's lighter in style with plump, slightly sweet blackberry and cherry flavors with a wash of tannins.
Heavy wood aromas are mitigated on the palate by the ripe fruit, making for a rich wine with black plum flavors as well as a core of tannins. It's going to develop well and quickly, so drink from 2016.
This wine is lean, more about structure than tannins. Some juicy fruitiness is overwhelmed by the dry core of the wine that seems over-extracted.
This is a dense, dry wine, full of concentrated tannins and somewhat hard-edged. While it does have acidity, it misses out on the fruitiness and ends up being tough and tannic.
Fresh and fruity, this wine is already developing attractively. The wood aging gives some toasty character although the black currant fruitiness makes the wine accessible and bright. Drink from late 2015.
Basketball star John Salley is the spokesman for this eco-minded project by Clos La Chance. The wine offers aromas of wet granite and fermenting apples. The flavors are similar, showing pear, slate and green-apple skins.
This lightly aromatic wine conveys ripe red apple, pear, and star fruit. The fruit flavors are centered in a ball in the middle, offering plenty of appeal if not much complexity.
Immediately this clicks. The nose is full of ripe, smooth blackberry and molasses aromas, while the palate is chewy, layered and loaded with meaty blackberry, dark spice and coffee flavors. This is an excellent value Cabernet.
Red-fruit flavors abound in this ripe and full wine. A blend of local grapes with Merlot, this has a smooth texture with tannins cushioned by the rich fruits. Touches of spice and wood give an extra complexity.
This is a smooth and creamy wine with soft apple flavors mingling with almonds and brisk acidity. It has a tight edge of minerality that adds a fine texture, offering a glimpse of the extra richness that can be expected in 2–3 years.
A fine, ripe wine—very balanced—from an estate that dates back to the 12th century. The Tannat grape lends tannins but also offers ripe, juicy fruits that come forward to give both power and delicious fruitiness.
Berry, lemon peel, tobacco and molasses aromas make for a rich and appealing bouquet. The palate is chewy and mildly syrupy in feel, with baked black-fruit flavors receiving a boost from molasses and spice notes. This is dark, handsome and generous but not overly complex. Drink now–2016.
This elegant Cabernet nicely threads the needle between fruit and herb, slaloming down the palate with a lingonberry here, a sprig of thyme there, underpinned with earth and chocolate. It's a wine that may be sipped and savored, offering subtle pleasures along the way.
After tasting a number of underwhelming San Huberto Malbecs, this high-end offering changes things up. It's piercing and serious up front, with rubber and black-fruit aromas. Although it clamps down due to hard tannins, there's enough body, oak, black-fruit flavor and vanilla to carry it through to a long finish. It's by far the best wine from this label I've tried. Drink through 2017.
A blend of Sean Thackrey's four Pinot clones, all grown in one block of the Wentzel Vineyard, this wine is a baby still, soft and lush and ready to develop further. Interesting to taste now, with hints of each of its clonal brethren. Give this wine another 3–5 years and see which has taken front row.
There is just the slightest whiff of barnyard here, delicate enough to be a feature rather than a flaw. Baking spices, tanned leather, and pretty red fruits mingle seamlessly through a satisfying mid palate. Perhaps it's just an early phase, but for the moment it fades rather quickly.
Only in Washington can you find pure varietal, single-vineyard Merlot at this price that shows such power and depth. Aged in American oak barrels with French oak stave inserts, it displays plenty of smoky caramel and coconut flavors, but the fruit is there in good proportion. This wine is sure to find plenty of admirers; if only more than just 58 cases had been produced.
While there is an herbaceous element in this wine, it is more to do with ripe berry fruits. It has a tangy orange-zest character that is bright and fruity, along with the black-currant flavors that give the wine some good intensity.
This is a classy Albariño with lemon, melon and minerally aromas that come across pure. The mouth is round and elegant, with layers of texture. Pure lemon and apple flavors have sweetness as well as cut, and the finish is powerful and offers a touch of green-herb flavor. Drink this complete wine right away.
Smoky cherry and earth aromas are the opening salvo on this bullish yet well-made wine. Expect a full mouthfeel that wraps itself around toasty, creamy flavors of chocolaty plum and spiced tea. Barda excels on its lively finish, which is long, properly acidic and spicy tasting.
This small planting at Celilo can stand as the textbook example of what Washington Pinot Noir should be: elegant, refined, aromatic, svelte and graceful. It's definitely a feminine wine, in all the best senses of the word. Though light, it's not thin or wimpy. The tart red fruits lead into streaks of earth and metal in the finish, which has surprising length and grip.
As might be expected, this has some familial similarities with the 2004 version (also reviewed this issue). It's full-bodied and dark-fruited, but the acids are brighter and the mouthfeel less luxurious, ending on a crisp note. Give it another year or two in the bottle to see if it develops more lushness.
Put this wine through its paces and see if you also find overdone oak and salty resin as well as tangy but bulky fruit, herbal hints and bouncy acidity. It gets better with airing, which leads us to believe that this wine's best days are still ahead of it.
A rich, rounded wine that exudes opulence and ripe green fruits. There is a touch of pear skin spice, tobacco aromas and yellow fruits. The wine gives some crispness, but the richness dominates.
The hot vintage yielded a beefy, leathery wine with earthy black-fruit aromas along with creamy plum and blackberry flavors. It's a little thick and spongy compared to other vintages of the 125 (namely 2001), and it's definitely saturated. But for good cola, black fruit and other jammy flavors, this is a nice ride. Drink now through 2010.
It begins with an impressive bouquet of ripe cherries and sun-warmed stones, then adds some spicy complexity on the palate. It's round and lush in the mouth without seeming overly ripe or heavy, and boasts a lingering finish.
This single-vineyard blend includes Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc Musque, from a one-acre site in the Columbia Gorge AVA. It's labeled as a field blend, which suggests that the grapes were co-fermented; the results are harmonious and quite appealing. The mix of crisp citrus and tart pear fruit is set against flinty acids that set up the taste buds for chèvre or light seafood.
In good vintages like 2004, Deyo can be one of Spain's best Merlots. The fact that it is one of Spain's only Merlots is moot when you taste Deyo's warm and spicy black fruit, its fine-grained oak, and then all the coffee, butter and pepper that work the finish. A little tannic and grabby, but food will offset that.
Grenache isn't as common in the Clare Valley as it is in Barossa or McLaren Vale, but Reilly's is a consistent source. The 2005 is dense and chocolaty, packed with plum flavors that are on the edge of prune and featuring a touch of warmth on the long, fudge-like finish. Drink now.
If you're going to charge $36 for Baco Noir, you must have a lot of confidence that it's something special. This one is. Intense and earthy, the fruit has the concentration of raspberry syrup. Tar and leather, rock and earth are folded in, with some of the tack room scents of brett, but not detrimentally. There is so much fruit here that it can more than hold its own.
Ripe and pure, with good heft, body, structure and length. The blend is 60% Syrah and 40% Garnacha, and while the early aromas are tough and rubbery they soon morph into plum and berry. Raspberry and full plum flavors are thick but balanced as spice and pepper close things out.
Stainless-steel fermentation and picking the grapes at a relatively low brix (24.2) yields a crisp wine with lime skin, grapefruit and hints of quinine. The opening flavors extend into a mid-palate cut with tart acids and adding white peach, melon and nectarine to the fruit. It finishes bone dry, like a twist of lemon.
Apolloni seems to be the first Oregon winery to take advantage of a change in the state's labeling laws allowing Pinot Grigio to be used; previously Pinot Gris was required. This is in fact much like a classic Italian Pinot Grigio, crisp and acidic, with sharply-defined citrus, melon and green apple fruit. Clean and refreshing, it carries a lovely floral note through the persistent finish.
My least favorite of the 2005 CH Grenaches, the Blewitt Springs is still an impressive wine. Dark fruit aromas and flavors of blueberry, blackberry and plum are accented by hints of dried spices and pepper. It's creamy on the midpalate, then firms up on the finish, where a touch of heat is detectable. Drink 2010–2018.
David Hill's 2006 Pinot Noirs are a clear step up from earlier vintages. This Barrel Select bottling, done in a fairly light, rather delicate style, offers lovely texture and balance, with ripe flavors of strawberry, brandied cherries and baker's chocolate. Suggestions of earth and iron filings add interest and weight to the finish.
Three vintages into this project, and it seems like Arte de Vivir has found its stride. At this price, finding a good Ribera wine is akin to the proverbial needle in the haystack; so seek out this meaty, ripe number and dig into its plum and berry body that's backed by vanilla, coconut and good tannic structure.
Consistent with the Penfolds style, this is a robust, ageworthy Cabernet that remains varietally distinct. Hints of mint mark the nose and the palate, but the core is cassis, framed by touches of vanilla. Firm tannins on the finish suggest cellaring through at least 2010.
Shows a lot of oak character upfront, starting from its aromas of cedar, vanilla and toasted coconut. Thankfully, dark fruit flavors emerge on the palate, adding weight and interest. It's soft in texture, with supple tannins and lingering toast on the finish. Drink now–2012.
A pale pink color, this pretty rosé offers ripe notes of strawberry, watermelon and banana on the nose and mouth. Easy-drinking and approachable, the fruit-forward palate is balanced by bright acidity, finishing clean and mouthwatering. Drink now.
This full-bodied and earthy wine has a very dark color. Aromas suggest dark chocolate and barnyard, while dense, dark-fruit flavors come with plenty of tannin behind them.
Milk chocolate, grass and leafy red-fruit aromas open this snappy clampy Cabernet. Plum and currant flavors are herbal and leafy, while this is green, tomatoey and slightly bitter on the finish.
There's a vegetable character to this wine, with notes of tomato and meat that overwhelm the fruity tones of yellow apple, mealy melon and bitter orange. The palate is astringent and sharp, with a tart, bitter finish.
Dusty medicinal cherry aromas are a touch earthy. This feels flat and low on structure, but at 11.5% ABV that should be expected. Roasted plum flavors finish with a rustic hickory note.
A perfumed wine in a square bottle, this is just off dry, with crispness and an herbal, green-fruit character. The wine is peppery, ripe and ready to drink.
This soft, creamy wine is fruity, with attractive herbal and gooseberry flavors. It is light, crisp and ready to be drunk.
The aromas of pear and herb seem a bit overripe. The flavors are dry and seem a bit diluted.
Earthy, peppery aromas and broad but muffled fruit flavors give this wine a rustic feel. It is full bodied and mouthfilling.
Aggressive aromas include rubbery notes, iodine and a touch of dried blood. This feels raw and lean, with spiced plum and raspberry flavors coming in front of a high-acid citric finish with a grassy component.
A restrained nose of Fuji apple does not reveal much about what is in the glass. This wine is a bit stiff on the palate, with floral and citrus flavors that never seem to completely come together on the taste buds.
This is as soft as possible, a gentle view of Sauvignon Blanc. It's an easy, fruity wine that has just a hint of minerality and more of aromatic citrus fruits. Drink now.
This garnet-colored wine is an interesting blend of Saperavi, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. It has aromas of smoked meat and red raspberry and flavors of ripe dark fruits. It's not perfectly harmonious in the midpalate but it comes together in the post palate with a bright fruit finish.
Abrasive cherry and plum aromas are rough and raw. This scrubs the palate with high acidity and hard tannins, while flavors of raspberry and plum are basic and herbal. A lean, scratchy finish brings no surprises.
Herbaceous in aroma, dry and lean on the palate, this wine offers refreshment more than flavor. Light bodied, it has a tangy texture.
Green minty aromas come with a heavy shot of clove on this basic Pinot. Chunky and grabby in feel, this offers generic berry flavors and more than enough forced oak and clove.
Red apple, honeysuckle, Key lime and the slightest hint of flint show on the nose of this bottling from a Temecula producer. Broad white-peach flavors imbue the palate, cut by sour citrus and marmalade touches.
Yellow in color and waxy on the nose, this Viura is on the heavy amorphous side, with some burn to the palate. Bland flavors of green fruits are vacuous on the finish.
The warm vineyard of Vinzelles produces a broad ripe wine. It has yellow fruits, a soft texture that is spiced with pepper. The wine is generous, rounded, smooth and ready to drink.
Cidery apple aromas, a medium-bodied citrusy palate and tart flavors of tangerine end with citrus aftertones. This is about as basic as drinkable Sauvignon Blanc gets.
Somewhere between medium-dry and medium-sweet, this lightly honeyed wine has acidity and baked-apple flavors. The aftertaste is crisp. Drink now.
The Gamay flavors dominate this blend with Pinot Noir. It has bright cherry and a soft texture. It's smooth, rounded and ready to drink.
Showing just a few hints of minerals and crispness, this Chablis is so very light. It has some citrus and green-plum flavors along with flashes of acidity. The aftertaste is surprisingly soft for such a young wine.
A blend of 59% Mourvèdre, 22% Cinsault and 19% Shiraz, this opens with faint aromas of peach, melon and lemon peel. The palate is soft and slightly warm, with pithy, bitter cherry-skin and melon-rind flavors that remain through the finish.
This is a soft, simple wine with apple and citrus fruits and a ripe character. It is young and ready to drink.
There is no doubting the pink color of this off-dry rosé. It is crisp with attractive acidity as well as bright line of sweet strawberries. Light, with a fresh aftertaste, the wine is ready to drink.
Pithy white-fruit aromas smell a bit like compost. Stony and citric on the palate, this tastes briny and like sour peach.
Still young, this is a firmly tannic wine, its fruit under this dry surface. Give it a few months for the ripe blackcurrant and blackberry fruits to come forward. In two years, it will be a finely balanced wine.
A finely structured, still young wine with an edge of austerity. It does have a rich core of red fruit, giving a slightly juicy character, but with its tannins it will always be a firm wine, dense and serious.
Light raspberry fruit is enhanced by generous layers of coffee and chocolate. Aromatic and inviting, especially at this price, it brings in a hint of the barnyard on the gently fading finish.
Round and fruity, with puckery lemon-lime and tangerine fruit front and center. Some sort of oak treatment is in evidence, with a streak of vanilla wafer running through the finish.
A lush and tropical-fruit driven Chard; ripe notes of papaya, mango and apricot flood the nose and mouth. It's rich and heavy in the mouth, but with good enough cut to keep things from being too sweet or cloying.
Typical varietal aromas of black-skinned berry, blue flower a spice note waft out of the glass. The straightforward, easygoing palate conveys mature black cherry, raspberry jam and a light note of ground pepper alongside soft, round tannins. Simple but well made, it makes an ideal quaffing wine.
Dried black-skinned fruit, leather and a dash of Oriental spice unfold in the glass. The firm palate delivers raisin, mature blackcurrant and licorice alongside fine-grained tannins that grip the finish. Showing the heat of the vintage, the fruit is starting to dry up so drink soon.
The pear and almond-butter aromas are quite light. The palate reveals more, with an elegant, textured feel and a finish that lingers.
This wine is herbal and grassy in character, with a strong Sauvignon Blanc element. It has spiciness, tangy with squeezed lemon and very fresh acidity. Drink from 2017. André Lurton has owned the estate since 1965.
A bit oxidative in its aromatics, this wine shows crushed Marcona almonds, seared lemon peels and walnut oil on the nose. The palate is tight down the middle, with a racy lime skin character as well as kumquat skin tension and a grippy texture.
Intriguing and distinct aromas of lemon meringue, jasmine and perfumed ripe apple show on this bottling of a grape not grown much in this region. It's lean and racy on the sip, clinging to bright lemon zest and citrus-pith flavors, with a tart texture. These vines are promising.
This opens with aromas of tilled soil, fleshy blueberry, game and a funky whiff of barnyard. The gamy note carries over to the ripe palate along with candied red cherry, clove and a note of sweet and sour sauce. It's a bit rustic but still has an earthy charm.
This copper-colored wine has good, light cherry and apple aromas, and fresh, tangy but lean fruit flavors. It is nicely dry, well balanced and a bit crisp in texture.
This polished and well-behaved wine has light spicy, oaky aromas, plenty of good blackberry and cherry flavors and an easygoing texture. It will be a crowd pleaser as well as a host pleaser, with an affordable price.
Fruit and barrel mix on this wine, with aromas of mesquite, vanilla, spice and dark berries. The cherry flavors are wrapped in vanilla accents, with gritty tannins backing it all up.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah shows quite a bit of volatility. Herb and dried red cherry lead to plush, full fruit flavors with a light grip of tannins and oak accents on the finish.
From the producer's warmest vineyard site near the town of Cloverdale, with the addition of 2% Petit Verdot, this is a dark, brooding and intensely full-bodied wine, chocolaty and rich, with a luxurious texture and bittersweet notes.
Half fermented in neutral oak and half in stainless steel, this offers a bold, generous take on the variety. The fleshy, creamy taste of crème brûlée and Meyer lemon compote is full bodied and somewhat shy in acidity. It finishes tangy and somewhat salty.
From vines planted in the 1960s and 1970s, relatively old for St. Helena, this white was aged in entirely French oak. It holds on to a bristling level of acidity throughout, speckled in lemon, lime and grapefruit tartness. Light and effusive, its finish is all floral.
Aromas of fresh raspberries, plum and spice provide intrigue, with some reductive notes providing a bit of distraction. The plum and spice flavors are broad in feel, needing more acidity to tighten them up.
Woodsy cedar and spice tones swirl into layers of vanilla cream in this intensely oaky, yet enticing Chardonnay. Brisk lemon-lime acidity and fresh apple and pear notes freshen the midpalate.
This genre-busting blend of 54% Viognier, 22% Vermentino, 15% Verdelho and 9% Sauvignon Blanc invites the nose with ripe red and pink apples, lime blossoms and zest and a shred of bubble gum. The quite-ripe palate sizzles with cider notes as well as more lime and Gala apple elements.
Lemony freshness marks a certain tartness on a light, lissom, fresh palate. With more time on palate there are hints of savoriness and some textured spice. Drink soon.
Aromas of toast, black plum, espresso and a whiff of coconut come together on this on this medium-bodied red. The palate offers dried black cherry, raspberry, anise, coffee and a green note of sage while close-grained tannins grip the finish. It closes on an astringent note.
Aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, blue flower, tilled soil and Oriental spice come together in the glass. The basic but savory palate displays mature black cherry, blackberry and ground pepper alongside soft, round tannins.
Mission Estate is New Zealand's oldest winery, established in 1851 by French missionaries. The Syrah vines are young by comparison, but this wine is matured in tank, so what you smell and taste is unmarked by wood. The result is just a bit greenish—the cracked pepper and plum notes pick up hints of green olive and dried herbs on the way to a dusty finish.
This lively, medium-bodied and well-balanced wine smells of raspberries and dried herbs. It tastes invitingly fresh, combining bright fruit with earthy and savory accents. The color is relatively light, matching the overall tangy personality.
Fresh and lively like a cherry soda, this medium-bodied wine has light, spicy, oaky aromas, lots of cherry and strawberry flavors and an easy-drinking texture.
Almost black in color, this full-bodied wine is bold in aroma, smelling like black pepper and blackberry, with a slightly earthy edge. It tastes dense, rich but dry. A thick coat of tannins leads to an astringent finish.
Bright red cherry fruits, fresh and light with fruit acidity and the minimum of tannins.
Sweet scents of candied cherry and plum belie a palate that's actually quite dry and refreshing. It's easy drinking, with an abundance of crisp red-plum flavors and a pretty floral tone on the finish. Drink now.
Basic tropical aromas suggest apple and slight minerality. The feel is standard and melony, with sweet, chunky flavors of melon and green banana. Round and turning bitter on the finish, with a sugary sweetness and stalky notes.
Tonic and refreshing, with hints of fresh florals and apple skins, this light bodied Pinot Grigio is a pleasant aperitif. Airy and brisk, with a just a touch of astringency on the finish. Drink now.
Lime pith, green plum and white clover aromas lead the nose of this Sauv Blanc, and the mouth offers similarly tart and tight flavors. The short finish favors white grapefruit accented by green grass.
Smells decidedly burnt and stalky, with rubbery berry and black plum aromas. Shows grip on the palate, along with the same flavors hinted at on the nose: leather, burnt coffee, herbs and roasted berries. Feels pretty good, but the stalky, burnt core dominates.
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.
Grassy lime, kiwi and crème brûlée provide succulence and substance to this wine, surrounded refreshingly by ebullient acidity. Fermented in stainless steel, it was then aged minimally in neutral French oak. The wood provides firm structure without getting in the way of the fruit.
Inky dark, this is a combination of herb and chocolate, with a side of violet-infused blackberry puree. Soft and structured, the wine stays light on the palate and lean, finishing in a puff of tobacco.
Underbrush, grilled porcini mushroom, leather and ripe dark berry aromas lead the nose on this hearty red. On the firmly structured palate, notes of graphite, ground pepper, smoke and tobacco accent a core of ripe black cherry while fine-grained tannins provide support.
This wine is a blend of Syrah (45%), Mourvèdre (27%), Grenache (25%) and Cinsault. It charms with complex, pure aromas of boysenberry, white pepper, raspberries and herbs. The flavors are full in feel, with the judicious use of oak heightening the enjoyment.
Sanguine in cranberry and strawberry, this robust wine holds back on the tannin and oak, weaving their stronger tendencies into waves of bittersweet chocolate and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, it's both classic and flush with ripe California fruit.
This wine is a blend of Grenache (47%), Mourvèdre (38%) and Syrah. It's loaded with aromas and flavors of black raspberry, herbs, potpourri, peppery spices and kirsch. The plump red and black-fruit flavors show an exquisite balance of richness and restraint that carries through the long finish.
A blend of fruit from esteemed Boushey and Red Willow vineyards, this was aged in a mixture of concrete and French oak (10% new). The herb, lemon verbana and citrus flavors are light on their feet with a creamy texture and a tart zing of mouthwatering acidity that stitches it all together.
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.
Taut and zesty, lip-smacking and dry: this Riesling is a successful combination of grapefruit and lemon, of zest and flesh. The dry finish makes the lemony qualities of this dry wine even more appealing. Serve this on a hot day.
Funky notes of earth and wet hay join apple and grapefruit on the nose. They come together on a zesty palate that focuses on lemon and grapefruit peel, surrounded by rounder, richer elements of ripe stone fruit, hay and honey. Lovely and very individual, this wine simply grows on you.
Baked plum, exotic spice and chocolate aromas almost jump out of the glass. The brawny palate doles out prune, blackberry jam, licorice and tobacco alongside round, velvety tannins. A raisin note backs up the finish.
Blackberry, clove paste, wet clay and a peppery spice greet the nose in this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Primitivo and 17% Merlot. The palate offers dense elderberries and black currants, but is characterized by a strong earthiness, bolstered by interesting herbal tinges of tomato leaf and dill.
This Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is supported by 18% Merlot and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Generous in oak and tannin, this powerful wine is robustly juicy in black and red cherry and dried herb, a complex mix of savory and succulent. The finish is long and thick, accented in coffee and oak.
This estate-grown wine honors the historical vineyard that brought the Napa Valley worldwide attention for Cabernet. It offers both complexity and elegance, as well as an herbal underbrush accented by tobacco. Chocolate, caramel and coffee add to the intrigue around smooth, velvety tannins.
This wine shows a very intriguing nose of iodine, preserved lemons, orange marmalade and dried daffodils. The palate is quite distinctive with dried jasmine flowers, dried lemon peels and a sour-orange element shining throughout.
A slight skunky, entirely pleasant aroma of damp herbs hits the nose first on this bottling by South African vintner Ernst Storm, then a slick rush of lemon-lime peels, ripe kiwi and green apple blossoms washes in. Flavors are driven by grapefruit and pomelo, with a wet-cement minerality.
From two vineyard sites, Martaella and Martinelli Frei Road, this lovely wine is built from the ground up, with elements of rich vanilla, toasted oak and baked pear. Big in style on the nose, it finishes crisp and focused, a mixture of complexity and lightness of being.
Concentrated berry and cassis aromas are lush yet spicy, and come with notes of olive and tobacco. The palate on this blend of Carmenère and Malbec is a touch narrow in feel, but it's not at all thin. Flavors of ripe cherry and cassis reflect a hot vintage, while a mellow finish of medicinal berry flavors confirms the wine's ripe character. Drink through 2018.
This wine is redolent with aromas of blackberry, leather and spice. It's full bodied, with sweet fruit flavors that show richness, depth and purity, finishing warm.
This offers a classic Zin nose, with dried strawberries, plums, white sage, black loam and a minty lift. The palate is juicy but restrained, with ripe olallieberries cut by licorice and tobacco, bound together with considerable grip.
Apricot, damask rose and earth frame this vivacious Gewurztraminer that benefits from 2014's verve. The palate comes with some of the characteristic viscosity but the zest of orange and lemon peel balances this out beautifully, creating a lovely, refreshing arc.
Opens with standard olive, herb, tobacco and black fruit aromas. The palate is big and tannic, with baked blackberry and herbal-leaning flavors. Warm and full on the finish, with a carryover of the wine's core flavors.
Herbal to the max, with can't-miss aromas of juniper, pine and foresty berry. The palate is big and syrupy in feel, with herbal flavors of olive, carob and tobacco. Sweet and leafy on the finish.
Rounded wine, soft in character, its creamy texture given a boost by apple and lime flavors. An easy wine that is full in the mouth while still seeming light.
There is some bitterness to this wine, with almond and quince flavors. Caramel and soft fruitiness lead to a more creamy character. Not for aging.
Somewhat earthy and rubbery at first, with baked berry, cassis and mild herbal aromas settling in afterwards. The palate is juicy and tight, albeit a bit tannic and hard-hitting. Tastes sweet, warm and roasted, with blackberry fruit and vanilla.
Earthy and aggressively herbal, this new vintage of Rocheux needs more time to see if it will pull itself together. Tannic and hard-shelled, it's still hiding its fruit, and finishes with stemmy, bitter tannins.
Inkblot is Lodi winery Michael David's first Cabernet Franc, a relatively small production wine with MD's signature smoky, toasty coconut aromas, thick and raspberry jammy. Aged 15 months in French oak, it would be a hit with big wine lovers but doesn't exhibit Cab Franc's herbaceousness, which some people will be happy about, others will not. Includes small amounts of Cab Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.
Sweet as sin on the nose, with a ton of barrel-driven spice, resin and vanilla. The palate is full, creamy and resiny in feel, with more oak than anything on the flavor profile. There's baked apple and spice too, while the finish is severely oaky.
Whiffs of petrol add complexity to lush honeycrisp apple and stone fruit notes on the nose and palate of this off-dry Riesling. Sleek and steely on the midpalate with an edgy lime juice acidity, and the finish is quite dry.
Sweet red cherry fruit melds with whiffs of graham cracker crumb and leather on this ripe, full bodied red from Bogati. There's a thin vein of green that trails throughout, but the palate is nicely structured with a dose of warm pepper notes and mouthcoating tannins on the finish.
Quiet on the nose, this wine speaks louder on the palate, where it delivers melon, pear and citrus flavors. It's balanced and clean, a light, refreshing white to serve as an apéritif or alongside mild fish dishes.
Crisp plum and berry aromas are a little sharp while the oak element on the nose is drying. The palate is tight and fairly high in acidity, yielding herbal, minty flavors of raspberry and red plum. Short and solid on the finish, but clean and good overall.
Full of ripe, tropical fruit flavor, the wine is already generous. Apricot and mango come through the fresh acidity, giving both richness and a more textured edge. It is ready to drink, but by 2015 will be even better.
Firm, structured and solid, this is a smoky, ripe wine with attractive acidity, red berry fruit and good concentration. It is developing slowly, with a solid structure and fine acidity. Drink from 2017.
This ripe and fruity wine comes from Faiveley's wholly-owned vineyard in Mercurey. A touch of tannin gives structure to the cherry fruits and ripe acidity. It's a rounded wine to drink now, but better to age until 2015.
With a concentrated bouquet of black cherry and leathery earth, this straddles the richness of California fruit with an Old World layering of savory sumptuousness. Built with structure and subtle acidity, it is meant to be enjoyed at the table, a pork tenderloin or mushroom quiche among the pairing possibilities.
This delicious and affordable wine offers a fragrance of blue flower, tilled soil, game and leather, along with whiffs of mature black fruit. The juicy palate delivers ripe blackberry, black cherry, black pepper and licorice alongside firm but refined tannins.
The brothers are better known for their Cornas, but this Saint-Joseph is a nice wine as well. It combines notes of marinated beef, ripe blackberries and espresso in a medium- to full-bodied wine that's mouthwatering and easy to drink. Try it now and over the next several years.
Rubbery, dark-fruit aromas are generous and come with a blanket of mild, chocolaty oak. This is round and punchy on the palate, with raspberry, plum, herb and spice flavors. On the finish, it is fresh and not too demanding, with steady, firm tannins.
A blend of Conner Lee and Stillwater Creek vineyard fruit, this carries tart, wild berry flavors on a sea of bright acidity. Streaks of anise and a touch of floral aromatics add zest and interest.
Kicking off with a tight nose of lemongrass and limestone, this is a Viognier for fans of Sauvignon Blanc. It keeps a razor-sharp focus on the palate, with tart apple flavors and zesty acidity that wipes the flavors clean rather quickly, but it verges ever so slightly towards a hint of tropical papaya.
This is unusual, a Pinot Blanc with a Burgundy appellation. But with its creamy texture and soft fruitiness, it fits well into the Burgundy flavor spectrum. There is some crispness, bright acidity and a fresh final taste. Drink now.
This is a light, floral wine by Ribera standards. Rosy aromas include baking spices and loamy red-fruit notes. The palate is kind of thin, but with enough tannic bite to make it lasting. Vanilla, raspberry, red plum and tobacco flavors finish with vanilla and coconut accents along with juicy acidity. Drink through 2016.
The wine has the firmness of a Pommard along with ripe fruits full of sweetness and acidity. That makes it structured and with a good future, while being totally fruity at the same time. Drink from 2015.
Winemaker Eric Laumann, who was recently hired to head up the quality-at-good-price Castle Rock team, focuses on obscure varietals, this time taking on the deep-red German grape Dornfelder. The nose combines cinnamon, black currant, pure black cherry, pipe tobacco, and chocolate cake, while the palate delivers ripe plum, cherry pie and licorice.
This delicious and velvety expression of Nero d'Avola opens with aromas of earth, ripe black berry, leather and clove. The juicy palate offers blackberry pulp and ripe blueberry, accented by a note of unsweetened black licorice.
Flowery and electric in high-toned grapefruit and peach, this is a crisp, clean white from a consistent producer. Medium-bodied, it holds small percentages of Sémillon and Muscat. The finely hewed texture benefits from 10% of the wine having been aged in neutral oak.
Lots of fun to sip this showy, overt, no-holds-barred Zin. Lavish use of new oak gives aromas of toasted bread, maple syrup and smoked bacon. The flavors say ripe strawberries and sweet blackberry jam, and the finish is sweet and spicy at the same time.
This pleasantly perfumed wine has some acidity, jammy red fruits and soft tannins. It feels very rounded and smooth, with a structure that is totally integrated into the velvet texture. Drink from 2016.
Dry and layered in crisp melon, lime and lemon zest, this aromatic SB is complex and kissed by honeysuckle. It's a natural go-to for shellfish, especially Hog Island oysters from the coast near Point Reyes. A warm goat cheese salad would also do nicely.
Peach-blush in color, this is a pretty, floral and aromatic wine, dry and delicious in peach and strawberry flavors. A hint of herbs marks the finish. Enjoy with a picnic, especially goat cheese and charcuterie.
Consulting winemaker Michel Rolland oversees this bottling in the Long Shadows series. Fans of his forward, sometimes voluptuous style may find this vintage a bit thin. The fruit is peppery and the tannins chewy, while the barrel flavors of chocolaty oak have not quite assimilated. Further bottle age might improve the wine.
With scents reminiscent of an early morning hike through a foggy forest, it features aromas of cola, sassafras and a damp, earthen funk. It hits the palate with a medium body, delivering some violet florals at first and, with enough swishing, finishing on sanguine flavors of red meat.
Direct and easy drinking, this is full of ripe blueberry aromas and flavors, framed by hints of toast and a dusting of cinnamon. Drink now.
Deep ruby in color and with aromas of cherry and butterscotch, this wine has flavors of black cherry, lemon zest, thyme and mint. Heady tannins endure through the smooth yet unpredictably zippy finish.
This versatile red offers cola, cocoa and coffee aromas and earthy, balanced flavors of plum, dried cherry, cocoa and spice. Approachable but true to the variety, this wine is still evolving and can age for years to come.
It's uncommon to find Grenache Noir in a white blend, but it's a tasty experiment nonetheless. Well rounded and evenly presented, the nose of lemon and honeysuckle is prominent but delicate. The slightly oily palate comes alive with vanilla, pear candy, peach and bubblegum, finishing with a brush of acidity.
Here's a bright, linear wine that opens with alluring floral aromas that recall Spanish Broom and acacia, with just a whiff of beeswax. The juicy palate offers grapefruit, exotic fruit and pineapple flavors that are accented by energizing mineral notes.
Medium- to full-bodied, it's very smooth, well polished and easy to enjoy. Not too ripe or too sweet, but sophisticated in style, it delivers moderately ripe raspberry and blueberry flavors, soft tannins and a lingering fruity finish.
Very intense wine, packed with dark tannins, solid and powerful. It is leavened with great perfumes, while the overall effect is dark, brooding and concentrated.
Lapierre bottled two versions of this wine, one using no sulfur, one using some sulfur. It makes a fascinating contrast, but this version without sulfur is inevitably the better, not losing one iota of the ripe fruit, the rich cherries and immediately attractive bonbon and candy flavors.
An alluring nose of violets, berries and a touch of spice begins this stylish wine from Waterford. On the palate, flowers, spice and minerals unfold and mingle with elegance. The tannins are pronounced but refined. The wine will age and offer more as time passes, but it's a gorgeous sip today.
From volcanic soil, this ripe, but tight style of Muscadet is one that needs aging. Even after two years, the acidity has not completely molded round the fresh grapefruit flavors. It's lively, very crisp, demanding food.
A fine, balanced wine that brings out good toastiness alongside sweet, ripe fruit. Well made, showing good balance, with acidity giving a lift to all the richness. The aftertaste is rounded and delicious.
Clean, expressive, elegant—everything comes together superbly in this beautiful blend from Radford Dale. Exhibiting the perfect balance of restrained minerality, meaty, smoky spice and full, delicious fruit, the wine ends with studied finesse. Pure class throughout.
A big (15.6% alcohol) wine, the 2006 Bella's Garden nevertheless comes across as balanced and drinkable in its youth, marrying a rich, creamy texture with mixed berry fruit and hints of mint and vanilla. Avoids any cooked character, finishing long and fresh. Drink now–2015.
This is a big, concentrated wine, impressive for 2007. There are solid tannins, with additional great acidity, and plenty of structure and ripeness. Red plums give a finishing lift.
Certainly intense, dominated by dry botrytis, with the syrup element here in texture rather than taste. The wine has a great tension between richness and intense acidity, a wine with a potential of 15 years aging or more, but for the moment an intense glass of wine.
A nicely balanced barrel-aged Chard, this wine offers scents of toasted hazelnuts, vanilla and citrus, then builds on those flavors by adding broader peach notes. It's fairly full-bodied, but avoids being heavy, and boasts a long, elegant finish.
An attractive, structured, balanced wine, showing floral aromas, deliciously rounded ripe fruit, held in check by fresh blackberry flavor. The richness is here, but it is subtle, giving a wine that is powerful but food friendly.
Perfectly blends passion fruit with ripe peach and nectarine notes to yield a refreshing combination that folds in just enough herbal complexity. This medium-bodied SB's appealing flavors linger on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now.
A finely structured wine that relishes its blackberry jelly, new wood and dense, concentrated texture. The wine is powerful, firm, certainly rich, but with a sense of restraint that gives it elegance.
A great structured, finely textured wine. The black tarry fruit, sweet licorice and black currant flavors all hang together well, leaving ripeness and feel of elegance.
Muscular spice, deep red berry and blackberry and sturdy tannins give this strength and elegance. The fruit is assertive and delicious, the mouthfeel fresh and the finish lingering. Could use a few years of aging for extra character, but today, a robust and stylish choice.
Smoky mineral tones and a racy, acidic edge lend structure to this dry, full-bodied Riesling. Crisp green apple and lemon flavors are mouthwatering and juicy, leading to a pleasantly bitter lime pith finish. Enjoy now through 2025.
This wine is a blend of Two Blondes Cabernet Franc (50%), Benches Merlot (34%) and Dionysus Cabernet Sauvignon. Appealing scents of green herb, dark cherry and barrel spice are followed by plentiful cranberry and cherry flavors. It shows an exquisite sense of balance along with a lengthy finish.
This silky-textured, medium-bodied wine starts off with aromas of toasted marshmallow and ripe citrus. The flavors show more range, covering hints of melon, white peach, lime, pineapple and roasted cashew, before finishing long and crisp.
From the producer's Mount George Vineyard in the heart of the appellation, this has 12% Petit Verdot within, the vineyard first planted in 1868 in these volcanic mountain soils. Juicy, dusty red currant and cedar are girded by firm tannins that present as chalky and lengthy, the soil a consistent echo on the palate.
A crazy-good combo of lavender, espresso and baking spice flavors make this full-bodied wine fascinating to taste. It's deeply colored, aromatic and tannic, but not heavy. The wine has a vivid stamp of spicy oak, with enough lavish blackberry and black cherry behind it for balance.
Tight-grained tannin plays a supporting role to this wine's undeniable earthiness, a mix of compost and wild mushroom. Subtle on the nose, the savory character gives way eventually to a density and concentration of brighter flavors, from cherry and citrus to spiky pine.
A nice discovery at a great price. This is a spicy, bold and concentrated wine with exciting oak accents that are like earth, pepper and cardamom resting on a firm palate of rich berries, grilled meat and black pepper flavors. The fine-grained tannins add good grip to the mouthfeel.
Exotic hints of dill and clove open on the nose in this elegantly robust wine, which finds a balance in its brightness of red cherry and red currant. Generous tannin takes on a leathery feel on the palate, finding a softness that lingers on the finish.
Light in color and stemmy and spicy in equal parts, this light, bright wine is complex and intriguing in its offering of white pepper, baker's yeast and cranberry coated in vanilla. It delivers flavor and nuance in a pleasing showcase of the variety.
Hearty and thick aromas of raspberry, mulberry and sugar plums meet with a touch of bay leaf on the nose of this bottling from a famous vineyard. Woody and dark red fruits show on the sip, with juniper and sour cherry flavors most prominent.
Baked blackberries, nutmeg and star anise aromas make for a dense and full but not overly powerful or rich nose on this bottling. It's fairly thick and soft in body, but with some textural grip, showing flavors of black plum skins, graphite and sandalwood, before finishing on a eucalyptus kick.
This wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), with the balance smidgens of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The aromas bring notes of barrel spice, vanilla, herb, cherry and red and black fruit. The flavors are full and bold, with burly but not unyielding tannins giving support. Put it up against a juicy steak or give it some time in the cellar.
From decades-old, dry-farmed vines, the wine then 100% barrel fermented, this vintage the grapes were picked particularly early and were still quite rich and full, prompting this experimentation. Lemony bright, floral aromas and flavors meet a lean, refreshing body of apricot and green apple, a pleasant experience from start to finish.
For one of their lower-priced bottlings, this blend of 55% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is a great deal. The nose shows exuberant black raspberry, scarlet rose petals and fresh lilacs against a backdrop of dewy thyme and oregano. That herbal component carries strongly to the palate, giving nuance to tangy plum fruits. The savory touch would pair with everything from pasta to Asian-spiced beef.
This is full-bodied, velvety-textured and expansive in the mouth, delivering plenty of bold cassis, chocolate and sage flavors. Some brighter, red-fruit notes mingle with mocha shadings on the surprisingly long finish.
After an initial wave of briny rubbery aromas, this turns towards lively raspberry scents topped by toasty oak. Fresh and punchy in the mouth, with elegance, this tastes of red raspberry and herbal plum. A lightly salty finish with tomato and plum flavors is fresh and lasting.
This is the third bottling of this wine, which employs whole-cluster fermentation to provoke a slower ferment and mellowed tannin. It succeeds, though it doesn't hold back, showing plenty of firm tannin backbone seasoned by clove, black tea, sage and anise. The acidity tingles on the palate.
All whole cluster fermented, this was given 22 months in neutral wood. It remains fresh and clean, with berry and cherry fruit flavors, and a moderately sweet candy impression. There's a touch of wet rock also, and a textural, persistent finish. Drink now through 2023.
Fermented and aged in barrique, this mature structured white offers subtle aromas of pressed yellow flower, dried stone fruit and toast. The round palate offers mature yellow apple, lemon drop, toasted almond and a dollop of honey. This definitely isn't a classic apéritif so pair it with white meats or seasoned cheeses.
Aromas of toasty oak, vanilla, black cherry, plum and spice hit the right notes. In the mouth, this is chewy, full bodied and loaded with resiny oak and cutting acidity. Baked loamy black-fruit and fig flavors reflect a warm dry vintage, while this tastes chocolaty and is packed to the brim on the finish. Drink from 2018–2028.
Spicy, this full-bodied wine is tart in cherry and piquant in baking spices, able to retain a lively and fresh palate within the weightier proceedings. It has a brooding, brushy underbelly of forest-floor pine.
Smooth and ripe, this wine comes from vines planted in what was once a royal hunting ground. It is a full-bodied blend of Douro grapes with a more local southern variety, giving both structure and warmth. An impressively concentrated wine, it needs to age. Drink from 2019.
Bright, dusty leather is a highlight of this structured, meaty, balanced wine, firm and grippy in tannin. Red berry and coffee complement each other to find a tension between fruit and spice.
This is an outstanding value in a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir—soft, subtle and spicy, with sweet strawberry and cherry fruit. All neutral oak fermented, the mouthfeel is smooth and supple, and the flavors have a sexy, delicious quality that says “drink me now!”
Dark in color, this accessible wine is deliciously layered and focused, offering a core of golden pear, Gravenstein apple and nutmeg, with a bright laser beam of acidity.
Leather meets plum sauce meets red licorice in this full-bodied, robustly crafted wine that's plush and lush on the palate. Seismic tannins present themselves upfront in a confrontational way before softening on the finish.
This is a rich finely structured wine from Sogrape's Alentejo estate which is located close to the best place in Europe to stargaze. Powered with tannins as well as black fruits, this blend of Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional is dense and very ageworthy. Drink starting from 2018.
This 100% varietal wine brings aromas of plum, green herb, vanilla and barrel spice. The flavors are sappy and full, showing a sense of polish.
Bergamot leaf and sea breezes are conjured up in this streamlined, sleek and ultradry Riesling. This is fresh but sunny, ripe but svelte. Just what you need on a hot summer day. The lip-smacking finish keeps you coming back for more.
This fragrant, elegant white opens with scents of orange blossom and white wild flower. The savory palate has a lovely depth of flavors, including yellow peach, Bosc pear, juicy lime and mineral alongside fresh acidity. A hazelnut note backs up the finish. It's an outstanding effort, especially given the difficult vintage.
It takes a little time, but if you pay attention to the purity of fruit, this Zweigelt will have you hooked. It's that combination of pure blueberry fruit freshness and gentle but distinct tannic grip that will grab you almost unaware (likely somewhere midpalate) and you will want more. If you like it full-bodied but fresh, this is your wine.
A succulence veering on sweetness, but of the ripe fruit variety, not cloying kind, lies at the heart of this nicely made wine, highlighted in dark cherry, mocha and cola. A sticky structure with tension drives the palate, balanced by a voluptuous undercurrent.
Ripe notes of yellow plum dance on the palate against a firm, citric background of immense freshness. This stands with poise and a seriously straight back. The midpalate is as savoury as soy sauce. Totally enlivening and refreshing with a lovely, concentrated core and backbone.
This wine is three-quarters Grenache with the balance Syrah (15%) and Mourvèdre. Quite light aromas of raspberries, wood spice, herbs and spice are followed by strikingly pure, creamy-feeling red-fruit flavors that persist on the finish. One wants more aromatic generosity but the palate's appeal is hard to ignore.
A majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%) is tousled with 30% Merlot and smaller amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec to voluptuous effect, offering a dark and brooding experience from the glass, the wine is big-boned and firmly textured. Black pepper and leather add considerable intrigue. Drink now through 2021.
Whole-clustered pressed grapes, all from this one clone, provide an aromatic entry of golden honey and caramel, which is also how the color can be described. Decadent in a bite of yellow apple that could almost be baked, it remains buoyant on the palate, textured and floral in gardenia.
Brooding aromas of spice, mineral, green herb, cedar, cherry and a minty top note lead to sweet yet elegant black fruit flavors and firm, burly tannins that need time to stretch their legs. Best after 2020.
This is an extremely textural pink wine, with delicate touches of raspberry, strawberry, watermelon and the slightest twist of lime on the nose. The blend of 68% Grenache, 13% Counoise, 11% Mourvèdre and 8% Syrah shows grip and acidity on the sip, where lime-soaked nectarine and red apple flavors reign.
An exotic, inviting aroma like apricot and sliced almonds leads to complex and compelling flavors that seem European as they layer peach skin on pastry shell on something almost briny. It is a flavorful, dry, rich, but almost astringent wine with great energy.
Earthy berry, spice, leather and vanilla aromas are textbook for the region. This Crianza feels fresh but sturdy, with meaty tannins. Briar, cherry and medicinal plum and berry flavors finish with sweeping chocolate and brambly spice notes.
Aromas of baking spice, vanilla and dark cherry are followed by lush, thoroughly delicious cranberry and pit-fruit flavors that persist, with soft, plump tannins backing them up. It's a hedonistic example of the variety: equal parts fruit and oak and 100% delicious.
This wine is two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance being Merlot (25%) and Syrah. Vanilla, cocoa and dark fruit aromas lead to rich, well balanced fruit and barrel flavors that linger on the finish.
The Westside Paso winery's name is Finnish for “the hill,” and that aspect delivers baked plums and strawberries, a touch of maple, dried roses and brown sugar on the nose of this 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah blend. It's full bodied, with crushed asphalt at the tip of the sip, then settles into elderberry and cedar notes.
With a little time in the glass, this eventually reveals subtle aromas of toasted almond, pressed yellow flower, beeswax and a whiff of honey. The honeyed note follows over to the enveloping palate, along with candied citrus peel, marzipan and mineral. Fresh acidity brightens the rich flavors and provides balance. It's already enjoyable but hold for more complexity. Drink through 2023.
From a property owned by the Bignon-Cordier family of Château Talbot in Saint-Julien in Bordeaux, this wine is packed with red fruit. Smooth and full bodied, it offers a touch of spice as well as perfumed raspberry acidity. A rich wine, it is ready to drink.
Made with 25% Mourvèdre, this blend benefits from that grape's intense perfume and structure. It is rich with red fruits and tannins, both of which suggest a wine that could age a few months. It is full bodied and does need food to be fully appreciated. Drink at its best at the end of 2016.
Yeast still swings on the nose of this young, fresh Riesling. The palate, however, gives glimpses of what is yet to come: lovely notes of mandarin and plump citrus with lots of verve.
Enticing scents of wild blackberry, violet and a hint of menthol unfold on this savory red. The juicy palate doles out succulent raspberry, white pepper, clove and cocoa while lively acidity and firm, refined tannins provide balance.
Rich aromas of meaty charcuterie provide a compelling reason to investigate this wine further, a largely varietal undertaking with 5% Merlot, aged two years in 80% new French oak. Chalky, dusty tannins add a smokiness and medium weight, before finishing with a touch of dried herb.
Alluring aromas of acacia flower, beeswax, citrus and a whiff of honey float out of the glass. The elegant, linear palate offers green pear, grapefruit, lemon zest, almond and mineral framed in racy acidity. Give this time to fully develop. Drink through 2021.
Aromas of yellow flower, candied orange zest and a balsamic note emerge in the glass. On the enveloping palate, a ginger note accents baked Gala apple and eucalyptus honey. Fresh acidity brightens the rich flavors.
Round and juicy, this opens with aromas of stone fruit, dried herb and a whiff of pear. The ripe, enveloping palate doles out white peach, mature apple, juicy nectarine and a hint of bitter almond. A mineral note closes the lingering finish.
Smoky plum and spicy clove surround a hearty core of barbecued meat aromas and flavors, giving this wine a full-bodied weight of decadence. Toasted oak and soft tannin round out the experience, a nice version of the variety from a specific site.
Aromas of tropical pineapple, guava and mango as well as caramelized banana begin what seems will become a decadent journey on the palate, but no. The flavors and textures are measured and nicely balanced, with lilts of minerality rising on the finish.
Made with equal parts Lagrein, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, this structured, balanced red boasts aromas of black pepper, black currant, toast and a whiff of bell pepper. The firm palate delivers mature plum, roasted coffee bean and allspice accompanied by chewy tannins. Drink through 2021.
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.
A sturdy wine, sporting plenty of roasted cherries and caramel on a medium-weight frame. Turns strongly sour on the finish, where the flavor of charcoal dust also intrudes. —J.C.
How can a Barossa Shiraz be so green? Its flavors are herbal to the point of being close to cabbage or green bean, with just enough high-toned cherry fruit to be acceptable. —J.C.
This lightweight wine seems prematurely aged, with aromas and flavors of damp earth and cremini mushrooms. —J.C.
A disappointing effort from this normally reliable winery. There's some dark earth and fruit but it's hard to get at under a veil of charred oak, cellar dirt and alcohol. The finish tastes of coffee grounds. The mouthfeel is fine, the flavors just don't come together. —J.C.
Spicy and full of cassis, tobacco and coffee aromas. Texture and mouthfeel are what this wine is all about; it is plush like velvet carpet. Deep, satisfying flavors of plum, black currant and vanilla lead into an ultrasmooth finish that is clean as a hospital emergency room.
Hailing from the town of Suvereto in the southern Maremma, this sophomore Cabernet-Merlot blend from the same owner as Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi in Franciacorta is flat-out awesome. One whiff of the bouquet says it all: earth, currant, blackberry and coffee. The palate is equally sensational—a magic carpet ride of plum fruit, pure oak and solid but forgiving tannins. Drink and enjoy any time through 2006.
This is the best Pinot Noir yet from the Drouhin estate; immensely concentrated and rich. The fruit is complex and penetrating, focused and long, layered throughout a generous and extended finish. Cherries and chocolate linger on the palate, resonating long after the wine has been swallowed.
Fast becoming one of the world's top luxury cuvées, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Syrah is a complex amalgam of dry, classy fruit, herbal notes, smoked meat, black pepper and baking spices. Its calling card is its perfect body weight. It isn't heavy or jammy, but it manages to offer tons of stuffing and a graceful finish loaded with the essences of cola, coffee and chocolate. If possible, it should be cellared for several more years.
Sesta is one of the wines coming out of Montalcino that manages to combine the old-world power and tannin of Brunello with top-quality fruit flavors. It is firm and concentrated, showing dry tannins that go right through the palate. At the same time, there is delicious ripe, violet-flavored fruit and balancing acidity. Drink after 10 years.
A Type-A wine if ever there was one. It's high-voltage Cabernet, with just a touch of Merlot, and it's layered with cassis, buttery oak, and some toast. The mouthfeel is full but elegant, with mint and clove nuances poking through to impact the bold currant-laden palate. A smooth, well-oaked, persistent finish is the encore. Can easily be aged for a decade.
This nuovo mondo Super Tuscan represents the first vintage of Borgo Scopeto under the management of Tenuta Caparzo, and it has a tremendous jammy, extracted quality to it, from the smooth, deep plum and blackberry nose to the soft, rich palate that exudes tons of black cherry fruit along with coffee and licorice. It's a mix of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Syrah, and everything is working in unison.
The label reads Chianti, but this is more about deep, driving black fruit than typically racy Sangiovese. It kicks off with the purest scent of smashed berries, and then offers up a supercharged black-cherry-laden palate with far more hedonistic weight than starching acids. The wine finishes with power and warmth.
The land from which this wine comes was once owned by the Biondi-Santi family. It forms part of an 18-acre estate belonging to Sergio Rossi. It is a stunning wine, with a sense of fine poise combined with solid tannins and firm, ripe fruit. At the back of the palate is a lingering flavor ofviolets and sweet herbs. Drink from 2005; the wine should age well.
Little changes at Biondi-Santi. The tannins on this huge 1997 are dense, almost impenetrable. The flavors are of cherry, tobacco, old wood and solid, black fruits. The aftertaste is all tannin at this stage. Despite this rigorous adherence to tradition, the 1997 seems a touch less overwhelming than previous vintages of this classic wine. Nevertheless, age for at least 15 years before drinking.
Big and forward but still elegant, which is what we like. Spice and bold black fruit carry the bouquet, which leads straight to a smooth palate flush with berry, plum and cola flavors. Finishes like glass, meaning it's super smooth. A voluptuous but balanced wine, with only the slightest hint of syrup. Drink now.
A soft, rounded, apples and cream style of wine, with full almond and toast aromas, a reflection of the vintage. At present, the yeast and off-dry dosage have not fully integrated. It needs 3–4 years.
Expect a fair amount of forward, creamy oak and you'll be just fine digging into this rich, healthy Malbec (with some Cabernet Franc). Intense blackberry, black cherry and chocolate flavors bring a smile even if they don't seem that complex. But on further thought, this wine is about hedonistic richness, barrel notes and pleasure as opposed to stirring things up intellectually.
Lush, forward and complete, with a full mix of sweet and spicy aromas leading to bright berry flavors accented by licorice and vanilla from well-managed oak. Salentein is making better wines now than ever before, and this toasty, warming number is a prized bull that can only help Argentinean Malbec preserve its good name.
This Palmes d'Or style is used to create a wine rather than a Champagne. It works here, the structure and the toast all giving a mouthfeel of Burgundy. The acidity of course is characteristic of Champagne, but it is well integrated into the yeast, the green stone fruits and the pink grapefruit freshness.
The small amount of Viognier helps to fill out this wine's mouthfeel, adding weight to the spice-driven flavors of cracked pepper, licorice, coffee and block olive. Finishes long and well structured, with a velvety texture to the tannins.
Only the second released vintage of this wine for Felton Road, and already the improvement is noticeable. The black cherry fruit is bold, the vanilla-laced oak assertive, and the overall impression is one of power rather than nuance. Maybe that will come with age.
It's about 75% Sauv Blanc, 25% Sémillon. Lush with bright, fresh flavors of pineapple and grapefruit, it also has good acids with nuances of tangerine, orange and lemon peel. It's refreshing and textural, the sort of white wine that demands shellfish and seafood. Especially good on the finish, which adds a bit of cinnamon.
This is 100% Cabernet from three different vineyards, mixing cherry, berry, plum and cassis, and setting the fruit against crisp acids. The tannins, slightly green around the edges, are focused and appropriate. Could it be fleshed out with a little Merlot? Yes, but the elegance and precision of pure Cabernet is somehow more thrilling.
Light, thinly textured but packed with ripe plum and dark raspberry flavor, this Sierra Foothills Syrah is fleshy, and reflects a warmer climate, more fruit-forward and brooding than leathery or inundated with spice.
This rosé boasts a pale flamingo-pink hue and slightly acrid aromas upon opening. But it settles down to present tart, cranberry-like fruit and ample weight allied to a taut, fresh mouthfeel.
This plump, medium-bodied rosé features aromas of nectarine and citrus, followed up by flavors of stone fruit, perhaps a hint of cherry and a bit of white chocolate. Then it tightens up again on the finish, turning more citrusy again.
While there are hints of banana, the wine does have a firm and solid structure that suggest it will age. With its red cherry fruit and structure it's ready to drink now.
If you like cru bourgeois Bordeaux and don't mind a fair amount of green in your wine, then add a point or two. But frankly, this is closed and herbaceous on the nose, with minty, quick flavors of herbal berry fruits and thyme. Rarely do RDD wines have this much herbal essence, but the feel is perfectly good.
Initial cherry and violet aromas take on more herbal, green and grassy scents as the bouquet expands. In the mouth, this hits hard, while baked, spicy flavors of herbal plum and berry finish leafy and stewed, with carob and toast. As a whole, this is typical of Salta Malbec.
A fleshy, big-boned Pinot Noir from high-elevation grapes, Brassfield is priced fairly and a nice wine full of cranberry and leather, intense and coarsely textured.
This is more ripe and round than most value Carmenères from 2011. The nose is creamy and oaky, with graphite, leather and balsamic notes to go with inky black-fruit scents. The palate is chunky and thick, with blackberry, pepper and herbal flavors. A rubbery feeling finish turns slightly bitter toward the end.
This blend of white native grapes from Lazio has delicate, fruity aromas of pear and apple that carry over to the palate along with an almond note. Fresh and crisp, this makes a perfect apéritif, or pair it with lightly-seasoned dishes.
This wine feels a bit stripped, although the earthy tannins are still quite noticeable. Herbal flavors overtake the thin red fruits, with a wash of vanilla running through the finish.
An aromatic wine with notes of dried apricot and flowers. At 70 g/L residual sugar, it drinks sweet and is a quaffable crowd pleaser.
Firm with strong tannins from the Tannat, this is a structured wine, full of ripe blackberry fruits and intense acidity. There is a herbal character at the end, that suggests some under-ripe fruit.
Apple aromas come with a mild but noticeable burn. This feels dense and thick, with creaminess to the palate. Flavors of pear, melon and banana slow down and thicken up on the finish, which is round and not at all complex.
A cooler vintage from one of Washington's coldest growing regions is reflected in this lightly fruity blend. The barely-ripe  fruit is accented with green notes of earth and stem.
This Bordeaux-style blend is half Cabernet Sauvignon, the rest a mix of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Light, leafy, somewhat green flavors suggest thin, plummy fruit with a strong herbal streak. It looses weight quickly and turns tannic.
Angular, slightly sweaty aromas let you know up front that this is Sauvignon Blanc. In the mouth, it's a bit soft and short on acidity. Flavors of mango, banana and brown sugar finish with candied sweetness and a shot of bitterness.
This wine from northern Italy offers bell pepper and red currant aromas that carry over to the palate along with notes of black pepper. The bright, straightforward and easy-drinking style is ideal to pair with everyday fare.
Floral, leafy raspberry and cherry aromas lead to a creamy palate with just enough acidic cut. Rooty flavors of cola, mocha and licorice don't offer much fruit, and the finish is sweet and candied, with a brown sugar note.
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.
Inspired by Chinook and Amavi, who also make excellent rosés from Cab Franc, this is quite delicious, round and ripe with mixed cherry and apple fruit flavors. It's on the soft side, very accessible, with beautiful fruit and some delicate spice notes of cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of cotton candy.
A lovely effort, with round, spicy fruit and a pleasing lushness in the midpalate. Lemon tea and hints of sweet honey are backed with enough acid to give it plenty of grip. All in all, it's a very good Washington imitation of a Spatlëse.
This new winery located just outside of Prosser hits the ground running with a luscious, viscous, creamy Pinot Gris that tastes like a pear-flavored creamsicle. The fruit is almost tropical, right at the edge of mango/banana, but not fat or flabby. This is a perfect sipping wine. Screwcap.
Wines like this are why Americans can't get enough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Passion fruit and nectarine are joined by spicy hints of jalapeño, creating a fine balance of round, tropical fruit with peppery piquancy that leaves the mouth watering.
A dark, firm, muscular wine, blended with 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes show flavors of the region – dark, spicy boysenberry fruit, wrapped in smoky tannins. Its excellent varietal character and concentration suggest that this wine has a potential cellar life of a decade or more.
Though Washington is rarely recognized for its Gewürztraminers, the grape does exceptionally well here, and Celilo in particular has become a treasured hunting ground for winemakers specializing in the grape. This one is a gem: spicy and off-dry, it expands across the palate with authority and precision. Rather than sweetly floral, it leans toward flavors that are sweetly grassy, but lets pretty rose petal highlights fill in the back of the palate.
This is a lovely, orange blossom special. Sweet and tart, penetrating and long, with lovely peaches, apricots and oranges lighting it up.
This zesty icewine, with its lemon, spice and mineral backbone, offers a light and playful take on the dessert wine coveted by so many worldwide. Delicate and not overly sweet, this shows some restraint and subtlety, lending it to food pairing and solo sipping.
The hot climate of the Cold Creek Vineyard sharpens up the contours of this Chardonnay, which shows more of a classic Washington character. Bright fruit, a mix of apples and peaches and pears, is shot through with streaks of butterscotch from fermentation in new French oak. It's been through 100% malolactic, yet retains some crispness. Polished and full-bodied.
A touch of reduction clings to the nose, masking the fruit. On the palate, however, lemon and crisp green apple freshness prevail, carried by a soft lively mousse. This is dry, light and has a lovely backdrop of yeasty autolytic notes and a very clean finish.
Coming from Waterbrook Estate, Blackrock and Summit View vineyards, this offers high-toned aromas, with notes of flower, soil and bittersweet chocolate. The palate is full of bold flavors backed by lively acidity and firm, slightly dry tannins. It's a high-quality example of the variety, though it could use some steak to tame the tannins.
Raspberry, cocoa, coffee and vanilla aromas lead to plump, focused fruit flavors. It's both appealing and quite varietally correct. For those looking for a quality value Merlot, look no further.
This nutty aromatic wine is crisp, tight and with intense acidity. It has a mineral edge as well as citrus fruit, grapefruit and lemon flavors. The wine is lively, perfumed and ready to drink.
Dominating aromas of clove and baking spices are forced and oak-based, and thus not natural. In the mouth, this lusty, extracted Malbec feels raw and choppy, with rough tannins. Flavors of clove, savory berry fruits and green herbs continue on the finish.
Aromas of plum and blue fruit are accented by high-toned spices and milk chocolate. Flavors are soft, palate coating and poised, with blue-fruit flavors lingering on the finish. It doesn't necessarily taste like Merlot but still brings plenty of appeal.
The touches of wood aging are apparent in the almond and toasty edge to this perfumed wine. Quince and apricot fruit show strongly through the tight dry texture and minerality. It's a wine made to be drunk young with great fruit. Drink now.
This wine is 90% Syrah, with the balance Grenache (8%) and Mourvèdre. The aromas are reserved initially, with notes of blueberry pie, dark-roasted coffee and raspberry. The palate is surprisingly light for the aromas (and producer), with the finish seeming attenuated. The oak also comes off as a bit heavy.
Apple, pear and spice aromas lead to medium-bodied fruit flavors that manage to remain light on their feet. The finish seems a bit clipped but it still delivers enjoyment.
Balsamic herb, toast, oak, exotic spice and berry aromas emerge in the glass. The palate is still rather closed and austere showing oak, licorice and tart cherry alongside bracing tannins that leave an astringent finish. Give the tannins a few years to soften than drink before to capture the remaining fruit.
Herb, grapefruit and passion-fruit aromas lead the way on this well-priced pleaser. The flavors are plush in feel but with plenty of acid backing them up.
The nose gives nothing away apart from the slightest lemon zest flavors. The palate, also rather neutral but very crisp, has the same slight touch of lemon freshness but shows lots of energy on its dry, slimline body. Perfect, easy-drinking party wine.
From the winemaking palate of Château Pégau, this is a traditionally styled Rhône red. There's already a hint of bricking at the rim, but it offers ample weight, a creamy midpalate and a soft finish to support pleasing notes of baked cherries and plums, leather and earth. Drink now.
Aromas of wood spice, plum and herb lead to black fruit flavors and chalky, dry tannins that make it hard to access.
This Cabernet Sauvingon, Syrah and Merlot dominant blend offers aromas of wet copper, zesty spice and herb that are followed by a silky soft, flavorful palate. It brings a lot of easy-drinking pleasure.
Apple blossoms and lemon-lime sorbet aromas characterize this easy and relatively simple bottling. Lime pith and crisp apple-juice flavors mark the palate, where a zesty, even juicy acidity lingers long into the finish.
Hints of honey, caramel and spice lend extra richness to tropical citrus and mango flavors in this bold, barrel-fermented Chardonnay. It's a plush, sunny wine with forward, fruity appeal and an orange-rind finish.
This brand new, crisp and fresh wine is so young. Even a rosé can benefit from a few months aging, and this wine with its tight red fruits and lightly tannic texture will be better being drunk after the summer when its fruitiness will explode in the mouth. It is ripe, light and packed with acidity at the end.
Herb, dried leaf, green pepper, tobacco and spice aromas are followed by plump yet elegant cherry and tobacco flavors. Smoke and savory notes linger on the finish.
Ripe, soft red cherry fruits are linked to a light texture and soft tannins in this ready-to-drink wine. The final acidity brings out the attractive fruitiness of this fresh wine. Drink now.
Strong Gravenstein and red apple and fleshy Asian pear aromas show on the sweet-leaning nose of this bottling from two vineyards in Arroyo Seco and one in Santa Lucia Highlands. Crisp apple and pear-cider notes lead into flavors of browner stone fruit, poached pear and drying apple blossoms.
Bright and tangy, this light-bodied wine smells fresh and herbal, almost like celery, and tastes very vibrant. It will be especially tasty in hot weather.
There's a noticeable tilt of barrel reduction in this wine that keeps it more closed-off than desired. Otherwise, the experience is full bodied in baked bread and black cherry, with a tangy freshness to the finish.
A savory whiff of nut accents fresh white grapefruit and apricot in this brisk, light-bodied wine. It's straightforward and quaffable, with a refreshing, citrusy finish.
This is a rich, ripe style of rosé, full of rich red-berry fruits and crispened by acidity. It is full bodied and just lightly textured. Drink now while it is still young and fruity.
This is a soft, still-young wine. It has nut and yeast flavors that are dominating the ripe white-stone fruits. There is a hint of Chenin honey although, of course, the wine is bone dry. The wine will need to age more and should not be drunk before 2018.
Slightly reduced notes still hover, but the palate is fresh, ripe and generous with easy red and black cherry fruit. There could be more focus on the midpalate but this makes for easy, relaxing sipping.
Fruity and citrus flavored, this is a wine that combines plenty of acidity with a ripe strawberry character. It has a tight, firm aftertaste.
Foresty, smoky, rooty berry aromas lead to a hard-driving, somewhat lean palate. Flavors of plum and currant are moderately oaky and spicy, while this is similarly spicy on the finish, which shows a dry red-fruit aftertaste.
While quite lush and full-bodied in style, this dry rosé offers ample sour-cherry refreshment. Made predominantly from Merlot with small proportions of Chardonnay and Riesling, it finishes on a slightly herbal note.
Coffee, smoke, herb, blue-fruit and barrel-spice aromas are at the fore. The palate provides soft, easy-drinking fruit and barrel flavors that linger.
This wine starts out quite reduced before it blows off. Aromas of toast and barrel spices are followed by elegant fruit flavors. It goes down easy.
Aromas of spring blossom and yellow stone fruit delicately lead the way on this refreshing white. The vibrant palate offers raw peach, lime and a hint of almond alongside racy acidity. A saline note closes the tangy finish.
This interesting blend of 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Viognier and 7% Grenache Blanc shows passionfruit, jasmine, cherimoya and green pluot aromas on the nose. The palate offers riper yellow fruit and a graphite minerality, but not much complexity beyond that.
Lusciously ripe black cherry and plum flavors seem to be dusted in cocoa powder and dried herb in this slightly rustic and savory yet charming red. The palate is concentrated in fruit yet exudes restraint, amplified by a whiff of barnyard that extends through the finish.
This wine is surprisingly brooding for the variety, with notes of jasmine, flowers and apricot struggling to get to the surface. The floral flavors are dry and light weight, providing intrigue.
This wine is mostly Syrah (80%) with the rest made up of Cinsault, Counoise and Grenache. A pretty pale pink color, it's aromatically expressive with fruit-filled notes of strawberry and cherry. The palate contains the slightest suggestion of sweetness, with light-bodied orange-peel and tart fruit flavors that draw out on the finish.
Vibrant aromas of sour ale, pear, lime and white flowers are followed by off-dry fruit flavors that provide appeal.
Deep, smoky aromas of black fruits are muscular and full. This is well structured and strong, with toast and dark-fruit flavors of blackberry and plum. Spicy, peppery flavors and mild heat drive the finish.
Aromas of aged cheese, leather, latex and medicinal cherry and plum lead to a juicy, acid-driven palate with buttery oak as the offset. Flavors of oak-related butter, popcorn and saline push this creamy red toward the finish line, but all the while fruit is secondary to oak. Drink through 2018.
Aromas of violet and red currant waft from the glass. The fresh, juicy palate delivers wild cherry, strawberry and an herbal note alongside bright acidity and soft tannins. It finishes with an almond accent.
The well-known négociant continues to amaze with affordable yet tasty wines. This bottling shows ripe raspberry, teriyaki, beef jerky, chocolate and chalk on the nose. The palate discloses bacon fat and roasted pork at first, then leans toward cloves, anise and beef blood. It's quite easy to drink.
Pretty varietal aromas include raspberry and rose petal. The sleek, easy-drinking palate offers crushed strawberry, green tomato and a hint of mineral alongside polished tannins.
Attractive aromas of red berry and blue flower lead the nose on this bright wine. On the palate, notes of beet and mint accent a core of wild strawberry and crunchy red cherry. It's savory and easy drinking thanks to fresh acidity and sleek tannins.
This wine swings between structure and ripe fruitiness. With a dense tannic background, the foreground has jammy, black fruits and a rich character. Not a wine for long aging, it's attractive now and ready to drink from 2016.
This six-grape blend opens with aromas of charred oak, shoe polish, lemon rind, plum and currant. It's tight, tannic and clampy in feel, with charred berry, spicy herb and citric notes. Bell pepper, spaghetti sauce and rawness define the finish on this snappy, coarse blend. Drink through 2017.
This wine aims to call attention to the tendency of Clone 17 (also known as the Robert Young clone) to provide baked apple and ripe, almond flavors and aromas, which this bottling does, in spades. Caramel, oak and vanilla round out the rest of the experience, which is balanced, but big in ripeness and wood.
The Malibu winery sources from the famed vineyard to deliver a wine with aromas of cherry pie, cola, chai and black pepper. It's fairly grippy with tannins on the palate, showing flavors of minty cherry and raspberry as well as some eucalyptus.
This is a textured wine, showing minerality and a tight character. Firm and closed, it needs to age, with its crisp stone fruit flavors and tangy, zesty fruitiness. Drink from 2016.
This is young of course, but the creamy richness makes it attractive even at this early stage. As it fills out, the more complex acidity and mineral texture will come forward. Drink now for the fruit, or wait until 2016 for a more complex wine.
From a parcel of vines planted on schist and close to the Lake of Grandlieu, this is a smooth, still-young wine. It has the freshest acidity, laced with citrus and green pear. Lightly textured and bright at the end, it's ready to drink.
A blend of Touriga Nacional and Castelão, this is a dense and rich wine. It has spice, soft tannins that are already well integrated, and ripe juicy black fruits. Drink this generous wine from 2016.
The composition of this blend is unusual: Syrah and Mourvèdre come with Pinot Grigio and Roussanne. The result is a spicy, raw, green, saucy nose that announces a tannic, pinched palate. Herbal dark-berry flavors are gritty and suggest eucalyptus, while the finish is spicy and green, with hard tannins.
Aromas of hawthorn, acacia flower and stone fruit take shape in the glass. The linear palate offers crisp apple, juicy pear and bitter almond alongside tangy acidity.
There's a lot to like in this spritely, vibrant wine, well-crafted in lemony papaya and starfruit. With a small percentage of both Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Musque, it's made in a fuller-bodied style, with time spent fermenting in French oak, a smattering of it new, as well as stainless steel. A squeeze of lime closes things out.
Cooked cherries, hard cinnamon candies, rhubarb pie and smoked meats arise on the nose of this bottling from the Malibu winery. Ripe cherries, anise and pepper also combine for a pleasant, easy-drinking palate.
This full and ripe wine is dominated by fresh apples. A lively, mineral texture and good depth of flavor shows through in the weight of the wine. It's a style that can age for a few more months, so drink from the end of 2015.
Lean and spry, this invigoratingly dry Riesling highlights a sense of minerality over fruit. Layers of slate and chalk penetrate the palate, allowing momentary glimpses of tart melon and tangerine to peep through. It's a refreshing, zesty wine ideal alongside rich, creamy fare, and enjoyable now through 2017.
Tight, juicy and tannic on the entry, this wine is medium bodied and layered in dusty oak, chocolate and black cherry. Lush and not overly oaked, it's a good choice for the table and for fans of Napa Valley ripeness.
Aromas of violet, wild strawberry and red raspberry carry through to the palate alongside hints of tea and rosemary. It's balanced and approachable with silky tannins and fresh acidity.
This blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 4% Malbec offers black cherry, cedar, espresso, oak, bacon fat and dried mint on the nose. It's dense on the palate, with more extracted cherry and cigar box flavors, making for very nice, uncomplicated drinking.
Sanguine, gamy and powerful from the first moment onward, this 80% Cabernet Sauvignon also has 16% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The power on the front palate evolves over time into black cherry and cassis, with shades of mocha lurking in. Firm and oaky, give this time, through 2018–2020.
This linear white presents varietal aromas of tropical fruit, cut grass and crushed tomato vine. The bright, juicy palate offers green melon and white peach alongside zesty acidity that gives it a clean finish.
Though it's 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, this includes a splash of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The pretty, floral nose is all about rose petals and milk chocolate. It tightens up in the mouth and battens down with blueberry, blue plum, milk chocolate and a somewhat astringent finish. A streak of smoke and tar runs through the tannins.
This Cabernet-dominated, Bordeaux-style blend is smooth and forward, with a mix of red and blue fruits. Buoyed by juicy acidity, it floats across the palate, light and approachable. There are some hints of stem and green olive in the tannins.
At first this is bready, and that's all. With airing, things turn more complex. In the mouth, this feels racy and firmly acidic, while flavors of citrus turn yeasty and malty with time. A long, layered, yeasty finish shows a slow pulse and not much zest.
This has intense fragrances of moist earth, blackberry, raisin and almond. The rich palate offers concentrated black cherry, plum, cinnamon and black pepper flavors. It shows the warmth of the vintage and while it doesn't seem to have enough fresh acidity for long-term aging, it's velvety-smooth and delicious now.
Lightning is a Rhône-style white, half Viognier and half Roussanne, with a splash of Marsanne. In this vintage, the alcohol drops down below 13%, to good effect. Barrel fermentation has brought a lovely creaminess to both texture and flavors. It's a mix of stone and light tropical fruits, especially pineapple, peach and green banana, with highlights of toast and a streak of vanilla.
Sourced from the winery's highest, steepest site, and barrel-fermented with partial malolactic, this is a fine effort in a lighter vintage. Yeasty and creamy in the mouth, it melds a mix of banana, pineapple and coconut cream in a wine with excellent structure and length. The hint of caramel provides a flourish on the finish.
Condensed aromas of jammy berry fruits and earth notes precede a cushioned but fiery palate. Raisin, berry syrup and oak define the wine's driving flavors, while a muscular, hot, acid-driven finish closes things out. This is 50% each of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2014 on.
This is loaded with succulent black cherry, almond, tobacco and black pepper flavors. The dense fruit and round structure are balanced by vibrant acidity, making this perfect to pair with everything from cured meats to risotto.
Showing some of the richness and structure of Vosne-Romanée, this is a concentrated wine, spiked with wood aging while also full of dark plum fruits. It is still integrating, bringing the spice from the wood more into balance. Drink from 2015.
Monolith is a Bordeaux-style blend, 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new French oak barrels. Tart cherry flavor is layered with barrel spices and an impression of malt powder. The finishing tannins are quite astringent and chalky, suggesting that further bottle age is needed for optimal enjoyment.
This Cinsault is a departure for Michael David in that it's hardly oaked, leaner and more subtle in flavor and aroma than many of its other signature wines, a testament to both the 130-year-old Bechthold Vineyard and fine farming. Floral, it delights in cranberry and raspberry with a hint of peppery spice.
This is a structured but elegant wine, with attractive aromas of baked plum, black cherry and cinnamon. The palate is both concentrated and smooth, with lush blackberry, white pepper and cinnamon flavors, as well as fresh acidity. This is delicious and ready to enjoy now.
This earthy selection offers aromas of black cherry, bitter almond, graphite and freshly tilled soil. On the palate, this presents mouthwatering blackberry and raspberry flavors layered with cinnamon-spice. The bold character is supported by ample freshness and structure.
A brightly aromatic wine with notes of candied fruit, raspberries, freshly ground herbs and cranberry. The palate has plump, ripe fruit flavors that glide on the finish.
Brambly berries and blue plums anchor the flavors of this lovely Syrah, sourced from the Lewis Vineyard. The balance of natural acids and lightly astringent tannins keeps the fruit razor sharp, and the highlights of red licorice add dimension. Drink now or over the next five years.
This 2010 Artist Series wine is roughly half-and-half Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, with just a splash of Merlot. It's a pretty, fruit-forward wine, with cherry and berry flavors that carry a gentle whiff of leather. The finish turns a bit chalky, with a slight hint of ash.
This is a Merlot-based, Bordeaux-style blend, with a leafy, herbal aspect that reflects the cooler vintage. It plays out broadly across the palate, with scents of violets and vanilla, and flavors of wild berry and light herb.
A strongly herbal, garrigue character dominates the overall personality of this wine, but is supported by ample black plum and cherry notes to keep it from being overly earthy or green. Firm, slightly astringent tannins coat the palate and remain well into the finish.
This has earthy aromas of mushroom and tobacco leaf, along with notes of raisin, ripe blackberry and plum. The palate delivers succulent black cherry, nutmeg and mint flavors accented by chocolate and bitter almond. This is well structured, with fresh acidity.
This boasts aromas of plum cake and vanilla, with whiffs of toast and oak. It has a ripe-cherry flavored palate, with espresso, coffee and oak sensations.
This has fragrances of dark cherry, moist soil and spice. The palate offers ripe black-fruit flavors, along with white pepper and baking spice accents. Pair this with salami or pot roast.
Aromas of wood shop and anisette dominate the nose. The palate is evolved, offering prune, pomegranate, vanilla, oak extract and roasted coffee bean but no fruit richness.
Ripe peach and citrus blossom pervade over a delicate honeycomb aroma. Lush nectarine and tart tropical fruit give way on the palate, with crushed stone providing much needed tension. This medium-dry Riesling would be best enjoyed as an apéritif.
Ripe on the nose, with aromas of fruit cocktail and sweet tea, this is a straightforward Riesling bound to please most. The round and peach-driven palate is enlivened by a citrus backdrop, providing just enough lift to carry the short finish.
There's a curious sign of age on this otherwise young wine, with oxidized aromas of sweet smoke, marshmallows and marzipan. It's not quite as oak-driven on the palate, where a citrus-juice backbone holds up the otherwise subdued flavors.
Delicate aromas of white spring flower and citrus fruit waft from the glass. The easy palate offers white peach, nectarine zest and a hint of almond alongside zesty acidity.
This easygoing, friendly wine features aromas of rose, violet and dark berry. On the palate, soft tannins lightly frame wild cherry and crushed raspberry flavors while a hint of vanilla adds interest. Drink through 2015.
Tropical fruit and citrus lead the nose on this lively white. The palate offers passion fruit, nectarine zest and white peach alongside crisp acidity that gives a clean finish.
Modest black cherry and berry aromas are earthy and a touch flat. This is a full-bodied Malbec with baked blackberry as the lead flavor and oaky, savory, saucy side notes. Residual dark-berry flavors and chewy tannins drive the finish.
Bold, gritty, balsamic berry aromas are rubbery and saucy in nature. Edgy and grating on the palate, but also full of spunk, this tastes salty. Modest red-berry flavors finish oaky and rustic, with a lasting note of aged balsamic vinegar.
Named in tribute to the many wine rivers of Portugal (Foz means estuary), this generous, fruity and soft wine is quite ready to drink. It is smooth with black fruits and light tannins well balanced and cut by acidity.
Tight, textured and crisp, this shows the freshness of the 2013 vintage while missing some of the natural spice of Pinot Gris. It's all about sliced green apples lightly brushed with pepper, with crisp acidity at the end. Drink now.
Smooth and fruity, sleek and spicy, it oozes sweet cherry and strawberry flavors. Feeling silky for all its ripeness, it has just a touch of tannin to help the finish linger. It's made from Syrah, Zinfandel and three other varieties.
This overly generous Cabernet Franc is supported by 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Oak, pepper and herb characterize the aromas and flavors, with meatiness competing against notes of cedar. Soft, supple and brawny, the wine finishes in a hurry.
Simple and fruity, this has a mix of pineapple, citrus and apple, high-toned and slightly bitter. The toasty component from some sort of barrel/oak treatment is not yet integrated into the fruit. This will need decanting or aging in bottle until 2016.
Moving towards medium-sweet, this is a honeyed, spicy wine, ripe and full of fruits. An easy, entry-level wine, it's deliciously rich and ready to drink.
Made with organically farmed grapes, this opens with delicate aromas of citrus, acacia flower and honey. The bright palate delivers nectarine zest, white pepper and a saline note alongside bright acidity.
Touches of smoke and grain extend throughout this uniquely savory off-dry kabinett. Rich streaks of peach and marmalade brighten the palate, accented by bursts of lemonade acidity, but overall, there's a bit of disarray throughout.
The Schoenheitz predilection for sweet wines is strongly in evidence in this wine. It's all spice and sweet fruits flavored with bergamot. It's a drink-me-now wine.
Rich with strawberry fruitiness, the wine also has a good fresh touch. It's a blend of Touriga Nacional and Syrah, giving a warm, ripe and fruity aftertaste.
Medium sweet in style, this igentle wine has attractive fruitiness as well as spice, giving lychee and quince as well as some good acidity. Drink now.
Half Cab Franc, the rest a mix of Malbec, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, this simply turns generic. Flavors are diffuse and the balance tips toward the tannic, but it never comes into any clear focus.
This inky-colored wine is showing some age. It offers flavors of prune, bell pepper, toast and ground black pepper alongside astringent tannins. The fruit is all dried up.
This soft wine is full of yellow fruits and spiced lemon, with a light, tangy texture. It's rich while having a crisper side. Drink in fall 2016.
Like a cherry pie with a graham cracker crust in liquid form, this medium-bodied, sweet style of wine combines the sweet-tart cherry and buttery crust flavors. It is fresh and uncomplicated.
The grapes for this 100% Sauvignon Blanc are sourced from estate American Canyon vineyards as well as an estate plot in Carneros. The result is intense in oaky apple skin and tropical, fleshy lime and guava. Large French oak casks were used for aging.
Strawberry and raspberry Kool-Aid aromas are sweet and bright on the nose. The light-bodied palate continues to show sweet berry tones, leading to a short, peppered finish.
Give Grüner the chance to become really ripe and you end up with luscious, rich wines like this. It may be dry, but its texture is so unctuous and soft. Its peach, lychee and kiwi fruit acidity offer the chance for drinking soon, but also promise good aging over the next 2–3 years.
Sold through the wine club. Excellent concentration in this ripe, full-bodied Riesling. It delivers a boat-load of fruit flavors, explosive aromatics and marvelous length. Citrus, peach and pear fruit is underscored with delicate minerality. Juicy, sappy and long.
This intensely fruity, delicately structured Riesling showcases layers and layers of sweet stonefruit and qince jelly flavors. The attack is honeyed and rich, but balanced with a shower of citrus acidity and a steely minerality that lingers long on the finish.
This new vintage is sourced from a single block from the Dineen vineyard, and aged in 50% new French oak—the most ever. Black fruits abound, along with licorice, tar and a whiff of iodine. It's a tightly wound Syrah, with the stuffing and style to age for a decade or longer.
This starts out appealing. Licorice, spice, coconut and vanilla aromas are entirely inviting. On the palate it delivers a tight deck of lemony oak, raspberry fruit, spice and vanilla. This finishes fiery and with a sinewy structure. Drink this Cabernet-led, five-grape blend through 2019; 500 cases made.
This white blend is two thirds Sémillon, one third Sauvignon Blanc. It has continued to improve from vintage to vintage, and this is the best yet. A Washington take on Bordeaux blanc, it's dry and fresh, with golden apple and sweet grain extending across the palate and on through a lingering, lightly peachy finish.
This is a ripe, rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah that opens with blackberry, blueberry and earthy leather aromas. It's full bodied, lifted by nice acids and layered, with toast, meaty blackberry, licorice and roasted flavors. A chewy, smooth, deep finish functions as the final chapter. Drink through 2018.
Sourced from the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley, just two barrels were made of this wine. It's smooth, rich and elegant—a mix of pineapple and citrus—with light hints of coconut and toast. There's good concentration in the finish, heightened with citrus rind phenolics.
This is one dark, intense Ribera del Duero with loads of lush black-fruit aromas matched against minerality and fine French-oak scents. It is tight as a drum on the palate, with wiry acidity and rocky tannins. Flavors of oak-driven coconut and cream sit on top of blackberry and cola, while the finish ends abruptly, with hardness. Drink through 2024; 150 cases made.
This Bordeaux-style blend is 43% Cab Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 5% Malbec, with no Petit Verdot in 2009. Young and muscular, it's built upon a base of firm black fruits, with plenty of cassis. The wine spent 20 months in 60% new French oak, and brings plenty of roasted coffee bean and dark cacao goodness to the finishing tannins.
This is an intensely minerally, dry Riesling that showcases an array of crushed stone and earth elements against a backdrop of heather floral and yellow stonefruit flavors. It's richly textured and finishes long with a feathery touch on the palate.
Spice and lanolin notes are curious and enticing on the nose and palate of this sunny and sweet, but impeccably balanced Riesling. Juicy, supple, apple jelly and quince flavors are offset by striking acidity and steely minerality that reverberate on the finish.
Rich, full tasting wine from the Sorin family, with smoothly ripe red berry fruits. There's an attractive orange zest character that gives piquancy to this great food rosé.
Mourvèdre is the dominant grape (60%) with Grenache making up the rest. It's a riot of flavors, Bing cherry, green olive, some stem and herb, with the minerality of the Mourvèdre underscoring the finish. Very well done and quite tasty.
Smoky and teeth staining with savory blackberry fruit, this Petite is balanced, with a long finish, and will get better with 3–7 years of bottling age. Think grilled meats when pairing.
This is a broad, full-bodied Carmenère with leathery, foresty aromas as well as berry and cassis. The palate feels wide, grabby and hefty, while the flavors run toward meaty and toasty, with dark berry, herb and mildly bitter notes. On the finish, it overflows with heat, chocolate and peppery flavors.
Clean, fully loaded blackberry and dark plum aromas are smooth and subtle. In the mouth, this Tempranillo is chunky and solidly built, with earthy, roasted flavors of berry and plum. Savory, meaty flavors define the finish on  this dark-leaning, affordable Rioja.
A wisp of a wine, like Marilyn in her All About Eve years, before the buxom bravado kicked in. Clean, light in color, with an inviting floral aroma, this gentle wine is dry and delicious. Pair with shellfish and think of the star's more innocent years.
A blend of two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced both from the Livermore and Napa valleys, PIcazo's 2008 vintage is full bodied in cran-raspberry, leather and herb flavors, piqued with acidity, structure and length.
Herbal red-fruit aromas come across scratchy and suggestive of fresh field greens. The palate is tight and angular, with not much cushion and herbal-leaning flavors of currant and baked raspberry. This finishes herbal and warm tasting, a natural reflection of a hot year. Drink this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenère now.
This Casablanca SB opens with crisp, dry, capped aromas of ocean foam, citrus and green herbs. It's true to form in the mouth, with nice acidity and citrusy zest. Flavors of citrus and green herbs are focused but pithy, while the finish is fresh, crisp and tastes of lime and thyme.
This deep, dense Syrah offers layers of dark berry aromas mixed with spice and herbal notes. The palate feels stylish and smooth, while driving flavors of blackberry and chocolate finish with smooth tannins. This is clean and New World in character.
Wiry cherry and herbal aromas create a raw bouquet with controlled ruggedness. Things follow that track in the mouth, which feels snappy and acidic on the midpalate, while flavors of herbal plum and spicy currant take over. A solid finish with a good feel and fresh, herbal berry fruit flavors is good.
This dark and sappy Syrah is packed with black fruits, earth and stem flavors. It's a big, chunky style that piles on licorice, espresso, and plenty of tannic bite. But the fruit is outstanding, and the use of all neutral French oak keeps it front and center.
This is the last Wild Sky to be crafted by now-departed winemaker Gordy Hill. It's a full-on Bordeaux blend, 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the other four grapes filling in the rest. Substantial and mouth-filling, it displays a mix of black fruits, black olive, and Italian herbs. The mouthfeel is satisfying and the finish edged with dark chocolate.
Tarry blackberry and plum aromas are good and lusty. This is a round, medium-bodied blend of Garnacha, Carignan and Syrah that's ripe but not overpowering. Flavors of berry and plum are red in nature and finish with spicy notes and a good feel.
Mellow aromas of baked apple, mild oak and toast are balanced and harmonious. This feels round and a little creamy but not thick or gooey. Soft flavors of honeyed peach, pineapple and banana are tropical as a whole, while the finish is solid, ripe and tropical tasting.
Under new winemaking and vineyard protocols, this producer is working with estate-grown fruit across all its wines. This one shows a rich, rounded approach that never gets overly ripe, instead embracing a sanguine, savory profile of cranberry and red currant wrapped in toasted oak.
Aromas of herb, black cherry, plum, black licorice and baking spice lead to generous and sweet blue-fruit flavors. Lightly tacky tannins provide support.
While whiffs of bramble, white mushroom and earth are savory on the nose, the palate of this full-bodied Cabernet Franc is bright and fruity. Juicy black-cherry and berry flavors are forward and fresh, marked by crisp acidity and ripe persistent tannins.
Touches of earth, new leather and sweet vermouth fill the aromas and flavors of this edgy but very enjoyable wine. It has a seeming-sweet blend of maraschino cherries, baking spices and spicy, barnyard accents.
This widely available and comparatively cheap bottling nabbed quality fruit to present aromas of black raspberry, dark cranberry, crushed graphite and chaparral. There is refreshing if slightly dried fruit on the palate, where blackberry paste is lifted by thyme, marjoram and turned-earth flavors.
Sweet strawberry and red-melon fruits show on the nose of this bottling along with clove, star anise and a touch of herbs. The boysenberry flavors on the sip are laid across fine-grained tannins and a decent acidity.
This is a very dry and dusty wine. That experience starts on the nose, where dried oregano, pencil shavings and bittersweet-chocolate aromas meet with restrained blackberry juice. The herbal wave carries into the sip, with marjoram, bay leaf and dill playing into slightly sour black-plum fruit.
Hedonistic aromas of hot red-cherry pie with buttery crust show on the nose of this bottling along with more intellectual touches of thyme and graphite. There's a strong herbal front to the palate, with bay leaf, mint and more thyme sprinkled atop boysenberry fruit. It finishes with a bit of earthy dust.
The restrained nose of this bottling shows red cherry, dusty earth, sagebrush and a bit of rosebud. The palate blends the sour and sweet tones of candied cranberry with thyme and bay leaf, proving quite clean and tasty.
Ripe and forward black-cherry and berry notes are juxtaposed by swathes of green herb and pepper in this neatly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh in fruit and acidity, it finishes with bold tannins and integrated tones of smoked nut and spice.
The Santa Ynez Valley stalwarts explore the slightly riper side of the grape with this bottling that shows fatter Anjou pear and Key-lime aromas but also tighter chalk and wet sidewalk tones. Sour green-apple skins arise on the sip alongside lime zest. The acidity is noticeable but not racy.
Grilled mushroom and a gamy note define this wine, from the highest point of the winery's estate. It's velvety thick, smoky, concentrated and forested in flavor, with strong accents of dried herb.
Quite light in the glass, this bottling immediately shows a stony minerality on the nose as well as touches of sea salt, baked apple and nectarine. The palate pops with a savory, briny character, giving depth to the pear, Gravenstein apple and caramel flavors.
Made entirely with rare native grape Uvalino, this opens with aromas that recall ripe black plum and vanilla. The dense robust palate delivers prune, clove and a dusting of cocoa alongside assertive tannins. Enjoy through 2018.
Savory oak aromas and related spice notes blend with earthy berry scents. This wine has a racy mouthfeel tempered by creamy oak. Woody, spicy, earthy flavors of berry fruits and tomato conclude with a note of vanilla on a traditional Rioja-style finish.
Bright melon, lemongrass, kaffir lime and Anjou pear aromas show on the very citrusy nose of this low-alcohol, high-residual-sugar bottling. The viscous sip is expectedly sweet, with lime0-mousse flavors and a decent acidity that cuts through the palate.
Some years, even the top wines suffer, and in a cold 2013, Alion is not what it normally is. For starters, this is far more tight, tannic, raw and pulling than its track record. Toasty oak is a big player, creating creamy aromas and toast on the finish. In between are crisp, peppery blackberry flavors. This wine may improve with time. Drink 2018–2028.
Aromas of smoke, vanilla, pencil box and green herb are followed by red fruit and medicinal flavors. Floral notes persist on the finish.
Honeyed and smoothly textured, this attractive wine is mellowed in acidity, preferring to highlight fruit-forward notions of peach and melon. An undertone of dried herb and grass accompanies the ripe flavor.
Spicy, dense and thick, this wine settles into bright, lifted acidity and tart flavors of rhubarb and cranberry. The underbelly remains earthy in clove and black tea.
Made with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Syrah, this has subtle aromas of red berry and bell pepper that carry on to the dense palate, along with a note of mature plum. Soft tannins provide the round, easygoing framework. Enjoy soon.
Made with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, this supple, easy-drinking red offers pretty scents of fragrant purple flower and red berry. The round easygoing palate offers wild cherry and a hint of a red currant alongside bright acidity and soft tannins. Drink now.
Almost too rich, this wine comes from obviously superripe grapes with dense tannins and acidity. It has structure and the potential to age. Drink from 2019.
Made with late-ripened grapes (85% Vermentino and 15% Viognier), this has aromas suggesting beeswax, pressed yellow flower and a whiff of honey. The aromas carry over to the round palate along with suggestions of apricot and nectarine.
Black cherry, roasted meats, turned loam and a little bit of gingerbread make for a very inviting nose to this bottling. Clay and wet earth flavors kick off the palate, followed by touches of forest floor and dried red cherry.
This opens with floral aromas of violet, iris and a whiff of sunbaked earth. The straightforward palate offers wild black cherry and a hint of dark spice alongside polished tannins. Enjoy through 2018.
This easygoing Sangiovese opens with fruity aromas of red and black berries. The straightforward, enjoyable palate delivers black cherries and baking spices alongside smooth tannins and fresh acidity.
This is a concentrated, voluptuous white, made from mature vines on the producer's estate. It opens in a richness of apricot fuzz, gooseberry and banana, kept fresh by moderate acidity and a flourish of wildflowers and white pepper.
Made entirely with Syrah, this has subdued aromas of blackberry and a suggestion of sandalwood. The dense palate offers dried black cherry, black pepper and oak alongside round tannins. Drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit.
This cru is a structured wine that is full of dry tannins. It has hints of the typically Morgon dark-cherry fruit underneath along with acidity. It is likely to remain a firm wine. Drink from 2018.
A blend of white grapes Vermentino and Colombana, this opens with aromas yellow flower, stone fruit, and a whiff of citrus. The fresh palate offers yellow peach and tangerine that lead to a clean finish.
Made with 70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this has aromas of red plum and a whiff of cinnamon. The rather lean palate offers strawberry and vanilla along with a smoky finish. Enjoy soon.
This wine starts out lightly reduced, with aromas of apple and baking spice followed by a full weighty just-off-dry palate, with a touch of warmth on the finish that adds some bitterness.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of scorched soil, used leather and game. The aromas follow over to the funky palate along with mature plum and black pepper. It's already accessible, with evolved tannins. Enjoy soon.
This delicious, fruity, lightly sweet wine blends ripe berries and black cherries on a smooth, supple texture. A touch of lip-smacking tannin balances it out.
Hints of caramelized sugar lend warmth to this fresh fruity wine full of nectarine and grapefruit flavors. It's rich in body with a luscious, mouthfilling cling off set by sunny tangerine acidity. Enjoy now through 2018.
This wine presents an intriguing mix of green, nearly vegetal, aromas and tropical and stone fruit. It's plump and mouthfilling, then finishes on a ripe, honeyed note. Drink now.
You'll find subtle aromas of red cherry, scorched earth and clove on this solid red. The full-bodied palate delivers dried black cherry, tobacco and walnut. Fine-grained tannins leave a firm finish.
Light bodied and refreshing, this simple enjoyable red delivers sour cherry, red currant, chopped Mediterranean herb and a hint of white pepper. It finishes clean and crisp. It's made to be drunk young, so enjoy now.
A blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has aromas of sunbaked earth, dried herb, dark berry and a whiff of underbrush. The soft straightforward palate offers juicy black cherry and a hint of spice framed in easygoing tannins. Drink soon.
The aromas bring notes of herb, sweet tobacco and ash. The plum flavors are tart and full in feel, with the tannins giving a (quite) chalky squeeze.
Blue flower, iris, used leather and woodland berry aromas float out of the glass. The easygoing palate offers red cherry, white pepper and a hint of anise accompanied by soft relaxed tannins. Drink through 2017.
There is something compelling and delicious about the pure, grapy jamminess of this exuberant wine. It has deep color, aromas like blackberry and Concord-grape jelly, a dry balance and ripe flavors. A light touch of tannin boosts the texture, and it's difficult to beat the value.
Oak tones of spice, smoke and toasted wood show prominently on this Chardonnay, juxtaposed against muted apple and pear flavors. Glimpses of pretty white floral and citrus lend freshness to the palate, amplified by zesty acidity and a sexy tinge of vanilla on the finish. Of the two bottles received for sampling, there was noticeable bottle variation with one showing signs of premature maturation. Drink now through 2019.
This straightforward informal red offers aromas of dark berry and moist soil. The soft palate displays raspberry jam and a hint of dark spice. It's easy drinking, with supple tannins.
Made with equal parts Sangiovese and organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with fruity aromas of red cherry and raspberry. The aromas carry over to the easygoing palate alongside tangy acidity and smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.
Made entirely with Malvasia Nera, this opens with aromas of black cherry, ground pepper and cocoa that carry over to the straightforward palate. Close-grained tannins grip the finish.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this opens with delicate aromas of black cherry and clove that continue to the no-frills palate together with a hint of white pepper. Firm tannins provide support.
Despite herbaceous aromas of eucalyptus and thyme, this choppy, grating blend of Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec offers forward bold plum and currant flavors along with can't-miss herbal notes. This is aggressive on the finish, with mild heat and raw tannins.
Made with equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Alicante, this has earthy aromas of black-skinned fruit and game. The dense palate delivers prune, toast and tobacco alongside gripping, rather drying tannins.
Herbal, floral, soupy berry aromas are unfocused, unfamiliar and scattered. This feels chunky and a bit heavy, with cool flavors of blueberry that are green at the core. Olive, toast and herbal berry flavors are found on an unstructured, chubby finish.
This Cabernet comes in three different labels, displaying the archetypes of the explorer, the business man and the adventurer. In taste, the wine is smoky and soft, with plum, cassis and dark cherry all making a play.
Cedar and oak aromas lead to ripe blackberry and plum on the palate. A sweet-seeming layer of maple syrup and brown sugar flavors make this wine jammy in personality.
Edgy, herbal aromas are low on fruit. For basic Merlot, this isn't bad. It's full in body, with solid tannins. An herbal, peppery, green-infused plum-and-raspberry finish is tannic and scratchy.
The 2015 version of this wine has scored big in New Zealand wine competitions, but this vintage is best consumed soon. It still retains a lovely, slightly creamy texture, but the aromas and flavors are trending toward sweet peas and green tomatoes. Drink up.
Smoky aromas and lean fruit and herb flavors give a sense of reserve and dryness to this medium-bodied wine. It will be good as a house red that doesn't have to be the center of attention.
Dried herb and bramble notes cast a savory shadow to crisp apple, pear and lemon flavors in this sweet-tart Riesling. Brisk acidity enlivens the midpalate.
Aromas of red apple, pear and tangerine are bright. The palate doesn't offer much complexity but offers easy-drinking pleasure.
The aromas of lees and spice are light for the variety. It drinks off dry, with flower and lees flavors.
This wine is all about feel, with light aromas of soda water leading to off-dry, broad-feeling flavors that go down easy.
Red berry, pressed flower and a whiff of damp earth lead the nose. The diluted palate shows raw cherry, clove and gamy note alongside brisk acidity. It's rather rustic and lean, with a short, bitter finish.
This vibrant, informal wine offers fruity aromas of crushed cherry, strawberry and woodland berry. The fruity aromas carry over to the palate along with a hint of tangerine zest and bracing acidity.
This wine offers touches of tropical fruits as well as a crisper edge of citrus and herbal flavors. It is a lightly textured, tangy and very fresh 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now.
Wood aromas are repeated on the palate with a dry bitterness. This wine should soften as it develops, although that over-enthusiastic use of wood could remain. This is one of several Bordeaux estates owned by André Lurton.
Fresh and fruity, this already-attractive wine offers bright acidity, a lightly herbal edge and a tangy citrus texture. It is ready to drink. The estate is owned by the Perrin family of Château Carbonnieux.
This wine is soft, juicy and light. It has only the slightest texture, leaving its flavors entirely with blackberry fruitiness. That makes it an attractive, open wine with a fresh aftertaste. Drink now.
One of the estates in the Lapalu family stable, Liversan is to the west of Pauillac. In 2013 it has produced a light, fruity wine with attractive acidity and some dry tannins. Unfocused at this stage, it hopefully will develop a richer character as it matures. Drink from 2017.
This fresh, stalky wine has hints of wood. The fruit is light and only just ripe, giving it a tight character, with plenty of acidity and a dry core of tannins. It will be ready to drink in a crisp way from 2017.
This estate's French owners seem to experience more pronounced vintage variation than some of the neighbors, as other years have rated considerably higher. This is pretty green and herbal, with pronounced leafy, nettle-y notes and some tart passion fruit.
Broad aromas of nectarine splashed with warm lemon juice mix with cut pear and ripe red apples on this bottling. The palate shows cooked apples, with slight hints of peach, all quite ripe.
Generic from head to toe, this opens with a hint of wood and aromas that suggest cinnamon-spiced applesauce. The palate is plump but flat, while flavors of wood grain and mixed white fruits finish with a vanilla note and then lasting bitterness.
This stalky, tight wine has a smoky character, lean black-currant fruits and a tough, possibly unripe fruitiness. It is developing fast, drink from 2017.
A savory, lightly herbal aroma and somewhat meaty flavors like canteloupe make this wine a bit different than the norm. Light bodied and lean in texture, it's crisp with acidity, with tangy flavors last on the finish.
A fair amount of herbaceousness shows on the nose and palate, a dry combustion of tannin, gunpowder and green herb. Full bodied, it has chalky tannins that desiccate on the finish.
Aromas of citrus, grape skin, peach and herbs are light for the variety. The tangerine flavors drink medium sweet, lacking clarity and concentration.
Made entirely with Aglianico, this salmon-colored wine has delicate aromas of red berry and a whiff of wild rose. The lean, racy, palate offers hints of strawberry and red cherry alongside sharp acidity.
Something is amiss in this wine from a great vineyard site. It opens in a mix of pear, pineapple and candied lemon, but takes on an astringency on the finish.
This wine is lean, austere with high acidity that leaves fruit well behind. It is structured and dry, only hinting at black-currant freshness. This third-generation family estate also hosts monthly musical and tasting events and sells fruit, vegetables and honey.
This almost pure Carmenère (there is a little Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend also) sneaks up on you. At first herbal and green, it fills in with a few hours of breathing time, lengthens and shows unsuspected complexity. Cranberry, a whiff of smoke, a bite of pepper, and fresh, not dried herbs, nicely blended into a seamless, satisfying whole.
Penley's vineyards, towards the warmer north end of Coonawarra, consistently produce noteworthy Shiraz. It's on the big size, at 15% alcohol, but structured, with bushels of mixed berries supported by cinnamon toast, brown sugar and a hint of mintiness. Drink it now and over the next 10 years.
The Patina vineyard has some of the oldest Syrah plantings in the Walla Walla valley, and this designate is a fine effort. The dry-farmed grapes yield mixed flavors of raspberry, boysenberry and cherry, with hints of tobacco leaf. Licorice streaks through the finish, which lingers with excellent concentration.
Made in a very ripe style, this wine's traces of raisiny character detract slightly from its velvety, suede-like texture and ample concentration. It's still admirable for its concentration and richness, but some will find it overripe. Drink now-2015.
With its high wood aromas and high toast on the palate, this is a wine that has leached out the fruit for the moment. It is austere, mineral, leaving the black fruits very secondary for the next three years. The finish, though, has promising juiciness.
Wood and spice layer over fruit that has a creamy, Chardonnay-like character. There is herbaceousness, but the rich yellow fruits and exuberant nutmeg and pepper from the alcohol are dominant here. At this young stage, it needs to calm down.
A deliciously rich, sweet and youthfully fruity wine that has an opulent feel to it. There is a juicy element, with fresh acidity, but most of the character comes from the ripe fruit, the jelly character and the sweet tannins. It needs more bottle age.
Ryan Patrick's reserve is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, though not labeled as such. It's a barrel selection, and very well done, with a purity and density that is most expressive. The acids and youthfulness of the fruit flavors suggest that this is a wine with aging potential. For now, it's showing bright, tart, tangy red fruits and fine balance.
A lush, slightly unstructured but immensely pleasurable mouthful of Shiraz, the 2007 St. Jakobi boasts bright raspberries balanced by lashings of chocolate. Easy to drink, it should put smiles on the faces of Shiraz lovers everywhere. Drink it over the next few years.
A wine that pairs with Gesellmann's Bela Rex Bordeaux blend. In Op (short for Opus) Eximium, Austrian grapes provide a delicious spice confection of wild fruits, expertly blended into an intense dark berry- and vanilla-flavored wine. The acidity gives a final earthy boost.
Malbec and Petit Verdot are the other two grapes in this juicy, toasty blend. There's plenty of black cherry fruit, and equally generous flavors of mocha and toast, all wrapped together around ripe, slightly grainy tannins.
The 16 months wood aging has smoothed the wrinkles in this wine, giving solid tannins, a dry core and red cherry and wild strawberry flavors. It is a fine performance, dense but not losing sight of the varietal character.
A mix of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Carignan, this perennial favorite is partially co-fermented and blended early; delivering unusual complexity and seamlessness at this young age. Light red fruits, leavened with brioche, dotted with pepper and toffee, create a tart, racy, juicy red wine which takes quaffable to a whole new level.
Owned by Beaune-based merchant Louis Jadot, Domaine Ferret has produced an attractive wood-aged wine. It offers light toast and spice over ripe yellow fruits. Rich and full, this generous wine is ready to drink.
Spicy, aromatic and fruity, this is an immediately attractive wine. It's full of lemon, mango and orange peel, round and rich.
Soft and fruity, this has a bright, crisp backdrop of apple and pear fruits that are given a tight texture by minerality and lemon zest. It's a wine to drink soon, best from the end of 2015.
Hinting at oak and steeped in ripe fig, this is a hearty white wine with an herbal edge, fermented in stainless steel and then aged in neutral oak. From prime spots within Dutton Ranch, it provides a layering of tropical pineapple and melon within a suggestion of lemon, finishing dry.
Aromas of espresso, tar, oak extract, grilled red pepper and spiced plum lead the nose. The extracted palate offers dried black cherry, anisette and graphite alongside astringent tannins and the evident warmth of alcohol.
This vibrant white unfolds with fragrances of white spring flower, hay, earth, green apple and tropical fruit that all carry over to the palate. Crisp acidity brightens the juicy fruit flavors.
Bellangelo showcases Cabernet Franc's varietal character particularly well with this rosé. Ripe morello cherry and cranberry flavors are penetrating and pristine, but flecked with hints of briar patch and forest floor that lend complexity and nuance. It's a zesty, particularly food-friendly pick.
The pale salmon color and dry palate are the chief attractions of this light-bodied, dry wine. Berry fruit is subdued but enlivened by citrus and notes of white pepper. It's very fresh and refreshing. Drink as soon as possible.
This is a blockbuster, blustery wine, 30% whole-cluster fermented, with a wealth of concentration and oak. Earthy and funky on the nose, it's soft, ripe and dense, with a hearty mix of cola spice and juicy black cherry, offering lots of dry tannin on the finish.
Aromas of toast, walnut and dried orchard fruit lead the nose on this blend of 40% Vermentino, 40% Sauvignon and 20% Chardonnay. The palate offers yellow apple skin, oak extract, butterscotch and toasted almond but it's shy on fruit richness.
Aromas of red berry and crushed blue flower open this easy-drinking red. The bright, vertical palate offers sour cherry and a hint of cooking spice alongside vibrant acidity and sleek tannins.
This is the lightest wine in the range from Berne. It's all about lively red fruits, fresh acidity and immediate drinkability. And it's ready to drink.
Made entirely with native grape Trebbiano Spoletino, this conveys aromas of chamomile, candied fruit and a hint of acacia. The round palate offers dried fruit and a honey accent alongside soft acidity.
Yeasty overtones dominate the nose, while the palate reveals creamy pear fruit and a rounded palate with savory Grüner spice. This will work very well with mixed cheeses.
Dominated by Grenache, this is a full, flavorsome wine. It has a good texture that gives a zesty character, with attractive acidity and red currant freshness. It is crisp, lively and ready to drink.
This straightforward red conveys aromas of red berry, underbrush and a lightly toasted note. The palate offers juicy morello cherry, toasted almond and a hint of white pepper plus lithe tannins. Enjoy soon.
Ripe pineapple, mango, toasted vanilla and orange oil tones bring an exotic flair to this wine. Full bodied and round, yet bright and lively, it spent six months in French oak that helped soften the driving acidity naturally found in the variety.
Aromas of tropical fruit and pressed white flower take center on this medium-bodied white. On the palate, bright acidity balances out dried yellow fruit, citrus zest and toasted oak. Enjoy now to capture the remaining fruit.
Aromas of cooking spice, game and mature black fruit waft out of the glass. The spicy, easy-drinking palate offers dried blackberry, peppercorn and clove alongside velvety tannins.
Blue flower, ripe plum and baking spice aromas lead the nose on this robust wine. The palate lacks fruit richness, offering dried black cherry, licorice, dark spice and searing alcohol alongside assertive, drying tannins.
Aromas of dark berry, scorched earth and leather take shape in the glass. The forward palate offers ripe sour cherry and grilled herb alongside round but not very persistent tannins. Drink through 2016.
Aromas of roasted coffee bean, mature, black-skinned fruit and scorched earth lead the nose. The one-dimensional palate offers ripe black cherry, plum, espresso, vanilla and a confectionary note alongside round tannins.
An attractive touch of toast emerges on this ripe, full-bodied wine. It has spice, apple and apricot flavors along with an edge of minerality. Drink now, although it will be better from 2016.
This wine has a bouquet of tart cherry with a whiff of petrol. Soft in the mouth, it has flavors of slightly tangy cherry cobbler, cinnamon and nutmeg, with a balanced, persistent finish.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of ripe plum, vanilla, toast and mocha. The chewy palate doles out ripe blackberry, juicy black cherry, licorice, baking spice and a confectionary note alongside velvety tannins. It's already accessible so enjoy soon.
High-toned citrus stars in this mineral-driven wine that harmonizes acidity and fruit. Lime and grapefruit lean into richer elements of vanilla and caramel on the finish, balancing each other out.
This combines ripe fruit flavors on the verge of being sweet with smoky, spicy oak accents and full body for a smooth and nicely complex taste experience. Aromas resemble black plums, the flavors are like black cherry, cinnamon and clove, and the finish lingers. The Grenache gets help from 18% Syrah.
There's a slightly herbal tinge to this blend's flavor profile, but it just adds interest to the otherwise rather jammy notes of cassis, brown sugar and baking spices. This wine is full bodied and ripe on the palate, with a soft finish.
There is a strong mineral element on the nose of this wine from the biodynamic-minded producer, along with lime juice, lime blossoms and a nearly spearmint herbal sense. Zesty acidity frames the palate, along with white rocks, lime and lemon juice and green pears on the finish, altogether clean and fresh.
Fresh blueberry and earthy plum aromas make for an honest Malbec bouquet. This is fresh and direct on the palate, with a mix of blackberry and light chocolate flavors. A lasting but mild finish provides a good conclusion to a well-made wine.
This earthy, stewy blend of Malbec and Cabernet is classic Salta, and even more particular to Dávalos, the producer. Soupy aromas give way to a lush, chewy palate with edgy acidity. Saucy, roasted, salty berry flavors finish meaty and baked in character. Drink through 2020.
Dark berry, sawdust, oak-driven spice and tobacco aromas emerge in the glass. It's still tense, with tightly packed tannins and fresh acidity that backup flavors of oak, toast, espresso, licorice and cherry steeped in spirits. It's shy on fruit richness, making the alcohol noticeable.
This opens with aromas of prune, perfumed berry, baking spice, leather, a whiff of coconut and a balsamic note. The fresh palate offers wild cherry, crushed raspberry, lightly toasted oak, anise and espresso. It's still tightly tannic and astringent, but it should improve with a few more years in the bottle. Drink 2018–2028.
This ambitious wine is bold in every aspect, from the deep, deep color, to the dark chocolate and cherry aromas to the rich, almost thick blackberry flavors and very firm texture. It has the variety's typical assertive tartness plus a good layer of tannin, but matches those with ripe flavors.
This is initially quite closed but it eventually opens up in the glass to reveal wild berry, cooking spice and a whiff of cellar floor. The palate offers unripe sour cherry, white pepper, cinnamon and grilled herb alongside youthfully assertive tannins. Drink 2017–2022.
This opens with aromas of steeped prune, chopped herb and a whiff of baking spice. The palate offers crunchy red cherry, mint, sage and ground aniseed alongside rugged tannins that leave a mouth-puckering finish.
Generous, even opulent in the level of concentrated blackberry, dark chocolate and black cherry flavors, this also has a wonderfully broad texture that's both soothing and lively at the same time. The freshness of the fruit flavors and crispness of the mouthfeel are pluses.
There's a hint of smoky flint on the nose of this rosé, adding interest to the fruity core of white cranberry, watermelon rind and rhubarb. There's a pithy, slightly bitter character to the palate, with a subtle mineral tone unfolding on the back. Pineapple-spiked acidity keeps the mouthfeel lifted and the finish fresh.
Bright and savory, this opens with an alluring fragrance of white flower, exotic fruit, ripe peach, Mediterranean scrub and a whiff of sea breeze. The creamy palate doles out ripe apricot, green apple, mineral and a slightly salty finish alongside refreshing acidity.
Earthy aromas of game, scorched soil and underbrush lead the way. The ripe palate offers black cherry, white pepper, anise, truffle and a hint of vanilla alongside grilled herb while bracing tannins give it a tight, firm finish.
Bright and crisply defined, this is a lush and forward wine with flavors of buttered apples, pear tart and vanilla spice. It rolls into a seamless finish, continuing along the bakery path with brioche and apple pie.
This wine has a bouquet of red raspberry, black cherry and ripe plum. Lively flavors of Turkish cherry juice, vanilla and toffee coexist in a satisfying balance that is bolstered by a framework of feather-light tannins.
A density of honey and caramel washes over this vineyard-designate, a concentrated and viscous expression of the variety. Layered in light waves of lemon, it finishes with a bite of ripe yellow apple and more of that caramel.
It's rare to see a bottle from this appellation at this price and even harder to find one of high quality. This one delivers. A blend of 38% each Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, it shows pleasing aromas of raspberries, black cherries, flowers and plum. There's a silky feel to the chocolaty flavors that linger on the finish.
Tart and spicy, this artfully melds crisp lemon and apple fruit with accents of oak-barrel toast. It's a substantial, high-acid, young and tight wine, still knitting itself together, with a decade of life ahead, through 2025.
Yalumba seems to trying more than most producers to rein in high alcohol levels, and the 2014 Y Series Shiraz is a very good effort. There's enough weight to give it substance without seeming overly heavy. Dark chocolate notes frame raspberry and plum fruit, then finish slightly dusty. Drink now–2023.
Typical varietal aromas of lychee, citrus and white flowers feed into a juicy palate that's tight and tangy in feel. Lychee, pineapple and mango flavors hold form on the finish before showing a slight bit of pith and bitterness at the end. Drink now.
A lavish oak component makes this full-bodied wine very aromatic—smoke, black pepper, cardamom—and also adds a spicy accent to the bold, ripe fruit flavors. The rich texture feels velvety in the mouth, and the spicy oak and potent fruit notes echo on the finish.
Done in a light, low-alcohol mode, this sports flavors that seem to be moving quickly along the aging curve. Drinking at or near its peak, this opens with slightly oxidized apple fruit, and gains further richness as it winds through a finish with excellent length and flavor. Drink now through 2016.
Deep ruby to the eye, this wine made with native Turkish variety Kalecik Karasi has a nose of blackberry, cherry and caramel. Barely-there tannins and a pleasing vein of acidity offer a backdrop for flavors of black cherry, cranberry, white chocolate and orange peel that remain on the palate through the zippy finish.
Hints of marzipan lend a delicately nutty, sweet tone to plush white peach and Meyer lemon flavors. Off-dry in style, it's juicy and ripe, while refreshingly composed, finishing on a penetrating tangerine streak. Drink now.
With a toasty character, this is a classic of its kind, with ripe fruit and an attractive slice of lemon. A mineral edge to this spicy wine gives a fresh texture at the end. It should age a few months, so drink from 2016.
Savory and rich aromas of balsamic, crushed herbs, cherries and plums are followed by spice, violets and plum flavors. Round and hearty with medium tannins, the wine has a friendly but elegant character.
Big, stacked, deep and dark Malbec. The nose is rich, spicy and black in character, while the palate is bulky and shows generous blackberry, dark plum and chocolate flavors. Holds steady on the finish as it delivers muscle as well as some complexity. Well-made wine for the money.
A savory, masculine nose of black currant, cloves and spice lead into flavors of black fruit, spiced sausage and toast in this sexy Cabernet. Flavors are meaty, spicy but soft. Balanced but has a plucky, spicy backbone. Pair with lamb, steak, savory dishes.
Les Chevaux blends 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Syrah, yielding a wine that is smooth, supple, and complete. It has both roundness and depth, and a lovely melding of cherry, chocolate and tobacco.
This full-bodied red from Neil Ellis starts with aromas of cherry, coffee and plum, leading into a fruity but balanced explosion of cherry, anise, black pepper and tobacco. Structured but still juicy, the wine will improve with age.
Creamy and rich, with flavors of almonds, apples and cream. Apricots steal in, along with honey and a vivid final tang of citrus zest. The minerality gives a powerful pull to the wine, offering the driest of finishes.
A young, spicy wine, with white flower aromas. The acidity is as crisp as possible, the sweet currants adding bursts of fruit. This is a potentially serious wine, its elegance and structure promising good aging.
Probably the best vintage of this wine yet, this is a medium-bodied Chardonnay, showing restrained oak and understated white peach. Elegant and subtle, it finishes on a gentle citrus note. Drink it over the next year or two.
Rich and ripe, with aromas of honey, lychee and potpourri, this is a warm, soft, big-bodied Gewürztraminer, but with concentration and depth. Off dry in style, with flavors of caramelized sugar and rose, it finishes long, with a delicious hint of astringency.
Warm, lightly baked aromas of plum, cherry and dust set up a layered palate with just enough acidity to keep this wine upright and steady. Flavors of loamy berry, earth and chocolate are rich, while the finish tastes oaky, with more than enough vanilla and toast. Drink now.
Here's a polished wine made from a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It offers aromas of red berry, blue flower and cedar with a hint of toasted oak. The concentrated flavors include black cherry, exotic spice and a hint of chocolate. Soft with smoothed tannins, this is already approachable.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this starts with aromas of underbrush, iris, red berries, mint and toasted notes. The wine then discloses a core of black cherry accented with menthol, white pepper, cinnamon-spice and hints of espresso. This is already approachable so enjoy soon.
Ripe and fruity, this wine is all red fruits and soft tannins that make it rich and open. Made to be drunk young, it's perfect to drink now.
This wine exudes southern warmth with its rich, soft fruit and ripe tannins. Generous and opulent, it is packed with red and black berry fruits and already drinkable. The aftertaste with its juicy acidity gives the wine a lift.
A dark, dense wine with herbal aromas that are followed by rich berry fruits on the palate. The wine is solidly structured with some bitter chocolate extraction that should pass. It's aromatic, ripe and worth aging a few years. Drink from 2016.
Tight, herbal and peppery, the winery's entry-level Pinot Noir displays tart red fruits with plenty of acidity. There's a splash of grapefruit in the finish, a hint of minty chocolate, and slight bitterness.
Punchy, rubbery, full-force aromas of black fruits, graphite and bacon are loud and oaky. This feels stocky and full, with blackberry, cherry, fig and prune flavors. On the finish, vanilla and coconut take over a very good, ripe Rioja.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this leads with aromas of blue flower, bright red berries and plum accented with a balsamic note. The palate delivers black cherry, plum, mocha and white pepper alongside bracing tannins. Drink 2015–2019.
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is garnet colored with a violet rim. It has aromas of pomegranate, dried black cherry and freshly ground black pepper. It's well structured, with fine tannins and flavors of ripe cherry, tart cranberry and juicy pomegranate.
This wine begins with aromas that recall red peppers, black berries and spice with a whiff of grilled sage. The palate offers ripe black cherry and plum accented with white pepper and cinnamon-spice and thyme. It still has youthful, aggressive tannins that need a few more years to soften. Drink 2016–2021.
Enticing aromas of pineapple, orange zest, just-picked apricot and freesia lead the way for clean flavors of tangerine, yellow peach and freshly sliced pineapple on the palate. It's fruit forward, with great minerality.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this bright wine opens with a lovely fragrance of blue flower, tilled soil, red berry and a hint of vanilla. The juicy palate delivers sour cherry and raspberry along with cinnamon-spice notes that add interest. Bracing but fine tannins accompany everything to the finish. A delicious, vibrant and uncomplicated wine that calls out for a hearty dish of pasta.
Whiffs of lavender and lime mark this unusual yet elegant dry Riesling. It's lean and zesty in feel, with tart stone fruit and pear flavors that are layered in waves of crushed minerals and puckering tangerine acidity.
Spice and smoke tones on the nose are a surprising contrast to the juicy white peach and yellow cherry flavors on the palate of this easy quaffing but surprisingly elegant wine. Off dry in style, with brisk acidity and a delicate profile, it's a versatile, widely appealing wine that's a spectacular bargain.
A smooth wine that is very fruity while also rich. A ripe feel comes from the dominant Viosinho in the blend. There is a greener element, lightly tangy and herbaceous that gives a fresher aftertaste to this attractive wine. Drink from 2015.
Finely textured, this wine carries flavors of crisp, green plum skin and lemon zest. Youthful fruitiness is followed by lively acidity and a touch of toast. It's a wine to age; drink from 2015.
Ripe and saturated on the nose, this big boy is dealing blackberry, raisin and graphite on a heady bouquet. A jammy, generous palate comes as no surprise given the wine's color and nose; flavors of baked black fruits, aged dry cheese and salt finish dry and chunky.
Just beginning to mature, this generous wine has fine red berry fruits, a smoky character, touches of wood aging and further potential. It shows acidity with a juicy red cherry aftertaste. Drink now and until 2019.
A bright, lively wine made from Sangiovese, it has classic varietal aromas of blue flower, red berries, spice and just a whiff of leather. The palate delivers ripe red cherry accented with hints of white pepper, clove and cinnamon alongside firm but fine tannins and fresh acidity.
A marvelously intense wine, the Chardonnay singing with light toast and acidity. The wine has layers of green apple, spice, a tight texture and orange zest highlights. Age for at least seven years.
This is as good as the best from California—textural, creamy, a delicious mix of lemon custard, meringue, caramel, papaya and toasted coconut. At one quarter the price of comparable bottles, this young wine just seduces from the instant it hits the tongue.
From the winery's Phinny Hill vineyard, the Columbia Rediviva is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 52% Syrah. Complex and satiny, it's a riveting wine, inky and bursting with a sensuous mix of berry, cassis, mocha, loam, cinnamon and spice. Tremendous density and depth; despite its youth the wine curls around the tongue like thick smoke, showing more and more detail.
This Grand Cru within a Grand Cru is a magnificent, opulent wine. It has all the power of a great white Burgundy, the richness allied to minerality and then given weight by toast, yellow fruits and a pure, straight line of acidity.
The magnificent wines from the Marquis de Laguiche estate are produced by Joseph Drouhin. This Morgeot is rich, intense, beautifully concentrated. It has toast, apricot and peach fruits to go with its tight mineral texture. Delicious now, but will age for many years.
A fine, elegant wine, with balanced toast and acidity, great ripe apricot flavors along with spice from the toast, acidity, citrus and a hint of ginger. Still very young, this pure fruited wine could age over 6–10 years.
Once again the Merlot is the best of a very fine flight of Tulpen wines. More muscular than the Cabernet, it includes 10% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot in the mix, resulting in a dense, dark wine loaded with black fruits. Polished tannins are lightly layered in streaks of leaf, herb and earth. The alcohol tops 15%, but there is not a hint of heat in the finish.
Aromas of cherries baked in a flaky vanilla crust meet with cola, fresh boysenberry and damp herbs on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. Bright raspberry shows on the lighter-framed and very energetic palate, with flavors of fennel frond, dried marjoram and a gravel-laced minerality.
The golden richness of Petit Manseng is very evident in this dry wine. There are the hallmark hints of honey and hugely ripe citrus and grapefruit flavors. They give both power and intensely crisp fruitiness, making this just now ready to drink.
This wine envelopes the senses and coats the mouth with its honey and ripe yellow fruit flavors. It's rich and unctuous yet has the acidity and poise typical of the vineyards in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. Young now, it will age. Drink from 2019.
Balanced and fruity, this ripe, sweet wine delivers both botrytis and generous fruit. It has fine acidity to cut through the richness, giving intense sweetness and a dry core. Drink from 2021.
This wine's black currant aromas shine. It's still young and structured, its firm tannins at the fore. But those black currant flavors are crisp and fruity, highlighting its fine balance, as all the elements fall into place. Drink from 2020.
This wine is finely balanced—an impressive mix of ripe fruit and rich tannins. A smoky character envelops its rich blackberry and plum flavors, all underlined with tannins. It needs to age and will be best from 2020.
Dusty tannins and ripe fruit set the scene for this wine, which is rich in both structure and black fruit. With its concentration, it is sure to develop well, likely to mature easily over several years. Drink from 2020.
The aromas pop, with notes of brown sugar, dried pear and honey. The palate is incredibly rich and intense but with high-wire acidity that keeps all of the flavors in vivid focus. The sense of balance is exquisite.
The lighter of the two second wines of classed-growth Suduiraut, this is a more accessible reflection of the richness of the grand vin. At four years old, it's still young, its acidity and crisp lemon flavors contrasting its core of botrytis and delicious fruit. Drink this balanced wine from 2020.
This impressive, ripe wine from the Venturi estate has fine, juicy black fruit flavors balanced by acidity and underlying firm tannins. Its concentrated berry flavors are complemented by wood aging, which adds mint flavors as well as toast. Age this wine further and drink from 2019.
This wine is a great example of a specialty of the Jura: aging wines under a layer of natural yeast. That gives a wine that's at once nutty and fruity, with a yeasty, bready character, dried fruit notes and intense acidity. Drink now and until 2021.
The Jura's Savagnin grape gives fruity wines with a strong yeasty, salty character. That's very evident in this fine example. With its rich apple fruit and hints of almonds, it's full, spicy, tangy and aromatic. Drink now, although it will age at least until 2020.
Clean and easy lines of sea salt, pan-fried nectarine, light honeysuckle and a hint of sweet chive show on the nose of this bottling. The rounded mouthfeel brings forth flavors of buttered apples, salted pear slices and lemon curd, and there is a tannic tension that binds it all together.
That vintage is not a typo. This 10-year-old wine is as lively as ever. The aromas draw you into the glass, with notes of candy corn, pumpkin spices, candle wax, lemon pith and almond butter—all completely captivating. The palate is lightly creamy in feel but still sleek with zingy tart high-wire acidity and a lingering finish. It's an accomplishment.
This deep black-cherry colored wine has a fruity nose of pomegranate and strawberry. It is smooth on the palate, with flavors of black currant, plum, white chocolate, lavender and a hint of baking spice. The finish is characterized by a splash of tart strawberry.
A single-vineyard blend of Touriga Nacional and Merlot, this is a supremely dense wine. It is dark, almost black in color, concentrated both from rich tannins and wood aging. Its dark color is replicated in the dense dark character of the wine and its powerful fruits. Age this wine, don't drink before 2020.
Deep and lavish aromas of baked black currant, caramel, condensed violets and fudge get a licorice lift on the nose of this blend of 41% Syrah, 41% Grenache and 18% Mourvèdre. It's fairly nimble on the palate given the bombastic nose, with balanced flavors of blackberry, vanilla and orange zest proving quite the crowd-pleaser.
This is an unusual limited-production wine from Perdigão's highest hottest vineyard. It is not often to find a 100% Alfrocheiro despite being native to the Dão region. The strongly tannic wine, which spent 12 months in wood, is intensely perfumed with hedgerow flowers and mint while full of dark plum-skin flavors. It has power and concentration and is likely to remain very firm into the future. Drink now or take a risk and cellar.
A blend of 87% Sangiovese, 10% Foglia Tonda and Merlot, this delicious red offers aromas of blue flower, wild berry, new leather and forest floor. The round enveloping palate doles out raspberry jam, fleshy black cherry, chopped herb and star anise alongside velvety tannins. It closes on a zesty, orange-peel note. Drink through 2019.
This wine offers an austere entry of crunchy red fruit akin to cranberry and pomegranate. Accents of clove and leather ride along toward a lengthy finish of broad expansion and balanced strength.
Perfumed floral and spice aromas give this wine its great character. It is a rich blend of Viosinho, Alvarinho and Chardonnay, ripe and full of spice, rounded apple and golden-plum flavors and cut with citrus acidity. This fine wine will be better from 2018.
This is a well-made, well-balanced and sophisticated wine from the new-oak, salt and pepper aromas to the tasty blackberry and baking spice flavors to the generous and mouthcoating texture. Firmly tannic, the wine's concentrated fruit and spice flavors come through nicely on the palate and linger on the finish.
From the Quinta da Aguieira, this serious, concentrated wine has the violet perfume typical of Touriga Nacional. It is a rich, dense and tannic wine, full of black fruit, dark chocolate and bright acidity. Drink this wine from late 2018.
Concentrated earthy, meaty and spicy aromas precede layered, dense flavors of espresso, cassis and cherries as this full-bodied, velvety wine coats the palate and clings to the sides of the mouth. It has extraordinary depth, showing lavish but appropriate oak accents and a delicious lingering finish.
Dark and velvety on the nose, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec offers a plump but balanced expression of black cherry, black pepper and dried herbs. The complex palate combines exotic plum and dried strawberry with mocha and crumbled mint flavors.
The Pagès family, which has a group of estates in the Médoc, has produced a rich, concentrated wine at this château. While packed with black currant fruit from the 60% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, it also has a firm layer of tannins that will allow it to age. Drink from 2021.
Spicy ginger and candied pineapple notes accent this easygoing, sunny Spätlese. It's juicy and sweet on the palate, offering loads of fruity, forward pineapple and gauva flavors. The finish is zesty and clean. Drink now.
This is a full-bodied, decidedly rich white, generous in barrel toast and graham cracker scents. Baked apple pie flavors keep it feeling luxurious on the palate, its concentration persisting through the finish.
Like many Marsanne-based Northern Rhône wines, this is reticent on the nose, offering hints of wet stone and lemon zest. It's slightly more expressive on the palate, where it broadens and deepens to show melon and lemon flavors, plus stony, graphite-like notes on the vibrant finish.
This abounds in scents of fresh, crisp red-apple slices, orange supremes and buttercup flowers. Those notes carry through to the medium-weight yet clean and well-balanced palate, followed by a bright, mouthwatering finish. Drink now for the sheer pleasure of its freshness.
Black-cherry and plum aromas are lush and ripe on the nose of this Hudson River Cab Franc. The palate, however, suggests a more elegant restraint, nuanced by hints of peppery greens and herbs. The long sleek finish is framed in fine, velvety tannins.
This is a big, bold wine with earthy accents and a firm, dry texture that helps it pair well with rich food. Blueberry, cranberry and tobacco notes fan out on the palate, its full body and firm tannins carrying those flavors into the finish.
Made entirely with Nosiola, this opens with aromas of dried apricot, crème caramel and a whiff of orange jam. The rounded palate delivers orange blossom honey, fig and a hint of toasted almond.
This white blend is comprised of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Gewürztraminer. It has delightful aromas of white flowers, honeysuckle and lime pith and flavors of jasmine, lemongrass and dried rosemary in the mouth. The finish is clean, crisp and refreshing.
Vanilla, mocha and dark-fruit aromas lead to tart fruit and barrel flavors that interweave through the vanilla-filled finish.
This wine is made from grapes grown in the Lake Balaton region and has aromas of lemon blossom, vanilla and lemon curd, which lead the way to well-combined flavors of green apple, pear and pineapple. It is medium bodied on the palate with a clean finish.
Both fresh and jellied black plum, Concord grape and blackberry aromas show on the nose of this blend of 46% Syrah, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Petit Verdot. The structure is thick with soft tannins, holding up coffee, white pepper and black currant flavors.
This 100% Lagrein opens with aromas of black-skinned berries, baking spices and licorice. The medium-bodied concentrated palate delivers black plums, mocha and clove alongside firm tannins and fresh acidity. Drink through 2019.
Dusty aromas of prune, raisin and spice cake are a bit flat and bulky. This is chewy and on the fat side, with oak-led prune and black-plum flavors. A solid but top-heavy finish is full of fruit but not all that deep or layered.
Lovely honeysuckle and white flower notes mark the nose of this wine, which is moderate in richness and concentration, balanced by acidity and a simple finish.
A ripe wine reflecting the richness of the vintage, this is full of light mineral notes backed by generous white fruit. Creamed apple and plum flavors dominate, lifted by lasting crisp acidity. Drink from late 2017.
Found almost exclusively in Gaillac and Limoux, the Mauzac grape is made into sparkling wines as well as still wines such as this. This apple crisp wine is lightly oxidative (none the worse for that) with a bright pepper and tangy lemon character. It is ready to drink.
Made entirely with Pinot Nero, this opens with aromas of raspberry, Alpine herb and a balsamic note. The juicy palate doles out ripe strawberry, mineral and a hint of baking spice alongside supple tannins. Enjoy soon.
Made with 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas of black currant, anise and leather. The firm palate delivers blackberry jam, cedar and toast alongside assertive tannins while a hint of vanilla marks the firm finish. Enjoy through 2020.
More mineral than forward or fruity, this light-bodied Riesling offers loads of pristine waterfall freshness accented by hints of tart tangerine and lime. Dry and vibrantly high-toned, it finishes with brisk, crushed stone intensity.
Lightly minty and peachy in aroma, this wine also delivers rich butter, vanilla and pear flavors and a smooth texture on the palate. A butterscotch note lingers on the finish.
This ripe, juicy wine is full of rich tannins that are seamlessly integrated into its generous black fruit. It shows spice from wood aging, jammy fruitiness and balanced acidity. Ready to drink now for its delicious fruit, it will continue to develop until 2024.
Crisp lemon and green apple flavors shine through this lively, fruity wine. It has a cool character, tangy fruitiness and a touch of pepper. The wine is made to drink in its youth and is ready now.
This almost translucent brick-colored Pinot offers aromas of lettuce leaf, orange peel and dried red fruits. It's light, edgy and fresh in feel, with flavors of salted meat and herbal plum. A tangy citric finish is primed with racy acidity. Fermented and aged in egg-shaped cement tanks.
Smooth and full bodied, this wine smells like melted butter, tastes like butterscotch, and feels big and rich on the palate. Apple and pear elements contribute a juicy quality, while the acidity is soft.
This is quite oaky upfront, with bold scents of baked apple, toasted hazelnut and vanilla bean. The palate offers more of the same, in addition to a bright yet decadent lemon-custard flavor. Honey-drizzled apple pie comes to the fore on the finish, with just enough acidity to keep the opulence in check.
This variety is an extreme rarity in the state. It opens with aromas of plum, herb and spice that are followed by soft elegant fruit flavors that linger on the finish.
This is a little less fragrant than usual but still offers aromas of tropical fruit, cut grass and white spring flower. The palate is more exuberant than the nose, doling out juicy pineapple, white grapefruit and sage alongside fresh acidity.
This opens with aromas of rose petal, lychee and pear. The intense slightly sweet palate delivers apricot jam, yellow peach and mango. It has nice length and finishes on an energizing mineral note.
Made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, this has aromas of black-skinned berry, leather and cedar. The dense palate delivers black currant, espresso and clove alongside bracing tannins that leave a somewhat astringent finish.
Molasses, spice, chocolate and pure raisins define this as classic P.X. It's syrupy but not too much so, with maple, cinnamon and brown sugar flavors. For a sweet and candied dessert wine, it has excellent balance and persistence. A star among many in this category; these wines are hard not to like.
Dried apricot notes dominate this wine from start to finish, making it a bit one-dimensional. Still, it features impressive sugar-acid balance so despite the sweetness it's not cloying; finishes long, with lipsmacking notes of honeyed pineapple. Imported by Chapin Cellars, LLC.
Ripe Chardonnay, barrel fermentation and aging, stirring of the lees—all these elements make for a powerfully rich wine, in which the wood acts as a carefully judged supporting act to the intense apples and cream fruitiness. There is just a touch of Burgundian minerality to give some structure.
Just a touch less lively than the 2002 and 2005 versions, Hugel's 2001 Gewürztraminer SGN is still excellent, boasting plenty of weight and richness allied to distinctive varietal aromas of rose petals and cracked white pepper alongside the dried apricot notes of botrytis.
Serious wines from a tiny inland appellation in Catalonia—that's Abadal, a maker of true terroir wines that succeed way more often than they disappoint. This blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Syrah is minerally and full of red fruit and vanilla aromas. The palate is husky but correct, with full tannins, a kick of acidity and pure, ripe berry flavors. Even from a tough vintage it justifies its selected status.
Viscous, almost oily in texture, this is several vintages older than most of the recent samples, yet seems so unevolved that it's not out of place. Honey and dried spices are the predominant themes, with citrusy fruit making up the core. Should evolve glacially through at least 2025.
Big, brawny and not entirely welcoming: this Priorat heavyweight is full of licorice and cool black-fruit and cola aromas. The palate is hard as nails, and only time will tell if it softens and finds a sweeter spot. We think it will; in five years it should trade in the current burnt steak notes and fierce tannins for softer touches and more complex flavors.
This feels over-cropped, dilute, with more than a little tomato leaf and vegetable among its rather delicate scents and flavors. In this price range, from this excellent vintage, you might expect more ripeness and concentration. It's perfectly pleasant, but drinks like a village wine, not a premier cru.
Harvested at 22.6 degrees brix, this bright and spicy Dolcetto does not reach too far. It's tart, with fruit flavors that suggest wild berries and pomegranate, and tannins that are firm but never green. A fine quaffing wine.
Opens with sweet fruit aromas, a whiff of oak and red candy, while the mouthfeeel is juicy and mostly fresh, with clean fruit flavors and more than adequate ripeness and sweetness. Fresh, composed and pleasant in the scheme of things.
Light and juicy, with fresh apple flavors and good acidity. A good wine for serving chilled and enjoying outdoors.
Anywhere but in Oregon, this could be labeled Pinot Noir, which makes up 80% of the blend; the rest is Zinfandel. It's a combination that makes sense in the Columbia Gorge. The Pinot is more earthy and tannic than in the Willamette Valley, and the Zin lighter than you find in California. The result is a wine tasting of wild cherries, tart, spicy and quite quaffable.
Typical light and fresh Grüner, with an attractive burst of lemon acidity as well as a creamy texture. Delicious, crisp wine. Screwcap.
Bitter lime peel and an elegant steeliness give structure to the sweet, fresh apples that dominate this off-dry style Riesling. Bright lemon-lime acidity leads to a mouthwatering pucker on the finish.
Ripe and soft. There is an attractive citrus element that gives structure, wih acidity coming through. Delicious now. Screwcap.
Quite dry on the palate, this seductive Riesling exhibits aromas of honeyed ginger with a hint of smoke and petrol. Lime and apple flavors combine with a zippy acidity and subtle minerality throughout.
Underbrush, red berry and clove aromas carry over to the linear palate, which is steeped in espresso flavor. While it's already accessible, fine-grained tannins give it a firm structure. Drink through 2020.
This easy-to-love wine from the Michael Mondavi family has an obvious but attractive oaky character, from the abundant cedar and cinnamon aromas to the spicy nutmeg and cardamom flavors that bolster its red cherry fruit and medium body.
Made predominantly from Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, this opens with delicate white flower and orchard fruit aromas. The bright palate offers yellow apple, lemon and rosemary flavors, set against fresh acidity.
Made of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this opens with black currant, leather and underbrush aromas. Black cherry, clove and white pepper flavors come forward on the palate, with a polished edge to the tannins. Enjoy through 2018.
This blend of 70% Sangiovese with Canaiolo, Colorino, Ciliegiolo and Malvasia shows fruity berry and violet aromas. On the palate, juicy black plum fruit is laced with baking spice and structured by smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.
Subtle plum, blue flower and toast aromas come together in this red. The tightly wound, firmly tannic palate offers fleshy black cherry, star anise and clove flavors.
This blend of 80% Sangiovese, 12% Ciliegiolo, 6% Canaiolo and 2% Colorino displays spice-laced blackberry and leather aromas. On the palate, firm, grainy tannins frame mature plum, espresso, tobacco and clove flavors. Drink through 2019.
This barrel-fermented wine is a most pleasant quaffer. A mix of yellow apple and pink grapefruit flavors, along with some skin phenolics, power on through. It was fermented in 10% new oak, and a hint of that pops up in the finish, an impression of candied orange peel. Drink now through 2022.
This value-oriented release spent time in one-fifth new oak, and it shows nicely in the nose and the flavor. Ample red fruits are coated with sweet toast and a touch of ginger cookie. The wine has excellent length and polish, especially at this price point.
Wet cement, cut grass and fresh oregano aromas show on the nose of this affordable white. Dried herb, hay and kaffir lime flavors come through on the palate, making it an excellent choice for weekday sipping.
This blend of Petit Verdot (65%) and Cabernet Sauvignon is an aromatic brooder, with notes of lemon peel, flowers and cherry. Bright acidity livens up the palate, which is full of cherry flavors and well-integrated tannins. Put it on the dinner table to see it at its best.
Plum reigns supreme on the nose but there are also funky, earthy notes. The flavors are a lovely blend of red cherry, raspberry, rooibos tea, lavender and clove. This full-bodied wine has supple tannins and bright acidity, finishing long and dry.
This fits properly into the brut nature category courtesy of neutral aromas and a direct tightly built palate. Mild citrus and melon flavors lose some clarity on a finish that hints at mealy apple and butter.
Juicy, leathery and earthy on the palate, this is a densely extracted blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. It presents dry, lengthy tannins and a rusticity of dusty clove, finishing lean and restrained.
Matured in used French barriques, this nevertheless shows touches of toast and cedar alongside tart, fruit notes of cranberry and raspberry. It's full bodied and richly tannic, with crisp acids that accentuate the tannins on the finish. Drink 2020–2030.
A touch of new oak in the aroma and bright raspberry and cherry in the flavors make this medium-bodied wine easy to sip and enjoy. Typical for the grape variety, it has noticeable liveliness in the texture and a bit of tang on the finish.
A lift of 5% Viognier contributes to this wine's rose-like floral aroma. Plum-inflected on the palate, it offers a punch of oak and tannin that softens slowly over a backdrop of smoky cured meat flavor.
This opens with toast, ground pepper, grilled herb and sawdust aromas. The palate is firm with grippy tannins but expressive, evoking sour cherry, roasted coffee bean, oak and star anise.
This dessert blend of 66% Zinfandel, 21% Carignane, 8% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre begins with a pruney and alcohol-laden nose, but then peppercorn, clove, Indian spice and plum skin aromas emerge. The palate is tense despite the wine's 11% residual sugar, with dried red and black fruit flavors, spicy acidity and a vanilla finish.
Rick Longoria chooses a new artist every two years to illustrate this label. This vintage features 40% Cabernet Franc, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Syrah and 18% Merlot, resulting in cranberry, red cherry and dried herbs notes, with a touch of eucalyptus and pine sap. The palate offers woody cedar and juniper flavors along with tart cherry fruit.
Dark-skinned berry, French oak, aromatic herb and a whiff of dark spice come together on the nose of this firm red. On the palate, roasted coffee bean and star anise notes accent wild cherry fruit, while close-grained tannins provide the framework.
Fresh and bright, the nose of this wine is filled with bramble fruit, lavender and violet candy. The palate is racy, with red cherry, pomegranate, lavender and violet. Smooth tannins lead to a silky finish.
The first release annually from the estate vineyard, this is a solid effort, seemingly infused with scents and flavors of pine needle, pine tar, earth and bark. The fruit is in the background, and leans toward cranberry and brambly blackberry.
This red combines Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create black currant and Mediterranean herb aromas. The easygoing, approachable palate shows black cherry and dark spice flavors, framed by polished tannins. Enjoy soon.
Made of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, this offers black tea and mature plum aromas, while the palate evokes dried cherry, clove and star anise flavors. Firm, close-grained tannins generate an austere finish. Give it another few years to soften, then enjoy.
Drawn from the company's holdings in the Awatere Valley, this is a medium-bodied, supple Pinot Noir. A sturdy frame of cedar and mocha surrounds mouthwatering cherry fruit. Drink now–2018.
With ripe fruit and caramel aromas, this is a rich wine (40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cinsault). The second rosé of Château Vignelaure, it's full of sunshine, with rich red berry flavors that are given a larger character by the touch of vanilla that makes it food-friendly.
Juicy cranberry and cassis characterize this Cab, given ample time in bottle. Soft and medium in terms of weight and body, it's fluid in fruit, with a leathery finish.
Brie rinds and grapefruit peels show their pithy aromas on this wine from a heritage clone cultivated by the California Rhône pioneer. It's lean, grippy and minerally on the palate, like licking gray rocks and cold steel, and comes across as enjoyable and memorable.
Despite its Washington-designated label, this blend of 45% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre all comes from Lonesome Springs Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. The aromas of coffee, cherry, red apple and peppery spices are generous, while the palate is full and creamy in feel, with the texture providing much of the appeal.
Ripe aromas of blackberry and black currant come with hints of rubber and smoke. In the mouth, this is jammy but a bit flat. Peppery blackberry, dark spice and barbecued flavors finish toasty and blackened, with a note of licorice.
This is plummy, spicy and complex, with hints of cracked pepper, clove and cinnamon mingling with fresh mushroom, thyme and mint. The wine is a bit chunky in feel, but finishes with supple tannins and reasonably soft acids, making it approachable now.
The textured skin of russet apples and Williams pear set the aromatic stage, while the palate follows with a taut but textured earthiness that destines this wine for the table. Lemony freshness shoots down the middle and guarantees lots of refreshment.
Light hints of herbs and fynbos add character to the green melon, plum and grapefruit pith aromas. The palate follows with more of the same, in addition to accents of green plantain and lime leaf. This is direct and lifted, with a clean, brisk finish. Enjoy now.
Forward aromas of savory herbs and fynbos add character to the black cherry and berry core of this wine. It's well balanced, with medium tannins, ample acidity and a crushed-satin texture. Soft hints of toasted oak and mocha unfold on the medium-length close.
Dense berry aromas are muscular but low on complexity, meaning this is more big and bulky up front than elegant. Chewy, wide and bullish, with drawing tannins and snappy acidity, this delivers baked plum and raisin flavors. It finishes with fig and spice notes along with chewy tannins. Drink through 2017.
It's rare that a Pinot (from any part of the world) garners a Best Buy commendation, so this is one worth trying. It's medium-bodied, with ample cherry and plum flavors that finish with mouthwatering acids. Drink it now–2016.
This unusual 100% varietal offering comes from this winery's young estate vineyard. Aromatically it offers notes of candied red apple, wheat cereal, raspberries and dry chocolate. The chocolate, cherry and apple flavors are sweet, ripe and full, backed by dry, grainy tannins.
Now just right to drink, this yellow-fruited wine is rich and generous. It has a ripe, rounded texture that's warm and generous, cut by acidity and a more mineral, chalky texture.
Echoes of that typical Grüner pepperiness can be divined on nose and palate. Even if this is very light, it offers clean fruit, citrus verve and refreshing zip.
Juicy in dusty berry cobbler flavor, layered with a touch of spicy dark chocolate, this is a medium-bodied, approachable wine with well-integrated oak and supple tannin. Blackberry and coffee mingle on the finish.
Peppery spice and simple but fresh dark fruit reminiscent of blueberry characterize this simple but very enjoyable rendition of Blaufränkisch. It may not be as concentrated as some but makes up for that in sheer drinkability.
It's like Christmas in a glass the way the aromas on this wine settle keenly on pine and sugar plum. Earthy with a touch of dried herb, the wine's mouthfeel is velvety with a kick, the body full-figured in blackberry intensity, with the whole wrapped in substantial oak. The weight and firmness suggest cellaring, through 2017.
Very ripe, almost pineapple-like notes emanate from the glass. The palate is light and also has ripe tropical notes, shot through with refreshing lemon acidity. The light body turns this into an easy sip, but drink soon while the fruit still lasts.
Aromas of mature black fruit, tobacco and a hint of leather lead the nose on this structured blend of Sangiovese and 15% Alicante Bouschet, Merlot and Cabernet. The palate delivers dried cherry, licorice and espresso alongside tightly knit, chewy tannins.
A blend of Syrah and Sangiovese, this salmon-colored wine opens with aromas of peach blossom and honeysuckle. The palate doles out juicy red cherry, nectarine, pink grapefruit and a hint of Mediterranean herb alongside zesty acidity.
Roasted hazelnut with grilled pineapple and peach carry the aromas and palate of this vineyard-designate Chardonnay. Having spent 11 months in French oak (33% new), the wine shows barrel tones, however a bright acidity helps keep things alive and fresh.
Aromas of mature dark-skinned fruit, underbrush and tobacco lead the nose on this full-bodied wine. The ripe, dense palate offers black cherry, cassis, clove and dried hay alongside round tannins.
Here's a refreshing white that offers wispy aromas of white flower and stone fruit. The palate is more expressive thanks to green apple, nectarine, fresh herb and bitter almond. Bracing acidity gives it a vibrant, focused feel.
Rounded flavors of ripe, red apple play about the palate and make for very appetizing if light-bodied drinking. Refreshment is the key factor, as is fruity exuberance. Drink soon.
This 100% varietal wine offers aromas of barrel spices, mint, dried fruit and barnyard. It's full bodied but still shows good deftness.
The wood and alcohol seem to get out front of aromas of plum, raspberry and medicine cabinet. Flavors are sweet and concentrated with a tart, cranberry-filled finish. A lot of good things are going on but they don't quite seem to all come together.
Delicate white peach and pear notes perfume this dry, crisply fruity wine. There's a satisfying weightiness to the palate, but tart lemon notes keep it zesty and spry.
Black plum and cut grass aromas lead the nose of this simple, easy-drinking red. The palate offers red cherry fruit, a touch of nutmeg and relaxed tannins.
The nose of this bottling has all the basic Pinot Noir qualities: cooked red berries, roasted fennel and a bit of earthiness. There is tangy cranberry fruit on the palate as well as damp anise and Earl Grey tea touches.
This wine starts off with intriguing aromas of sour cherry, raspberry, amaretto and barnyard. Tart cherry and sandalwood whisper on the palate. The tannins are fine, yet astringent, and the finish is soft and medium in length.
Lean and evolved, this offers raisin, espresso, orange zest and grilled sage notes. Bracing tannins leave an abrasive finish.
This opens with blue flower, herb and dark-skinned berry aromas. The palate is lean, offering sour cherry fruit and a hint of star anise, set against tightly wound, austere tannins that leave a drying finish.
Staunch aromas of burnt coffee and gritty black fruits are jumbled and tough. This feels fat and a bit out of shape, while heavily oaked flavors of roasted berry fruits finish blackened and woody.
Despite being a bit rough on the nose, this Tempranillo-Garnacha blend offers solid berry, plum and cherry aromas. A bright juicy palate delivers plum, currant and raspberry flavors along with a touch of dry spice. For everyday red, one shouldn't complain about this.
Aromas of apple and dried melon are basic and clean. This Viura-Chardonnay has juicy outsized acidity to go with a chunky body. Generic slightly sweet apple flavors finish fresh, with a hint of lime.
Blackberry and clove aromas are elevated by a hint of lavender on the nose. These notes carry through to the palate as well, along with a grape soda flavor. Smooth tannins and ample acidity struggles to match the larger body. A hollow midpalate leads to a tart fruit finish.
Moderate acidity buoys a rich note of caramel apple in this appellation wine, which is moderate in both ripeness and texture. It finishes clean and simple.
The vineyard was planted in 1971; the old vines apparently didn't ripen all that well, as the finished wine, though dry, is only 11% alcohol. It's an odd bottle all around, with very low pH (2.77), tart and diffuse fruit, and no telltale markers for the variety. Two bottles tasted with similar results.
This 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 10% Canaiolo Chianti opens with subtle blackberry and moist earth aromas. Morello cherry fruit dominates the palate, accented by baking spice notes and round tannins. Enjoy soon.
Given the lauded conditions of 2010 in Rioja, this wine's herbal minty grassy nose and raw tart pulling palate are surprising. Savory herbal tomatoey red-plum flavors finish minty, with lasting fresh acidity.
The nose is rather neutral, the palate follows in a similar but clean fashion. This is light bodied and clean, with just a little hint of earthiness.
Apple and melon aromas are easy to decipher. For a basic white wine, this feels good, fresh and mostly right. Modest generic white-fruit flavors are followed by a bready note of spent lees on the finish.
This is the sort of Chardonnay that first put Australia on the radar of many American wine drinkers. It fits the “cheap and cheerful” description to a tee, offering hints of toast, medium body and clean, refreshing fruit flavors of pear, melon and pineapple. Drink now.
This sparkling rosé has raspberry on the nose, with mid-range autolytic character and a little nuttiness. The palate contains more fruit, specifically strawberry, peaches and raspberry. There is a note of sourdough. Soft petillance and edgy acidity finish off the experience.
This is labeled reserve, but it's a tart austere wine with little charm. The diluted raspberry fruit carries a metallic note through the finish. Note that the front label correctly says it's a 2014, while the side (back) label mistakenly reads 2013.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this opens with delicate red-skinned berry and Mediterranean herb aromas. The simple palate delivers red cherry and underbrush notes, with a mildly tanninic texture. Drink soon.
This bottling shows the sweeter side of the Chardonnay, offering honeydew, lemon blossom and pear cider notes on the nose. The acidity is powerful upon first taste, yielding to peach, nectarine and ripe apple flavors, which come across as confected after a couple of sips.
You'll have to look in the very lower left hand corner of the back label to spot the vintage (2015) on this bottle. It's a light simple wine, with delicate flavors of melon and pear. The finish is soft and has a residual hint of paste.
Subdued violet, plum and brown spice scents lead this 70% Sangiovese, 20% Ciliegiolo and 10% Canaiolo Chianti. Those aromas carry over to the palate, which is simple and mildly tanninic. Drink soon.
This value brand makes a number of West Coast Pinots, with mixed results. Here are very strong, dominating flavors of vanilla and breakfast tea, of the sort often associated with oak additions during the winemaking process. Don't look for any specific Willamette Valley character here. It's a light generic red, tasting mostly of vanilla.
Faint aromas of Anjou pear and Gala apple are shy to rise off this bottling. Baked apple and pear notes also come through on the palate, with a hint of honey and a noticeably grippy texture.
This easy-drinking Chianti opens with subtle red-skinned fruit and leather aromas. The tannins are rather evolved for such a young, simple wine, so drink soon to capture the red cherry and raspberry fruit.
There's a bit of spritz and very light flavors of fresh pear. A lick of honey winds through and continues on into the finish, offsetting a slightly bitter note.
Abrasive aromas of cherry and red plum are medicinal and rudimentary. This feels clamped and severely tannic. Foxy berry and buttery oak flavors finish choppy, with prodding acidity.
Dusty apple and citrus aromas come with a slightly oily note of almond. Round and chunky on the palate, this Merseguera-Sauvignon Blanc blend is a touch soft. Leesy, wheaty white-fruit flavors are reticent on a simple finish.
Ripe roasted black-plum and berry aromas are wild and a touch hot. This is jumpy, angular and pumped to the brim with acidity. Foxy currant and red-plum flavors show a baking-spice element, while this is racy and rugged on the finish. Best for burgers and pizza.
Simple and thinly textured, this wine shows a mixture of plum and wild strawberry fruit against a backdrop of fresh earth.
Round fruit flavors meld melon, pears and apricots. Partial barrel fermentation smoothes it all out and adds just a touch of vanilla spice. It's a lovely choice for a Chardonnay alternative that will match appropriately with a variety of food.
This opens with aromas of red berry, rose petal, roasted coffee bean and brown cooking spice. On the palate, notes of anise, sage and white pepper accent raw red cherry alongside bracing tannins. Drink 2018–2024.
A seductive blend of Petite Sirah, Carignane, Zinfandel, Syrah, Barbera, Alicante Bouschet and Mourvèdre, this wine sourced from old-vine grapes conveys an old-world sensibility. Juicy berry pie and black pepper surround a soft, structured core, finishing with a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Forward, ripe and full bodied, this most pleasurable Pinot Gris is drinking quite well, with fresh fruit flavors of pear and melon. Moderate acidity is just sufficient to keep the fruit from becoming too flabby. The wine was vinted and bottled by Lujon.
Very golden and even nearing brown in color, this wine by the Paso Rhône pioneer shows walnut oil, honey and dried lemon peel on the nose. It's not so dense on the palate, offering an essence of brown pear and orange rinds. It could use a touch more mellowing in the bottle.
Made with botrytized Grillo grapes, this dessert wine opens with aromas that recall dried peach and citrus zest. The rich, sweet palate offers lemon honey, candied tangerine slices and toasted almond.
Rich purple in the glass, the nose focuses on dark bramble berries dusted with cocoa and vanilla. The medium-to-full body follows suit, with support from smooth tannins and balanced acidity. The berry tones linger on a black-pepper kissed finish.
Here's a smooth, savory Nebbiolo that's loaded with red berry and dried black-cherry flavors. Polished tannins and modest acidity make it already accessible, while a vein of mineral adds a kick of energy to the finish.
Freshness is the calling card here. This wine is so crystalline-clear with palate-cleansing minerality that it's irresistible. Green apples and light citrus flavors combine in a stylish effort made for near-term enjoyment.
Firm, with a mineral texture that reflects the tough terrain of the Douro, this wine is also full of fine red fruits and acidity. It has young tannins as well as oak flavors that give the wine a dry core. Drink this firm wine from 2018.
Earthy aromas of tilled soil, underbrush, wild berry and a floral note lead the nose. The straightforward palate offers bright red cherry, blackberry, black pepper and grilled herb alongside polished tannins.
Aromas of dried Mediterranean brush, chopped mint, vanilla, mocha and ripe plum lead the nose. The meaty palate doles out prune, ripe black cherry, fig, cinnamon and nutmeg alongside the heat of alcohol and solid, chewy tannins.
This attractive rosé is always pleasing, as evidenced by pretty aromas of red cherry, strawberry, melon rind and soft sweet spice. The mouthfeel is light and vibrant, with mouthwatering acidity and bright red fruit and citrus flavors. The finish is short, but clean and refreshing. Drink now.
This wine is rich and full in the mouth, with a generous texture and tangy acidity. It is refreshing with its crisp fruitiness and apple juiciness, a bright wine with good depth of flavor.
Whether the cute little dachshund on the label appeals or not, this fresh, intensely fruity Riesling is quite tasty. Supple, sweet white peach and grapefruit penetrate on the palate, accented by the faintest wisp of petrol. Zesty lemon-lime acidity breaks up the unctuousness, leading a bright, moderately long finish. Drink now.
This is a spicy, wood laden wine. It has notes of toast and burnt wood as well as a dense texture. Still young, the rich black fruits are there behind the wood flavors. It is powerful while still balanced. Drink this solid wine from 2018.
Though it's unusually low in alcohol for Cabernet, this offers extra aromatic complexity as a bonus. Black tea, menthol, pepper and cherry fruit scents and flavors mingle well. It's forward and backed with juicy acidity, topped with a hint of orange peel.
An aromatic, low-alcohol Syrah, this opens with spice, pepper and tart cranberry fruit. It layers in flavors of blue plum and a light wreath of smoke. It's an elegant style, miles away from the usual amped-up blockbuster Northwest Syrahs.
This wine is full of rich fruit. With apricots, mangos and a layer of caramel, this is a generous wine with enough acidity to sustain its richness. The aftertaste brings in spice, vanilla and a squeeze of lemon.
This wine is fresh, crisply fruity and toasty without missing the apple and pear flavors that give juiciness behind the texture. It's ripe and is developing well. Drink from 2017.
This wine offers tropical fruit against a background of intense acidity. That makes it fruity, ripe with a tight structure that gives delicious lift and freshness. Drink now.
This has rather light aromas of red cherries and raspberries, mildly rich fruit flavors and a texture that's half silky and half firmly tannic. Those traits add up to deliciousness and good balance.
There's a touch of crushed ant aroma on the nose of this wine from an old Paso vineyard, which also also gives scents of ripe stone fruit, lime pith and dill. Once sipped, a pear juice flavor dominates along with a lime juice-on-nectarine element that adds a sour twist.
Fragrant lemon-lime and exotic bath soap aromas lead this wine. A round, oily feeling palate is full for the variety, with flavors of mixed citrus fruits, honey and lychee. Potent acidity creates some burn on the finish.
Blackberry fruit and big-boy tannins combine for a herculean experience, dense and concentrated, with a burliness to the enterprise, Still, minerality lurks behind the beast, adding palatability before a dusty finish.
Earthy, smooth and seductive, this offering from one of the oldest wineries in the Sierra Foothills has aromas like wet earth, subtle spices and plums. Flavors suggest black-skinned plums and dusky spices, with a relaxed, velvety texture. The acidity is mild for this varietal, while the body is full and the finish lingers.
This opens with aromas of red berry, espresso and a whiff of sawdust. On the palate, raw red cherry is backed up by licorice, toast and roasted coffee bean but it lacks the fruit richness needed to stand up to the oak and the youthfully raspy tannins which leave an astringent finish.
From a site situated at 1,800-feet in elevation, this is an incredibly elegant expression of this grape, blended with 15% Syrah and 10% Zinfandel. Tar, ginger, leather and oak complement blueberry and blackberry succulence around a rich, round, soft and substantial core of structure and flavor.
This juicy ready-to-drink wine is a counterpunch to those who believe Napa Cabernets are unapproachable in their early years. Black plum, blueberry juice and melted licorice aromas start the experience, then the palate picks up a peppery spice that gives depth to the black-currant and vanilla ripeness. The tannins are soft, if not weak, and the acidity is balanced.
Hefty and concentrated in flavor, with a thick layered texture, this wine is made from two blocks of the famous vineyard. Mango, apple skin and substantial background oak give it a tension between sugar and spice.
Salty wood and brine show this vineyard's straight shot to the sea, as bright lifted acidity helps to further prove the point. Focused and tense on the palate, there's a sharp, stony minerality that comes into play here, alongside etchings of lemon peel and green apple.
Intoxicating tropical pineapple, melon and mango flavors are accented by savory notes of chestnut, spice and saffron in this nuanced Auslese. It's decadently sweet with a rich unctuous texture, that's balanced squarely by zaps of lemon-lime acidity. The finish seems to roll on in waves of sweet honey and delicate tea tannins.
From a great vineyard site, this wine does justice to its mountain fruit and coastal acidity, capturing both with ease. Juicy pear, apple, pineapple and a gritty minerality surround big shoulders of body and weight, as aromas of flowers puncture the fruit.
Made entirely from Nerello Mascalese, this vibrant wine opens with blue flower, red-skinned berry and thyme aromas. The fresh, juicy palate delivers red cherry, strawberry, cinnamon and licorice flavors framed by fine-grained tannins. Enjoy through 2023.
Charred, almost burnt aromas dominate the nose on this muscular, tannic Malbec. Like the nose, this tastes largely of blackened hickory and coffee, meaning the fruit is buried under a lot of barrel weight. Drink through 2027.
This solid, spicy and somewhat chewy Pinot is the most widely-available from the Trisaetum lineup. Hints of golden raisin, fig and plum lead into a smooth, chocolatey finish.
This medium-bodied wine has a relatively light-garnet color and a touch of cloudiness that is accompanied by complex and attractive aromas blending cinnamon, clove, rhubarb and light wood smoke. These layered nuances flow into the flavors and fill the mouth with black-cherry and sour-cherry notes that are ripe but not too ripe, so the wine has fine balance.
This blend of Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon incorporates wonderful, spicy oak with a ripe and generous core of black fruits to a firm texture of fine-grained tannins. It has plenty of oak character, but the oak is well integrated and complements the blackberry and blueberry flavors deftly.
This biodynamic wine is a study in contrasts. Non-fruit aromas of wax, paraffin and lanolin are offset by bright pineapple flavors, while a long, zesty finish balances the wine's ample weight and slightly creamy texture. Delicious now, it should drink well through at least 2022.
Produced from organic grapes, the wine is beautiful and honey touched. Its acidity keeps crispness while the fruit shines with lemon and creamed-apple flavors. Drink from 2018.
Displaying typical McMinnville AVA subtlety, this frames its tight raspberry fruit with mineral and iron ore details. Aging in neutral oak has helped soften the sharp edges a bit, without flavoring the wine.
This wine's cranberry, raspberry and cherry flavors are spicy and tart, carrying a suggestion of hard candy. It's consistent throught its tart finish and promises much development ahead. Drink now through the late 2020s.
Plump blackberry, dark strawberry, dried herbs and baking spice show on the nose of this well-rounded and easily likable bottling. The palate mixes fleshy red and purple fruit with a strong chaparral component in the midpalate. The firm grippy texture makes this a more serious Zinfandel than most.
Dark-golden colored, this block designate opens in a wealth of butter and wild vanilla, before unveiling interwoven layers of juicy acidity and integrated oak. Gravenstein apple and pear dominate in flavor, adding to the overall succulence and success of this wine.
There's a boisterous amount of freshly pressed boysenberry juice, crushed graphite and sweet rose on the very accessible, somewhat soda-poppy nose of this blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The medium-bodied palate is plummy with a hint of fennel.
This rich and creamy wine definitely pulls out the new barrel flavors, with buttery nut, salted caramel and toast notes highlighting its ripe peach and apple fruit. From vines planted in 1989, it's styled for drinking right now.
Tightly wound aromas of blueberry and black currant ride a cedar backbone on the elegant nose of this blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, which also offers a touch of vanilla. The palate balances dill and marjoram with tangy red fruit and cinnamon spice.
This deep, grippy wine has the bones of a mastodon. Its thick blackberry, black cherry and cassis fruit carries even darker streaks of chocolate and espresso. Though still rare, Tannat is making a home for itself in Southern Oregon. It's a meaty, steak-friendly alternative to pricier Cabernets.
This supple and succulent wine mixes red and blue fruit with a persistent peppery note. The winery's top offering, it's a barrel selection from five organically-farmed vineyards, including Chehalem Mountain vineyard. Aged for 17 months in half new French oak barrels, it fades gracefully with a touch of char.
Anselmo Mendes from granite Vinho Verde and Diogo Lopes from clay-soil Lisboa brought together the fruit of their harvests to make one limited-edition Alvarinho wine. The result: a ripe, warm and creamy character with wonderful fresh acidity. Drink this refreshing, ripe wine now.
This is a lovely, unadorned Chardonnay: no oak, no malo, just great fruit. The beauty and power of the Dijon clones is on full display, with penetrating citrus and apple fruit buoyed by punchy acidity that carries through a long finish.
Thick on the nose in black pepper and garrigue, this wine is velvety in layers of berry and cherry, with a hearty tobacco chaser. Concentrated and duly ripe, it brightens in the glass to show compelling bursts of white pepper and violet.
Opening aromatically effusive as a rose garden, this wine takes on darker, thicker overtones of baked strawberry rhubarb as a heaviness of tannin and oak permeates the midpalate. Its youthful power should mellow as an underlying, almost carbonic freshness lurks.
This blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in oak for 40 months, which contributes dark, woody spice to the nose, enhancing the fresh-pressed elderberry and crushed lava-rock aromas. The sip is soft at first before the tannins tighten around the dark flavors, and the acidity is powerfully fresh. Give it a tad more time for all components to marry. Drink 2019–2028.
This wine's peppery details act as counterpoint to its well-defined raspberry and cherry flavors. Streaks of toast and graphite add to the layers, suggesting further complexity will develop with another year or two in bottle.
Lipsmacking currents of raspberry and cherry offer a refreshing brightness and juicy profile to this silky wine that's also well-integrated in terms of acidity and oak. Medium bodied and restrained in alcohol, the finish is abbreviated, but spicy.
Tart, clean and inviting, this rare find, from old vines no less, is a testament to what once was in the county, a long-gone variety that can clearly still shine. Savory and briny, this wine sings in aromatics of apple blossom and grapefruit peel, remaining crisp and light. Enjoy anytime at all with oysters.
A vineyard-designate for the producer since 1975, the fruit shows well in this wine, an exotic tribute to tropical elements and stone fruit like peach, supported by a medium-weighted amount of vanilla oak. The ripeness of the fruit is complemented by endnotes of minerality and herbs.
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.
Red raspberry is at the core of this crisp, fresh and medium-bodied estate wine, savory in cranberry and tea. Seamless and silky, it finishes tart, a complex example of a cool site and cool vintage crafted by an experienced winemaker, Jeff Pisoni.
Beguiling streaks of red cherry surround a light, spicy, food-friendly core that's well balanced and integrated, the oak and tannin elegantly respectful of the red fruit. It offers medium weight amid the smoothness.
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.
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.
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.
Aromas of cocoa, vanilla, coconut and herb are at the fore, with a green note lurking in the background. The barrel flavors are out front on the palate as well, with the tannins seeming a bit gritty and dry. It's a bit hard to discern the variety.
This wine is a little green out of the gate, with notes of garden herbs and green flowers along with macerated cranberries and ripe blue fruit. The palate has a pleasing texture and sense of purity but ultimately the aromas are too distracting.
Green aromas are at the fore, with notes of underripe herb, mint, plum and spice. In contrast, the palate is full of spritely cherry and plum flavors. The aromas and flavors seem disconnected but it still brings intrigue.
This wine's sharp, charred oak aroma grabs one's attention, while its bold smoky, meaty flavors accent ripe blackberry and dried plum notes on the palate. An assertive Cabernet sure to please oak aficianados.
Close to black in color, with a hint of rust around the rim, this reductive wine carries a scent of burnt rubber. Flavors suggest riper grapes than the listed alcohol would indicate, with brown sugar, ripe black cherry and some dusty tannins.
Medicinal aromas of berry fruits and latex are woody and floral. Flavors of plum and currant are more raw than lush, while this tastes of tomato and feels crisp on the finish.
A black-fruit nose with cola notes and earthiness is about as easy as this high-acid Cabernet-Malbec blend gets. In the mouth, it's tartaric and screechy. Grapy berry flavors seem rough due to the high-acid content, and the finish is hard and edgy. All that said, it has good flavors and aromas, but falls down in the mouthfeel.
This straightforward white opens with aromas of chamomile flower and mature orchard fruit that carry over to the ripe simple palate along with yellow apple. A hint of dried herb marks the close.
This approachable, fruit-forward bottling offers prominent black cherry, anise and vanilla aromas. It's light in body, showing candied black fruit, licorice, cola and smoke flavors.
Made with 60% Friulano, 30% Sauvignon and 10% Malvasia, this opens with aromas of ripe Golden Delicious apple, vanilla and hay. The straightforward palate offers pink grapefruit and toasted almond alongside fresh acidity.
This big, ripe wine is soft and round, with integrated tannins. It evokes licorice, blackberry jam and toast on the palate, with mountain sage and molasses notes that linger on the finish.
This ripe wine is full of apple fruits with a tight streak of citrus acidity. It's a food wine, showing a creamy texture, a light texture and attractive acidity.
This rosso has a pretty bouquet of fruit and floral aromas, with an underpinning of spice. The palate is soft, with ripe plum, cinnamon and chocolate flavors, and while well made, it doesn't have a lot of personality. This is ripe and ready, so enjoy soon.
Aged partly in concrete vats and partly in oak, this shows concentrated sensations of ripe plum, sour cherry and raspberry layered with espresso notes. Pair this with grilled vegetables or spicy cheeses.
Pato Frio—cold duck—suggests this a summer picnic wine. It certainly has the freshness and crisp elegance. But it also some weight, ripe apple and citrus fruits and a texture that suggests it could age a few months longer.
Despite the low alcohol, this is quite dry and tart, with a lemony base and some orange-pekoe flavors also. Not a complex Riesling, but light and pleasantly sippable.
This young Chianti Classico is still a bit closed, but it reveals cherry and raspberry sensations along with black- and white-pepper notes. It's still tightly knit but it should should open up well after one or two more years bottle aging.
This soft, plummy expression of Chianti Classico shows ripe black fruit and roasted coffee bean aromas that carry over to the palate. Thanks to its tame acidity and round tannins, this is perfect to drink young.
This has iris and cherry aromas layered with evident oak and burnt rubber sensations. The palate opens much better thanks ripe berry, spice and licorice flavors along with oak, coffee bean and espresso notes.
This straightforward selection offers plum and cherry sensations with hints of espresso and chocolate. The simple style will work well with pasta dishes and cheeses.
Citrus fruits and rind are the lead aromas on this minerally Verdejo. Passion fruit, nectarine, orange and saline flavors finish with pithy grapefruit and almond-skin flavors. Overall this is tangy and holds firm. Drink now.
Soft and fruity, this is a full-in-the-mouth, ripe wine that's all red fruits and soft tannins. It has an open, juicy character with fruit right up front, but boosted by refreshing acidity. Not for aging.
This light and pleasant rosé comes exclusively from estate-grown fruit. Cool fermented in stainless steel, it shows delicate strawberry flavors, and a finishing wash of mineral.
Here's a direct Chianti Classico with attractive plum and vanilla aromas. The palate shows ripe—nearly overripe—black cherry and raspberry flavors that finish rather abruptly on the dry, tannic finish.
This 10-year-old wine from a hot vintage is soft and plump but has gaps in its fiber. The mouth is tannic around the edges but lacks stuffing, while flavors of plum and berry run jammy and heavy. A hollow finish with prune flavors and dry tannins is the final act.
From a unique vineyard site high above the Santa Maria Valley comes this bottling by the Fess Parker family that shows white pepper, tart elderberry, a touch of tar and dried herbs on the somewhat restrained nose. There is decent herbal lift to the black cassis and blackberry fruit, with hints of lavender and dried tarragon.
Ripe berry, raisin, prune, chocolate and cool earth aromas make for a fine nose. This is full and rich, a bit chunky, but not too heavy. Flavors of coconut are backed by blackberry fruit; on the finish, that oaky coconut character transitions to vanilla. Drink through 2022.
Although this wine is dry, it does have hints of the honeyed character that comes out of the Petit Manseng. With apple and fragrant acidity it has this edge of apricots and spice. Drink the wine now.
Harvested in November 2011 from botrytized grapes which have benefited from the autumn mists, the wine is a fine combination of intense acidity and superrich honeyed flavors. It is ready to drink, although it will certainly age. The secret of the wine is its richness combined with fine acidity. Drink ideally from 2018.
There's a nice dollop of warm butter on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard planted in 1975, but it's well restrained and enhanced by vanilla yogurt and graphite aromas. A crushed sea-shell minerality shines on the palate, where apple flesh, graphite and lemon rinds combine for a full sipping experience.
Baked Cox apples with lemon juice are evoked by the fresh and appetizing nose on this wine. These flavors continue on the dry, juicy and refreshing palate, gathering hints of honey and cinnamon. Lithe and dry but full flavored, it finishes with pure lemon.
A touch riper and richer than the Hillside, McCall's Reserve Pinot Noir offers fleshy, penetrating black-cherry flavor cooled by a vein of menthol and herbs. It's luscious and velvety on the palate yet totally poised, bolstered by brisk acidity and persistent but fine tannins. Drinks well already but should hold nicely through 2025.
This rich, wood-aged blend dominated by Viosinho is spicy with a ripe toastiness. The acidity highlights this impressively stylish wine through the tangy, fruit finish. Drink after 2018.
Pink-graprefruit zest and fresh strawberry, tart red apple and shortbread—what the nose promises, the palate keeps. These flavours swirl briskly around the palate, supported by a multitude of tiny, creamy bubbles. Red currant and cranberry, freshly cut red-apple peel and wonderful depth leave a lasting impression and leave you wanting more.
This wine comes from a vineyard 1,000 feet above Annapolis owned by Thomas Rivers Brown and Fred Schrader, and farmed by Ulises Valdez. It demands time to open, concentrated as it is in juicy blackberry, plum and a hit of earth, the tannins integrated and silky soft.
Well balanced and moderately flavorful, this wine feels quenching and appetizing at the same time but needs time to round off its rough edges. It's not overwhelmingly fruity or oaky, but has compact, concentrated red cherry and rhubarb and a good firm grip of tannin and fruit acidity. It will be best after 2019.
From a six-acre site further inland than many of the producer's other sources, this wine shines in classic coastal expression nonetheless. It presents a mix of earthy, stemmy forest and black tea, with a touch of reduction and lightness of oak and power. Delicately textured, it delivers a refined style.
This wine is equally split across the two varieties. The aromas offer notes of baking spice, flowers, soil and dark fruit while the palate explodes with dark, full-bodied fruit flavors. It needs time to unwind.
The winery's top of the top, this is a viscous, concentrated expression of the grape, blended with 5% Merlot, the fruit from the producer's estate Sage Vineyard on Mount Veeder. Chocolate, blackberry, sage and meaty grips of black pepper and anise compete for attention amid all the ripeness and intensity, finishing with surprising softness.
A wood-aged wine, this blend of Loin de l'Oeil and Sauvignon Blanc is rich and lightly toasty. There are also fine yellow fruit and honeyed flavors that give the wine a ripe complexity and that leave with crisp acidity. It's is ready to drink now and until 2022.
Black pepper and juicy blueberry expand on the palate in this juicy, plush and likable 100% varietal wine, accented in full-bodied ripeness and wafts of vanilla smoke.
Nicknamed Black Bee, this hearty, rambunctious old-vine wine is juicy in blackberry and a taste of tar, full-throttled in terms of intensity. White pepper and cinnamon specks provide a spiciness on the palate as the tannins settle in, making way for a fine, leathery finish. Clay Mauritson helped make the wine.
This old-vines beauty from one of Rueda's top producers offers pure and inviting aromas of fresh apple, citrus and mineral. It tastes of lemon-lime and green apple, while a mineral quality carries onto the fresh and zesty finish. Drink now.
This wine brings pleasingly pure notes of red fruit, bramble, black olive and earth. The flavors are full, lush and pure, backed by tart, cranberry-like acidity and a lengthy finish. It's a compelling example of the variety, showing very pretty nuances.
An attention-grabbing combination of pretty botanicals characterizes the nose of this bottling, with crisp, tonic-like aromas of lime peel and quinine mixing with fresh green pear and citrus flesh. The palate is driven by a zesty line of acidity that unveils chalk, kiwi fruit and cooked apples on the finish. It's tightly wound and fascinating.
These old, head-trained bush vines make for stunning wines year after year. This vintage shows lemon rind, orange-laced tonic water, yellow pear and a fragrant chilled Pink Lady apple element on the nose. The palate is all about tense texture, but also shows refreshing flavors of green pluot, tart plum and a touch of sweet basil.
From a small parcel of vines in the Gaudou vineyard, this impressive wine is rich and still very young. Matured in egg-shaped tanks, it is dense with fruit as much as tannin, poducing a spicy wine full of black fruits and a dry core that is already well integrated. Drink from 2019.
Although there is a little Merlot and Tannat in the wine, it is 90% Malbec. Still firmly tannic, it is concentrated and spicy. It has a dark dry texture that is lifted by ripe blackberry fruit. With acidity cutting right through, the wine is nowhere near ready to drink. Wait until 2019.
Bob Tillman and his daughter, Maggie, run this winery in a hands-on way. This thick, viscous wine offers hearty cherry and baked black plum mixed with black spice, roast beef and espresso on the nose. The lush palate shows more cooked purple fruit and intense black-cherry syrup along with concentrated lavender flowers and strong acidity.
A heady opening of barrel reduction burns off in due time in this ultimately lovely wine that is intense in caramel apple and baked pear. Elegant on the palate, it has a big entry that settles into fresh, sophisticated layers of just-ripe fruit accented by a tart, tangy finish.
With brick-colored edges and gritty aromas of turned earth, raw oak, asphalt and berry fruits, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot feels tight, with rubbery tannins. Oak-infused flavors of herbal blackberry, mint and anise finish with notes of licorice and chocolate as well as a touch of heat. Drink through 2021.
The slightest notes of vanilla accent the pear-fruited nose that also carries hints of saffron. The palate is defined but balanced. Fruit concentration partners with gentle richness and spice, with the necessary counterbalance of citrus pith and zest. Lovely now, this elegant wine will develop. Drink 2016–2024.
This full-bodied wine packs a lot of punch in terms of mouthfeel and flavor. The color is extremely dark, and the flavors resemble dark chocolate, black cherries and baking spices. It is dry in style, with lip-smacking, nicely astringent tannins that counterbalance all that richness.
An austere nose gives way in time to smoky tobacco, red currant and minerally acidity, the wine intense on the palate without being over the top. Along the way, hits of cedar and milk chocolate complement the proceedings.
As its name suggests, this wine is meant to go with shellfish. Light and fruity, it's perfect background wine to highlight a variety of foods. Fresh acidity, citrus and delicate apple notes are enjoyable.
Part of Snoqualmie's new Eco series of organic wines, this young Cabernet Sauvignon includes 25% Merlot in the blend. The aromas are an unusual mix of flower and grain; tart, earthy rhubarb flavors follow. The wine finishes on a somewhat sour note.
This is a varietal Roussanne that's pungent with herbs, honey and vanilla, along with strong flavors of black tea and oak that somewhat overpower the fruit. Waxy on the finish. Serve chilled and drink young.
This perky wine offers tropical fruit, citrus and apple sensations alongside the grape's hallmark of bright acidity. It closes on a delicate note of steely mineral. Simple, but well constructed.
Lively, fresh notes of blackberry and red cherry are immediately apparent on the palate. Fruit takes center stage here, thus the wine should be drunk young while fresh and in its prime. It is honest and friendly, with a light body and spicy hints of white pepper in the background.
There are some interesting components in this reserve Cabernet Franc, but they are yet to be balanced. Blue plum, leather, a whiff of the pickle barrel and some green flavors in the tannins, all seem a bit jarring; time will tell.
Made from 100% Montepulciano, this opens with aromas of rubber, coffee and espresso. The palate offers black fruit sensations, alongside slightly bitter tannins. This is simply structured and already accessible, so drink soon.
This is raisiny and soupy on the nose. A jammy, soft palate follows suit, while the flavors are pure prune and raisin. Stewy on the finish, this is overripe but still good. Drink soon.
Resiny oak on top of tropical fruit, apple and melon aromas announce plenty of barrel influence. The mouthfeel is plump and offers just enough acidity to balance out the wine's high oak level. Flavors of spiced apple and melon finish woody.
While quite earthy and smoky on the nose, this off-dry Riesling is pleasantly fruity on the palate showing fresh apple and lemon flavors accented with vibrant lime acidity. The finish is brisk with some astringency.
Made from 100% Montepulciano, this opens with unusual aromas of tire rubber. Dense black fruit flavors are accented with hints of white pepper alongside astringent tannins. Already approachable, the palate is straightforward and one dimensional. Drink soon.
In its iconic amphora-shaped bottle, this opens with pretty aromas of white and yellow roses. The palate offers up a forward lemon flavor, with a hint of almond and refreshing acidity. Perfect to wash down shellfish.
While unusually perfumey, this dry, full-bodied Pinot Gris balances pleasant apple and pear flavors with a striking lemon acidity. Robustly structured, a slight warming sensation adds to the finish.
Typical of Chilean Carmenère, this deals a mixture of herb, spice, olive and gritty berry aromas. The palate feels racy and it scrapes, while the flavor profile is defined by toast, black fruits, green-leaning herbs and licorice. It's full in feel, and it tastes minty and spicy on the finish.
This is crisp, with a floral aroma and minerality on the nose. It's lively and solid in structure, with dark fruit, coffee and bitter chocolate flavors. Things become more herbal upon closer inspection, with some warmth on the finish.
From a boutique producer, this offers a soft, floral bouquet reminiscent of rose petals and face powder. That delicate entry belies a wine with grip and tannin, as well as some spicy, herbal toughness.
Seemingly as tart as a Riesling can get despite having residual sugar of 1.2%, this lemony lip-smacker shows good concentration. It would be a gem with the right foods, but on its own, the searingly tart acids may be too much for most tasters.
Using fruit sourced from vineyards close to Cahors, this is a rich, soft, tropical-fruit-flavored wine that shows how the Mediterranean influence reaches this inland area. It is rich, with notes of apricot, green plum and mango. Ready to drink.
Rich and fruity, this is full of red berry and black plum fruits, sustained by dense, powerful tannins. The wine manages to balance freshness with a solid, dry core.
This has spice and dried fruit notes, plus firmly structured tannins. The refreshing acidity partners with the fruit, creating a wine that still needs a few years to age.
VS stands for “Vouvray Style,” a nod to the Loire Valley. Notes of citrus and mineral stand out first, seeming almost tart, like a squeeze of lemon, followed by a touch of almond. Pair this with seafood, especially scallops or raw oysters.
This is a well-balanced and rich wine, with its tannins and acids giving it a sense of structure. With its black cherry and plum skin flavors, this is firm and smooth.
Some extra barrel time and single vineyard status separate this wine from Erath's regular bottling. This has narrow flavors of green apple and white  peach, not showing much new oak influence.
Banana and ripe red-berry notes create the attractive open of this bright wine. It comes with a raw edge, but if slightly chilled it would make for a fine apéritif.
Ripe, round tannins give this full-bodied wine a rich feel. With its mouthful of bright red-cherry fruit, this is a delicious selection to drink now.
Jammy red-berry aromas come with a green streak. The wine is a bit hard in feel, with choppy tannins. Sweet blueberry and graham cracker flavors are offset by saline and green accents, while the finish is chunky and earthy.
Mild notes of tomato leaf accent this wine's refreshing white-grapefruit aromas and flavors. It's medium in body and dry, finishing long and elegant. Drink now.
Father-and-son vintners Joe and Sam Miller consistently deliver solid wines, including this twist-top Merlot that's aged in 50% new French oak. Its boysenberry fruit is awash in the green peppercorn, herb and crushed graphite character associated with the mountainous region. That pyrazine touch hits the palate, along with black pepper and dark chocolate spice, accenting the tangy red fruit.
This bulky bullish Malbec opens with big tarry aromas that go heavy on the oak. The palate is tannic like the clack-clack of heels on a tile floor. This tastes earthy, oaky and like blackberry, while the finish echoes with those same flavors. Drink through 2023.
Dry spicy aromas accent woodsy berry scents. A tight focused palate jabs with acidity and poking tannins, while this tastes of lightly herbal cherry and berry fruit. Spicy flavors on a healthy finish help this along.
Structured and alluring, this opens with yellow stone fruit, tomato vine and chopped herb aromas. The enveloping palate doles out juicy yellow peach, grapefruit and savory thyme notes while tangy acidity lends balance.
As gamy as foie gras, and just as rich, this 100% varietal wine fills the palate with baked plum, licorice and intense ripe fruit that borders on confected. Soft tannins and supportive oak give it structure and breadth.
Oregon is loaded with inexpensive Pinot Noirs these days, but very few are estate grown and carry the Willamette Valley AVA. Pretty and aromatic with engaging scents of cherries and cream, this has immediate appeal. Drink with pork, poultry, salmon and salads—this is your go-to, anytime bottle.
This full-bodied and robustly concentrated wine has chocolate and cherry aromas, rich and ripe plum and blackberry flavors and layers of chocolate and vanilla on the palate and finish. It feels broad and juicy in texture, too.
Yellow apple and yellow pear aromas follow through to the round, juicy palate, along with citrus and Alpine herb notes. Fresh acidity lifts the rich flavors while a flinty mineral note backs up the lingering finish.
Softly structured and boldly ripe, this 100% varietal wine from the famous site shows strong red cherry and raspberry fruit wrapped in swathes of cinnamon and clove. Full bodied and firm in tannins, it delivers chocolate and tobacco accents to complement the fruit.
Green Valley vineyards figure prominently in this appellation wine, providing delicate, layered acidity and crisp, savory, succulent fruit. Cranberry, cherry and black tea flavors ripple through its bright texture, accented with clove, cola and cedar.
Fresh-pressed boysenberry scents meet lava rock and slate minerality on the nose of this appellation blend from Fred Brander. There's a flinty earthiness to the palate, with pressed plum flavors and a strong graphite streak. It's relatively light in body, making it a perfect food wine.
Piercing aromas of char and creosote are like a laser pop surrounded by a note of blackberry. This is raw, tannic and hard on the palate. Chunky berry flavors are heavily oaked, while this is jammy in feel and tastes of blueberry on the finish. Drink through 2021.
Ripe berry fruit and gritty oak aromas lead to a full-bodied blocky palate with grating tannins. This is a heavily oaked blend of Syrah, Tempranillo and Merlot. Flavors of blackberry, vanilla and wood spice finish with barrel char and depth. Drink through 2023.
This plump, medium-bodied Chardonnay shows yellow fruit notes of mirabelle plum, peach and pineapple, all wrapped in a cocoon of woodsmoke. Drink now–2020.
Woodsmoke, bramble and sharp raspberry sorbet aromas show on the nose of this appellation blend from winemaker Kevin Law and actress Challen Cates. Sour cranberry and tart plum skin flavors show on the palate, along with darker nutmeg-like spices.
The estate wine of Coutinel is dominated by the local Négrette grape. With the addition of 15% Syrah and (unusual for this part of the world) 15% Gamay, the wine is structured while also juicy. Soft tannins and black fruits are shot through with an attractive perfumed character. Drink from 2018.
Pure, focused fruit flavors like raspberry and red cherry light up this medium-bodied wine. A lively texture of crisp acidity and light tannins adds great balance to the effusive fruitiness. For such a friendly price, what else could one ask for?
The aroma is a bit buttery and nutty, and the flavors are similar, with good depth and generosity. Although the mouthfeel is crisp enough, it strives more for richness than refreshment. Consider this wine serious enough for indulgent plates of seafood, pasta and chicken.
Soft and ripe, with the warmth of a full, fruity Alentejano wine, this is generous and ready to drink. Red fruits are lifted by acidity, while flavors of wood aging and spice add an extra dimension. Drink now and until 2019.
Encruzado produces ripe yellow-fruit and spice flavored wines of great quality. This is a soft, generous example, warm in its round texture and rich in apricot and toast flavors. It should be aged another few months and enjoyed from 2016.
This fresh wine also offers plenty of ripe fruit and exotic flavors. Crisp, juicy and rich, it's just lightly touched by honey and is a refreshing wine to drink now.
Full of the fresh acidity of the 2014 vintage, this light, bright wine has refreshing lemon and crisp apple flavors that are given richness by the lively acidity. Bursting with fruit, it is ready to drink now.
This rosé, made from Cinsault and Syrah, offers assertive aromas of garrigue herbs—think rosemary and thyme—alongside fruity tones of minty cherry, strawberry and raspberry. The mouthfeel is light and fresh, with the mentholated character dominating the red berry core. Drink now.
Strawberry and graphite meet with a rusty element on the nose of this easy-to-quaff and yet intriguing and well-priced wine. A nice ripe pomegranate element on the palate leads to licorice and a gunmetal minerality.
This opens with aromas of toast, oak and cherry. The tense palate offers raw red berry, roasted coffee bean, oak-driven spice and powdered sage, yet lacks fruit richness. Abrasive tannins give it a bracing finish.
There is a touch of floral aroma in this vivid and fruity-tasting wine. Aromas and flavors of fresh-cut apple and honeydew melon round it out, while lively acidity makes it appetizing and fresh.
This organic rosé leads with mineral aromas that are framed by fruity notes of yellow peach, melon and green mango. The palate is clean and direct, with attractive vibrancy and freshness that carries through to the softly herbal finish. Drink now.
A big-production, medium-bodied effort, this has noticeable sweetness that softens the acidity. Sweet apple and pear fruit dominate an easy-drinking, approachable, simple but enjoyable Pinot Gris.
Thick in black peppery cinnamon, this wine offers a zig-zag of fruit and power without falling over the edge of extremity. The mix includes 5% Petite Sirah. Full bodied and big, it finishes in a taste of sweet vanilla.
Perfumed Verdelho gives a ripe wine that is full and rich in the mouth. It has spice as well as sweet apricot and mango flavors. The acidity is a much lighter element, leaving a wine that feels fat and round.
Aromas of grapefruit and honeysuckle get the attention right away. Flavors of peach and honey, a soft and smooth texture, good acidity, full body and a touch of sweetness finish the picture. This certainly gives maximum fruitiness.
Spiced raspberry and cherry Jell-O aromas follow through to the medium-bodied palate. Oak flavors of toast and roasted coffee emerge on the midpalate and linger on the finish.
Ripe blackberry and plum aromas are open and potent. Strong tannins make for a rough palate feel, while dry, pulling raspberry and plum flavors finish with burn and a woody character.
There's a richness to the bouquet of this rosé, with fruit-forward aromas of ripe red cherry and plum. The palate offers a pleasant seam of acidity, lifting the slightly creamy mouthfeel. It finishes fresh, with lingering hints of citrus rind and tart cherry. Drink now.
The fermentation of this white Pinot, which eliminates skin contact (hence color), also removes any hint of varietal flavor. In other words, this tastes not at all like regular, red Pinot Noir. It's more along the lines of a stainless-steel-fermented Chardonnay, with that grape's simple neutrality first and foremost.
Dusty saffron and pollen notes lend earthiness to this otherwise ripe, fruity Riesling. Yellow peach and apricot flavors are plump and pert, accented by sunny tangerine sweetness. The finish is brisk but clean. Drink now.
Attractive ripe and creamy, this has soft acidity along with apple and pineapple flavors. It is smooth with a fresh character that gives a lift at the end.
Squeezed plums and a touch of star anise spice up the nose of this wine, made by a Kama Sutra-inspired winery that has a tasting room in downtown Paso Robles. It's fairly thick once sipped, with lots of red fruits and enough brown spice to keep it intriguing.
A wine that is dominated by the floral character of Touriga Nacional, this is a dense and dry at this young stage. It has a dry, firm character, with the fruit still firmly masked by tannins. Give it until 2017 before drinking.
Aromas and flavors of black cherries and pomegranate juice fill this medium-bodied and sturdy-textured wine. A generous helping of tannin gives it a firm mouthfeel and more than stands up to the generous fruit flavors. Drink now through 2020.
Smoke, leather, cedar, dried red cherry and herbal spice show on the nose of this bottling, which is dark but not overpowering in aroma. Dill and pepper notes start the palate, where vibrant acidity and stiff tannins slowly reveal its blueberry, dark cherry and cranberry flavors.
Black cherry, crushed concrete and spicy peppercorn show on the nose of this Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah dessert blend. There are luscious ripe flavors on the palate, including crème de cassis, black plum and prune, with a gravel-like minerality lending elegance. The high alcohol is well integrated.
Tropical in its pineapple and coconut scents, this white is creamy and lush. Neither overripe nor over-oaked, its finish is marked by wild vanilla.
Smoky oak meets a soft texture that showcases black cherry and berry in this full-bodied red. It's boldly lush and seasoned in classic hints of cola.
This easy-to-love wine from the Michael Mondavi family has an obvious but attractive oaky character, from the abundant cedar and cinnamon aromas to the spicy nutmeg and cardamom flavors that bolster its red cherry fruit and medium body.
This barrel-fermented wine is a most pleasant quaffer. A mix of yellow apple and pink grapefruit flavors, along with some skin phenolics, power on through. It was fermented in 10% new oak, and a hint of that pops up in the finish, an impression of candied orange peel. Drink now through 2022.
This value-oriented release spent time in one-fifth new oak, and it shows nicely in the nose and the flavor. Ample red fruits are coated with sweet toast and a touch of ginger cookie. The wine has excellent length and polish, especially at this price point.
Wet cement, cut grass and fresh oregano aromas show on the nose of this affordable white. Dried herb, hay and kaffir lime flavors come through on the palate, making it an excellent choice for weekday sipping.
This blend of Petit Verdot (65%) and Cabernet Sauvignon is an aromatic brooder, with notes of lemon peel, flowers and cherry. Bright acidity livens up the palate, which is full of cherry flavors and well-integrated tannins. Put it on the dinner table to see it at its best.
Plum reigns supreme on the nose but there are also funky, earthy notes. The flavors are a lovely blend of red cherry, raspberry, rooibos tea, lavender and clove. This full-bodied wine has supple tannins and bright acidity, finishing long and dry.
This red combines Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create black currant and Mediterranean herb aromas. The easygoing, approachable palate shows black cherry and dark spice flavors, framed by polished tannins. Enjoy soon.
Made of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, this offers black tea and mature plum aromas, while the palate evokes dried cherry, clove and star anise flavors. Firm, close-grained tannins generate an austere finish. Give it another few years to soften, then enjoy.
Fresh and bright, the nose of this wine is filled with bramble fruit, lavender and violet candy. The palate is racy, with red cherry, pomegranate, lavender and violet. Smooth tannins lead to a silky finish.
The first release annually from the estate vineyard, this is a solid effort, seemingly infused with scents and flavors of pine needle, pine tar, earth and bark. The fruit is in the background, and leans toward cranberry and brambly blackberry.
Wild blackberry fruit and savory, dried-leaf highlights take hold here. The tannins are drying, tea-like, and there's a pleasant, earthy note carrying into the finish. The wine is 60% estate fruits, and spent nine months in 30% new French oak.
Made entirely from late harvested Petit Manseng, this sweet, round dessert wine opens with ripe apricot and baked pear aromas. The straightforward palate delivers lemon honey, mature melon and vanilla flavors. Enjoy it soon.
Juicy, leathery and earthy on the palate, this is a densely extracted blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. It presents dry, lengthy tannins and a rusticity of dusty clove, finishing lean and restrained.
Matured in used French barriques, this nevertheless shows touches of toast and cedar alongside tart, fruit notes of cranberry and raspberry. It's full bodied and richly tannic, with crisp acids that accentuate the tannins on the finish. Drink 2020–2030.
There's nothing wrong with this wine, which represents a solid first foray into the American market by this family-owned producer. Mint, vanilla and red berries mingle easily on the nose, while the palate offers medium to full body and a creamy texture. Drink now–2025.
Jammy plum and raspberry aromas feed into a clampy but fresh and lightly oaky palate. Flavors of currant, herbal red berry and oak-based clove end with rustic, grabby tannins that are drying. This is a mix of Syrah, Monastrell and Garnacha Tintorera.
Sunbaked plum and currant aromas are a touch spicy. In the mouth, this blend of 50% Monastrell, 25% Syrah and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon is full, tannic and mostly well balanced. Dense spicy plume and black-fruit plum flavors finish with rubbery grabby tannins.
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.
Subtle aromas of freshly cut grass and crisp Asian pears make this clean, dry Riesling a refreshing sipping wine. A tingly acidity and citrus pith notes linger playfully on the palate.
A dry-style Riesling with fresh apple, pear and petrol aromas, and a persistent minerality throughout. It's simple and straightforward, but there's a refreshing lemonade acidity and a hint of lime zest at the finish.
Melon and jasmine aromas abound in this light, refreshing Riesling offering glimpses of white peach, lime and slate on the palate. A hint of bitter almond adds complexity to the finish.
Very light in body, color and aromas. The nose is punchy and a bit sharp, and so is the palate, which offers crisp, bracing acids to highlight zesty, lean nectarine and tangerine flavors. Quite linear and citric, but experience with this wine says it shows best with food.
A chunky wine with compost, coffee and leather on the nose. The palate holds onto that chunkiness with clumsy flatness that goes with herbal plum and berry flavors. Airing allows it to unfold and find a better place, but always does it seem heavy and on the murky side.
Starts out muddled and murky, and eventually settles on rich, raisiny and slightly stewed. Seeing that this is Toro, some overripeness is almost a given, and thus the black fruit and licorice flavors are expected. Finishes warm, toasty and short, with a candied hollowness.
Though not as concentrated as many examples from this AVA, this brings identifiable Pinot Noir character, albeit in a rather thin, austere style. Pale cranberry and pomegranate fruit is matched to tart acidity and a veneer of herb.
Young vines, the first release from estate-grown fruit. The vanilla flavors of the barrels are front and center at the moment, though there are darker fruits in the background, along with smoke, licorice and a hint of tar. Good long-term potential.
This is a well-balanced Petite Sirah, with chewy but proportionate tannins, a broadly fruity, black cherry core and nuanced highlights of apricot. The finish does a quick fade.
Bone dry, wonderfully fresh and loaded with strawberry and watermelon flavors, hepped up with lightly peppery spice. In short, a perfect summer sipper, chilled and drunk with picnic foods, preferably outdoors.
Piercing to start, with leathery, bacony and campfire aromas. Saturated, although healthy, if a bit hard and tannic. Flavors of bacon and clove are right up there with black fruit and syupy richness, and clove carries onto the finish. Needs time to breathe and unfold; 65% Garnacha and 35% Syrah.
Aromas of savory leather, wood and baked berry fruits lead to a fresh, well-built palate with fine tannins and integrated but potent acidity. Toasty, blackened plum and berry flavors finish with a coating of oak flavor as well as coffee and chocolate notes. Drink through 2028.
The new Oregon project from John Abbott (ex-Abeja) kicks off with this vineyard selection from a five-star vintage. A blend of fifth leaf Pommard and 30-year-old Wädenswil clones, it's lush and aromatic, sporting bold scents and flavors of ripe raspberry and cherry fruit, with a spine of iron. Toasty new barrel accents punch through, with a clean crisply defined finish.
This is smooth and open, a mix of fresh cranberry and raspberry fruit, underscored by minerality and acidity. Still young and primary, it offers light highlights of milk chocolate from aging 15 months in 62% new French oak. It's a wine of impeccable balance, with a seamless finish and silky smooth tannins. Drink now and through 2022.
Appealing complexities appear right from the first sniff, with a mix of rhubarb, tomato leaf, berry, cherry and plum. There is a suggestion of tanned leather, and the brambly fruit flavors carry a lemon-rind edge into a tightly framed, lightly toasty finish.
This entry-level Pinot from Domaine Serene outshines more than a few Oregon reserves. It's splendidly clear, refined and aromatic, with a tantalizingly smoky note in play. There is a pleasing dusty character to the cherry fruit and the finish is dappled with highlights of cinnamon toast. It's flat-out irresistible.
This cuvée starts out quite sharp and tight, and will want decanting and/or further bottle age to show its best. Notes of steel, stone, toast and butterscotch candy annotate tightly-packed orange, apricot and peach fruit, with some high-toned aromatics. The components are all in place for a wine that should age gracefully for a decade or longer. Drink now through 2026.
A bright magenta color and aromas of toast, tobacco, cola and wild blackberry draw you in. This wine is young, and so the acidity shows through right now. Flavors of blackberry, cassis and black cherry come with a touch of oaky vanilla. That vanilla carries over to the finish, which is oaky, bright and scouring. This Carignan-Garnacha blend will be at its best from 2018–2024.
This is immediately recognizable as a bottling from a cool-climate vineyard, with tons of cracked black pepper, asphalt and black fruit on the tense and intriguing nose. That pepper character follows through on the palate, mixing with crushed bay leaf, underripe elderberries and a touch of black currant, but fruit plays second to the spice and structure. Drink 2017–2022.
A deep, almost-black color goes right to a ruby rim. Aromas suggest dark chocolate and coffee bean and the flavors are concentrated, saturated and delicious, like blackberry and blueberry pie—except nicely dry. This full-bodied wine coats the sides of the mouth but stays velvety and lingers on the finish.
Scents of small woodland berry, orchard fruit and Alpine herb waft out of the glass. On the creamy palate, notes of baking spice and energizing mineral accent fresh strawberry, crushed raspberry and tangerine zest. It's fresh and balanced, with lively acidity and an elegant perlage.
Big, balanced and very flavorful, this full-bodied, handsomely oaked wine is easy to love. Baking-spice aromas, ripe black-cherry flavors and firm, fine-grained tannins make a harmonious mix.
Polished and balanced, this elegant red opens with scents of rose, red berry, tilled earth and truffle. The firmly structured palate delivers juicy raspberry, crunchy red cherry, licorice and a hint of nutmeg alongside bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. Drink 2018–2030.
Enticing scents of ripe orchard fruit, aromatic herb and fragrant white spring flower take center stage on this elegant sparkler. The generous palate doles out juicy white peach, ripe Granny Smith apple and tangerine zest. Fresh acidity brightens the creamy flavors while an elegant mousse imparts finesse.
This wine is showy on the nose, with lilacs, lavender-laced crème brûlée and dense dried-black-cherry aromas that prove inviting. It is elegantly framed on the palate, with lots of lavender, potpourri, dried thyme and oregano set against the rich, dark-red fruits.
This opens with earthy, almost funky aromas that recall new leather, tilled soil, truffle and a whiff of game. The palate is still youthfully austere, offering dried black cherry, baking spice and chopped herb alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink 2020–2028.
This is a full-bodied, plushly textured wine that doesn't quite go over the top. Vanilla and dill notes accent blackberry and plum fruit before finishing firm, crisp and long. This has all the ingredients, it just needs time to come together. Drink 2020–2030.
Toasted hazelnut, golden apple and citrus scents lift out of the glass. The linear, elegant palate delivers ripe pear, lemon zest, bread crust and mineral alongside a refined perlage. It finishes crisp and dry.
While this was not a generally declared Vintage, there are many attractive, structured single-quinta Ports, such as this. It has ripe sweet black plum and dried prune flavors along with just the right tannic structure to let it age further. While it is drinkable now for its fruit, it will be so much better from 2020.
Sunny yet spry, this invigorating Kabinett offers a crush of ripe tangerine, quince and yellow cherry flavors. Pert acidity cuts through all the fruity richness, extending a lean, sumptuously sweet finish. It's delightful already, but should develop well through 2025.
Dustings of brown sugar and cinnamon over black cherries leave a lasting impression on the nose of this full-bodied, creamy-textured Shiraz. Plum and chocolate notes creep in on the dry, savory finish.
This Red Mountain Syrah spent a year in French oak, half new, half once-used. The fruit is wrapped in smoke and coffee, graphite and mineral scents and flavors. Crystal clear and densely packed, this shows none of the funk common in many Washington Syrahs, but an almost claret-like structure and grip. It should age well for a decade or longer.
An impressive wine, beautifully structured, never too powerful, very elegant. If it feels a little austere at this stage, that is because the structure is dominating the fruit. Give it 5–6 years and the full splendor will be revealed.
A dense wine, powerful while also elegant. It shows all the best character of a grand Margaux, with fine tannins as well as dense structure. It will age well.
This single-vineyard beauty continues its run of excellence. The '07 is dense, toasty and powerful, with bacon, vanilla, cigar box and wild berry aromas that set up a strong-boned, fully structured palate overflowing with dark cherry, boysenberry, tobacco and sweet vanilla flavors. Needs time; drink from 2012 through 2022.
Aurus defines awesome modern Rioja. The nose is floral and decked out with wild berry aromas, marzipan, vanilla and hard spices. The palate is powerful and tannic, with bold cassis, raspberry, cherry, coffee and chocolate flavors. Beautifully crafted and with a nice red fruit element courtesy of 15% Graciano to go with old vines Tempranillo. Drink from 2012–2021.
Smooth, perfumed and elegant, this Cabernet Franc-dominated wine has rounded tannins, layered acidity and a dark power of ripe tannins. It is both concentrated and fresh, a great combination.
From Familia Bressia, this Brut Nature smells like a cross between a frosted doughnut and dried tropical fruits. In the mouth, this is citric in feel, with tart, almost sour flavors of orange along with the peel. A tangy citric finish ends with lingering grapefruit and orange notes.
Dark gold in color, this is a viscous, buttery and robust wine, with pear, vanilla and stony flavors that keep it from feeling overly dense and rich.
Lawn cuttings and pea shoots come to mind in this lively white that's spritzy in acidity and freshness. Lemon peel and pineapple define the flavor profile, a mix of tangy and tropical.
Apple mash and salty oak are on offer in this light-styled estate wine sourced from several of the producer's single vineyards. Mellow in texture, it's intense on the finish, with a snap of anise and nutmeg.
A whiff of lemongrass lends freshness to this brisk, citrusy Kabinett. It's not a complex wine but feels pleasantly zesty with subdued grapefruit sweetness. An ideal apéritif for drinking now through 2020.
Cola, dark cherry and candied strawberry show on the nose of this blend of 33% Grenache, 34% Syrah and 33% Tempranillo. The palate offers root beer and cherry cola flavors, with ample amounts of anise, nutmeg and vanilla, its tannins needing time to soften.
Green bean, lime leaf and fynbos lead the bouquet of this herbaceous Sauvy B. The fruit plays second fiddle throughout, though notes of green plum and gooseberry lend support to the palate, while decent acidic lift enlivens the close. Drink now.
Jammy blackberry and raisiny aromas come with hints of herbs and tomato in front of a medium-bodied palate that's choppy and tannic. Blackberry flavors with a pinch of bitterness on the side finish loose, with wayward focus.
Inky in color, with exotic, gaseous and balsamic aromas of black fruits and iodine, this biodynamic Malbec-Syrah blend is funky, jumpy, tartatic and jumbled on the palate. Stew, somewhat sour and earthy berry flavors finish scratchy but with length and energy.
This opens with aromas of toasted oak, yellow apple skin and a confectionery note. The aromas carry over to the firm palate along with butterscotch and a mineral note but it doesn't have quite enough fruit richness to stand up to the dominant oak sensations.
Blending local grapes with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot has resulted in a bold, ripe and fruity wine. It has the warmth and richness of southern Alentejo, its soft tannins and ripe fruit cut with acidity and spice. Full bodied and balanced, it will be ready to drink from 2018.
Moderately hollow on the nose, this shows wet slate and damp clay aromas, a bit of a miss for a winery whose recent vintages have been extremely impressive. Pomegranate and raspberry fruit mark the palate, underscored by wet clay earthiness and tangy acidity.
Most of the local grapes seem to have been blended into this smooth wine. It is soft, generous and fruity with ripe tannins contrasting with the stalky black fruits. The wine should age another few months, so drink from 2018.
This robust red opens with aromas suggesting forest floor, truffle, pressed violet and used leather. The hefty palate shows scorching alcohol, licorice and a hint of raisin but not much fruit richness. Clenching tannins leave an extremely astringent finish.
Herbaceous in aroma, this crisp and dry wine tastes fresh and lean—typical for a Sauvignon Blanc. It smells like parsley and thyme, is lemony and medium bodied on the palate, and has a tangy finish.
Made entirely with Raboso, this opens with subdued aromas of ripe plum, vanilla and a whiff of licorice that carry over to the dense one-dimensional palate. Round tannins provide the framework. It's already accessible so drink soon.
Aromas of briary berries mixed with tomato leaf set up a compact bumpy palate. Saucy herbal tomatoey berry flavors are commonplace, while overall this is energetic and likable.
This old domaine dating from the 16th century is run by one of the most famous families in Burgundy. It produces a ripe yet crisp Hautes Côtes de Nuits, with enough lively acidity to balance its rich yellow and citrus fruit. It will be ready to drink soon, certainly from late 2017.
The second wine from Duorum, the brand created by João Portugal Ramos and José Soares Franco in 2007, this is ripe with tannin, black fruit and juicy acidity. Drink from 2018.
A blend of Merlot, Corvina and Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of dark berry and a hint of cooking spice. The straightforward palate presents crushed black plum and clove alongside round tannins. Enjoy soon.
Seems old due to mild vegetal aromas infiltrating the wine's core aromas of banana, vanilla and melon. Still zesty in feel despite 2011 being the current vintage; tastes of mature orange, grapefruit and pith, with lime on the finish. Drink now.
Lemony and sort of chemical smelling, with green herbs, graphite and berry aromas. Feels compact, without much layering or body. Tastes herbal, with red currant and berry fruit in the background. Minty and resiny on the finish.
Clammy and pickled smelling on first take, with melon and apple in the background. Feels choppy, with pithy citrus and mealy apple flavors. More or less the same on the finish, but with acidic bite and tang.
Light in kick, with mealy white-fruit aromas. Feels wet but doesn't sport much texture or complexity, while the flavors are neither here nor there as the palate settles on stalky peach. Finishes with bitterness.
Not entirely together flavors of sour cherry, cracker and seed mark this as a wine that may require some further bottle age. The components are here, but they do not come together.
This is a soft, caramel-flavored rosé that has a wild-strawberry freshness, and a limpid texture.
Stylistically, this is a racy, no-oak wine that smells of pineapple and tastes of citrus and passion fruit. The mouthfeel is citrusy, like fruit juice, with a lean, linear, citric finish that's bright in feel but tastes tangy and simple.
A crisp, off-dry Vinho Verde with a good prickle on the tongue. Flavors of lemon and green apple are well balanced in this ready-to-drink summer wine. Screwcap.
Take an acidic grape like Sauvignon Gris and combine it with a cool year like 2011 and what you get is a tart, tight, steely wine like this. It's neutral on the nose, then sheer and scouring on the palate. Tastes of lemon and sour apple before ending in an acidic wash.
Aggressively stemmy on the nose and on the palate, with a strong streak of canned peas.
Spun sugar scents lead into a wine with modest fruit flavors. The mouthfeel and finish are a touch dilute.
Jammy aromas of raisin and baking spices are a touch herbal. This kitchen-sink blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Garnacha, Petit Verdot and Tempranillo feels rugged and grating. Classic Chilean flavors of reedy plum, berry and tomato end with a minty green note and a touch of fennel.
The aromas are light, with notes of fresh tobacco, tangerine peel, moist earth, cedar and cherry. The wood tannins come off as a little aggressive at present but there's plenty of lovely fruit there as well.
Salted peanuts in the aroma and buttered popcorn in the flavor make this an especially vivid wine that shows the dramatic effect of oak aging and malolactic fermentation. It is medium to full bodied, and has a soft, almost sweet sensation on the palate.
This vineyard close to the Mediterranean has produced a ripe wine with a cool, crisp texture and a touch of saltiness. Taken together, these elements give plenty of crispness, black currant fruitiness and a layer of tannin at the end. Drink from 2018.
The wine is rich, solidly tannic with a dry core. It has the dense color associated with this grape, more normally found in Bordeaux. There are juicy black elements and balanced acidity, with a dry core that makes for a firm wine. Drink now.
Upfront aromas of cocoa, vanilla, sawdust and savory herb are followed by flavors of plum, cherry and barrel spice. The oak and fruit play equal roles, with the flavors a bit dialed back.
Sour cherry, cranberry, iron, dust and a touch of game appear on the nose of this always-reliable appellation blend from the late actor's family winery, which is still run by his descendants. The flavors are mellow in presentation, with cranberry, fennel and a touch of Early Grey tea.
Candied pineapple, spun sugar, ripe key lime peels and lemongrass show on the nose of this stainless steel-aged wine. The expected crispness shows on the sip as does an energetic and lively acidity, though the honeysuckle and lemon syrup flavors trend toward sweetness.
Heat and a touch of volatility are factors on an herbal, oaky nose that sees black-fruit aromas turn to road tar. A saturated, flush palate is braced by rock-hard tannins. Herbal plum and oak spice flavors finish dry, peppery and hot. After a number of years in bottle, this is still closed and hard.
Warm baked aromas of oak resin and spice cake turned more charred as this Tannat opens. A pulling bone-dry palate is rough, while spicy savory black-fruit flavors finish resiny and oaky, with barrel-based chocolate residuals.
Aromas of cooking spice, black-skinned berry and a whiff of tobacco lead the nose. The firm palate delivers blackberry jam, clove and licorice alongside closed-grained tannins. Drink through 2020.
Though not labeled as such, this wine is all Gewürztraminer. It's aromatic with aromas of lychee, rose petal and spice. The flavors are light and dry, almost delicate, with abundant floral accents.
Fruit from Seven Hills, Los Oidos, and Les Collines make up the majority of this wine. Aromas of baking spice and jammy raspberry notes are at the fore. The red-fruit flavors are full bodied and intense, trailing a bit on the finish. There are a lot of good things going on here but they don't all entirely come together.
Made with 60% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone and 10% Negrara, this opens with subtle aromas of black-skinned fruit and underbrush. The savory easy-drinking palate doles out black currant, clove and a hint of tobacco alongside round tannins. Enjoy through 2021.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The aromas are quite reserved, with notes of vanilla, berry, plum and wood spice. The palate brings plum, cranberry and raspberry flavors, backed by lightly grainy tannins.
A mixture of spice, raisin and cheese aromas makes for a challenging nose and first impression. In the mouth, this Tannat clamps down hard with tannins. Roasted, oaky blackberry flavors are dark and spicy, while the finish is rugged and pounding, with savory lasting flavors.
This wine has strong and tart blackberry aromas and flavors, a very firm and tannic texture and low alcohol. Hints of earth and new leather lend some complexity, but it will take time for this wine to relax for optimum enjoyment. Best after 2022.
Ripe red apple, lemon and caramelized sugar scent this enticingly fragrant Chardonnay. On the palate, fresh apple and citrus flavors are backed by a rich slightly clingy backdrop of vanilla cream. A fresh hit of lime and hints of wood and spice mark a moderately long finish. Drink now through 2019.
This is a full-throttle, Cabernet Sauvignon-based, Bordeaux-style blend, all from estate-grown grapes. It is huge in velvety texture, though moderate acidity props up the boldness of the blackberry jam and meaty characteristics, all dotted with black-pepper accents.
This 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah has yielded a medium-bodied, pale coppery rosé. It's dry and refreshing, hinting at red currants, pink grapefruit and melon. Drink now.
Floral cherry and plum aromas are inviting. This Carignan is fleshy and wide in body, with high acidity. Plum and berry flavors are clean and presentable, while this hits with a shock of acidity on the finish before quieting down.
Scorched soil, toasted oak, dried sage and roasted coffee bean aromas lead the nose. The approachable full-bodied palate offers dried cherry, espresso and a hint of clove alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit.
Raspberry jam, prune and cake spice aromas unfold on this blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. The accessible palate offers dried black cherry, fig, star anise and toast alongside fine-grained tannins.
Raspberry, plum and currant aromas are darkened by a mild note of asphalt. This feels round but also fresh and lively. Flavors of plum and spiced currant finish dry and focused.
This has aromas of dark-skinned berry, blue flower, cooking spice and oak. The bright palate offers dried cherry, licorice and coffee framed in rounded tannins and firm acidity.
A blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, this opens with earthy aromas of truffle, scorched earth, violet and a touch of dark spice. The palate offers dried black cherry and ground pepper alongside fine-grained tannins. It also shows the heat of the vintage, so drink soon.
This medium-bodied wine brings delicate floral aromas and tangy white-cherry flavors, along with a full mouthfeel and appetizingly dry finish. Hints of earth and mineral add interest, complementing the fruit flavors.
Oaky chocolaty aromas and candied berry notes make for a rich opening. This is tannic and bracing in feel, with peppery, herbal berry flavors that are fully oaked. A dark toasty finish offers some residual cream and chocolate.
Fresh and fragrant, this apple-scented Riesling offers loads of brisk lemon-lime flavors augmented by a subtle vein of smoke. Dry in style, it's delicately textured with a lean, slightly cutting demeanor. Drink now through 2020.
This bottling is quite tropical on the nose, with plumeria, banana, honeysuckle, sweet peach and Gala apple aromas. The palate is also quite ripe with yellow melon and more Gala apples, but an intriguing texture of crushed rocks and slate keeps it grounded.
While the nose suggests more dusty mineral than fruit, the palate of this off-dry Riesling offers loads of concentrated tangerine, lemon and apple flavors. It's juicy and ripe yet keenly balanced by a penetrating backbone of lemon-lime acidity. Drink now through 2021.
A lively, oak-spice aroma leads into bright red fruits and cinnamon tones on the palate. A smooth but lively texture completes the picture for this medium-bodied wine.
This is not an attention-getter, but a mild-mannered, reasonably balanced wine that will happily pair with dishes ranging from seafood to roast chicken. It has faint apple and vanilla aromas, mild apple and lemon flavors, and a lingering, lightly spicy finish.
Dark berry, huckleberry, wood spice and cocoa aromas are followed by palate-coating blue and purple-fruit flavors.
Aromas of freshly cut apple and pear are followed by dry fleshy fruit flavors with Granny Smith apple notes on the finish. It's an accessible and enjoyable wine.
Soft waves of plum meet a tightly gripped midpalate of power and concentration in this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Merlot. Along the way, blackberry and blueberry meet graphite and tobacco, finishing with economy.
A blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has subdued aromas suggesting scorched earth, coffee bean and a whiff of dark spice. The round palate offers dried black cherry, espresso and a hint of cake spice framed in pliant tannins. Drink soon to capture the remaining freshness.
Forest floor, dark-skinned berry, clove and sage aromas emerge in the glass. The juicy straightforward palate offers wild cherry extract, anise and a hint of pipe tobacco alongside chewy tannins. Drink 2018–2023.
In this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, you'll find delicate aromas of cassis and allspice together with an herbaceous note. The smooth palate delivers mature black-skinned fruit alongside rounded tannins.
This is made from old vines and fermented dry in stainless-steel tank and barrel, retaining freshness and body in its moderate approach. Apricot, pear and biscuit highlight the experience, as a taste of lemon candy closes things out.
A blend of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, this has a shy nose that slowly unleashes aromas of black-skinned fruit and cedar. The smooth accessible palate offers black cherry and cinnamon alongside round tannins.
Slightly spritzy, this zesty effort puts a mineral base under flavors of fresh lime and mixed citrus. There is enough residual sugar—18 g/L—to offset the bracing acids, without turning the wine overly sweet.
Named after the little lizards that come out in the summer, the cru wine is attractive and fruity. With acidity as well as plenty of red fruits, it is soft and cool. Drink the wine now.
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up just over two-thirds of this blend with the balance Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Aromas of vanilla, cocoa, dill and cherry lead to restrained fruit and barrel flavors, with the tannins showing some grit.
Made entirely with Merlot, the shy nose eventually reveals notes of black-skinned fruit and clove. The dense palate delivers cedar, espresso and leather alongside gripping tannins.
Named after the sector in the Morgon cru where this wine comes from, it is ripe and balanced with acidity and solid tannins as well as juicy blackberry fruits. The wine needs to age. Drink from 2019.
Dusty and peppery aromas alert you to the fact that this will be a lean, tight ride. The palate delivers on the promise, showing tart cherry and raspberry flavors in front of a wave of vanilla on the choppy, acidic finish. Decent fruit and clean, but lean and clipped.
At 70% Garnacha and 30% Tempranillo, this hold-over from the sketchy 2002 harvest starts with an odd blend of clove and shaved wood notes, while the palate pushes basic cherry and tangy raspberry flavors.
A soft, delicate nose of spice and mocha lead on this approachable Cab from South Africa. Simple flavors of berry and tobacco and an overall integrated character make it an easy choice for everyday sipping. Could use some structure and complexity but for the price, it's a good buy.
A blend of Aragonez and Trincadeira, produced by a group of cooperatives in the Alentejo region. It is a simple wine, but has good red fruits, soft, velvet structure and a finishing edge of acidity. Good barbecue wine.
Honeysuckle, talcum powder, melon and tangerine all work the nose, while the palate comes at you sweet and almost sticky. Flavors of white fruits and canned peaches are good if that's your thing, while the finish teeters on cloying but manages to hold the line. For a sweet Parellada-Muscat wine it isn't bad. Imported by Altuve Foods and Beverage.
A juicy wine with cranberry fruit flavors, spice, and exotic berries, spoiled by a rustic, earthy, meaty edge. Not for aging.
The average American wine drinker is probably not interested in a three-grape white blend from hot and dry Extremadura, Spain, but in case you are, this wine is neutral on the nose and lean on the palate. Flavors of green apple, pineapple and lemon are scouring and seem designed for fried seafood.
This weighty, structured, dark-colored blend of Syrah, Carignan, Carmenère and Petit Verdot pours on the berry, vanilla and baking spice aromas. The mouthfeel is full, with a lot to savor, especially toasty, typically Chilean flavors of olive, herbs and berry fruits. A spicy, dry, harmonious finish closes the show. Drink now through 2015.
Spicy and still showing some youthful sharpness, this pure Merlot is loaded with penetrating raspberry fruit, juicy and tart. The mouth-cleaning acidity both sharpens the palate and intensifies the flavors, and leads into a finish dotted with super dark chocolate.
This is dark and pointed on the nose, with graphite, mint, peppercorn and creamy oak aromas supporting herbal berry fruit scents. The palate feels lush and almost airy, with soft tannins and baked black-fruit flavors accented by chocolate and coffee. An earthy finish with licorice and mild tannins says drink this Carmenère now through 2015.
With 20% Petite Sirah blended in, Andis's Barbera is juicy, balanced and perfumey. It's a beautiful wine with cranberry, vanilla and cherry aromas and flavors. Pair with your favorite pasta, pizza or grilled meats.
This well-loved vineyard brings old vine complexity into play. The brambly berry fruit is enhanced with lighter notes of earth and compost, cola and a dash of brown sugar. The acids are bright and citrusy, with a pineapple tang.
The first impression is of strawberry preserves, not jammy but with the texture and loose-knit fruit flavor of a fruit spread. Behind it are lip-licking veins of licorice and cola, finishing with dusty tannins. Chehalem dust? Don't rule it out.
Juicy and dark with layers of boysenberry and blackberry fruit, with high tones of tar and brick, Cedarville's estate-grown Zin comes to life in decomposed granite soils, giving the wine a satisfying and sultry profile. Enjoy this Zin in good time (3–5 years) and pair with dark, smoky meats.
The fuller rosé of the two made at Les Valentines, this is rich, balanced and dense in character. That makes it a serious wine, its acidity finely integrated into the red plum and orange zest flavors. It's a perfect food rosé.
The high toned, aromatic reticence of the 2008 vintage is on full display in this unusual blend 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Sangiovese. The brooding notes of bittersweet chocolate, medicine cabinet, and cherry cola are concentrated however with structured, slightly dry tannins in a wine that calls out for steak if ever there were one.
Produced by Three Rivers for celebrity winemaker Geoff Tate, this new Insania is a full-on Bordeaux blend, with all five red grapes in the mix. It's a powerful wine, with heavy metal flavors of deep black fruits and thick tannins. Pair it with a juicy steak or Kobe beef burger and rock on.
This is a bold, fruity, muscular blend that's 100% New World in its darkness, ripeness and heft. It's earthy and full of cola and herbs on the nose, while the palate is rugged and delivers core blackberry, spice, coffee and herbal flavors. A dry, ripped, peppery tasting finish is a proper ending. Drink now–2017.
Intensely aromatic with notes of orange blossom, honey and tangerines, this juicy, fruity Riesling is delicate in body with a refreshingly crisp acidity. Whiffs of lanolin and dried herbs add complexity and finesse.
Ripe and weighty, this is a rich wine from the Pfaffenberg vineyard in Krems. It has spice as well as perfumed white fruits, a sense of structure and concentration. It feels warm with peach and white fruit flavors likely to develop along with acidity over the next 3–4 years.
Floral aromas of cassis and plum are open, spicy and complex, with a balsamic accent. This feels solid as a rock, with firm tannins and a lively flavor profile that includes blackberry, baked notes, spice and cocoa powder. On the finish, oak is reflected through flavors of vanilla and mocha. Drink from 2014–2022.
Cyclops is 80% Red Mountain Syrah, with Grenache, Mourvèdre and some Roussanne filling out the rest. It might have been forged in steel, as it captures the core of metal and mineral, the stiff tannins, and the compact, dense red and black fruits of the AVA. Bright, tart berry fruit is underscored with light suggestions of clean earth.
A single vineyard wine with the typical spice and richness of Rotgipfler, a rare grape found only in Thermenregion, south of Vienna. Just off dry, so soft and warm in character, it has ripe pear, lychee and kiwi fruit flavors. Ready to drink, or age another year or two.
Freedom Hill is one of the most-admired vineyards in the Willamette Valley, and this elegant wine does it full justice. A beguiling mix of roses, chocolate, berry and sandalwood, it tickles the nose and tongue with its precision and deceptive depth of flavor.
Scents of tangerine peel and lanolin add a spicy complexity to intensely fruity, sweet peach and nectarine flavors on this gorgeously honeyed, yet easy-drinking Riesling. Striking lemon acidity and crushed stone notes add delicacy and nuance to the finish.
This is a cool-climate Chardonnay that's dark gold in color and tastes of ripe apple. From both the Ferrington and Savoy Vineyards, two of Anderson Valley's finest, it shows the greatness of the vintage in coastal Mendocino. Fragrant and rich in honey and toasty notes, it finishes crisp. Crab cakes with it would be ideal.
The extra year gives this wine quite different flavors from the forward fruitiness of Provence rosé. It now has a richer, more complex character and weight of ripe fruit, caramel and vanilla flavors. This is a serious, food friendly rosé.
Now developing into an impressive, maturing wine, this is rich and complex. It has well integrated tannins that bring out sweet acidity, spice and finely lightly roasted coffee. Ready to drink, it should certainly keep for at least six years and probably more.
Intensely perfumed with notes of violet petals, potpourri and herbs, this is a stunning, elegant Riesling that's also powerfully structured on the palate. It's intensely ripe with stonefruit, but quite dry in style with reverberating lime-juice acidity and a deliciously astringent lime-pith note on the finish.
A bright, tart, spicy wine with plenty of grip and detail, this threads flavors of herb, stem and earth into the substantial blackberry and cassis fruit. It's nicely woven together, penetrating and punchy.
Rachis refers to a particular part of the grape stem, and indicates that roughly one quarter of this wine is whole cluster fermented. Very pretty cherry fruit is gently mixed with accents of Italian herbs, and the stems tighten up the tannins and add a light hint of bitterness. The finish has a tart, grapefruity kick.
Bitter cherry fruits and firmer tannins dominate this serious, concentrated Pinot Noir. It has weight and a youthful bitterness that needs time to round out. The juiciness and the structure are both there for aging.
Made from single (777) clone, organically-grown grapes, the Blackjack Block Pinot Noir is focused and complex. The mid-palate shows flesh and fat, ripe berry and cherry fruit, with a backing of citrusy acids. Its middle is its strength; it would benefit from blending to add more depth to both front and back.
La Folia continues to impress with this young bottling of Dolcetto, its light body and texture tinged with a taste of savory mint, licorice and earth balanced against layers of sweet strawberry. Enjoy throughout spring and summer with antipasto
No one in Washington makes better Semillon at this price. Dry and subtle, it benefits from blending with 10% Sauvignon Blanc, showing bright citrus rind, light toast, and excellent length.
This is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, with pretty, ripe berry and plum fruit flavors in abundance. The toasty frame, medium tannins and hints of dried leaf add to the overall composition of this nicely-balanced, limited-production wine.
Although this smells a bit flat and earthy, cool, herbal berry aromas as well as coffee and spice make this inviting and easy to like. A flush, jammy palate maintains its pulse, while a mix of spicy black fruits, licorice, espresso and chocolate flavors end long and lightly herbal. Drink this cuddly wine sooner rather than later.
After a few years when Altaïr's wines strayed toward being too herbal and rustic, this is cleaner and easier to like. It's still showing the winery's typical herbal-olive aromas and flavors, but it's smooth in the mouth, with deep flavors of blackberry, cassis, licorice and cocoa. A solid, earthy finish with flavors of toast, coffee and herbs qualifies as complex. Drink now–2016.
Wente remains remarkably adept at making very good wines in big volumes at fair prices. This is a textbook example—a crisp, layered and complex SB that's as floral as spring, generous in acidity and lemony on the finish. Pair with shellfish, chicken or goat cheese on crackers.
There's a hint of smoke throughout the nose and palate that adds a layer of complexity to this sweet, pretty Riesling. Aromas of honeysuckle blossoms combine with the freshness of pressed apples and a bright, high-toned acidity. Smoke, slate and stone kick in to create a long, elegant finish. Overall, a well balanced, enjoyable wine.
From start to finish, there's so much going on with Lamoreaux Landing's Yellow Dog. Honey and orange blossom aromas are laced with a whisper of musk. The bright lemon-lime sweetness is balanced elegantly with a distinct minerality evocative of smoke, slate and stone, and a bracing acidity that drives a lingering finish.
Zerba's crowd-pleasing Wild Z blends Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah about equally, with a splash of Cabernet Franc to finish it off. It's a ripe, full, forward, chocolaty mouthful. It keeps the red fruit tart and tantalizing, while loading in the barrel flavors (French and American) to round off the finish. A fine follow-up to the excellent 2006.
A good to very good wine with medicinality on the nose that takes over the aromatics. There's also the slightest bit of hard cheese and stem on the bouquet, so overall it is fighting an uphill battle. Along the way it delivers flavors of cough drop, cherry and a good, solid finish.
A tongue-scraping, bone-dry style reminiscent of an Australian Riesling, this aromatic, juicy and lightly effervescent wine tastes of citrus fruits and skins, along with hints of grapefruit and cucumber. There's plenty of acidity to cut through rich sauces.
Deep and earthy smelling, with meatiness, black fruit and hickory notes to the bouquet. The wine offers concentration and thickness, with ripe, slightly medicinal flavors of plum and blackberry. The same goes for the finish, and overall this is a medium-to-full Grenache that gets it done.
Broad, bold and buttery, with aromas of toasted white peach, flower blossom, vanilla and mild oxidation. The blend is 65% Viura with Malvasia and white Garnacha, and overall it's a round, stout, creamy wine with apple, vanilla and toasty, resiny flavors and finishing notes. A little heavy and sticky but nice for barrel-aged white Rioja.
Ste. Chapelle pioneered modern-era viticulture in Idaho, and for many years Riesling was the winery's main calling card. This new release, from the newly minted Snake River Valley AVA, showcases many of the region's strengths—delicate detail, honeysuckle and citrus blossom aromas mixed with citrus rind flavors, and a pleasing minerality.
Helped by extra bottle age, this Syrah is the best of the latest releases from Cliff Creek. Balanced and varietal, its spicy berry fruit is highlighted with grapefruity phenolics. Flavors penetrate and stand up well into a medium-long, balanced finish.
Probably because of its youth, this wine comes out of the chute a little tight and rubbery; try giving it a quick decanting, or swirl it aggressively in the glass to bring out the underlying cola and blackberry aromas and flavors. Turns slightly dusty on the finish, suggesting at least a few years' worth of drinkability.
Crisp, clean and nice on the nose, with a hint of white pepper. The palate is round and not overly acidic, making it friendly and endowed with mass appeal. Flavors of green melon and citrus are smooth and not too demanding, while the finish is easy and clean. A welcome entry into the land of Rueda and its Verdejo.
From Miguel Angel de Gregorio of Finca Allende, this is a nice, thorough, creamy white with aromas of white fruits, vanilla and straw. The palate has spiced peach, apple and pear flavors, and the finish is exceedingly creamy and deep. Shows elegance and adequate power, but needs to be drunk soon.
Floral lilac and plum aromas greet you, followed by a chunky, frothy palate with crisp core acidity and toasty flavors of baked cherry and caramel. Finishes smooth and long, with peppery notes and dryness.
Dark as night and thick, with heavy, modern aromas of shoe polish, bacon and ripe, roasted black fruits. The feel is concentrated and healthy, while the flavors run very ripe and dark, with plenty of oak thrown in. Finishes rich, with bacon, resin, black pepper and some burn. Seems more jacked up than its listed 14.5% alcohol.
Tri-Centenary refers to the fact that these vines have lived in parts of three centuries, being planted prior to 1901. The 2006 isn't the most profoundly complex of recent vintages, but instead offers remarkably pure essences of cherries and berries, allied to a wonderfully silky texture that makes it awfully easy to drink.
Old vine Pinot Gris? Sourced from the Jacob Hart vineyard, it's about 20 years old. Lightly beery, yeasty, with Asian pear and buttered apple providing the main flavor interest. This is an elegant, nicely balanced wine, with fruit and acid in perfect proportion.
This fresh, crisp wine hovers attractively between crisp, herbal Sauvignon and riper yellow fruits. Touches of wood adds richness to this already-drinkable wine. Drink now or better, from 2017.
Always one of the top performers in Margaux, this dense and concentrated wine has a bold, ripe character from the plum and berry fruits. It has the weight to develop. Drink from 2020.
Fresh citrus and tangy orange give this perfumed wine both fruitiness and a tight, mineral texture. It has enough structure to age; drink from 2018. This bottling is a blend of second-level white grapes from two Domaine Dillon properties: Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion, both in Pessac-Léognan.
Sonorous oak notes in vain seek to calm down the peppery exuberance of blueberry. There are forests of spice tucked behind the gentle, ripe fruit that has the equally tart and aromatic nature of wild little bilberries. The tannins are juicy while very dense. This is full of life and energy: invigorating now but with the potential to develop through 2020. The impression of bilberry really lasts and lasts.
Notes of crushed berries on polished mahogany come to mind. This is elegant and classic, its strucure is firm but not imposing, the tone is one of subtlety and elegance. This stands straight and presents honest, dark fruit and leaves with a long, velvety train of spiced berry, more mahogany and a touch of forest floor Very alluring.
Bright and zesty notes of boysenberry, cola, uncracked peppercorns and lilac show on the nose of this bottling by winemaker Sashi Moorman and grower Ruben Solorzano. Purple flowers, from lavender and violets to dark red rose petals, flavors the palate alongside tangy boysenberry fruit and black plum skins, hanging on a solid structure that will last for years. Drink 2017–2028.
From a historic vineyard planted in 1971, this bottling show savory and dark notes of strawberry, raspberry, licorice, slate, sage and a touch of oak smoke. The palate boasts earthy structure and vibrant acidity, with flavors of slightly bitter cherry fruit, beet juice and bay leaf.
Plummy in dark chocolate, cedar and coffee, this well-structured, 100% varietal wine offers much to enjoy and admire. Exuberantly fruity, with polished, integrated tannins, it's rich and full bodied, finishing with the unexpected elegance of delicate clove and toffee notes.
Subtle aromas of underbrush, leather, blue flower, mature black-skinned fruit and ground pepper slowly emerge on this powerfully structured wine. The brooding palate delivers black cherry steeped in spirits, crushed raspberry, clove and licorice framed against tightly knit but ripe tannins. It's still austere and will benefit with more cellaring. Drink 2020–2031.
The nose promises clear citrus, the palate delivers wonderfully pure and linear lemon flavors, bursting with richer mandarin and firm-fleshed tangerine notes that crunch as you bite into them: this is how fresh, zesty and utterly appetizing this Riesling is. Dangerously delicious and oh so long.
Green and yellow pear are subsumed into a savory whole composed of yeast and crushed kitchen herbs. There are highlights of Granny Smith apple and lemon rind, of lovage and white pepper, and all of these flavors are put into tight, peppery focus on the slender but concentrated palate. This fizzes with peppery spice and zest.
This 100% varietal wine is robust in tannins and dry, leathery oak, but balanced enough to gradually reveal lovely hits of savory and spicy clove, tobacco and graphite. The fruit leans black and jammy.
Blind, you could be forgiven for thinking this is the winery's flagship, Homage Syrah. An intoxicating nose of baking spices, blueberries and boysenberries leads to a palate with ample weight and plush tannins. It's complex, earthy and spicy, but with a beam of lively, just-ripe fruit from start to long-lived finish. Drink this stunning value through 2023.
A bold, chewy expression of the variety, Summit exhibits its 15% whole-cluster fermentation. It also is given more oak, a chance to tame its wild black cherry and lush cola spice. Black tea and a trace of red fruit play into the personality of the wine, adding a brightness to what is otherwise a decadent, full-throttle wine, barely tamed at that. Drink now through 2023.
From a vineyard off of Lakeville Highway in the heart of the Petaluma Gap, drilled by winds, this is a concentrated, thick-skinned wine, dark and oaky. A fistful of earthy mushroom, herb and forest surrounds a foundation of blueberry compote and cola, the acidity high and well mannered. Drink now through 2023.
Subtle, alluring aromas of earth, cola, eucalyptus, fallen leaves, black cherry and cassis properly announce this saturated, well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend. Dark, toasty, baked flavors of blackberry come with vanilla, herb and tobacco accents. The finish feels great while tasting integrated and complex. Drink through 2024.
The very pure scent of freshly cut Conference pear subtly presents itself on the nose. The palate continues in the same, friendly and evocative vein, adding notions of ripe stone fruit, subtle melon hints and a creamy, textured core of exquisite elegance. Cream and fruit vie for attention—but remain slender, citric and toned until the echoing last note.
Lifted, fragrant notes of honeyed, botrytised passion fruit swirl on the nose. The palate is of an intense sweetness cut by a razor-sharp freshness of candied lemon peel and lemon confit. These extremes of sweet and tart create a compelling tension that is played out in ever-recurring waves. There is a wonderful purity to this. It is luscious now but will age slowly and beautifully. Drink now and over the coming decade.
Aromas of mature plum, leather, pressed violet, dried herb and a whiff of Asian spice unfold on this full-bodied red. The warm, chewy palate offers dried black cherry, blackberry extract, vanilla, licorice and tobacco alongside firm, velvety tannins. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol on the close.
From the winery's historic To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, one of few sites in the state to nurture old-vine Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is complex and compelling. It balances between green olive, basil, thyme and crisp squeezes of lemon. Subtle in oak, it maintains buoyant acidity throughout.
Having admired the Squawking Magpie wines for several years, it's a pleasure to see they're now represented in the United States. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is full bodied, rich and velvety in feel, with aromas and flavors of mint, cassis and chocolate. It's plush enough to drink now, but should age well through at least 2030.
An exuberantly juicy and fulfilling wine, this designate from a site near Lovall Valley is awash in blackberry and blueberry, showing off healthy waves of concentration and structure. Spicy cinnamon and orange peel dot the landscape before a punch of tannin and vanilla oak close out the finish.
A clear favorite in a lineup of 2013 late-harvest NY Rieslings, this lip smackingly unctuous wine calibrates sweet, luscious fruit against layers and layers of spicy, saffron complexities. Honey-dipped grapefruit and melon flavors are rich and opulent, yet not at all cloying. It's a bracing, zesty wine that's delicious sip after long sip.
From a vineyard atop Pritchard Hill, this wine delivers big, bold flavors and structure. Integrated tannins form around flavors of cloves, baking spices and dried herbs. Blackberry and black cherry pop in between a flinty, earthy side. Drink through 2022.
The style of this wine has evolved away from the massive ripeness and pure power in its early days to more finesse and ele­gance. It's still a rich wine, but silkier, with fresher fruit and more nuanced spice. Toasty oak seductively frames blueberry and plum fruit on the long finish. Drink now–2023.
Coming from the state's first Syrah vineyard, this wine offers aromas of thistle, smoke, blackberry and blue fruit, along with mineral and pomegranate accents—still seeming to need time to settle in. The flavors show superb delicacy and impressive length. It wins on its subtleties rather than sheer opulence, though it has plenty of both.
This effort has a beautiful, fresh cherry aroma, silky texture and bright but ripe fruit flavors subtly accented by spices. It strikes a harmonious chord with great flavors, vibrant texture and wonderful varietal personality.
Colorful but aromatically defined by lean, green alfalfa, which doesn't portend much good. The palate is hard and underwhelming, with herbal, almost green berry fruit flavors. Similar on the finish. A 200,000-case product that comes across like a 200,000-case product.
Green, grassy and not very appealing. There's a can't-miss murky, green, herbal character here that yields almost weedy fruit flavors and carob. Sweet, candied, green and just not that good for a Paul Hobbs-made wine.
Only if you enjoy very lean, ultrafresh and tart red wines will this work. It starts with simple punchbowl aromas of red grapes and berry, and then comes a skinny, tart, grating palate that's all acid and no substance. Calling it “traditional” or a “terroir” wine would only be misleading.
A weird wine in every way. The nose smells like something off the grid, with briney fruit, funky spice notes and compost. Creamy and oaky in the mouth, with herbal flavors and a dash of nutmeg and/or cardamom. Hard on the finish, and just too strange to bother with.
Burnt smelling at first, and tart throughout, with pie cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors. There's not much to measure here; the wine runs sour and tastes mostly of red fruit skins and citric acid. 65% Tempranillo and 35% Garnacha.
Soft, chunky and fading fast, with aromas of asparagus and canned green beans. The palate is flat as a board, with vegetal flavors and bitterness on the finish. Barely worth a sip at this point in its evolution.
If it weren't for the wine's stout color and pretty good mouthfeel, we'd sink it. The nose is green and cheesy, and the flavors are also green almost to the point of vegetal. Stemmy on the finish.
Flat and gaseous smelling, with sulfur and no fruit to speak of. Tastes like bland nectarine and tangerine, and the body and finish are almost flabby. Borderline in terms of its acceptability.
Wines like this are why Argentina would be best served sticking to reds. This has no bouquet to speak of, and the palate is dilute, tangy, citrusy and sharp. Acceptable but that's it.
Way too charred and roasted. The mouthfeel is acceptable and ranks as the best part of the wine. The rest is just a burnt, charred, overoaked mess with flavors of earthy berry, leather, peanut and resin. A poor effort that makes you wonder what the winery was thinking.
From arguably the finest white wine vineyard in Burgundy, this is a powerful wine that shows great weight, but balances that with intense, elegant structure, style and freshness. The flavors are endless and complex, richness combining with the lively character of the vintage. Age for many years.
If the color doesn't tell the full story, the nose will: it's impeccably perfumed, round and sweet, with amazing fruit aromas and a toasty background. The feel is as lush and rich as they come, and there's outstanding purity to the lusty black fruit flavors. A masher with elegance. Maybe the best Malbec Argentina has ever produced. Drink from 2011–15.
A powerful wine, showing rich, opulent Chardonnay. The spice and acidity crispen the wine, but leave the powerful fruit in all its glory.
Straddling richness and beautiful liveliness, this is going to be an impressive wine. It does need aging. At this stage, the wood is a big element, but then the bright white fruits—pears, white currants along with tangerines—will move center stage. Keep at least six years, almost certainly more.
At first soft and understated, the nose slowly emerges with the lush pomegranate, cranberry and sagebrush aromas common to the appellation. It's very spice with clove on the front of the palate, then evolves into a long-lasting finish of red cherry.
This is a style of Late Bottled Vintage that should be aged. It has great red and black fruits at this stage but will develop a more structured, dense and firm character as it matures. Give this well-made, juicy wine with its sweet black fruits at least until 2017.
This is a blend of Alvarinho and Loureiro from the best parcels of Calçada estate. That gives it gravitas, that also comes through strongly from the wood aging. Vanilla and green fruits complement each other, leaving a wine that is both rich and fresh. Drink now.
Aromas of hawthorn, flowering mint and sage lead the way. The palate offers green apple, lemon zest, and alpine herb alongside brisk acidity and a refined perlage. It finishes on a note of white almond.
Testarossa's annual best-barrel offering starts with broad aromas of violets, blackberry tea and anise on the edges. It's a lighter Pinot density-wise, very soft and expressive with purple fruits, black olive and a fennel-powered acidify on the finish.
Initially this smells toasty to the point of charred, but with airing the nose settles on oak, black fruit and lightly stemmy red-berry scents. This feels full and good, with resolved tannins that don't bite. Flavors of black fruits and coconut oak finish strong and deep. This can last until 2025, maybe longer.
Jammy aromas of plum and berry are oaky and come with a hint of rubber and/or latex. This is weighty yet balanced. Earthy flavors of baked black fruits, tea and spice are slightly minerally, while the finish is oaky and generous, with a touch of menthol and heat.
Bold berry, leather and rubbery aromas show a minerally side. This is a big Malbec-driven blend with nice layering and structure. The flavor profile features reduced, roasted black-fruit flavors along with hints of herbs and leaf. The finish is generally smooth and long, with a pinch of heat. Drink through 2017.
From one of the Veneto's leading producers, this is made with native Turbiana grape. Creamy flavors of lemon pastry, Bartlett pear and yellow apple are brightened by refreshing acidity and a fine perlage. It finishes on an almond note.
Delicate toast and cedar notes add warmth to ripe black cherry aromas on this squarely balanced Pinot Noir. On the palate, crisp red cherry and cranberry flavors are concentrated yet supple, framed with a fringe of finely textured tannins.
Made with 70% Pinot Nero and 30% Chardonnay, this salmon-colored sparkler opens with aromas of woodland berries, pastry cream and baking spices. The palate offers mature yellow apple, grapefruit and white pepper alongside a fine perlage and bright acidity.
The Loureiro grape, grown mainly in the Lima Valley in the center of Vinho Verde, produces a distinctly mineral style of wine. This wine has that character as well as some riper tropical fruit notes and pure citrus acidity. The combination is intensely fruity and very refreshing.
Zesty orange and tangerine rinds are marked with honey and sweet spice on the nose of this exuberant off-dry Riesling. Ripe peach, melon and yellow-cherry flavors are lush and sweet on the palate, but countered with a jolt of lime and lemon acidity. It's a beautifully nuanced wine that's effortlessly tasty.
A complex wine that takes time to unveil itself, this offers muted dark cherry and exotic cardamom spice, light and layered through the midpalate before revealing a taste of toasty oak on the finish.
This smells like a cherry crumble pie that's been heavily hit with cinnamon and other brown spices and served on slate. It dances across the palate with hearty spice, very vibrant fruit, cola and acidity that carries from beginning to end.
Sourced from estate vines planted in 1972, this is historic, yet not quite as rich in the details that some newer Pinot clones might provide. Cranberry and raspberry fruit hit the palate in a tangy twirl, with a kiss of oak from 25% new French barrels. It's well-balanced and fresh, with a chance to improve considerably with a few more years of bottle age; try after 2017.
Beautifully crafted, this is racy and mineral-soaked. Mountain herbs are in abundance, along with clean, green (in a good way) berry, banana and pineapple fruit. It's balanced throughout, with excellent length and texture.
There are faint scents of eucalyptus and sage on this Paso producer's take on Sta. Rita Hills fruit. The palate is more promising with dark hints of tobacco and sour cherry, and the acidity is preserving this perfectly, as it shows no age whatsoever.
This structured wine opens with aromas of subtle oak, toast, leather, espresso and dried plum. The extracted palate delivers prune, crushed black cherry, soy sauce and grilled herbs framed by bracing tannins that leave a drying finish.
Floral in aroma, this was aged in one-third new French oak and left unfined and unfiltered. It offers tart cherry and wild strawberry notes in a light-toned, ripe package, the secondary characteristics herbal and earthy.
This balanced and fuller style of Pinot Noir celebrates the classic traits of Russian River's warmer pockets. It offers plenty of dark fruit, from blackberry to raspberry and black cherry, with sultry, fine-hewn tannins and juicy texture.
A new blend for Pepper Bridge, Trine is named for the three main partners and includes all five Bordeaux red grapes. Tannic and earthy, with a powerful core of dark fruit, this needs more bottle time to fully integrate. Layers of fruit are mixed with loam, iron, licorice and espresso, full-bodied and deep.
Very much in line with SEV's fine 2009 Chardonnay, this is sourced from the Lewis Vineyard. Instantly round and fruity, it offers up a ripe mix of oranges and apricots, backed with juicy acidity. Then it brings in the butter, toast and nuts—a full-bodied, extremely generous wine.
Sourced from a smorgasbord of AVAs, this well-crafted Cabernet includes small percentages of Merlot and Cab Franc. Hard, tight and firmly grounded in cassis and black fruits, it melds in streaks of mineral, graphite and a hint of herb.
A stunning and balanced Cab, the El Rom Vineyard boasts ripe blackberry, cherry and cassis aromas and flavors, dusted with accents of cedar, cocoa powder and cigar box spice. Round and hedonistic in the mouth with seductive dark fruit and a mocha-driven finish, this wine is approachable now but can also stand some years in the cellar.
Arguably the best Ysios reserva to date; it shows a full, lightly baked bouquet with berry aromas, spice, barrel char and herbs. Feels fresh and lush, with balance and tasty flavors of black fruit, fig, tobacco and chocolaty oak. It's a touch oaky and warm on the finish, but elegant and very well made. Drink now through 2015.
The luscious fruit mix starts with a suggestion of marmalade, then adds plum and cherry. It gains complexity with streaks of graphite, black olive and smoke, polished, lightly earthy tannins and plenty of power through the finish. An interesting, somewhat unusual style of Ethos.
A splendidly rich wine, with mint from new wood adding an extra dimension to the ripe cherry fruit and sweet tannins. It's a wine that shows the full assets of the fine 2009 vintage, spice and ripeness.
A delicious vintage of Grand Vin, this wine shows great depth and drinkability now with the promise to age gracefully for at least another five years thanks to a ripe fruit center, medium acidity, structured tannins and superb overall balance. Black fruit and leathery spice dominate, with additional notes of black tea, licorice root, cassis and espresso grinds all fleshing out the complex and layered palate.
This wine has the richness of 2009, while still is mineral, taut and textured. The yellow fruits are balanced by intense acidity and a ripe, full-bodied feel. The wine is complex, needing aging; the aftertaste intense, crisp and fruity.
This is an instantly loveable Grenache, bursting with ripe, sweet raspberries and cherries. Young and fresh, it's like sucking on a really good candy; then it finishes with a flourish of toast and mocha.
This is a classically styled Clare Riesling, from its hints of talcum powder, green apple and lime to its precise line and crisp finish. It's dry and undeniably tart and citrusy—perfect for aging 4–8 years.
Named after winemaker Domingos Soares Franco, this is a serious, intense, wood-aged wine. Along with the new wood flavors, it has rich blackberry fruit and dry tannins. With its firm concentrated structure, this is one age-worthy wine.
A rich style of Chablis, with a toasty quality and yellow fruits mixed with acidity. The wine is open and round, full in the mouth, with concentrated ripe fruit and a soft texture. It should easily age for 2–3 years, but it is delicious now.
The latest incarnation of this famous Champagne now comes from Roderer's own vineyards, a good portion of which are run on biodynamic lines. This still-young wine has great depth and richness, a beautiful balance between ripe fruit and crisp texture that make it alive, crisp and bright. As it matures, it will deepen and become even more intense. Drink now if you must, but preferably wait until 2019.
A thoroughly elegant, serious and yet immensely enjoyable wine that stays lively many days after opening, this bottling from a regional icon shows dried violets, dried strawberry, crushed pepper and touches of leather and soy on the wondrous nose. Lithe black plum and elderberry fruits ride along a tight but forgiving tannic structure, with support from crushed gravel, asphalt, potpourri, sandalwood and cedar flavors.
The heady, pure perfume of fig rind and foliage streams from the glass. A more tart and tropical note of passion fruit pitches in as well, along with green grapefruit spice. The aromatic spectrum is a sublimation of exotic fruit on nose and palate. The palate sustains this high-pitched balance by the purest lightening strike of zesty acidity. Even the tiniest drop of this amber liquid has the power to perfume the entire palate for minutes. The concentration is immense, the flavors are mind-boggling. This is high-octane stuff guaranteed to blow your mind. Drink now or cellar it through 2040 at least.
This Champagne is produced for the Bordeaux Rothschild families to serve at events in their chateaus (Mouton, Lafite, Clarke). It is a beautiful wine that manages to be both rich and tightly textured with minerality, crisp apple flavor and a hint of toast balances all elements so well. A limited amount is available outside the family circuit. Drink now.
This stunning wine opens with scents of tilled earth, leather, pipe tobacco, forest floor and wild berry. The focused, vibrant palate delivers ripe red cherry, white pepper, grilled herb, licorice and an energizing mineral note. Youthfully austere, refined tannins and fresh acidity provide impeccable balance and an impressive, ageworthy structure. Drink 2020–2045.
This tops a thoroughly outstanding lineup of eight estate-grown Rieslings from Trisaetum. Unctuous citrus and stone fruits abound: a luscious mix of Meyer lemon, pink grapefruit, peach and apricot. There are hints of honey, caramel and butter, and everything is tightened up by defining acidity. Though entirely ageworthy, this is so thoroughly delicious already you'll want to drink at least a bottle or two immediately. Drink now through 2035.
Extremely dark in the glass, this tremendous effort by the Daou brothers was nine years in the making, and it shows. Dense aromas of crushed lilacs, chocolate chips, soy and dark purple fruits come through with power on the nose. The palate is soft and supple in structure, offering flavors of blueberry, cocoa, pepper, graphite and candied fruit. The tannins remain a tad sticky, so drink 2018–2033.
This gorgeous wine opens with scents of ripe, dark-skinned berry, cake spice, star anise and a balsamic note. The delicious palate tastes of layers of juicy raspberry, black cherry, licorice and a hint of tobacco framed in firm refined tannins. It already shows impressive depth but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2018–2030.
Entrepreneur Roger Bower hired Harlan Estate alum Adam Henkel to deliver top-tier wines, and this first release is an extremely auspicious beginning. Black as night in the glass, the wine delivers elegant aromas of olallieberry jam, baking spice, shaved chocolate, beef jerky, teriyaki and purple flowers. The sticky structure will age phenomenally, further concentrating flavors of coffee foam, soy-laced berry sauce, Asian pepper spice, and dense blueberry, black cassis and black plum fruit. Drink 2018–2033.
As its name suggests this wine comes from vines planted close to the Torto River that runs through the quinta. The extra warmth from the river produces extra-ripe grapes that go into this powerful, although impressively restrained wine. Foot trodden in traditional stone fermenters, the wine is rich with the same opulent texture as a vintage Port (although of course dry). Dark and for the long haul the wine should not be consumed before 2020.
A fascinating feral quality wraps around this wine, redolent of mottled animal hair, raw meat and scraped earth, like the scene of a freshly hunted wild boar. Aromas of mulberry and dark strawberry also show on the nose, while the palate dives deep into turned earth, shiitake mushrooms, juniper, stewed bay leaf, wild cherry and elderflower liqueur. The acidity also pops and the texture grips firmly.
One barrel from each of the three estate vineyards contributed to this reserve. It's densely packed with a rich mix of fruits: juicy and ripe lemon and lime, grapefruit and orange, and a light touch of slightly bitter rind. The length is amazing. It's delicious now, and it should hold for up to a decade.
From vineyards owned by the Van Zeller family in the narrow valley of the Torto River, this serious powerful wine is a mere baby. It was produced in open-stone fermenters with traditional foot treading and that gives the wine its extra opulence and richness. Tannins and immense black fruit are still developing. Save this bottle until 2020.
Complexities of slate and wax meld into notes of tangerine and apricot on the nose of this buoyantly sunny wine. It's dry in style, but plush white peach and honeycomb notes give it a silken richness not necessarily typical of Mosel Riesling. Firm strikes of lime and lemon tighten up the midpalate and extend through a long, steely finish.
Still young but already impressive, this new vintage of Cristal Rosé is dry and perfumed, packed with fruit and tightened by acidity. It features red fruit, zesty blood orange and ripe apple flavors. Because it is young and because it is dry, the wine needs to age. Drink from 2019.
This wine is wound extremely tight, but opens like a lotus with decanting or overnight patience. Aromas of rose buds, black-raspberry extract, wet clay and dried purple flowers show on the nose, bolstered by the slightest smoky kiss of oak. Savory flavors of roasted black-plum skins and elderberry meet with soy, graphite and loam on the palate, which will gain amazing tertiary flavors with time. Drink 2018–2028.
The fragrant, absolute varietal purity of green pear and grapefruit zest attains an additional thrill of orange-peel lift. The palate is sweet but not overwhelmingly so: all is balanced and countered by freshness and a light touch. This richness dances on ballerina's tiptoe. That aromatic streak of citrus freshness unites grapefruit and greengage, honey and lime. This is utter purity of fruit in an Eiswein of immense, irresistible charm with moreish, lemon-pure length.
Brian and Stephy Terrizzi have added this luxury-level bottling to their more affordably focused brand of wines, and it's an impressive addition. A deep and dense nose unleashes blackberries, licorice, crushed volcanic rocks, sexy dark chocolate, violet and black spice. Flavors of olallieberry and creamy dark and milk chocolate erupt on the palate, held together by soft tannins and energetic acidity. Drink 2017–2033.
One of the relative handful of vintage Champagnes from the hot 2003 growing season, this wine is rich while also well structured. After 13 years, it is showing touches of toast and its color has deepened to light gold. Generous while also in the dry style of the producer, this great wine is ready to drink now.
Fragrant lilacs and plump mulberries mix with black clove, allspice, pine needles and dark earth tones on this bottling by Josh Jensen from this 4.8-acre vineyard. The palate presents hearty sagebrush spice and an easily enjoyable character of black cherry that lead into the more complex pine sap, bay leaf, wild thyme and euclalytpus components.
This is the Gainey family's annual statement on how Bordeaux varieties can excel in the Santa Ynez Valley, and this blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot is a marvelous argument. Aromas of pepper, pencil shavings, oregano, dill, elderberries, black currant and dried blueberries lead into an expertly integrated palate where black fruit is nuanced by cedar, dried oregano, crushed gravel and peppery spice.
Power and grace combine in this great fortified wine. Already 10 years old, it will age gracefully through at least 2030 if kept in a cool cellar. The aromas combine ripe, vivid cherry and blackberry with caramel accents. Flavors are very ripe but tangy at the same time, echoing plum jam and toffee on the finish.
Named after the officials of the French Court who were responsible for the King's cellar, this intense wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With some age it is much about secondary flavors as fruit. Spice and yeast come together with textured apple and creamed pear. The wine is on the dry side of Brut, the ripe fruit adding richness. Drink this balanced wine now.
Elegant and structured, this opens with exquisite scents of cedar, chopped herb, pressed rose, menthol and perfumed berry. The luminous palate is loaded with finesse, delivering bright red cherry, chopped red raspberry, licorice, clove and mineral. Firm, refined tannins and vibrant acidity provide impeccable balance and support. Hold for even more complexity. Drink 2018 through 2030.
In this wine, the Van Zeller family—15 generations in the Douro—is recognizing the three valleys where they have grown grapes: Pinhão, Douro and Torto. It is a rich smooth wine, powered by tannins and the wood aging. Foot trodden in open fermenters, the wine is a blend of grapes from 35-year-old vines. It is rich, still developing and will be ready to drink from 2020.
This Champagne is produced from a small parcel of Chardonnay in the heart of the city of Reims above the Lanson cellars. It has more than rarity value with its wonderful mature flavors, richness and flavors of vanilla, baked apple and hints of the wood in which the wine fermented. It is ready to drink now.
Extremely elegant and restrained at first on the nose, this bottling eventually shows gravel and crushed rocks, with hints of blackberry and forest underbrush also emerging. A very firm structure weaves together an incredibly well-integrated wine, with dense mulberry and dried-fennel notes that morph into crushed herbs with time. Drink 2018–2032.
Smells of rust, iron, tomato and untracked peppercorns rise to the nose. On the palate, the wine is quite light and racy, with a little boysenberry and more sanguine flavors. Hold onto this one until 2016 for maximum enjoyment, as more flavors will emerge.
This is lightly perfumed with green melon, lychee and papaya aromas. The palate is middle of the road in terms of acidity and snap. Flavors of lychee, peach and nectarine are typical of the variety, while the finish is plump and smooth.
This is brilliantly purple in color, with jumpy, untamed black-fruit aromas. In the mouth, it is tannic and clawing, with a cheek-drilling mouthfeel. Syrupy blackberry flavors offer baking spice and clove accents, while the finish is showing unabsorbed oak and monster tannins.
Minty, scratchy aromas of cherry and berry air out well. This feels chewy yet fresh in the mouth, with plum and cherry flavors matched by good overall intensity and balance. A controlled finish tastes dusty and loamy; drink through 2017.
This has aromas of Bartlett pear and black Mission figs. In the mouth, there are flavors of pear, lemon and fresh picked apricots.
This wine is already soft, warm and attractive. With blackberry fruit, ripe tannins and a crisp acidity at the end, it shows a generous nature. Drink from 2015.
This rich wine offers spice and black plum fruit flavors in equal measure. It's certainly ripe, but a fresher character adds lift. Tannins are already well-integrated into this velvet-textured wine. Drink from 2017.
Thirst-quenching, lean and tangy, it would make a good match with shucked oysters. It shows lemon and green apple aromas, plus fresh and crisp citrus flavors. Medium in body, the texture is pleasantly lean while the finish is refreshing.
Aromas of cherry, raspberry and a whiff of mint lead to flavors of dried cherry, raspberry and strawberry in this easy quaffing Pinot Noir.
A cherry-fresh wine that's so full of fruit that its structure becomes secondary. A dry edge of tannin supports the fruit and acidity, making this wine so drinkable now.
The ripe and fruity style typical of Vacheron wines is evident here. Citrus flavors are given a rich fillip by yellow fruits and a rounded, full texture. Touches of minerality and youthful acidity are already well integrated into the body of the wine. Drink in 2015.
Raspberry and plum aromas start with a resiny oak covering that turns foresty and briary with airing. This is raisiny and ripe in feel, with a complex mix of berry, fennel and anise flavors. A lush, dense-feeling finish is minty and herbal.
A soft and rounded wine, it's ripe, full in the mouth and warm in character. A steely edge merges with the ripe apple and pear flavors to give a wine that's rich and ready to drink.
This wine offers a lighter side of Petite Sirah. It conveys more red fruit than brooding black and blue, a taste of red licorice and lean, balanced red cherries sleekly layered over earthy plum and spice. Its structure and acidity make it food-friendly, ready to accent a black pepper steak or similarly seasoned roast.
Plum, vanilla, chocolate and subtle oak aromas carry over to the palate. The palate displays chocolate-covered cherries, fig and coffee alongside bracing tannins that leave a drying finish. Drink 2018–2025.
A penetrating whiff of wintergreen is the first impression of this aromatic young wine. The tightly-wound fruit brings cranberry and tart plum flavors into focus, followed by a lick of dark chocolate running through stiff tannins.
This is a rich, broad-shouldered Pinot Noir, woodsy and oaky with a firm and fierce grip on the palate. It leans more toward earth and smoke than exuberant fruit. Textured in soft undertones of silk, it also offers plenty of fresh herb, a component to take advantage of in pairing.
A delicate, almost fragile wine, this opens with tart fruit flavors of strawberry and red plum. There's more than enough acidity, smooth tannins, and a graceful flow to the wine, ending with a light dusting of cocoa.
Although the aromas are toasty, the flavors are still so fresh, rich, complex. This is a wonderful expression of taut minerality, pure citrus zest and then a wood-toast character that gives the wine both richness and sophistication. Given the fresh, intense fruit, this will certainly age for many years.
A wonderful wine that has preserved its freshness while welcoming elements of toasty maturity. It is crisp, definitely on the dry side, with red currants, bright wild strawberries over the purest acidity. It's sure to age over many years, but, if you must, can be drunk now.
Now at its peak of maturity, this is a gorgeous toast and spice flavored Champagne. It has richness, refined acidity, a powerful concentration of yeasty almonds, a taut texture and a final flavor that is straight, true, perfectly balanced.
As it develops in bottle, this wine retains all its intense acidity. But it has now brought in a toast and yeast character that gives it even greater complexity. It is a wine that is also a Champagne, now in full flow of mineral richness, still with a long way to develop.
This eagerly anticipated Drew Bledsoe/Chris Figgins collaboration is a serious effort, dusty, dense, and dark. To begin are whiffs of cinnamon, smoke, cured meat and bacon; then come tight, dry, stone-soaked flavors of cassis and sweet black fruits. Floral highlights elevate the nose, and lead into a finish with delicious accents of toasted nuts, almond paste, and chalk. A dazzling debut.
Just touching maturity, this is a wonderful wine. With intense acidity, yeast, minerality and a beautiful final citrus texture, this is ready to drink but will age for many years.
A great celebration of the fine 2004 vintage, this wine reveals both generosity and a steely resolve. It has a cool elegance as well, giving it a sense of refinement, while still preserving the Roederer richness. The tight acidity holds the wine together and promises long aging.
Full, creamy and soft, this is a rich Champagne, very much a food wine. It has great ripe swathes of peach and pineapple flavors, rounded by toast. While 2000 is not a vintage for aging, this opulent Champagne may be the exception.
Raspberry, chocolate and plum aromas form a basic bouquet. This shows tight grip along with flavors of baked berry fruits, leather and earth. The finish tastes a bit rubbery, and then heat and dry, peppery notes take over.
Slightly soapy in the nose, this enters softly, then turns sharp and slightly bitter. Hints of melon and butter emerge, but the mouthfeel is somewhat disjointed and the flavors not yet fully integrated.
The overriding character of this basic Rioja is raisiny, ripe berry fruit; it's on the nose, palate and finish. Alongside these notes are mild tannins, some rubbery weight and chunky friendliness.
A waxy nose with aromas of dried pit fruits including apricot is more stalky smelling than overtly fruity. A grabby mouthfeel shows weight and waxiness, while stalky, baked flavors of squash, pumpkin and papaya finish with a touch of oxidation. Drink now before this loses its vitality.
Early on this smells strained, like a haystack with brine. Give it time and it comes around, although it remains chunky in feel, with citrus and nectarine flavors. On the finish it's thick and heavy (14.4% ABV means weight and viscosity).
Showing the structure of the vintage, while missing some of the flesh. The wine has a dry, firm and tannic core that hides the red fruit flavors. The wine, still on the austere side, will be ready to drink in a year.
A round and full flavored wine. It is soft with apple and pear flavors, lifted by a touch of lemon zest. There is some weight to this ripe, dry, finally crisp wine. Keep for a few more months.
Full, while still crisp, this strawberry and orange flavored rosé is ripe, dry with a touch of pepper and a rounded, smooth character. Screwcap.
Slightly mealy smelling citrus aromas are offset by an Animal Cracker-like vanilla scent. The palate is melony and plump, with candied lime, Yellow Delicious apple and powdered sugar flavors. This finishes soft but not flabby.
Hailing from Verhey Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills, the Syrah from this Idaho producer has notes of cherry cola, chocolate, and medicine cabinet. It's full throttle with palate coating chocolate notes and tart fruit flavors along with a surprising amount of tannins.
Sourced from the Crawford vineyard in Washington's Yakima Valley, this inexpensive Syrah seems a bit stripped. There is some good material here, but a whiff of volatility and a deadness in the mouth robs it of vitality. Light cherry and plum, with a dash of coffee, is what's left.
This three-grape white blend starts with oily aromas and weight before finding some minerality and white-fruit notes. The palate has citrusy kick and zing to bolster green apple and orange flavors. The finish is wide, a touch clumsy and citrusy in flavor, with tang and lasting freshness.
Structured wine with 30% of Cabernet to give shape to the very ripe Merlot. The wine has both acidity, some firm tannins and a concentrated, dry core. It's likely to age well over 3–4 years.
Often used to make Austrian sweet wines, Muskat Ottonel here is an off-dry wine. The wine brings out the perfumed character of the grape, a simple, full and ripe wine that has rough edges. Screwcap.
With can't-miss aromas of vanilla, dill and leathery cherry, this starts out in textbook form for a Rioja crianza. The palate is just round enough, with initial dark-berry flavors followed by numerous waves of bold oak that finish in a pool of dill, mint and spice flavors.
Lightly herbal and slightly earthy aromas meet fresh, ripe berry flavors in this medium-bodied wine. It's smooth and soft in texture, low in tannins, and easy to enjoy.
Heavily oaked up front, this smells of sweet spices, lactic berry fruits and hickory. The palate is fairly blocky and grabby, with resiny wood notes. Flavors of hickory and lactic berry match the nose on this oaky rendition of Malbec.
Roasted, soupy berry aromas lead to a sticky, heavy palate with a doughy build. This tastes mostly of baked, herbal tomato and plum, while cherry, spice, chocolate, coffee grinds and earthy flavors bring up the rear.
This blend of two native Turkish grapes is deep red-violet in color, with a bouquet of blackberry, blueberry and anisette. It is fairly tart from entry to finish, with soft tannins and flavors of raspberry, strawberry and lingonberry that dominate over touches of espresso bean and leather.
This is a full-bodied wine with a good sense of heft, mild flavors and a smooth texture. It has subdued plum notes and a hint of vanilla.
The scents and flavors carry more than a hint of grassiness, along the lines of Sauvignon Blanc. The high alcohol seems to strip the wine of its flesh. It's full throttle, with the mouthfeel and high-toned bite of a very ripe Viognier. It's definitely not your run-of-the-mill example of Oregon Pinot Gris.
From vines grown on sandy soil close to the ocean, the wine is juicy, soft and fresh. It has attractive acidity, red-berry fruits and a generous open texture that makes the wine ready to drink now.
Plushly textured and a bit jammy, this semi-sweet red offers straightforward cherry and berry flavors. Low in alcohol and juicy in style, it's a casual quaffer that will satisfy a sweet tooth.
This opens with rustic aromas suggesting leafy underbrush, game and a hint and of barnyard. The funky aromas follow through to the approachable, rather muddled palate, along with leather, truffle, dried black cherry and a confectionary note. Drink now.
Aromas of oak, menthol and vanilla emerge. The dense palate offers black pepper, licorice and a suggestion of dried black cherry alongside raspy tannins that leave an astringent finish. Showing the heat of the vintage, the fruit is already drying up.
This is a sweet white wine with some of the nice qualities of a dry table wine, including distinct apricot aromas and flavors, good acidity and a smooth texture.
A blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah and Viognier, this brings to mind tight red and black berries spread over freshly tilled earth. A mild peppery spice shows up on the midpalate, with soft tannins supporting throughout.
Peach and lilac aromas and bright and integrated, carrying to a bubble-gum infused palate. Short, simple and perfectly delightful.
Spicy, stalky, roasted plum and berry aromas are savory and earthy. In terms of feel, this is big but has its shirt tucked in. The flavors, however, are herbal and almost weedy. This gets more difficult the longer it sits; by the time it finishes it's outright funky, herbal, medicinal and earthy all wrapped into one.
The wine is off dry, fruity and refreshing. It has lively citrus acidity as well as sliced apple crispness. The wine has the lightest prickle on the tongue, leaving a bright aftertaste. Drink now.
The wine is dry and surprisingly rich for a Vinho Verde. It has pineapple and peach as well as the more familiar citrus and green fruit flavors. With lively acidity at the end, the wine is ready to drink.
This is an off-dry wine, full of fruit and crisp acidity. It has a soft texture and touches of tropical fruit. The wine comes from vineyards in the south of Vinho Verde, close to the Douro.
This is a soft, ripe as well as fruity wine. A creamy, buttery character is freshened by the crisp apple flavor. With a touch of spice as well as the final acidity, the wine is warm and ready to drink.
This opens with whiffs of cellar floor, underbrush, scorched soil, game and a hint of sweat. The gamy note follows through to the rustic palate, along with fleshy black fruit and a note of powdered sage.
A delicate balance of geranium, peach blossom and ginger cookie shows on the nose and palate, with an additional herbal hop notes chiming in for the flavors. There's good acidic verve to counterattack the broad palate, making this rich white a solid choice for cedar-plank grilled fish.
Blending Chardonnay and Viognier with local grapes, the wine is smooth and creamy. It has apple and bright citrus flavors with a cool, crisp backdrop of acidity. The aftertaste, with its tangy, salty character is a reminder of the ocean climate of the region.
Ripe peach and lemon meet graham cracker on the nose and palate. Medium in weight, with a slightly flabby feel, green apple acidity works hard to maintain balance.
An unoaked wine that relies on its black fruits. While there are light tannins, it is the berry flavors and attractive acidity that carry the day. The wine with its final lift is ready to drink.
Sourced from grapes grown in the Côte Chalonnaise, this is a soft, red-fruit-flavored wine, with a ripe, jammy character that makes it almost sweet. It is ready to drink.
Familiar varietal aromas of lychee and scented candle come with a hint of petrol. Punchy and crisp in feel, this tastes of garden variety lemon-lime, banana and lychee. A crisp but rudimentary finish closes things out.
Impeccably refreshing, this Ribolla Gialla is full of sweet, fresh apple and melon flavors. Chalky minerality and a shower of lemon-lime acidity add nerve and elegance.
This is a ripe, full wine, retaining Vinho Verde's classic taut acidity, but rounded out with sweet apple and lime flavors. It's food friendly and would make for a fine apéritif.
This smells tropical and citrusy, with hints of acacia and wild flower. It feels round but oily, with green melon, vanilla and peach flavors. It fades to a mildly bitter note of green banana, with a tropical overtone.
This hodgepodge of Zinfandel, Syrah, Tempranillo, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, all grown in Lake County, will please many palates. It's a subtle and satisfying red marked by sweet tannins, a soft mouthfeel and rounded notes of cherry, plum and vanilla.
This shows the varietal's spicy, earthy aromas in a fresh way. The mouthfeel is crisp, while herbal, peppery flavors blend properly with the spice and plum notes typical of Carmenère. The finish is brambly and drifts toward spunky red fruit.
Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or flake. Apple flesh, nectarine and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.
This new wine from the Laroche family of Chablis is a good, though standard, Chilean Chardonnay. Peach, ctirus and wax aromas lead to a round palate with ample acidity. It tastes like apple, banana and other tropical fruits, with sweetness and honey on the finish.
High-elevation vineyards produce the fruit for this crisp, herbaceous wine. It has flavors of ripe gooseberry and lime, with a light hint of nutmeg, immediately appealing in its fruitiness.
Lifted blackberry and cherry aromas introduce this lush, full-bodied wine that offers a black-cherry flavor. Savory hints of smoked meat, soy sauce and bold, velvety tannins add structure and dimension.
The white sister to the wine Seven Deadly Zins, this is lusciously sinful in its own right, tasting of oak, vanilla and marshmallow and even movie theater popcorn. Creamy, this finishes with a swath of ripe green apple.
Traditional Carmenère aromas of olive, greenish plum and berry are on full display here. It feels a bit acidic, with scratchy and herbal flavors of spiced plum and red berry. The finish is persistent but also abrasive and aggressive.
Subdued on the nose, this has a good concentration of fruit and a strong structure, buoyed by firm acidity. The finish is long and lingering.
There's a slightly funky edge to this Carignan-Syrah blend, with gamy and herbal streaks to the bright red-berry aromas. The palate is a bit richer, with darker flavors of cherry and blackberry leaf that carry through to the medium-length finish.
Glimmers of game and pepper infuse the red-fruit-driven core of this wine. Plum, raspberry and cherry, dusted with notes of baking spice, flourish on the palate. Medium weight, with dusty tannins, this is reminiscent of crushed dried berries.
A delicate honeycomb flavor fringes pleasant apple and white flower notes on this dry, refreshing Tokaji blend. Lemony acidity adds structure and length to the finish. This is good introduction to Tokaji for those who prefer a dry style.
Pretty on the nose and palate with an abundance of spring flower, pineapple and vanilla-cream notes, this dry, full-bodied Chardonnay is easygoing but impeccably made. Judiciously oaked, it finishes on a sweet-and-salty caramel note.
A wine with a soft mouthfeel and clean finish, this takes time to open up. Once it does, the flavors are a swirl of sweet strawberry and roses.
A pleasant herbal character dominates the nose of this wine, expressed in waves of lemongrass, verbena and fynbos. Additional notes of firm pear, green melon and lemon provide a solid backbone. It's lightweight and clean, finishing fresh and easy. Drink now.
From an estate vineyard, this wine is robust, full-bodied and viscous, with an underlying hint of petrol and plenty of oak. There's a tartness behind its flavors that gives it a lift as it finds its way to the finish.
This medium-bodied wine has more earthy and floral flavors than straightforward fruit, so it's something a bit different. Well-priced and easy to drink, it can please a crowd.
Concentrated orange blossom, bubblegum and a touch of minerality show on the nose of this bottling, suggesting sweetness. The palate is dry, if a tad syrupy, revealing warm climate flavors like poached apple, pear and lemon curd, tasting a bit like cough syrup.
This is a young, fruity wine made for early drinking. With bright acidity, soft tannins and forward red fruit, it's easy-drinking and ready now.
Produced in the region that also produces wine for Armagnac distillation, the wine is soft and light. It has a tangy edge along with white and citrus fruit. The mineral, zesty texture will allow the wine to age for a few more months. Drink from mid-2017.
This Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend boasts leather, tobacco leaf and black pepper flavors, giving it muscle and a rustic edge, the tannins and fruit mellowed with age.
An open, ripe and fruity wine made to be drunk young, this has black currant and spice flavors, plenty of acidity to keep it crisp and balanced tannins. The aftertaste is bright and lively.
Tasting strongly of spicy wood, this wine is firm, with a tight, granitic texture. Tannins and acidity anchor its blackberry fruit, yielding a structured wine that is ready to drink.
Fresh lemon and red-apple flavors are bright and clean in this medium-bodied dry white. While brisk in texture and approachably fresh, the finish is marked by a bite of astringency.
This opens with scents of green melon rind, strawberry hull and lime that carry through to the palate alongside an additional note of peach. A pleasant grassy tone gives interest to the finish, while ample acidity keeps the palate fresh and clean. Drink now.
This uniquely tan-colored Torrontés is “orange” in style. Aromas of orange peel, peach, apricot and floor polish are challenging but complex. This immediately turns grabby and astringent on the palate, while stone-fruit and pithy flavors are short, quick and dry.
Bright, light oak shadings dress up this medium-bodied wine, complementing the red cherry and strawberry flavors. It's fresh, fruity and not very tannic—easy to drink and enjoy.
Wood spice, vanilla and dark-fruit aromas are followed by tart game and red-fruit flavors. The wood seems very primary.
Earth and herbal overtones add depth and interest to the tart cherry fruit in this blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. It's medium bodied, with supple tannins and a crisp finish, so there's no need—or reason—for cellaring.
Aromas of prune, raisin and black plum are full and gritty. A chunky full-bodied palate feels grabby, while this tastes of generic blackberry, burnt coffee and dark chocolate. A steady plump, rubbery finish closes the show.
This is a bright and lively selection, with assertive aromas and flavors of green melon, lime and gooseberry. Lightweight, bright and nervy, it boasts mouthwatering acidity, tart citrus-driven flavors and a lingering fresh-grass accent on the close. Drink now.
This boxed Malbec is burgundy-colored and opens with spicy reedy aromas of dried herbs and red-berry fruits. On the palate, this is tight but shallow in the midtier. Flavors of baked plum and berry fruits come with a note of cocoa powder prior to a stable finish.
Exotic berry and spice aromas are reserved, as the name of the wine implies. On the palate, this is blocky, heavy and jammy. Concentrated flavors of plum and currant are a bit stewed and tomatoey. On the finish, this is dense and tannic, with savory stewy flavors.
Smoke, brawny black pepper and black cherry flavors meet on the palate of this intensely ripe wine. It's grippy and high-octane in power, with a layering of mocha dust.
Squeezed lime, wet concrete and green apple rind scents show on the nose of this basic bottling. Kaffir lime tang meets with ripe red apple and pear notes on the palate, framed by a stony texture.
Apricots and honey mark this wine. It is just off dry, just hinting at sweetness, more to do with soft perfumed fruit. It's a great apéritif style with its fruity character. Drink now.
This is a blend of 60% Ugni Blanc and 40% Colombard that gives a deliciously light and refreshing wine. Bright and breezy, it is perfumed, herbal and full of direct citrus flavors. Drink now.
Dry spicy aromas of tree bark accent basic red-fruit scents. In the mouth, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is tight as a drum and racy. Narrow tangy flavors of plum finish peppery, lean and scrubbing.
This wine is a pale cherry-red in color, showing some bricking. It brings off-dry elegantly styled cherry flavors that winnow toward the finish.
Dried cranberry and currant flavors with raisin-plum cake undertones define this light-bodied wine that's mildly tannic, tart, simple and easy to like.
Basic, minerally aromas of apple and pear are good and suggest iodine. The mouthfeel is a bit foamy, but this is also fresh and vital for a 2007 Cava. Crisp flavors of lime, orange and green herbs end similarly, with linear balance.
Monte Xanic puts out a number of solid wines at this affordable level. This blend features apple, citrus and mild sulfuric oiliness on the nose. The feel is correct and clean, while basic flavors of peach and apple carry onto a sweet-leaning finish where banana and pear notes linger.
Scratchy, minty aromas are the opening on this rough and rugged blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the mouth, this is hard as nails, with extreme tannic bite. Flavors of blackberry and chocolate are ripe and satisfying, while resiny oak, baking spice notes and rough tannnins define the finish.
Roasted, rubbery aromas come with an herbal offset and mild stalky notes. This is full and rubbery feeling, with baked berry, herb and peppery flavors residing before a dry, tannic, stocky finish that's a fair conclusion to this blend of Garnacha, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Robust and rustic, this is a full-bodied Italian-inspired red blend, indicative of its varieties which range from Carignane and old-vine Zinfandel to old-vine Petite Sirah, Mataro, old-vine Black Malvasia and Alicante Bouschet. It's old-school in every way, with flavors that tend toward dark cherry, licorice and leather.
A high elevation in the hills north of Lisbon allows the Alvarinho grape to flourish. The wine is crisp, lightly fruity, and driven by citrus flavors. Perfumed, aromatic and ready to drink.
Cinder makes two versions of this wine each year—one dry and one off-dry. This dry wine is medium-plus bodied, with notes of lemon, white flowers and white peach accompanying an oily feel.
Strong scents of cola and root beer introduce this estate-grown Pinot, which adds spice and black cherry as it rolls across the tongue. It's light and leaves an impression of soda pop, without the sweetness.
Just two barrels were made, from a mix of Syrah and Pinot Noir. It's a pale, pretty rosé, with flavors of watermelon and strawberry, and good concentration through the mid-palate.
Finding a good Anderson Valley Pinot Noir for under $25 is no easy feat and so this Husch bottling is impressive in delivering a fairly good experience for the price. A tad chewy still, with an oaky presence, it shows dark, ripe strawberry and mushroom-y flavors and finishes with some spice.
The aromas are vibrant, with notes of pear, honeysuckle and peach. The palate is full flavored, dry as promised, with a zing of tart acidity that stitches it all together. It's an outstanding value that shows a beautiful sense of balance.
Coming from one of the state's most esteemed Syrah vineyards, this wine opens with nuanced aromas of bacon fat, smoke and berry. The palate is rich and sumptuous, with fruit and savory flavors lingering on the finish.
This is a light-colored wine, with structure and acidity to balance the perfumed cherry-flavored fruit. Still young, still developing its fruitiness, the wine is going to be crisp with attractive strawberry flavors and soft tannins. Drink from 2019.
The wine is crisp and mineral. It has zesty lemon as well as a tight texture and layers of acidity. It is ready to drink although another few months aging will make it even better when its softens out. So drink from late 2017.
This ripe, crisp wine features swathes of red currants and cherries. The fruitiness is balanced by good acidity and by a final, mineral texture that gives the wine balance. Drink now.
From vines situated just under the line of great Grand Cru vineyards, this is a structured wine. It is surprisingly under-powered for the appellation, although its balance is just right. So firm black-plum skins balance a combination of tannins and black-cherry fruits that are topped with acidity. Drink from 2020.
Deep blueberry and blackcurrant aromas waft off this bottling, as do scents of oak smoke and beef char. It's thick in the glass, with sticky tannins and strong acidity that present flavors of boisterous blackberry, tar, pepper, dark chocolate and dried herbs.
On this dense, appealing and fruit-driven bottling from Camel Hill Vineyard, fresh-pressed blackberry meets with touches of other red fruits, from dark strawberry to plum, enhanced by cocoa dust. Leather, dark chocolate, red cherry and blackberry flavors show on the palate, where incredibly sticky tannins still need a bit more time to smooth out.
Stéphane Brocard is based in Marsannay the northernmost vineyard in Burgundy's Côte d'Or. This wine comes from two small parcels with 35-year-old vines. It is already fruity and attractive, although the tannins do promise aging. Crisp with the pure acidity of the vintage, it will develop well and should be drunk from late 2017.
Fresh and herbal, this young, textured wine shows green fruits and crisp acidity right up front, making it immediately attractive. Drink it now for this fruit or wait until later in 2017 for it to soften.
Coming from Cerro Prieto Vineyard, one of the few places to grow Pinot Noir in this appellation, this bottling shows aromas of clove, vanilla, sandalwood and pomegranate on the nose. Light pomegranate and tart red-fruit flavors dominate the palate, with a touch of dried herb.
Savory tones of roasted beet, truffle and soil juxtapose pristinely ripened cherry and plum in this elegantly balanced Cabernet Franc. It's supple and juicy yet nuanced and earthy. Crisp acidity freshens a long, softly tannic finish.
This wine is near equal parts Syrah and Merlot with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of blue fruit, vanilla, cherry and herb lead to full-bodied pit-fruit flavors that bring a sense of deliciousness that is hard to resist.
Light earth, tea and cherry aromas join tasty cranberry and raspberry flavors in this medium-bodied and well-balanced wine. It has a nice tension on the palate, with lightly gripping tannins and a firm, appetizing finish.
Some of the basic Merlots from Hawke's Bay—like this one—impress for their combination of quality and value. Cherries and dried spices pick up enough hints of earth and olive to be interesting sip after sip in this medium-bodied red that ends on a crisp, mouthwatering note.
A light yellow-gold color and subtle savory aromas don't give away how luscious and sweet this wine is in flavor. It resembles concentrated honeydew melon and vanilla on a pillowy-soft texture that almost disappears on the finish.
This at-first subtle wine shows more complexity with each sip. It has the aroma of toasted baguette slices, then tastes rich and figgy, with pear and almond nuances that linger on the finish due to a nicely viscous texture.
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 60% of this wine, with the rest Merlot (29%) and Cabernet Franc. It presents aromas of macerated cherries, licorice and whiffs of game. The flavors are lush and ripe, with firm but well-integrated tannins providing support.
The aromas impress with red and black cherries, accented by mint, game and barrel spices along with a vanilla top note. The flavors are supple, layered and tightly coiled, showing poise, depth and polish.
Klipsun Vineyard provides all of the Cabernet for this wine, with a splash of Petit Verdot (6%) coming from Olsen. Aromas of sweet herb, spice, wet copper penny and cherry lead to a full-bodied palate that shows a fine sense of balance. This vineyard's often substantial tannins are well tamed.
Wood spice, herb, vanilla and dark-fruit aromas are at the fore. The palate is generously flavored and full, with abundant chocolate and cherry notes. The tannins bring some grit.
This opens with aromas of forest floor, mature dark-skinned fruit and leather. The hearty palate offers raisin, dried black currant, clove and tobacco alongside tightly wound tannins that leave a firm finish.
Ripe but not jammy fruit flavors and firm texture make this a stand-up wine, even if it weren't such a great value. It has classic dark berry and light herb aromas, deep, fruity flavors and a big but plush mouthfeel.
Inky violet in the glass, this wine offers aromas of cassis and licorice. Tart fruit comes on strong at first, followed by mouth-coating tannins. Flavors of cherry, blueberry, smoke and juniper are at their best after a glass is exposed to air for a few minutes. Bright acidity and a not unwelcome touch of fruit sweetness punctuate the silky finish.
An almost sweet plum and prune aroma continues to the flavors of this medium-bodied, warm and generous wine. Blended from Sonoma, Amador and Lodi grapes, it offers moderate tannins and a velvety texture.
Mouth-watering blackberry and currant aromas are dusted with sweet spice and toast on the nose of this juicy Syrah. Its pristine fruity character is easy and approachable but pleasantly coarse tannins and bright acidity lend a tight finish.
There's a concentrated core of ripe black cherry and plum here, but the focus of this wine seems focused on its earthier, more savory elements of mineral, moss and wood. Rustic yet elegant, it's a neatly composed wine with sprightly acidity and a bold yet balanced body.
the bright gold color of this flavorful and full-bodied wine catches attention. On the palate it delivers white chocolate, butter and lemon flavors that are rich yet lightly tangy, giving the wine good balance.
Tropical and citrus fruit aromas come with controlled skin-based bitterness. This has a full oily texture and flavors of lemon-lime and white pineapple. Fresh acidity on the finish keeps this clean and in good shape. Drink right away.
It's picked late, when the grapes are superripe, then winemaker Kip Bedell puts them in a freezer prior to crush to further concentrate the resulting must. The result is a thick, gooey, unctuous dessert wine with flavors of tangerines and honey. Yum.
The clear scent of root beet along with barrel char works, and so does the ripe palate that's full of red raspberry and chocolate. If none of that sounds like Cab Franc from the Loire Valley or elsewhere, it's not. In it's own right, this is a ripe, full-bodied wine that's oaky, tannic and big—but also quite clean. And the texture is pure new wave.
Melon and citrus aromas get this soft, ripe and round wine going. The palate is full and plump, with bold citrus and tropical flavors and a welcome textural creaminess. The finish is smooth and supple, and as a whole this wine covers all the bases while showing itself to be a more than capable food accompaniment.
Actually a Bordeaux blend, this mainly merlot wine from the Umpqua valley in central Oregon outdoes its peers with dark, plummy, even jammy fruit laced with toast, tar and espresso. Sweet fruit meets stiff tannins, all in the name of structure.
The vast region of La Mancha is on the prowl in the 21st century, and wines like this won't hurt the region's improving reputation. The nose here is fresh and loaded with berry sweetness and accents of cinnamon and forest floor. The palate is round and chewy, with plum and berry flavors. It's richer than many so-called alta expresión wines, and the structure goes way beyond that of most under-$10 reds. With some airing and good food, it's a certain winner.
Comes close to a Germanic style, with tight, lean citrusy aromas and flavors balanced by green apples and pears. It's light and refreshing, never heavy or ponderous. Finishes long and tart, full of fresh limes, with just a pinch of sugar for balance.
Named after Jean-Luc Thunevin's reputation as being the bad boy of Saint-Emilion (because he broke into the hallowed aristocracy), the wine is produced from his own vines. It is a rich wine, full of great ripe fruits and dark tannins, concentrated and with some aging potential. Drink from 2018.
This enjoyable all-Sangiovese wine offers black cherry, tilled earth and new leather aromas. The savory palate delivers red plum flavors accented by cinnamon and clove, framed in lithe tannins. Enjoy through 2019.
A smooth and ripe wine produced by the team of Cos d'Estournel. It is full and rich with black-plum fruits and velvet tannins. With fine acidity at the back, it has kept its freshness. Drink from 2022.
This fragrant, red cherry- and sage-scented Chianti is made from organically grown Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino. The easygoing palate delivers raspberry, redcurrant and leather notes, framed by smooth tannins and fresh acidity. It's meant to be enjoyed young.
A blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and 5% Colorino, this offers delicate ripe black-skinned fruit and cooking spice aromas. On the palate, ripe black cherry, espresso and clove flavors are framed by firm tannins. Drink through 2019.
Solve every steakhouse wine-ordering quandary with this bottle, which features enough structure to stand up to rare beef without any excessive weight. Hints of vanilla and dark chocolate add depth and interest to the red currant fruit, while fine, dusty tannins clean up the finish. Drink now–2023.
Gritty earthy aromas come up short on freshness and clarity. This feels raw and pinching, with dry rubbing tannins. Gritty peppery berry flavors are oaky, while this finishes with savory berry, herb and tobacco flavors. Hammering tannins suggest decanting and/or service with hearty foods.
Dense and rich, this is a hearty dry red for near-term drinking. Black olive and espresso aromas give way to chocolate and dark berries on the palate, while the finish is velvety and warm.
Dark fruit and violet aromas are muted under opulent notes of vanilla and oak. On the palate, skin-driven, dark fruit flavors combine with rough oak, while chewy tannins linger on the long, bitter finish.
This wine is lush, with aromas of cassis, lavender and kirsch enveloped in wafts of church incense. Bright cherry and violet meld with velvety tannins and delicate acidity. The finish is long and full of cedar and botanicals.
This is winemaker Bill Fuller's 41st vintage, hence the designation. It's all Draper clone and spent 10 months in one-third new French oak. The opening aromas carry a volatile edge, then smooth out into fruit flavors of apple and pear. It's a good wine, but the impression of volatility does not entirely dissipate.
The cuvée is barrel fermented, for roundness rather than strong oak flavors. Spicy apple and melon fruit comes with the lightest possible kiss of toast.
Barrel fermentation gives this a nice, spicy edge around softer flavors of melon and peach. There's a wash of vanilla as well, and as the flavors smooth out through a soft midpalate, a hint of butter comes up and completes the finish.
Made of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this has dark-skinned berry and herb aromas with a faint whiff of dark spice. The firm palate delivers ripe black cherry, leather and white pepper notes, while close-grained tannins provide the bracing framework. Drink through 2019.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this opens with ripe dark berry and baking spice scents. The dense palate delivers black currant, tobacco and mocha flavors, fleshed out by round tannins. Drink through 2020.
Raisin, maple and vanilla aromas are derived from borderline overripe raw materials and 24 months in barrel. A hard palate pulls downward with massive tannins. Baked berry and chocolaty oak flavors finish with notes of berry pie and raisin.
Rubber, Band-Aid and leathery red-fruit aromas open this blend of Garnacha, Carignan and Syrah. In the mouth, this is blocky and collapsed. Roasted plum and berry flavors carry a medicinal note, while this is chewy and tastes lightly herbal on a tannic, weighty finish.
A distinct aromatic notion of rose petals perfumes the nose. The palate is more in keeping with Pinot Blanc's more restrained nature but is light, fresh and appetizing.
alance, ripe fruit and a dash of cinnamon make this wine easy to appreciate and fun to drink in light of its reasonable price. It has medium body, plum and red cherry notes and a hint of spicy oak.
Crunchy fresh notes of red cherry dominate aromatically. The palate is light, juicy, crisp and very refreshing. This is rustic and ready, but also full of charm with its animating red fruit. The finish is dry and invigorating.
Spiced plum, truffle, new leather, coconut and oak aromas lead the nose. Taut and tightly wound, the palate offers dried cherry, tart cranberry, espresso, anise and sage notes. Give the tannins another few years to unwind then drink to capture the remaining fruit.
Small production (one barrel!) single-vineyard Pinots are challenging, as there is no wiggle room via blending. This comes out crisp and focused, with light cherry fruit and ample flavors of tea, herb and leaf.
Vanilla, baked cherry and coconut aromas lead the nose. Bright and tense, the palate offers Marasca cherry, raspberry, vanilla and clove flavors, bolstered by firm acidity and youthfully austere tannins that leave a grippy finish. It needs to unwind and soften.
Dark-skinned berry, leather and underbrush aromas come together in this blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. The dense palate doles out black plum, clove and toast flavors, supported by dusty, assertive tannins. Drink through 2020.
Made entirely fromSangiovese, this opens with red berry, underbrush and exotic spice aromas. The palate is straightforward and evocative of black cherries, crushed mint and a tobacco, framed by polished tannins. Drink through 2019.
Made entirely from organically farmed Sangiovese, this opens with blackberry, leather and baking spice notes. The concentrated palate delivers mature black plum, espresso, toast and tobacco flavors, bolstered by astringent tannins that grip the finish.
This is indicated as a reserve-level selection, but at the moment remains unfocused, and even a bit dilute. Tart fruits and tight tannins never quite fit together. The drying finish carries a hint of wet cement. Give this at least another year or two of bottle age.
Mouthwatering aromas of wild berry, baking spice, toast and anisette take center stage on this vibrant wine. The fresh, structured palate delivers juicy red cherry, cinnamon, white pepper and sage alongside youthful, bracing tannins.
Lighter, leaner flavors like cranberry, rhubarb and tart cherry light up this wine from the first sniff through the tangy finish. Balanced on the fresher, crisper side of the spectrum, it has firm tannins, an appetizing dry texture and medium body. The focused fruit flavors and light spicy accents make it distinctive.
This broad, open, tongue-tickling wine comes on quickly with a blast of chocolate and cherries. Highlighted with an underpinning of tart raspberry jam, it's immediately accessible and utterly delicious. A hint of caramel crunch provides the perfect finale to this yum-fest of a wine.
This conveys creamy richness while seeming almost weightless. The color of bright straw-gold, it's crisply defined, with citrus flesh and rind, melon and lemon verbena highlights.
Made of 61% Syrah and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has a nose of blackberry, tart cranberry and rosemary. Flavors of black cherry preserves, strawberry, fennel bulb and nutmeg mingle on the tongue, with a nice balance of fruit and spice amid smooth tannins. The spicy finish is characterized by a burst of tart cherry and a hint of mint.
With a part of this wine fermented in wood, it is rich and toasty yet still fruity at this stage. The layers of spice go with the ripe, creamy fruit and the mineral, tight texture. All these elements suggest successful aging, so this will be best drunk from 2017.
Intense smoke and mineral tones mingle with fragrant lemon peel and lavender in this slightly exotic off-dry Riesling. It's buoyantly peachy yet also cutting and spry, finishing bright on a streak of tangerine acidity.
A shock of ripe raspberry and grenadine marks the entry of this sexy wine, which is tingling in cinnamon spice and forested earth. Softly layered and smooth, it offers both structure and weight, and is approachable now.
For this excellent blend, 25% new French oak was employed. It retains its vivid apple-flavored intensity, while bringing in pretty spice and a bit of buttered toast. The barrel aging helped to soften it up a bit. As young as it is, it drinks quite well and should hold until 2020.
This is crafted from the oldest vines, planted a quarter-century ago. Toast and caramel flavors wrap around lightly roasted raspberry/strawberry fruit. Highlights of rose petals and cola come into play, as this reserve-level effort shows both grip and persistence.
With spice and wood right up front, this wine is toasty and rich. It has a creamy texture along with bright acidity and a generous body. The wine, with its smooth, ripe aftertaste, is of course young. Drink from 2017.
A Syrah from two cooler-climate vineyards that is blended with 24% Zinfandel, this crowd-pleaser is surprisingly complex in thick, meaty tannins and black, brambly fruit. The juiciness of the Zin cuts through the denser aspects of the wine though, with the naturally high acidity keeping everything in check and pleasantly vibrant.
With a few years of age and three years in wood, this wine has become rich, full of concentration and delicious. It has weight and opulent black fruits to go with its fresh acidity. It's an elegant, smoothly textured wine, finishing with some dry tannins. Drink now.
This hearty Shiraz is no joke. The smoky, meaty nose blends right into bold fruit flavors of blueberries and mulberries. It's full-bodied and creamy-textured, with a plush yet vibrant finish. Drink now–2020.
Deep aromas of blackberry, ripe raspberry, smoked meats and wet black slate emerge on the nose of this wine from one of the region's pioneers. The strong slate minerality also shows on the palate against a backdrop of sleek sanguine flavors and big, dark but not overly ripe cherry fruits.
A blend of 50% Arinarnoa, 50% Tannat and 25% Malbec, this inky, garnet-colored wine has aromas of blackberry and brambles with a touch of green bell pepper. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, oregano, black olive and coffee make for a lively mix on the palate, backed by a core of chewy tannins. The fruit-laced finish has a savory kick of Kalamata olive and thyme.
A black cherry hue in the glass, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Grenache has a bouquet of ripe cherry, vanilla, toffee and chocolate. Smooth tannins are barely felt unless you linger a moment too long before the next sip. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry, toffee, eucalyptus and sage power through the lasting finish.
Compact, concentrated aromas of licorice, wild brush, fresh herbs, lemon peel and cassis come in front of a high-acid, juicy, racy palate. Flavors of black plum, blackberry, herbs and pepper finish spicy, woody and with some unresolved heat. Drink through 2024.
Concentrated yet balanced, this age-worthy wine is juicy in blackberry and currant, with a chewiness to the palate that gives it strength and power. Tar, tobacco and pencil lead shift around on the palate, before the wine finishes clean and sinewy. Cellar through 2020.
Vineyard-designated Grenache is a rarity in the Northwest. This one is all about subtlety and elegance of expression, with aromas of candied raspberry, thyme, spice and wildflowers leading to a textured, pillowy palate that possesses an ethereal lightness and great length.
Winemaker John Benedetti relies on a single clone usually used for sparkling wine in this bottling from a 25-year-old dry-farmed vineyard at 1,700 feet. Aromas of buttered cherries, rhubarb, red flowers, cinnamon and milk chocolate give way to a palate that shows lots of slate and graphite as well as dried cherry, eucalyptus, dried mint and a touch of leathery gaminess.
A terrific example of drink-now pleasure from the Barossa, this Shiraz deftly combines cedar and vanilla notes with dark fruit flavors. It's richly textured, with velvety tannins and crisp acids that frame the long finish. Drink now–2020.
El Limo (silt) is solid on the nose, with blackberry, licorice and vanilla aromas. This is fresh on the surface but more layered below deck, with a crisp, healthy mouthfeel backed by berry, plum, raspberry and peppery chocolate flavors. On the finish, this is oaky and round, with some heat and burn at the tail end. Drink through 2021.
Caramel aromas lead to a wine that is rich and full bodied. It has weight and concentration, along with fresh acidity that cuts through at the end. A good sense of minerality gives this wine extra texture. Drink from 2017.
Dusty pollen and mineral tones lend austerity and elegance to zesty orange peel and lemon flavors in this dry, bracing Riesling. While light bodied and spry, it's surprisingly persistent on the finish. Ends on a delicate floral note.
Black cherry and medicinal aromas dominate an earthy, dense nose. A ton of energy is unloaded on a grabby, aggressive palate that's packed with cherry, plum and cough drop flavors. This is ripe, forward and fresh, with brown-sugar sweetness to the finish. Drink through 2024.
Made with old vines, this soulful red opens with aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, game, baked earth, wild herb and a smoky note. The ripe, round palate doles out ripe black plum, black cherry, grilled rosemary and wild fennel alongside solid, velvety tannins. Concentrated and accessible, it will offer several more years of sheer drinking pleasure. Drink through 2021.
Raspberry jam, menthol, cooking spice and espresso aromas lead the nose. The palate offers tart red cherry, crushed raspberry, thyme, anise and ground green pepper. Bracing, slightly astringent tannins provide support but need to soften up. Drink after 2018.
The 18th-century estate that was once painted by Cézanne has produced a ripe, full-bodied wine. It is rounded and rich, full of red berries and some tannins. Age this wine and drink, with food, from early 2016.
Fresh fruit and lively raspberry juice flavors are totally up to the minute. The attractive orange-pink color emphasizes the ripe character of the wine's fruitiness.
There is great texture in this wine. It is structured, tannic with a strong pepper bite balanced by acidity. Citrus fruit shows through with fresh acidity and a tangy aftertaste.
This opens with aromas of violet, ripe berry, orange zest, toasted oak and a whiff of Mediterranean scrub. The structured palate offers mature cherry, white pepper, licorice, well-integrated oak spices, vanilla and grilled sage alongside firm, polished tannins. Showing the heat of the vintage, it's a bit warm on the midpalate but it still retains finesse.
This structured red features aromas of tilled soil and ripe berry. The palate delivers violet, mature black cherry, crushed berry and ground white pepper alongside smooth, polished tannins. It's ripe and ready, so enjoy soon.
This value-minded wine from an iconic producer offers attractive initial scents of brambly berry and cherry, with additional touches of marzipan and vanilla that lend decadence. The medium-weight palate shows great balance, with ample acidity and firm yet fine tannins that frame the bright red-fruit flavors. Drink now–2018.
This shamelessly appealing wine brings aromas of black currant, black olive, herbs, cocoa and plum. The blackberry and cherry flavors are ripe and generous, showing a classic Cabernet profile with lightly chalky tannins rounding it out.
This is a muscular but not overdone Pinot Noir, with dark cherry and plum fruit amply framed by toasty, caramelized oak and baking spices. Mocha and cocoa notes chime in on the  long finish. Drink now–2017.
Smoky, fruity and spicy in equal measure, this wine is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon-based, with 15% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 14% Malbec. With balanced acidity and an integrated use of oak, it offers structure and length beyond its crisp cassis, raspberry and blackberry notes.
Produced from the organic vineyards of Les Baux, this wine is pale in color but full of fruity flavor. The blend is Grenache (50%), Cinsault (30%) and Syrah (20%). It has a crisp, mineral texture that's tangy and fragrant with white flowers and red currants, giving it delicious apéritif style.
A blend of Syrah and Grenache from organic vineyards gives a herbal, very southern taste to this ripe wine. It is still young and showing both acidity and a firm structure. As it develops further, it will get a rich, full and plummy character. Drink from 2017.
Still young with attractive fresh fruits, this wine needs to age. With its bright acidity and white fruits, it's just beginning to hint at the mineral structure behind. Drink from 2018.
Light, fresh and fruity, this is a lime and lemon flavored wine. It has a tangy, textured character that blends easily with the acidity. From a blend led by Grenache and Cinsault, it's a lively wine that will be a great apéritif.
Just a hint of pear drop plays over fresh, tart conference pear fruit. The palate is sleek, linear and super-clean; while this is driven by freshness some luscious fruit awaits underneath.
Subtle hints of ripe pineapple and peach hover over this delicate and very refreshing wine. Notes of lemon and citrus zest provide freshness and zing but the most remarkable aspect is its lightness. Dry, ultralight-bodied and super-refreshing this is a great choice for a summer party.
Tender but rich notes of damask rose dominate the nose. They are joined on the palate by a textured, almost phenolic mouthfeel in which fresh citrus vibrates and swings along with just off-dry notes of ripe stone fruit. This lush but still toned wine will come into its own with rich, soft-rind cheeses or spicy Asian fare.
Elusive raspberry tries to find its way to the fore of this big-bodied Pinot, its time in oak apparent yet integrated. Savory herb notes provide a complexity and balance against the dark cherry fruit, rounding out a wine that has girth but also finesse.
Earthy notes of underbrush, truffle, tilled soil and ripe plum lead the nose on this solid Vino Nobile. The straightforward palate offers crushed black cherry, raspberry, white pepper and a hint of licorice alongside fine-grained tannins. Enjoy through 2018.
Aromas of red currant, cedar, bell pepper, coffee and cut grass lead the nose on this structured red. The palate delivers dried black cherry, cassis, cocoa, licorice and black pepper alongside grippy tannins.
This distinctive wine shows aromas of rain-soaked herbs, mineral, cocoa and red fruit. It's filled with luscious, jammy raspberry flavors that combine with an alluring, silky feel. With time, the aromas and flavors might unite to kick it up a notch.
Blue flower, tilled soil, spicy plum and grilled herb aromas lead the nose on this medium-bodied, elegant wine. The vibrant, savory palate delivers crushed black cherry, mature blackberry, clove and thyme alongside firm but fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2018.
Notes of dark berry, crushed flower and tobacco come together in this blend of Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. The firm palate delivers mature plum, dried cherry, coffee, licorice and toasted notes alongside a backbone of assertive tannins.
From a Freestone-based vineyard, this wine offers an earthy funkiness on the nose, veering into forest floor, that then evolves into dark cherry and vanilla. A deep imprint of oak is felt on the palate, along with a tart rhubarb-like finish accented by a touch of black pepper.
Fresh and savory, this medium-bodied white offers an alluring fragrance of pressed hawthorne petal, citronella and a whiff of citrus peel. The zesty palate doles out candied nectarine, mature apple and a note of Mediterranean herb. Racy acidity provides the framework and creates a clean, quenching finish.
This wine is blend of 54% Touriga Nacional, 23% Souzao, 12% Tinta Roriz and 11% Tinta Cão—all relatively new varieties to Washington. It displays light aromas of dark chocolate, clove and spice. The sweet flavors are more restrained than the wine's name might suggest, bringing a pleasing sense of balance that carries through the chocolaty finish.
Delicate whiffs of toast, butterscotch and smoke meander from nose to palate in this remarkably focused, elegant wine. Lime and pear flavors are vivacious and bright, meandering long on the finish.
Aromas of vanilla, cocoa, cashew and dried herb start out light and elusive but open up over time. Meanwhile the cherry flavors are sweet and creamy in feel, backed by firm, somewhat dry tannins.
This light-bodied wine is intriguing in its shocks of white pepper, rose-petal aroma and dark-cherry flavor. Well balanced and fresh, it shows a bite of sizable tannin midpalate that softens and is tamed on the finish.
This playful and punchy wine stands out from this producer's often more reserved style. Aromas of concentrated pomegranate and hibiscus team with cola and vanilla on the nose. The palate is quite joyous, with candied cranberry and raspberry and even a touch of soda-like Hawaiian Punch.
Restrained on the nose, this bottling by Richard Sanford and Nick de Luca shows light aromas of Marcona almond, lemon zest, Asian pear and Gravenstein apple. The sip is delicate in texture yet grippy with tannic structure, revealing pear flesh and squeezed lime flavors.
This wine opens with brooding aromas of green olives, capers and smoked meat, along with an herbal lift. The flavors show concentration and richness, mixing fruit, herb and savory flavors in equal parts. It finishes a tad warm.
Aromas of boysenberry, huckleberry and spice are followed by seamless and polished blue and black-fruit flavors. It delivers a lot of appeal, showing some warmth on the finish.
This black-colored crianza delivers big, toasty aromas of charred oak, setting the stage for a massive palate, the equivalent of an 18-wheeler. Blackened flavors of burnt wood, coffee and berry fruit lead to a smacking tannic finish. Drink 2020–2025.
Briny like lime salt, this coastal wine is lovely in stony mineral and tart oak. Medium bodied and moderate in acidity, it refreshes in a context of refinement and grace.
From six vineyards across the Central Coast, Josh Jensen's annual cuvée shows black cherry, cola and nutmeg on the straight-ahead nose. Solid herbal backbone shows on the sip, with juniper, bay leaf and pine needles giving tang to the sour cranberry fruit. A menthol character carries in to the finish.
The wine is ripe and packed with fruity Merlot. It has a dense structure and an opulent character that gives the wine considerable richness. The firm tannins are cushioned by all this fruit. It does have high alcohol, but the final acidity ensures that the wine remains crisp.
Black fruits dominate this second wine of Kirwan, an 1855 Third Growth Grand Cru Classé. The oak aging is subtle and gives a smooth character rather than strong toasty flavors. The richness and structure do promise some aging although this wine will develop quickly. Drink from 2020.
Dark strawberry, rust, tar and sandalwood show on the nose of this bottling, which is still in its infancy despite already being six years old. Bright and booming acidity slices through the sour cherry, cranberry, cedar and pine-resin flavors, framed by tense but not overwhelming tannins. Drink 2019–2031.
The aromas in this wine pop, with notes of dried herb, plum, vanilla and smoked meat. It brings a compelling sense of texture, coating the palate from end to end with exquisitely balanced fruit and savory flavors. It's a knockout at this price.
High-toned aromas of cocoa, toast, mixed green herb and dark fruit lead to tart cherry and cranberry flavors that bring a pucker factor. It shows a very lovely sense of balance that keeps the interest high. Give it some additional time in bottle or a short decant.
This wine is a blend of Merlot (58%), Cabernet Franc (22%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Petit Verdot. Brooding aromas of cherry, blackberry, wood spice, anise and bittersweet chocolate lead to dry, incredibly tightly wound tannins. It needs significant time in the cellar to soften a bit. Don't go near it until 2025 unless you give it an extended decant.
The aromas are light initially, with notes of cocoa, herb, barrel spice and cherry not yet fully ready to reveal their charms. The cherry and bittersweet chocolate flavors are backed by lightly grainy tannins that need some time to unwind. The wood is intense at present but there are good things underneath.
Aromatic ripe, red cherries reveal a tart touch of redcurrant on the nose. The palate has that same appetizing, red-fruited allure: refreshing and juicy, but never heavy. A fresh-faced and authentic red, it has been captured at the perfect intersection of ripeness and crunch. It can even be served a little chilled.
Enticing scents of red berry, crushed rose petal and wild herb take center stage. Round and savory, the palate offers juicy black cherry, licorice and tobacco framed in polished tannins and fresh acidity. It won't need years to come around but it will also stand up to midterm aging. Drink 2019–2028.
This shows a touch of evolution in its faded rim, but the aromas of cherries, cinnamon and mocha remain pristine. The tannins are smooth and supple, subtly framing expressive flavors of cherries, chocolate, espresso and baking spices. Drink now–2022.
This wine is 100% Cabernet, coming from Seven Hills, Loess, Summit View, Yellow Jacket, Stone Valley, Ferguson and Pepper Bridge vineyards. Locked-up aromas of barrel spice, toast, herb, vanilla and dark fruit give way to rich but well balanced black-fruit flavors. Lightly grainy tannins offer sufficient support.
Very spicy and mineral-like in aroma and flavor, this new Mendocino release from a Napa-based winery is unusual in the intensity of salty, nutty components that dominate the crisp grapefruit and green-apple flavors underneath. Concentrated in flavor, tight and dense in texture, it will need time to reach its peak, and will be best after 2020.
Full bodied and gritty in texture, this wine smooths out in the glass, opening to slowly unravel layers of forest pine, black cherry and cola. With measured oak, it has a depth and breadth across the palate, revealing concentration within a graceful context.
Blue-fruit aromas are front and center along with notes of herb and barrel spice. The palate shows restraint and suppleness that continues through the sweet fruit flavors on the finish. It's an intriguing, stylistically unique offering of this variety.
Merlot makes up 58% of this blend, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) and Cabernet Franc. A blend of fruit from Anna Marie, Spring Valley, Loess, and Minnick Hills vineyards, the aromas are light, with notes of plum, raspberry, barrel toast and spice. The palate is soft and silky, gliding on the finish. It's all about delicacy.
Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) takes the lead on this wine, followed by Petit Verdot (18%), Merlot (17%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Malbec. Bright aromas of plum, cranberry, cigar box, blackberry, café au lait and smoke lead to sweet generous red and black-fruit flavors. It brings a sense of purity of flavor that captures the attention.
From 100% estate-grown Calistoga fruit, this tiny-production wine is well-composed in compost, grilled mushroom and meaty undertones, the sturdy structure and ripe body robust and integrated. Cinnamon and clove dot the lengthy finish. This wine will benefit from more time in bottle; drink best 2019–2024.
Dry, fresh aromas of red fruits come across crisp and racy. The palate follows the nose's lead with medium weight and traditional snappy acidity. Flavors of plum, berry and cassis are clean, while the finish shows some richness via molasses and oaky notes.
Excellent fruit sources (Conner Lee and Boushey vineyards) provide the highlights here. Dense, dark, toasty and flavorful, this is loaded with ripe blackberry, black cherry and fig flavors. Good concentration and power throughout.
This young red blend marries sweet raspberry and blueberry fruit to peppery, drying tannins. It's drinking well already, and should continue to over the next 3–5 years.
Syrah is the best of the Script & Seal offerings, showing sharp-toned flavors of cassis, licorice, tobacco and ultra-dark chocolate.
Well-priced from estate-grown vineyards, Shannon Ridge's Chardonnay is smooth in lemon, ripe apple and pear, and easygoing and clean with a finish of pineapple and vanilla oak. A great go-to wine for white wine lovers.
Lush aromas of ripe black cherries, graham crackers and menthol are generous and inviting on this promising Long Island Merlot. It's luscious and concentrated on the palate, but bracingly taut with acidity and a tart Morello-cherry finish.
For lovers of lush, buttery Chardonnay, this is the one to seek out. Generously toasty barrel flavors complement spicy pineapple fruit. It's forward, full-bodied and ready to drink now.
Dusty berry fruit aromas blend with milk chocolate and lactic notes on what amounts to a mildly oaky nose. The mouthfeel, meanwhile, is juicy and just right. Flavors of berry fruits, licorice and raisin finish full, minty and ripe, with lasting freshness.
Jammy berry and cassis aromas come with a bit of leather and horse hide. This brings it on the palate, but there isn't much finesse to the mix of blackberry and baked plum flavors along with hard tannins. Give this time in the glass and it opens up and mellows out.
Aged for more than three years in French oak, this 100% Petite Sirah Port has Tawny character, cinnamon spicy smooth and dark, with a bite of acidity on the mid-palate. Smooth with a long finish, its flavors lean toward blueberry and dark chocolate. It has 70 g/L residual sugar.
Ripe in oak, this Chardonnay has aromas of candied lemon and chiffon, and is crisp in acidity with a taste of wet stone and fresh peach. With layers and depth, the oak rears its head most prominently on the finish.
There's a spotlight on ripe, brooding black plums and cherries in this big, powerful Turkish Cabernet Sauvignon. It's densely structured, with fine-grained, yet deeply penetrating tannins, and a streak of high acidity, but there's an elegant suppleness throughout that hints of a long maturation ahead.
Straightforward white-fruit aromas of apple and peach are the greeting, which is followed by a leesy, creamy feeling palate with enough popping acidity to create proper balance. Flavors of citrus fruits, nectarine and lees finish tasty and bright.
Made from native grape Monica, this offers a fruit and spice fragrance. The palate delivers ripe cherry and black pepper with subtle notes of well-integrated  oak. With its smooth texture, fine tannins and fresh acidity, it's a perfect red for grilled fish.
Blended with 10% Viognier, this wine brings notes of flowers and peach while showing little oak influence. A touch of residual sugar sweetens the finish.
Red-berry aromas are at once jammy as well as sharp. In the mouth, this is chunky but also choppy. Intense flavors of berry fruits come with a cherry note, while the finish is earthy in flavor, with some roughness to the lasting tannins.
This is a crisp, clean and nicely-structured Chardonnay, fermented in a mix of new and neutral oak, along with some stainless steel. A bit beer-like and yeasty at first, it opens into pleasing flavors of grapefruit and pineapple, with just the right amount of acidity.
Fermented in concrete, then aged on lees for five months, this is a pretty expression of Chardonnay with popcorn butter, cream and white peach leading to a tart finish.
Jasmine, aromatic herb and pear aromas waft out of the glass. The bright, creamy palate doles out ripe green apple, candied nectarine zest, ginger and a mineral note alongside fresh acidity and frothy bubbles. This is a fun, delicious sparkler for all occasions.
This is a rich wine, full of juicy fruit and attractive acidity. A blend of 95% Malbec and 5% Merlot, it has touches of wood aging along with the tannins. It will develop quickly, so drink from 2018.
While this smells slightly briny and gritty, there's controlled energy and a sense of quality to the palate. Peppery, dry flavors of apple and peach are lasting on a stone-fruity-heavy finish.
Medium sweet and fruit forward, this is loaded with flavors of orange pekoe tea, candied lemon and peach marmalade. It's a fruit circus, with plenty of sweetness. It could be used as a dessert wine with a berry pie, or tried as an adventurous companion to a blue cheese.
Crushed oregano, rosemary oil and yard clippings show on the nose of this pyrazine-popping bottling. Flavors of cut grass and jalapeño on the palate grow complex thanks to a green orange-peel element.
The fragrant floral nature of Riesling shines through on the fresh nose. The palate also holds this lemony freshness, harnessed by small bubbles fizzing away on the lively, slender, dry palate. A streak of lemony acidity adds some extra brightness.
A wine that is ripe with a firmly tannic edge as well as rich black fruits. Juicy acidity and black fruits come from the eclectic blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Merlot and Syrah. The wine is still young although with its fruitiness it is ready to drink.
From the producer's estate, this zesty wine is easygoing and softly tart, a mix of plum, strawberry and leathery texture that should shine next to a pizza pie.
Oaky, smoky, earthy aromas and flavors dominate this full-bodied and firm-textured wine. A muscular, assertive wine, it should taste great with a grilled steak or lamb chop.
Smells meaty and charred, then folds in red berries, tea-like notes and peppery hints of cinnamon Red Hots. It's medium to full in body, with a crisp tart-berry finish.
A smoky, peppery aroma and equally spicy flavor set this medium-bodied wine apart from the pack. Dry in style, it has a firm, tannic texture. Bring out the lamb or beef to enjoy with this one.
Tempting oaky aromas and flavors in this full-bodied and tannic wine run the gamut from clove to nutmeg to cinnamon and wood smoke, backed by low-key dark-fruit flavors. It's a nicely built, complex and satisfying wine.
Good fruit concentration and mellow oak accents make a good combo in this full-bodied and plush-textured wine. The aromas resemble cedar and tobacco and flavors suggest ripe plum and raspberry.
Crisp, clean aromas of Asian pear, Pink Lady apple, dried pineapple and a touch of dried melon show on the nose of this wine from a group of Malibu vintners. The palate shows ripe apple and brown-pear flavors, with a bubblegum twist and lime-juice acidity.
Aromas of dried cherry, raisin, oak and a balsamic note follow through to the palate along with a coffee note. Firm tannins grip the finish. Drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit richness.
This wine is heavily oaked, yet rich and enjoyable. Smoky, spicy, almost sweet aromas and flavors are backed by ripe blackberry flavors and a smooth texture.
Offering layers of juicy black currant, this is a soft, malleable wine, subtle in oak and tannin, blended with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A touch of cedar and herb provides additional character, while the finish lands softly.
Saucy and spicy up front, this blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo and Carignan also smells a bit leafy and tar-like. A fresh, tomatoey palate suggests spaghetti sauce, while dry, spicy, herbal plum and berry flavors finish with mint and additional spice notes.
This wine shows somewhat generic black and purple-fruit aromas, with a hint of purple flowers as well. The palate picks up the pace with brown sugar, pork fat, juicy boysenberry fruit and touches of white pepper, violet and fennel.
Full bodied, supple and warm, this is a ripe Shiraz loaded with dark plum, cola and earth flavors. The finish turns spicy, with a slightly grainy tannin structure.
The mountain aspect of this bottling seems to restrain some of this grape variety's typical exuberance, for better and worse. Light blackberry and dried sagebrush show on the nose, while the palate picks up black raspberry and wet dill flavors.
The color of this medium-bodied wine is quite light, which is natural for some Sangioveses. Aromas recall mellow spices and light fruits, while the flavors are moderate and the texture smooth, almost light.
Neutral aromas offer touches of peach and melon. This feels heavy on the palate, with pithy, slightly bitter flavors of mixed citrus fruits and grass. A bitter note blends with white grapefruit on the finish.
This wine tastes like a superripe, late-harvest and lavishly oaked version, so that all the aromas and flavors seem to be in overdrive. It smells like cinnamon and vanilla, tastes like strawberry jam, and has a little white pepper in the finish.
Candied fruit and oak combine on the palate for a smooth ride in this medium-weight wine, priced attractively given the quality. A bittersweet hint of tobacco greets the finish.
The nose of this wine brings leather and oak to the front. This feels narrow and choppy, but the flavors are fairly creamy and lactic, with generic cassis and plum notes popping up. A mild tasting, smooth-textured finish is like the rest of the wine.
Pinched aromas of leather, tomato and Mexican chile are low on fruit. This Bordeaux-style red blend is chewy and dense, with full tannins. Rubbery, herbal black-fruit flavors are gritty, while the finish is minty and exceedingly herbal and leafy, with a compost note.
Saucy plum and raspberry aromas are simple but enjoyable. This feels round but also choppy and tannic. Toasty berry flavors are largely generic, while this tastes spicy and feels resiny on the finish.
Deeply pink with orange tones, this summer wine from Delfina's Vineyard shows a tangy sour-cherry nose with a touch of tarry complexity. It's yeasty on the sour-leaning palate, with orange bitters, plum and lemon-peel flavors.
Baking spices and almost-sweetness come out in the aroma and continue in the flavors, making this a full-bodied and enthusiastically fruity wine. The texture is smooth and broad and includes some fine-textured tannins.
Dried cherries, dried blueberries, fudge and licorice combine into a silky, sexy nose on this blend of 60% Syrah, 28% Petite Sirah, 5% Zinfandel, 3% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 2% Tannat. The palate is sleek though thin, with light boysenberry, dark slate and hints of vanilla.
Brisk tobacco and red fruit aromas mesh with sanguine iron and cola notes on the nose of this appellation blend. The flavors are quite rusty, with fresh plum, sour cranberry and a bit of pencil lead.
There's funky earthiness to this otherwise ripe and full-bodied wine, a taste of raspberry and strawberry hulls contributing additional wildness. Cola and dark cherry contribute secondary flavors around moderate acidity.
A tart red-currant tone is deepened by streaks of blackberry and granite in this medium-bodied Cab Franc. Showing adequate structure from the tannins and acidity, this wine progresses nicely from the fruity start to the vanilla-dusted finish.
Earthy, leathery aromas are herbal and loaded with creamy oak. This feels solid but lacks complexity, while herbal, salty black-fruit flavors end short, with an herbal reprise and a hint of licorice on the finish.
Soft and round, this is a ripe wine accented in toasted oak, vanilla and Good-n-Plenty-type licorice, made in a likable style.
Zesty acidity shines a spotlight on fresh citrus and mineral tones in this blend of Riesling and Gewürztraminer. It's not deeply concentrated on the palate, but a kiss of white blossom lends elegance to the finish.
Pleasant floral aromas and sunny fruit-bowl flavors meet light buttery, earthy touches in this rather light-bodied wine. This shows nice complexity on the palate, with pear, peach and apple flavors.
Aromas of toasted oak, candied citrus, pressed white flower and vanilla lead the nose and follow through to the palate, along with nectarine zest and baked apricot. Enjoy soon to capture the remaining freshness and fruit.
With full body, very ripe aromas and flavors and a gripping, tannic texture, this could almost be a Port. It tastes like dark chocolate, dried figs and blackberry and has plenty of power on the tongue and on the finish. Pairing with blue cheese would be a good idea.
Dry, scratchy plum and raspberry aromas come before an energetic palate. Loud berry and plum flavors run quick and bright, finishing with candy-like cherry flavors and wham-bam acidity.
Brick and black-rock earthiness mixes with slightly sour black cherry in this smartly priced blend of 55% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 15% Petite Sirah. The palate shows tart red currant fruit and sagebrush.
Candied raspberry and plum aromas are ripe and simple. This feels quite tannic and rubbery, while flavors of cherry, mixed berries and chocolate convey a sense of sweetness. A fresh but rough finish clocks this out.
From vineyards that surround the winery in San Martin, this wine offers stony aromas of black slate and earth but only the tiniest bit of plum fruit. Dark red-cherry fruits show on the palate along with cedar, and it's rather light in body though with grippy tannins.
This is a full-bodied and intensely fruity wine with jammy aromas and ripe cherry and raspberry flavors. It is smooth textured and has soft tannins, so the effect is easygoing in spite of high alcohol.
Red cherry and currant mix with sweet sawdust and anise-spiced gum on the nose. Medium-bodied, with a plush feel, juicy red fruit flavors pervade on the palate. Light tannins make this an easy sipper—enjoy alone or with lighter proteins.
While this is piercing, aggressive and herbal on the nose, there's enough rustic authenticity, licorice and cherry character to push it along. A raw palate offers oak-based flavors of vanilla and coconut but also tart plum and currant. A wiry, shearing finish tastes oaky and feels hard.
The earthy nose does no justice to the full, ripe fruit on the palate of this rounded, rich wine. There is some phenolic bitterness that is not unpleasant around the edges and a smidgeon of sweetness balanced by orange zest.
Rosy in color, with gritty, earthy aromas of dried red fruits and horse, this coastal Pinot is lean, tangy and citric in the mouth. Pie cherry, tomato and oregano flavors finish zippy, short and with a tomato sauce aftertaste.
While this wine is a majority varietal, it blends in Syrah, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, each co-fermented with the Cab. The tannin weight is pronounced, adding to the richness and concentration of blackberry jam and black pepper, the tannins leathery and lengthy.
Thick in bittersweet tannins, akin to tobacco, this is a big, full-bodied wine with a richness of raspberry and blackberry that becomes juicy on the midpalate before finishing lean.
Pressed yellow flower, dried fruit and toasted oak aromas lead the nose. The lean palate offers candied citrus zest, vanilla and drying, wood-driven sensations but not much fruit richness. It finishes on a bitter, nutty note.
Whiffs of vanilla, saffron, peach and yellow cherry lend exotic flair to this unctuous yet delicate dessert wine. A blend of Riesling, Scheurebe and Huxelrebe grapes, its unique composition lends plumpness of fruit balanced by zesty acidity and a lingering waxy sheen. It's sure to be a dramatic finish to an elegant dinner event, yet surprisingly affordable.
Immediately appealing, this trendsetting Malbec proudly cranks out blackberry and spice aromas that are on the spot. Full and tannic on the palate, but not too fierce, this tastes of bold, earthy plum and black raspberry with savory notes kicking in. A long, tightly wound finish with well-integrated oak means this will last. Drink through 2022.
This soulful wine opens with earthy, almost funky aromas of freshly tilled earth, overripe black fruit, leather and game. The round, full-bodied palate doles out fleshy black cherry, juicy blackberry, tobacco, truffle, anise and clove alongside velvety tannins. It's already approachable but will drink well for the next decade. Drink 2016–2026.
Named after the 18th Russian Tsar, Peter the Great, this is serious, powerful wine. It's a powerhouse of ripe fruits, blackberries, dark plums and solid tannins. With a solid, firm background of wood and spice as well as acidity, it's concentrated and needing to age. Drink from 2018.
Powerful tannins are the hallmark of this dense wine, hardly surprising considering the blending of Malbec and Tannat. The wine also has the concentrated fruit to go with the structure, with its black plum and dark berry flavors. Structure and fleshy fruit are coming together well, just needing time. Drink from 2018.
Rock-solid aromas of toasty oak, black fruits and leather are textbook for Ribera del Duero. This is structurally sound, with deep earthy blackberry, coffee and chocolate flavors that announce quality wood work. A long warm toasty finish means this ends as well as it opens. Drink through 2020.
Aromas of wild berry, graphite, dark cooking spice and grilled herb lead the nose. The concentrated palate shows dense black cherry marinated in spirits, licorice, clove, toast and a hint of espresso accompanied by firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2018–2028.
Still so young, this is a dense, hugely concentrated black-colored wine, dark with tannins and rich with powerful black plum and damson fruits. Powered and very ageworthy, it will be best drunk from 2020. The wine takes its name from the Zero Longitude Greenwich meridian that passes through the vineyard.
Full of fruit, this also expresses a tight and mineral sense of terroir. Tangy, packed with white fruit and green plums cut with lime juice, this ripe, full-bodied wine is going to be delicious. Drink from 2018.
From a vineyard that is shaped like a butterly (Papillon), this is a ripe, rich and dry wine. It has honey, almonds and fresh pear, with a taut mineral structure to hold it all together. Although delicious, the wine is still too young, so wait until 2017 for it to begin to shine.
Sour berry, rose, and chopped herb aromas follow through to the full-bodied palate along with black raspberry, licorice and a hint of mocha. Firm, ripe tannins provide the framework while a balsamic closes the finish. Drink 2018–2031.
Classico Nebbiolo aromas of wild red berry, tilled soil, aromatic herb and forest floor spill out of the glass. The generous palate offers red cherry marinated in spirits, white pepper, clove and anise alongside solid tannins. Savory and structured, it's already almost accessible but will still provide fine drinking over the next decade. Drink 2017–2026.
This is modern Rioja in all its glory. The nose is plump, a bit gaseous at first, and full of blackberry, raisin and prune aromas. This feels flush, choppy and oaky, with fine tannic structure. Flavors of blackberry, cassis, vanilla and cream finish subtly and woody, with a lactic aftertaste. Drink through 2025.
Compelling aromatics vault it into rarefied company, a riot of black cherry, pepper, graphite and cigar box. The fruit is immaculate and aging for almost a year in one-third new French oak polishes it perfectly. The finish has grip, length and power.
From the Oak Knoll District and estate-grown fruit, this 100% varietal wine has a substantial amount of vanilla and cherry at its heart. Medium bodied, structured and soft, it retains fine-grained tannins that should mellow in the cellar, through 2022.
This is a dark chocolate and licorice flavored wine with great tannins and minerality as well as black plum fruits. It is concentrated and powerful and still so young. Dense and brooding, it will need many more years to mature, so drink from 2019.
Cherry blossom and wild berries show on the nose of this appellation blend by a longtime boutique producer, who flies far under the radar even within the region. The palate shows plum skin, tart dark berry and barely ripe red-currant flavors, along with ground espresso, juniper and sandalwood.
The old-vine estate vineyard delivers a well-balanced, elegant wine that shows mineral and steel along with tart berry fruit. Despite a much lighter vintage than 2012, there is enough density and depth to reward some additional cellar time.
Aromas of mature dark-skinned berry, toasted hazelnut, espresso, menthol and oak-driven spice meld together in the glass. The concentrated, full-bodied palate boasts succulent black cherry, raspberry jam, licorice, vanilla and sage framed in velvety tannins that give this a polished texture. Drink 2018–2027.
Minerality is front and center on this bottling, with concentrated pencil lead the focus, backed up by sandalwood and dried rose petals but no overt fruit. The palate offers ripe cranberries and buttered cherries, yet the graphite and iron mineral core remain prominent. Drink 2018–2028, allowing the fruit to blossom and slight star-anise warmth to emerge.
Aromas of red berry, game, scorched earth and a whiff of menthol emerge on this full-bodied Barolo. The linear, powerful palate offers succulent red cherry, wild berry, anise and baking spice alongside firm but refined tannins and bright acidity. Give it time to unwind then enjoy. Drink after 2020.
Rose, red berry, mint and anise aromas unfold in the glass. The firm palate offers wild cherry, crushed raspberry, clove, anisette and a mocha note framed in bracing tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2020–2031.
Almost black in color, this powerful wine from vines in the Douro Superior region is impressively ripe and concentrated. Dark tannins, brooding black plum flavors and a solid age worthy structure will allow this wine to age. Drink from 2018.
In this wine, a very elegant combination of lilacs and plush blackberry jam is lifted by black pepper, allspice and more baking spices. It has a great mix of energetic acidity, soft mouthfeel and firm tannic structure on the palate, with flavors of fudge, cola, elderberry and oregano toward the finish.
Always a top cuvée for Sineann, this refined and detailed effort shows distinct mineral notes in both its nose and its finish. Concentrated raspberry and plum fruit is lightly dusted with cocoa powder, and the extended finish has highlights of baking spices.
Earthy and a touch shy at first, with lightly floral aromas that blend well with the scents of baked plum, prune and blackberry. It's heavy and cheek-grabbing, but also hugely flavorful and loaded with cassis, blackberry, herbs and tobacco. Long as a marathon on the finish. Drink from 2011 through 2014. 1,000 cases made.
Cadaretta's largest production red is drinking beautifully in this exceptional vintage. It seems to be moving into midlife softness, with a well-integrated blend of plums, cassis and black cherries, highlighted with clove and coffee. Complex and detailed, its tannins are grainy and dark, adding heft and gravitas to the fruit.
In the case of this Champagne's label, it's the women seducing the man. And, yes, this is an elegant Champagne, dominated by crisp Chardonnay acidity, ripe apples and citrus. There is minerality to add to the stylish mix.
The percentage of Grenache has been bumped up in Rôtie's second vintage, now at 70%, with the rest an even split between Syrah and Mourvèdre. Soft and spicy scents are laced with a mix of rock and vanilla. This nicely structured yet approachable wine might be mistaken for a Washington take on Priorat. The underlying minerality gives the light, plummy fruit a solid footing, and extends the length considerably.
This is 100% Pinot Noir, which gives richness to the wine. It is generous, with red apple and pear flavors, still very fresh. An attractive final bite says that it will age.
Beautifully light, a steely core wrapped in apricot, citrus and the brightest, perfumed acidity. A delicious wine, packed with fresh, pure fruit character.
This is tight when first opened, with a hard-edged herbal character. Beneath that shell are richer, tropical fruit flavors of ripe banana, yellow apple and a hint of papaya; and with plenty of breathing time the wine softens and opens out. Roughly two thirds of the barrels were new French oak; and that is still being resolved into the fruit. This wine has a good 6–8 years of life ahead of it, but if you are drinking it now, decant it.
Smooth, nutty character, with fine maturity along with grapefruit acidity. The Champagne is beautifully elegant, with hints of orange zest, finishing with a balanced toastiness.
A subtle, complex, utterly distinctive mix of flavors, with opening streaks of butter cookie, then mushroom broth, tightly wound berry fruit, earthy coffee grounds and even darker streaks of espresso and smoke and licorice. It is deeply layered with flavors that just keep piling on. Amazing wine.
This is the only Cayuse Syrah that is co-fermented (with 8% Viognier), which adds nuances of white flower and floral, though the citrus rind scents override them. In the nose it's hugely expressive, though still quite tight and compact in the mouth; it must be decanted. It's a three ring circus of a wine, with things moving and shaking in all directions. Mineral, berry, mountain complexity, nuanced herb and earth and citrus, all in proportion, and all flowing in the mouth.
A throwback to the monster Shiraz style of old, with loads of toasty, vanilla-laden oak, meaty nuances and driving, intense boysenberry fruit, the 2004 Grange should prove tremendously long-lived. Its massive concentration and firm tannins suggest cellaring through 2020, after which it should drink well for at least another decade or two.
A huge wine, fat with the characteristic Cayuse funk, and accented with plenty of meaty asphalt. Potent and powerful, bursting with berries and plums, scented with the aromas of earth and sweet (not dried) herb, chicken stock and flavors that run through the same exotic range. Round and full, forward and balanced, drinking well and maybe just a bit rounder than its brethren.
Superb sculpture and definition in this compact and lightly funky evocation of pure Cabernet Sauvignon. The deep, dense, super ripe berry flavors are framed within a bouquet of dried herbs, pepper, mineral, astringent tannins, and a crisp mix of earth, wood and plant flavors. Superb length and ageability.
Januik's reserve is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Sourced from Champoux and Weinbau, just three barrels were made. The fruit is deeply flavored with black cherry and cassis, and the tannins seem darker, earthier, toastier and overall fuller than any of the other excellent Januik reds. Still young and tight, this promises to blossom over time with floral, earth, barrel and spice highlights.
A rich and powerful wine, dense and chewy. Its tannins dominate a wine that is still young. The damson and blackberry fruits give richness and acidity. Combined, the structure and the fruit make an imposing, potentially long-lived wine.
The best of a great flight of single-vineyard 2009 Pinots from Adelsheim, this new entry into the lineup is all muscle and black fruits. It is power-packed with dense, rich flavors, nuanced with exotic spices and black tea, moving into silky tannins and an extremely long, satisfying finish.
A superbly rich and creamy wine, powered by ripe Pinot Noir, with elegance and élan. The wine is concentrated, powerful, packed with intense white fruit flavors and citrus. For aging.
From the oldest block of the estate's Seven Hills Vineyard, this pure Cabernet opens with intense aromas of mountain fruit. Bramble, light herb, cement, black cherry and cassis combine in a polished, elegant wine that probes deeply into the palate. Flavors abound—cassis, coffee, licorice and more.
Good concentration, with tight-knit purple and black fruit flavors, a streak of espresso, and the characteristic herb and mineral flavors of the vintage. Very fresh, clean, muscular and still compact, with concentrated blackberry fruit that pops up and broadens out in the finish.
Saturated in every way, this sappy, spicy, almost surreal Tempranillo piles on the wild, gamy fruit, the mineral-infused base, the leaf and forest flavors, all around tart berry flavors. Amazingly deep color, fine-grained tannins, a sweetly herbal character, and great balance throughout.
A lovely dessert wine, perhaps the pinnacle in South Africa. Concentrated and quite intense with full-bodied flavors of orange rind, clementine and dried apricot fruit spiced with notes of crushed yellow florals, roasted nut skin, toasted egg bread and pure honeycomb. Balanced acidity prevents the mouth from being too thick or viscous, while the endless finish carries decadent notes of candied ginger.
Pretty orange blossom and yellow peach aromas against a backdrop of petrol make this “gently dry,” light-bodied Riesling a classic expression of the grape. Lots of ripe stonefruit and florals shower the palate, leading to a persistent finish marked with vibrant acidity and a bright lime skin finish.
The nose on Keuka Lake's Evergreen Lek Vineyard is wonderfully intriguing with dark notes of smoke, petrol and brine accented by hits of ripe, yellow peach. Dry on the palate with nuances of dark steel, smoke and orange peel, this medium-bodied Riesling is brightened by a flash of fresh orange acidity and sweet grapefruit pith on the finish.
Concentrated aromas of lychee, rose petals and black tea leaves perfume this delicious golden yellow wine. The palate is dry, but with just a touch of pink grapefruit softness. Although full and rich in the mouth, balanced acidity and a spiced, grapefruit pith finish keeps the wine from getting flabby.
Intensely perfumed and very spicy, with a core of dryness in the richness. The wine feels weighty, with some pepper, honey and sweet fruits; very full in the mouth.
With honest PN aromas of cherry, rhubarb, currant and spice, this registers as something Pinot drinkers can relate to. There's modest weight and good acidity, with spicy, tea-influenced flavors of plum and raspberry. Dry with some cocoa on the finish. Surprisingly nice for a $9 Chilean Pinot.
Wines from Plan de Dieu are rarely seen in the U.S., but this is an attractive offering from the Quiot family's holdings in that region. It's dark in profile, with aromas and flavors that veer from black cherry toward black olive and coffee. It's medium bodied, with some fine, slightly dusty tannins on the finish. Drink it over the next few years.
Something of a disappointment in this vintage, a wine that has an awkward bitter character. The wine is fine enough, with rich berry fruits, but misses the style of previous vintages.
Wet, salinic, oceanic and appley on the nose, with snappy, crisp, almost tart flavors of apple and citrus. A pure wine with juicy acids and a monotone finish that sports lemon and green apple. Powerful, pure, acidic and zesty for Chilean Chardonnay.
Opens with rubber, smoke, leather and coffee aromas, then the fruit comes in on the palate, which is juicy and correct, with tight, fresh red-fruit flavors and notes of ripe tomato and pepper flake. Finishes spicy and dry, with a crispness that'll make it 100% food-friendly.
Dusty mineral and saffron notes persist throughout this complex auslese. Preserved peach, lemon and dried apple tones are richly concentrated on the palate, but there's an unusually dark, steely elegance that persists through the finish.
Bold and smoky, this offers tart, tight cherry and brambly berry fruit. The juicy acidity is counterpointed with a certain chalkiness. A whiff of truffle further complements the fruit. It's a sleek wine with surprising power.
Flint and flower aromatics introduce this wine, which follows with delicate (for the vintage) flavors of apple and mineral. It was aged 12 months in a concrete egg, and finished in stainless steel.
A pure expression of Merlot, this round, delicious wine opens with aromas of blueberry, blackberry, leather, licorice and tobacco. The juicy, smooth palate doles out fleshy black cherry, plum, mint, menthol and anise. Soft, velvety tannins give it a creamy texture. Drink through 2019.
Hearty and earthy aromas of elderberry, beet juice, smashed plums, black tea, chopped herbs and turned loam hit the nose on this blend of 75% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 2% Carignane and 1% Counoise. Coffee leads the palate, but the deep purple fruits of boysenberry and olallieberry flourish alongside black pepper, leather and a beef jerky character.
This has an unusually dark color. Aromas of blackberry jam and maple syrup are followed by equally rich, deep and expressive flavors. The remarkable concentration of ripe berry flavors layered densely with fine tannins is at least partly due to blending in Petite Sirah. It adds up to a full bodied and delicious wine.
Very fresh and ripe Bing cherries, black plums and roasted figs are balanced on the nose of this wine by chopped mint. It's elegantly complex on the palate, rising in flavor through the sip, with red cherries, purple flowers, smoked meats and a dried garlic-meets-shiitake sense of umami. Firm tannins suggest moderate ageability.
Zesty and lean, this exquisitely fine-framed Riesling builds in intensity. It's mineral and spry from start to finish, but juicy-sweet tangerine and honey notes add brightness and sunshine to the midpalate. It's enjoyable now, but likely to intensify through 2025.
This has a warm and inviting cherry compote aroma. Broad, ripe and complex flavors resemble black cherry, cinnamon and wood smoke, with a full body and a velvety texture.The wine falls on the rich, plush side of the fence, simply gorgeous in flavor profile, full bodied and long on the finish.
Black pepper and thick smoke accentuate the bouquet of this cinnamon-spiced wine, rounded out in taste by red plum and dark chocolate. Soft and juicy on the front palate, it will benefit with time to open further, suggesting either a decant or time in cellar, through 2020. The wine is blended with 7% Cabernet Sauvignon.
An attractive Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with varietal aromas of cedar, red currants and tobacco while the palate offers dried black cherry, exotic spice and licorice. It's still tightly wound with firm but fine-grained tannins.
Bright and polished, this low-alcohol wine is rounded off—to good effect—with some noticeable residual sugar. It's a luscious wine, loaded with grapefruit, lime and Meyer lemon flavors. They carry through a mouthfilling and palate-refreshing middle into a lingering finish.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas of cassis, cedar, tobacco and dried Mediterranean herbs. The concentrated palate delivers licorice, black currants, dried plum, coffee, clove and chocolate alongside bracing but fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2016–2022.
This wine takes time to come around, but once it does, oak and pencil shavings season an herbal core that's tight and classic. Black licorice and espresso enter the fray, expanding on the palate's blackberry and cassis. Cellar through 2020–2022.
Trincadeira, also know as Tinta Amarela in the Douro, has produced this dense, rich, smooth wine. There are tannins but they are buried in the opulent spice, black plums and dark chocolate flavors. Wood aging shows, but only lightly. This is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2016.
A mix of floral and schisty cherry, raspberry and strawberry aromas are subtle, elegant and reserved. This blend of Garnacha and Syrah is fresh, but with a touch of jammy weight. Flavors of minerally plum and red currant are supported by oak and vanilla notes, while the finish is tight, racy and peppery in flavor. Drink through 2018.
This bold, firm-textured and full-bodied wine still sips easily because of its elegant balance and fine-grained tannins. It smells like sweet oak and red cherries, tastes like ripe black cherries and chocolate, while the texture is mouthfilling but velvety. Those delicious nuances linger on the finish, too.
Red cherries, dried violets and clove-laced maple syrup aromas combine into an intriguing nose for this appellation blend. It's quite hedonistic and fun on the palate, ready to drink down quickly, with deep red fruits and vibrant spice, though it does not have the complexity of Loring's single vineyard bottlings.
The light yellow-gold color is more vivid than usual. Rich aromas are fragrant with floral, honeyed, buttery notes that seem to swell in the flavors as well. This is a full-bodied, creamy-textured wine that amps up the ripeness and buttered-toast flavors to a clearly heard volume, but stops short of blasting.
Lots of sweet berry flavors and equally large doses of fine-grained tannins are the opposite poles in this full-bodied blend. It smells like boysenberry and blackberry jam, with similar fruit notes on the palate. Then very firm tannins kick in, making the texture at once blanketing and a bit drying. This has so much flavor that time in the bottle will tame some of those tannins and leave plenty of character to enjoy. Best after 2019.
There is not a lot of differentiation between the winery's Dry Riesling and this one, which is listed as 10.5g/L residual sugar—barely off dry. Still, that hint of sweetness rounds it out a bit and cuts down the intense acidity. It's a big bowl of peaches and pears, with scents and streaks of lemon tea following through.
This reserve-level effort is crisp and stylish. Fruit flavors mix melon, lime and pink grapefruit, nicely balanced against fresh, textural acids. About 20% of the blend was aged briefly in acacia.
This full-bodied blend of 50% Cabernet, 20% Petit Verdot, 20% Syrah and 15% Merlot delivers aromas and flavors of black currant, tobacco, licorice, clove and dried mint. Tightly wound, dusty tannins offer support and need time to unwind. Drink 2017–2022.
Dark and rich in color, this dense, gamy and smoky wine offers licorice and leather in equal proportions. It's still young and grippy on the palate, but time should soften its layers, which do mellow on the finish. Cellar through 2017,
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas of blackberry, ripe plum, menthol, spice and a balsamic note. The dense, full-bodied palate doles out juicy black cherries, spiced blueberries, clove and licorice alongside chewy but fine-grained tannins.
Produced from old bush vines, this is densely rich wine, with great structure and layers of full-bodied black fruit tones. It has a fruit and acid balance supported by concentrated tannins. It does need to age, so drink from 2017.
Casa Silva is a pioneer in the chilly Paredones region, but it has taken them a few years to get this wine right. In 2014, it's there. Dusty, round, briny citrus aromas are not overly pungent or spiky. This is tangy and citric on the palate, but not unfriendly. Lime, gooseberry and sour orange flavors finish long and true.
This is an impressive wine—powerful, ripe and packed with black berry fruits and dark tannins. A steely, acid character gives the wine tension as well as structure. The end brings freshness to this solid 100% Négrette wine. Drink from 2016.
Dark tannins and a dense texture give this wine considerably more richness than its alcohol would suggest. It also has black plum and black cherry fruits, layers of spice from wood, and a firm, dry aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
A light floral nose carries inviting scents of honeysuckle and clover, with just a hint of cut grass. The fruit is clean and apple-flavored, and carries a touch of cinnamon, perhaps from the neutral barrel fermentation.
Nuanced and delicate, this offers subtle aromas of garrigue, melon rind, white cherry and underripe peach. The palate is firm and tart, and flavors of orange zest and green banana linger through the flavorful, mouthwatering finish.
Nettle and gritty citrus aromas suggest matchstick. In the mouth, this SB pumps citrus notes and minerality, while flavors of tangerine, lime and lemon are zesty and shearing. An acid-driven finish confirms the wine's one-note, chiseled quality.
Almost black in color, this densely tannic wine is granular, dusty and mineral in character. The berry fruits shoulder the weight of the tannins easily, giving a ripe wine that will need until 2016 to develop fully
This late release is dry verging on astringent, with a tight shell of herb and stem. Inside a good core of tart fruit—cranberry and raspberry—still seems young and suggests that decanting and/or further bottle age will see this wine continue to improve.
Aromas recall exotic fruit, lemon blossom and slate. The crisp palate offers tart green apple, tangerine and lime zest alongside bright acidity.
This fresh young wine brings lively, tart fruit flavors of pineapple and grapefruit, with a crisp, wet stone finish. A lick of lime keeps you coming back for more.
Stony citrus and passion fruit aromas are a touch gritty. Overall, this is focused, minerally and green in nature. Flavors of lime and green mango finish with snap pea and a hint of jalapeño. Acidity and juiciness define the wine.
The allure of ripe but zingy passion fruit proves almost irresistible. Juicy and plump, the palate is saved by citrus freshness. Tropical fruit rules and makes for immense, easy pleasure.
Ripe yellow pear with the faintest suggestion of something tropical, like passion fruit, leads to a full-fruited, generous palate that is kept in check by structure and zesty acidity.
Fragrant oak spice invites you to contemplate a mix of autumnal, ripe red fruit: plums perhaps, in a compote with strawberry. Mellow tannins come with echoes of clove and cinnamon. This friendly and soft red also works without food.
Textured in bold cranberry and strawberry fruit, this older Pinot still offers plenty of fruit and weight, though neither will necessarily last much longer. It shows a softness, and streaks of herb and allspice, too. This wine offers a chance to travel back in time to a healthy vintage for Anderson Valley and see the intermingling of savory with sweet.
Solid, structured and tannic, this is a wine with potential. A mineral texture underlines the ripe, juicy fruit and berry flavors. It's rich and deliciously fruity while also structured.
Crisp and very clean, it holds flavors of red berries. It hints at a tannic structure that gives weight to the intense acidity of the young fruit. It should be given a few months more in bottle, so drink from late 2014.
Very straightforward, it's a dry and zesty Riesling for every day. While the nose gives little, the palate holds freshness and ample texture.
Berry and mild leafy aromas blend well on a controlled, earthy nose. This is stocky in feel, with good balance and roasted, herbal flavors of berry fruits. Pasty oak, mild green notes and a solid mouthfeel define the finish on this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc.
This linear wine opens with aromas that recall stone fruit, apple and pineapple. The bright palate delivers white peach, grapefruit, citrus and mineral notes alongside fresh acidity. It has a crisp, clean finish.
Strange and wayward right from the get go. The nose is herbal and foxy, and the the flavor profile is downright odd, with a dull, grapey bitterness, funk and herbal qualities. Not what we call good Carmenère.
An Amaro-like mix of bitters and herbs; this is exceptionally dense and dark. The fruit is a grace note; the big flavors come from herb, earth, rock, barrel and more. Licorice, baking spices, smoke, black cherry, Bourbon barrel, and on it goes. Huge and dense and seemingly endless.
This is the first time a King Coal has been made, all sourced from the Stoneridge Vineyard. It's a unique and delicious wine, seamless and complex. The flavors are amazingly detailed, with layer upon layer of candied fruit, raisins, Bourbon barrel, Asian spice, ginger, toast and more. The flavors pile on and continue into a seemingly endless finish, resonating into a spicy blend of fruit and Christmas cookies.
Everything that's fantastic about 21st-century Toro is encapsulated in this big, intense beauty. Tobacco, vanilla and blackberry aromas grace the forceful but stylish nose, while the palate pulses with toasty blackberry, dark plum, tobacco and chocolaty flavors. Smoky, pure and long on the finish. A hands-down winner to drink now through 2016.
This edition of The Creator is a one-time only mix of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon from Stoneridge, 21% Cabernet from Cailloux, and 36% Syrah from Morrison Lane. It's edgy and tight, with sharply defined corners—herbal, with a leafy/stemmy note, well-integrated into wild, brambly berry fruits. The 50% new oak is virtually invisible at this point; it fills out the mouthfeel but does not show specifically.
Full-bodied, lush and creamy in texture, this Merlot epitomizes the Marquis Philips style. There's a coating of charred oak, superripe fruit and plenty of size without much acid or tannin. Drink this slightly warm (16.5% abv) wine over the next 6–9 months.
A more than solid wine cut from the tropical, South American blueprint. It's open and full of banana, pear and apple aromas, and while it runs hot and fast on the palate, it's got lots of woody, ripe flavors of apple and pithy citrus. Round, lively and packed with flavor even if it shows almost nothing in common with cool-climate Chardonnay.
From 1800-foot vineyards, this is a crisp, cool, simply fruity wine that has great citrus and lemon character. Very aromatic, with green herb and fresh grapefruit zest over apple juice.
Nicely done and not the least bit difficult or complicated. The nose is full of bold black fruit and balsam wood, while the palate is full and stocky, but balanced. Flavors of berry and cherry are forward and sticky rich, while the finish is long and shows just enough acidity to keep things focused.
Five grapes led by Malbec make up this full-force wine with black cherry, cough syrup, vanilla and cream on the nose. The palate is rich, creamy and heavy, with deep, saturated black fruit and chocolate flavors, while the finish is just as thick, maybe thicker. Extremely ripe and saturated, what many would call a “fruit bomb.”
Smooth, mellow, chunky, sweet and heavily oaked. It's a modern New World Chard in every way; the palate is full, chunky and sweet, with flavors of spiced apple and tropical fruits including banana. Vanilla and cream carry the finish, and overall this is well made and rich but unctuous.
A blend of Monastrell, Tempranillo and Syrah that's ripe and raisiny but still fresh enough to earn its stripes. The nose is powerful and intense, with a sweet, baked character, while the palate tastes naturally rich but restrained, with blackberry and jammy finishing notes.
With green apple aromas, a bright freshness and a light touch of toast, this is already a balanced, delicious wine.
It's a fine effort, with classic Washington Syrah character. Berry, funk, mushroom, and spicy herb dominate, with plenty of juicy acidity and the structure to unwind as it cellars. Still tight and tannic, this is a wine to decant or, better yet, wait a few years before opening.
Rich, rounded wine showing delicious sweet pear and apricot flavors with a touch of white fig. Well balanced.
Mazuelo is almost always a blending grape for a reason: it's limited in depth and weighty. So it's no surprise that this opens with leather, prune and bullish jam and liqueur aromas. The palate, however, is kind of sharp and lacking depth, while the flavor profile is juicy, herbal and folds in cassis and berry. Snappy and acidic for an expensive varietal wine.
Like many Navarran wines, this Garnacha-Tempranillo blend offers equal parts earthy spice and dry fruit. Aromas of spearmint, leather and wood spice bump up against crisp, wiry red-fruit notes, and the palate holds that line. If you want a restrained, balanced, more traditonal Spanish wine to drink with food, this is a good bet.
Lucid in the glass, and that's half the battle when you're talking about basic, everyday whites such as this Viura-Verdejo blend. The nose is light as air, with lemony accents. Meanwhile, the fresh but lean palate offers lime, pineapple and cleansing acidity. And that's more or less what you get.
A pretty, relatively lightweight Pinot Noir, this offering from Western Australia starts off with hints of coffee and sour cherries, then develops more herbal notes and brown sugar with air. Flavors of cola, tart cherries and root vegetables finish a bit short.
Gotta hand it to Trivento, Concha y Toro's Argentine operation: their wines are consistent from year to year. Once again, the Select Chardonnay features a smooth, buttery nose and a well-oaked but healthy palate. It's woody for sure, but there's lemony balance. We wouldn't call this stately or great, but it gets the job done at $11.
The flavors are quite tart, tannic and leafy, and the wine gives the impression of coming from very young vines. That said, it's got snap and verve, and the fruit flavors are bright and forward, the herbal flavors clean and green. This would be an ideal poultry wine.
Subtle aromas of violet and red berry lead the way on this simple red. The lively palate shows sour cherry and a sprinkling of clove alongside brisk acidity and pliant tannins. Drink soon.
From one of the estates that Duboeuf bottles separately, the wine is fruity and soft. It has attractive red fruits and light, well-integrated tannins. A touch of cherry pepper character gives it a lift. Drink now.
Bready and yeasty smelling upfront, this feels round but also dry on the palate. Briny, pickled, yeasty flavors lead way to a salty finish. Quickly dissipating bubbles render it more of a demi-sec.
Mildly snappy nettle, passion fruit and tangerine aromas are a nice entry to this spunky but basic SB. Lime and tarragon flavors quickly fall off on a light finish.
Unfiltered, this is an invitingly earthy wine, marked by truffle and forest, with a generous concentration of black cherry that's impacted quite a bit by oak. Velvety smooth, it's substantial on the palate.
Notes of grass, lime leaf and garrigue herbs lead the bouquet of this attractive wine, supported by fruity tones of white melon, green plum and citrus peel. The medium-weight mouthfeel is countered by ample acidity and pithy flavors that finish slightly astringent. Drink now.
Aromas of white cherry and strawberry lead the nose of this wine, with hints of peach and honeydew that lend richness. A mentholated thread adds interest to the palate, alongside a soft astringency that couples with notes of melon rind and citrus peel on the finish.
Slightly oxidized on the nose, this is low on fruit aromas but not unappealing. A plump palate offers flavors of corn, banana and melon. Firm acidity keeps this pumping on the finish.
This soft and lightly spicy wine has big fruit flavors, a veneer of sweet oak and a plush texture. It's easy to smell and taste the ripe cherry and strawberry accents.
This is a firm and structured wine that is not yet ready to drink. With surprising tannins and a tight texture, it needs time for the fruit to come through. Drink starting from 2017.
The wine is soft, and full of fruit with attractive spicy black currant flavors. Dominated by the rounded Tinta Roriz, it is an easy wine to drink young.
Leafy aromas of tomato and plum come with a blanket of coffee and mocha. This has a balanced mouthfeel and rooty, peppery, oaky flavors that outweigh the wine's fruit. A finish with flavors of plum, spice and pepper is fitting.
This wine has faint floral aromas and a note of the tropical, built around an unfussy core of caramelized oak that manifests as crème brûlée.
Scorched earth, dry underbrush and chopped aromatic herb aromas lift out of the glass. The lean palate is rather evolved, showing dried cherry, espresso and a hint of anise alongside fine-grained tannins.
Strikingly fresh blueberry and blackberry flavors light up this dry, medium-bodied wine.Relatively light on the palate, it's leaner than most of its peers.
A very subdued nose leads to a lemon-flavored palate. The fruit notes are a little diffuse and lack focus, but the finish is dry and refreshing.
Soft, ripe and fruity, this is an immediately attractive wine. Melon, pear and apricots come together in a fruit cocktail of a lively, crisp texture. Drink now.
Scents of ripe red berry and cherry fruits are upfront on the nose of this friendly red, with hints of sweet spice, cherry cola, plum sauce and tree bark adding depth and interest. Lightweight and easy drinking, it boasts silky tannins and a fresh-fruited palate. Drink now.
A blend of two local grapes, Síria and Fonte Cal, this is crisp, herbal and lightly textured. Lemon and grapefruit dominate the final acidity. Drink now.
This salmon-colored rosé opens with pleasantly fruity aromas of tangerine, pineapple, papaya and honeydew. The palate, however, offers sharp and astringent notes of peach and apricot skin that lend a bitterness to the medium-length finish.
This is a straightforward but easy-to-enjoy selection, boasting upfront aromas and flavors of peach, watermelon rind and white currant. Light weight and bright in mouthwatering acidity, a hint of fresh-cut grass graces the clean finish.
Slightly grassy aromas of melon and stone fruits lead to a tangy, citrusy palate. This tastes a touch bready and like a peach pit, while the finish follows suit with pithy bitterness.
With partial aging in wood, this is a spicy, smoky wine that is also full of ripe red fruits. Well-integrated tannins give shape to this wine. A crisp aftertaste and the wine is ready to drink.
Packed with black fruits and balancing acidity, this easy-going wine is ready to drink. With black currant and berry flavor, it is soft and hints at a touch of toast.
Soft and juicy, this is a bright cherry-flavored wine. It has a fine line of acidity to bring out the refreshing fruitiness and crisp aftertaste.
This is a soft, ripe and fruity wine. Smooth and lightly textured, its unusual blend of Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Castelão is generous and spicy with good final acidity. Drink now.
This is an off-dry wine, soft with a touch of tannin. It has some attractive acidity to keep it crisp as well as ripe red fruits. Drink now.
The wine is called “summer pleasure” and its fruitiness and crisp texture seem well-suited. Red cherries, strawberries and a fine line of acidity set the scene for this soft fruity wine. Drink now.
Root beer, cola nut, black cherry, black raspberry and anise seed combine for an exciting nose on this bottling from a winery near Morgan Hill. The mouthfeel is full, with graphite and lively fennel-bulb spice mixing with blackberry fruit and an earthy elegance on the pleasing palate.
This is a floral blend of 48% Roussanne, 35% Marsanne and 17% Viognier. The Roussanne speaks loudest, while the whole offers a mix of dried and fresh apricot and creamy vanilla wafer that's light bodied and fresh with acidity.
Bramble and dried herbs, pressed apple and peach notes blend elements of savory and sweet in this complex Spätlese. Shimmering lemon-lime acidity refreshes the midpalate, leaving lingering tones of finely crushed mineral.
Silky succulent raspberry and cherry flavors are a luscious counterpoint to the razor's edge of acidity that frames this impeccably balanced wine. It's ripe, fruity and forward, yet offers surprising elegance and length. Drink now through 2017.
Inky, rich and dense, this wine has an abundance of red and black berry pie going on that makes it decadently inviting. Thick on the palate, it's ready to pair with saucy cuts of meat, its background note of smoke the ideal way to bring out charred flavors in a food.
In this ripe vintage Folin has produced a full-throttle Tempranillo: tannic, chewy and firm. Blue plum and black cherry anchor the palate, with notes of tobacco, toast and composted earth.
Aromas of toasted oak, mocha and a whiff of coconut oak lead the nose while the firm palate offers dark cherry, espresso, dried sage and a hint of anise. The tightly wound tannins still pack youthful sharpness and need a few more years to soften up. Drink after 2021.
Complexity and varietal character come through in this concentrated, well-balanced and smoothly polished wine. It is full bodied and lightly tannic, but so oozing with flavors that it's still easy to sip. The array of black plum, light sage, and black olive flavors is accented with very light oak.
Made in a relatively restrained style, this is a dark, juicy and smoky wine from Dry Creek and Alexander Valley area vineyard sites. Lengthy and smooth, it takes a decidedly medium-bodied route, with traces of leather pouch on the nose and a soft layering of milk chocolate on the finish.
This blend of Bordeaux grapes with Syrah is rich and spicy. It is made to be drunk young, with touches of toast and a dense texture that brings out the perfumed character of Syrah balanced with Bordeaux structure. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from late 2016.
This wine offers aromas of raspberry and toffee. There is a nice interplay of fruit, floral, and minty flavors, notably raspberry, cherry, toffee, rose petal and eucalyptus. Mildly gripping tannins make themselves evident, and fruit flavors remain prominent through the smooth finish.
Layers of pollen, dusty mineral and spice lend complexity to this concentrated wine full of yellow peach and fresh apple flavors. It's delicate and lithe in texture, yet punchy and penetrating.
While dry in style and crisply balanced, plump white peaches and apricots shine brightly in this silky Pinot Blanc. It's rich and round with a slightly clingy mouthfeel but not at all cloying or dense. Enjoy now through 2020.
Dark and brooding, this opens with aromas of French oak, espresso, clove and mature blackberry. On the extracted palate, licorice, vanilla and sweet baking spice accent a core of baked plum while bracing, fine-grained tannins provide the framework.
Smooth and appealing, with a smoky edge to the purple plum and berry fruits, this is a flavorful, forward and easy-drinking rendition of what may become Southern Oregon's signature grape. The tannins are silky and the length impressive.
Rose, red berry, mint and anise aromas unfold in the glass. The firm palate offers wild cherry, crushed raspberry, clove, anisette and a mocha note framed in bracing tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2020–2031.
Brioche and vanilla-cherry are the stars in this full-bodied yet savory, herbal wine sourced mostly from the Oak Knoll District. Complex in flavor, it spikes in clove and cinnamon, finishing with a taste of gunpowder and tobacco.
Blackberry and leather pouch jump from the glass from this full-bodied wine that stays light on its feet despite the generous ripeness. Cinnamon, black pepper and black licorice round out the flavors, finishing soft and with length.
Muted on the nose, this offers shy notes of anise and fennel that arises out of the glass over time, buoyed by a generous proportion of golden apple and honey. It veers briny around the full-bodied finish.
Aromas of dark berry, tilled soil, underbrush and espresso lead the nose while the taut palate offers sour cherry, sage, white pepper and star anise. It's still tightly wound and nervous, with bracing tannins. Drink 2019–2029.
This is a producer always to consider for Rhône-styled wines. A mix of strawberry pie and Nilla wafer, this 100% varietal wine is robust and full bodied. Structured with plenty of tangy acidity, it'll stand up to cellaring or a decant. Drink now through 2021.
The regular bottling from the estate vineyard takes the spotlight in 2013, with a lightness and delicacy that in no way means it is simple or insubstantial. There's much to admire, from the silky cherry fruit to the dusty traces of sandalwood, saffron and butter brickle.
Alluring aromas of violet, rose, dark berry and a hint of cured meat emerge on this firmly structured wine. The palate is rather extracted, offering rich black cherry, chocolate, tobacco and sweet spice alongside grippy tannins.
This blend of 71% Roussanne, 21% Grenache Blanc and 8% Picpoul Blanc offers cut Meyer lemon, tangerine and pink-grapefruit aromas on the nose, along with the promise of a creamy palate. Instead, the palate is quite tight and restrained, starting tart but opening toward lemon rinds and pear flesh, and wiping up clean on the finish.
An oily, rich and full-figured white from the producer's estate vineyard, this wine offers elements of honey-baked apple and caramel. Well made in a big style, it's listed as 100% from the Dijon clone of Chardonnay.
Toast, iodine, steel and kumquat-skin aromas show on this bottling from one of the region's older properties. The palate offers stone fruit ripeness but is driven by a sharp, citrusy acidity of Meyer lemon and Mexican lime.
More mineral, perhaps even crystalline, in style compared to Thörle's Saulheimer Probstey Silvaner, this elegant bottling showcases pristine grapefruit and tangerine flavors. It's full bodied yet silky, uplifted by a swathe of freshly cut grass and mint that lingers long on the finish.
Aromas of black currant, orange zest and lemon thyme set the scene for a three-way balancing act of fruit, savory and cool flavors. On the palate, notes of black cherry, lingonberry, eucalyptus, mint and thyme stand out, and gentle tannins ride on through a cherry and mint finish.
This wine is equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with a smaller percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon also added. Neutral French oak was used to age the blend, which opens with a strong, earthy aroma and a scent of wild blackberry. Soft, it features a twist of licorice on the tangy finish.
Earth and lemons dominate the nose. The earthy mellowness is more pronounced. on the palate, joined by 2014 fresh lemon. The finish is dry but remains earthy.
A Zinfandel-based blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot and Malbec, this wine is hearty, thick and dense. It traffics in smoky char, leathery tannins and a strong taste of tobacco, finishing with a flash of red plum.
Aromas of coconut, tilled soil and ripe plum lead the nose. The dense, round palate offers toasted oak, chocolate, ripe blackberry and oak-driven spice. Drink soon.
While the wine does have some dry tannins, it is surprisingly light and soft for a Nuits-Saint-Georges. Red cherry flavors are already as important as the acidity and the dry core. That means this is not a wine for long-term aging, so drink from 2017. This is one of the first vintages since Labouré-Roi, which was hit by scandal in 2012, passed into new ownership.
Louis Max has a particular affinity with the Côte Chalonnaise and this structured and firm wine shows good judgment. With acidity and a mineral element along with the fragrant berry fruits, the wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2016.
This wine is augmented by small percentages of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah, and shows flavors of candied red fruit, integrated tannins and a low presence of oak. It finishes with a taste of cherry vanilla.
Structured and grippy, this small-production wine offers the appellation's dusty tannins around coconut, vanilla, plum and dark cherry. Medium in body and length, it shows the ripeness and instant likability of the vintage.
Jammy, herbal black-fruit aromas open things in straightforward Carmenère fashion. This feels full and fairly fresh, with integrated acidity keeping the palate on course. Herbal berry flavors show chocolaty oak in front of a spicy finish.
Dry, fresh aromas of cherry and red plum create a direct bouquet. Crisp, almost biting acidity makes for a long-lasting, hard-driving juicy mouthfeel with flavors of briny, snappy plum and red currant.
Dusty mineral tones accent cutting, crisp peach, apricot and lime notes in this dry-style Riesling. The palate is zesty and spry, finishing on a thirst quenching streak of white grapefruit.
The nose screams Viognier, with aromas of Juicy Fruit gum, white flowers and powdered candy necklace. A peaches-and-cream palate feels lush and viscous, yet the acid manages to keep things lively through the fuzzy-textured finish.
Big and tannic, but tempting and tasty at the same time, this wine tastes ripe, full bodied and fruity, wrapping a blanket of fine tannins around the richness to keep it from being too sweet or overripe. It's half Merlot and half Petite Sirah.
Dark, brooding tones of oak, caramel and hazelnut form around medium acidity and a full-figured body of voluptuous texture in this Blanc de Blancs, a combination of 95% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Grigio.
A very solid wine for the price, this is light in the glass and shows tight cranberry, chipped slate and a slight fruit punch element on the nose. Cranberry returns on the palate, along with raspberries, black pepper and acidity that cuts the rich midpalate.
Tightly tannic, this 100% varietal wine comes from the producer's family estate. It's big in blackberry fruit and oak, the tannins generous on the palate. Ripe, plush plums figure into the finish, the wine bound to appeal to fans of Zinfandel for its robust nature.
The winery's larger-production blend of several vineyard sources, given 20 months in American oak, this wine opens in pungent earth, soy and mushroom, reminiscent of a beef bouillon or beef stew. Big tannins surround the fruit, accented in black licorice and black coffee before finishing lean.
Light aromas of spice, dried herbs and plum lead to plump blue-fruit flavors with a touch of sugar stitching them together. This doesn't bring a lot of complexity but still has appeal.
The aromas of herbs and jammy fruit are light while the palate offers plush-feeling cocoa and berry flavors. This offers a lot of enjoyment for the price.
A blend of Cabernet (70%) and Merlot, it offers aromas of dried herbs and rasinated dark fruit along with a kiss of vanilla. The fruit flavors are plump in feel with a sweet finish.
Whiffs of sweet baking spice, cedar and tobacco entice from nose to finish on this unabashedly fruity and oaky, but enjoyable Cab. Juicy vanilla-cherry cola notes permeate the rich palate, cut by a razor's edge of acidity on the finish.
This wine opens with aromas of vanilla and baking spices that are followed by broad, silky-feeling fruit and barrel flavors, finishing on a somewhat bitter note. The oak holds a prominent role but still plays its part well.
Condensed dark cherry and plum meet some savory elements on the nose. Silky on entry, with prickling acidity, the medium-bodied palate boasts juicy black-fruit flavors and red-currant acidity. There's enough tannic structure and fruit here to pair alongside hearty grilled fare.
This medium-bodied wine hits all the requisite Sauvignon Blanc marks. Herbal? Check. Passion fruit? Check. Crisp, mouthwatering finish? Check. It's a reasonably good value, especially if you can find it discounted.
This opens with aromas of scorched earth, cured meat, underbrush and ripe blackberry. The evolved palate offers coffee, mocha, vanilla, raisin and blackberry extract alongside close-grained tannins. Enjoy sooner rather than later.
A creamy, full-bodied expression of the variety, this conveys a fruit basket of apple, pear and kiwi while also offering a lilt of New World grassiness and herb.
This is a simply, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc that finishes clean and refreshing. It's medium in weight, with bold, food-friendly flavors of white grapefruit.
Electric-pink in color, that offers aromas of cranberries and watermelon that lead to dry fruit flavors with a tart finish. It doesn't entirely stand up on its own but should fit in nicely at the dinner table.
This medium-tawny wine made from Jacquez offers aromas of dried fig and salty maple-drizzled bacon. The silky, full palate follows suit, with toasted nuts adding an additional savory character. Enjoy this nicely balanced wine alongside pecan pie.
Starts with creamy, oak-based aromas of milk chocolate and mocha, yet the fruit notes below are kind of short and briary. Flavors of strawberry also come with sharper hints of rhubarb, while the finish is medium in length, balanced and tastes of chocolate. Not a bad effort for Chile. 2,500 cases made.
Meaty and seemingly ripe up front, with plum and strawberry aromas. The palate has a tight, firm feel along with flavors of plum, raspberry and bramble. Healthy and forward for sure, with a tight finish based on tannins and slight bitterness. A good food wine but one that's limited in complexity.
As comfortable as an old shoe, the Grand Estates Chardonnay from Columbia Crest delivers broad, open flavors of buttered fruit – almost like biting into a slice of apple pie, crust and all. Hard to argue with it, all 160,000 cases strong.
A soft, gentle, open wine that just lights on the palate. The texture is full, with acidity combining easily with pepper and green apple flavors. Screwcap.
High-toned on the nose, coming close to a hint of mail polish, which detracts slightly from the flavors of stewed berries and dark chocolate. It's full-bodied and round, leaving an almost confected impression on the palate.
A fresh wine, all citrus and green plums, and rounded out with wood. This is an immediately attractive, thirst-quenching wine, with just a touch of sophistication.
Here's a simple, standard Chardonnay that is more neutral than anything, but at this level that's really what one should expect. The palate is a touch chunky and warm, with flavors of melon and citrus. And the finish is citric, with a little sugar and also a spot of pithy bitterness.
Pineapple, grapefruit, and apricot show brightly on the nose and palate. Simultaneously refreshing and sophisticated on the palate, this wine has a crisp, lingering finish laced with flavors of almond blossom.
While the wine is very dense, it also has layers of very ripe fruits, plums and dark berries that give it an intensely rich character. The juicy acidity is almost overwhelming, a shock of freshness as it cuts through the concentrated texture. The wine still needs to age, so drink from 2017.
The wine has been heavily extracted, giving an initial bitter coffee and a dry tannic character. The fruit weight will compensate for this, bringing out acidity, black plums and rich berries. It has the right concentration to age, so drink from 2017.
Celebrating the foundation of Cheval Quancard in 1844, this is a solid, dense and well-made wine from ripe grapes. The balance is good with tannins already integrating well into the juicy, ripe acidity. It's ready to drink but will age at least until 2019.
A tremendously well-made Chardonnay at the price and production levels, this is lean in high-toned acidity but offers tropical goodness, a swath of lime throughout. Balanced and tense, the twist of lime comes back on the finish. This is a great wine to stock up on for larger gatherings.
The deep, brooding nose blends dark purple fruit with black licorice and Chinese black pepper sauce. Sage bark and anise contribute herbal tones to the palate—likely thanks to the inclusion of 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc—and blackberries rule the fruit profile.
This 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot wine is ripe and spicy. Solid fruit gives a juicy character along with a strong sense of structure. That allows room for plenty of acidity as well as fruit, but also demands aging to allow the mineral texture to soften. Along with owner Monique Bonnet's Château Suau, this vineyard was certified French organic with the 2012 vintage. Drink from 2018.
Charred beef tips, grilled whole fish, wet dirt and heavy tar combine for a pungent, serious nose on this Syrah from a vineyard planted by Central Coast pioneer Dale Hampton. It's elegant and soft on the palate, opening up with boysenberry and sage, and possesses ample tannins for aging. Hang on until 2018.
The second Syrah in the Collaboration Series, this was aged in 30% new puncheons, and opens with a potent, roasted nose. Espresso and cacao flavors dominate the tart, acidic berry fruit, with a lick of lemon verbena running through the finish.
This powerful Cabernet Sauvignon calls on 13% Malbec to further its brawn, the mix spending two years in entirely new French oak. Hugely muscular, it needs time to calm its masterfully ripe fruit and dark layers of clove spice, and to further soften its tannins and coax out the shy component of herb. The vineyard behind the wine is Bismark within the newly named Moon Mountain District.
Vanilla and lemon curd aromas bring nuance and depth to the the complex bouquet of this wine. Full bodied with a silky texture, tones of green apple and mango show bright on the palate, leading to a splash of minerality on the finish.
This brilliant straw colored Chardonnay has aromas of lemon blossoms and green apples. On the palate, it's smooth and clean with flavors of lemon curd and baked apple.
Aromas of pink grapefruit, grass and coriander seed open the palate of this wine. Passion fruit, apricot, green apple and freshly chopped parsley mark the palate, with a touch of iodine on the finish.
This is the product of two childhood friends, both of whom grew up in the wine business in Napa Valley. Taken, if this wine is any indication, aims to offer great Napa Valley wine at affordable prices. This Cabernet-Merlot blend is smooth in juicy red and blue fruit and completely silky tannins, completely satisfying for all kinds of scenarios.
A wonderfully aromatic wine that's bone dry, fresh and textured. A steely edge gives a mineral, tight character that emphasizes the youth of the wine. With a dominance of orange and lemon zest, plus juicy acidity, the wine does need a year or two; drink after 2016.
Soft and dusty, this is an herbal, elegant Cabernet from big mountain fruit, the tannins well-managed. It starts out with an intensity of black fruit followed by sturdy structure and a finish of chocolate and coffee.
Rich, ripe yellow cherries and honeysuckle waft from this luxuriously honeyed off-dry Riesling. A sweet tangerine flavor is densely concentrated on the palate, yet the wine is sprightly and zesty in mouthfeel. An elegant floral spray extends the long, lingering finish.
Aromas recall fennel, grilled herb, leather, mocha and a whiff of balsam. Reflecting the heat of the vintage, the palate is already evolved but still shows dried black cherry and black pepper. Drink through 2017.
This highly accessible, reasonably priced Chardonnay sees no new oak. It offers aromatics of orange blossom and fresh-squeezed lemon followed by a lean texture of more lemon, honeysuckle and melon. Stock up.
Sourced from a prime site embedded within the cool confines of Green Valley, this is crisp yet rich, intensely creamy and ripe in pear, lemon and caramel. It's refined and balanced in acidity, too. The finish offers a taste of crème brûlée and wet stone.
This leads off with aromas of mature black fruit, toasted oak, coffee bean and a whiff of balsamic herbs. The ripe palate delivers fleshy red cherry and black raspberry with layers of cocoa, espresso and sage alongside bracing tannins.
This full-bodied wine reveals aromas of wild berry and allspice accented with a balsamic note. The palate is still rather closed but delivers black cherry, black pepper, sage and licorice alongside tightly woven tannins that need to unwind. Drink 2016–2023.
This Chardonnay breaks away from the typical varietal profile, with aromas of freshly cut grass and lemongrass. Delightful tropical fruit flavors of mango, lychee and guava dominate the palate. The zesty, clean and crisp finish is characterized by flavors of lemon pith and lime juice.
Near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec with a healthy dash of Petit Verdot providing the frame, it displays notes of toast, coffee, chocolate, plum and woodspice with abundant blue fruit and coffee flavors.
Notes of violet, preserved plums and cherries persist throughout this lush, concentrated Pinot Noir. It's medium-bodied in style, with crisp acidity, yet the palate seems to build in richness and body. The finish brings elegant, fine-grained tannins.
A lush bouquet of cooked strawberries, black cherry sauce and just a touch of allspice kick off this fun, drink-me-now wine from Santa Ynez Valley pioneer Fred Brander. Good acidity and smooth tannins reminiscent of plum skin surround a fruity palate, which boasts a flavorful arc.
An aromatic and fruit filled wine with notes of cherry cordial, raspberry, herb and barrel accents. It has sweet cherry flavors with firm tannins and well balanced acidity. Best after 2017.
The ripe fruit of this Shiraz and Touriga Nacional blend exude a character of richness and sophistication. Dusty tannins provide the framework for red fruit flavors and the generous structure. From José Luís Santos Lima Oliveira da Silva's range, the wine would be best after 2015.
Opens with sweet, candied fruit and herb aromas. The palate is aggressive and fairly tannic, while the palate rattles about with herbal wild berry, coffee and burnt flavors. Definitely lively and forward, but also rough and slightly drying and bitter on the finish.
Sweeter smelling than the usual Chard, with peach preserves, lychee, pear and pink florals unfolding in the bouquet. The mouth offers more oak-driven balance, with notes of cedar plank and spiced pears filling the cream-textured mouth. Seals the deal with a lingering, toasty finish.
Cola, black cherry and lemony grit mark the bouquet, which is backed by acid-driven, lightly lemony flavors of cherry and raspberry. There's isn't a ton of volume, depth or follow-through to this wine; it is what it is: fresh, tangy and straightforward.
Moderately intense with notes of baked apple, peach, toasted brioche and almond milk on the nose and palate. The alcohol is a touch forward, but it's balanced by the ripe fruit and nutty, roasty flavors. A delicious hint of vanilla appears on the finish. Drink now.
Light fruit, dwelling on bitter cherry and fresh raspberry flavors. The wine shows crisp acidity, tight tannins and a cool feel.
This single-vineyard Chard with no oak has a light bouquet with nuances of white florals and red apple. The palate offers more heft and concentration with flavors of peach preserves and clementine supremes. Lower alcohol with a medium-length finish; rich and tasty without being overdone.
Starts with young, bouncy, foxy aromas and then settles on berry fruit and bacon fat. The palate is somewhat rooty and sweet, with solid tannins, body and respectable cassis and berry flavors. A sweet wine with adequate richness and reasonably true Cabernet qualities.
Marshmallow sweetness and oak aromas give it a confected nose, while the mouth is weighty, concentrated and sappy, with mildly raspy berry and plum flavors. More spicy than herbal, with sweetness and forward oak on the finish. A full-force wine, but one that's fairly basic.
Another great value from Arrogant Frog, this Viognier-Chard blend is fresh and delicious with flavors of rich wood-grilled apple, yellow florals, peach and toast. Medium weight and well balanced with a long finish. Drink now.
A bold and chunky customer with multiple personalities. The nose has big black fruit, smoke, leather, barrel char and even some wet dog smells, while the palate is easygoing and full, with herbal, roasted fruit and spice. Long and mostly true on the finish. Uncomplicated but solid.
Like most Casillero varietals, this Merlot offers good concentration and a mix of berry fruit and light herbal aromas. The palate is lively, with good acidity and zesty red plum and pie cherry flavors. It's a little tangy throughout but on the plus side it's not overdone or heavy.
A chunky wine with a full, round, sweet, tropical outlook. The nose settles on pineapple chunks, while the creamy palate features flavors of baked yellow apple and melon. Finishes upright, which is better than many. Not sophisticated but still good for Argentina.
A bulky wine with aromas of dried herbs, pepper and black fruits. It's meaty and thick in the mouth, with grapey, herbal flavors. Unfolds fairly nicely on the finish, with the wine's herbal character locking in. A good example of Chilean Malbec that's more basic than complex.
The nose is lively and jumpy with notes of tart gooseberry, Granny Smith apple, lemony citrus and a hint of fresh ginger. The mouth offers riper, more oaky flavors of toasted nuts and pear flesh that lead through to the finish. Well balanced and easy to drink; so approachable, an excellent choice for outdoor summer dining with company.
The blend includes 18% Syrah, which helps to emphasize the spice and sweet fruit flavors. But in the back, this is a stiff and fairly tannic wine, with a disconnect between the strawberry fruit and the slightly stemmy, herbal finish.
Candied, tutti-frutti aromas give this a sweet, somewhat faux bouquet with little concentration. But the palate is chewy and grabby enough, with solid but modest raspberry and red plum flavors. Mellow on the finish, with a decent feel. Good but not distinguished. Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Good for Argentine Chard but not worth the price. It starts with mellow peach and apricot aromas, which are followed by melon, papaya and banana flavors. Easygoing in terms of feel, with a creamy, sweet finish. A typical South American tropical Chardonnay.
Biscuit, burnt toast, and a hint of rubber dominate the nose. The fruit is light and somewhat buried—a little melon, unripe peach and pineapple. Perhaps too much barrel exposure, or over-toasted barrels?
A stocky, meaty style of Carmenère, with earthy aromas and then sweet, choppy flavors of cherry, plums and herbs. Turns more herbal on the back side, with carob and briar on the long, fairly consistent finish. Middle-of-the-road wine that stands up to scrutiny.
This Barbera is very pruney in the nose, with scents of smoked meat under the fruit. Despite the suggestion that the grapes got a little baked, there is plenty of acid, perhaps an indication that this varietal is difficult to get right in Washington State vineyards. Drink this one soon.
Sweet berry and cherry aromas are fruity and a little heavy, while the palate is solid in feel and features flavors of sweet plum and berry fruit. Chewy on the finish, with good mouthfeel. Exactly what you'd want from a wine in this price range.
Plum and dry spice aromas are solid and don't steer you wrong, while the palate has reasonably good depth and feel along with sweet berry flavors that show no variety or evolution once they get going. A little sugary on the finish, but solid as a whole.
Moderately intense on the nose with dominating earthy, forest floor notes backed by red plum guts and cherry along with a hint of vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce swirled in. Dusty tannins flesh out the palate and the finish offers some mild black pepper spice.
Sweet, grapey, raspberry fruit is smothered in sweet spices, with flavors of spun sugar candy.
Basically a clean, light, simple white with a flat/soft body and pithy, dry flavors of citrus and melon rind. Shows some bitterness on the finish along with a flash of white heat. Decent at best. Drink right away.
Very light in color and body, with citric and chewing gum aromas along with a spot of caramel. The palate is lean, jumpy and fresh, with tart cherry and plum skin flavors. Borders on sour but doesn't quite go that far. Lean Pinot any way you slice it.
Starts with stemmy, burnt aromas but after time oak notes cover things up. Apple, sweet pear, buttery oak and popcorn are the main flavors on this sweet, pithy wine that when stripped down is fairly hollow and simple.
Aromatic and fruity, this is front-loaded with pretty accents of toast and baking spices. There's 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, but it's Merlot's show, with forward, smooth, chocolaty goodness around a core of raspberry candy.
Rubbery, rooty aromas of herbs and berries blend with stalky red-fruit notes. This feels shrill and tangy, with hard tannins, while flavors of roasted berry fruits come with a leafy undercurrent. Roasted, herbal, oaky flavors settle in on a juicy, high-acid finish. Drink through 2020.
From a superb vintage, it delivers a big dose of earthy berry, cassis and spice aromas. The palate is bouncy and linear, with lifting acidity. Flavors of boysenberry are snappy and lively at first, then more loamy as the wine's acidity settles. Drink this bright, fruity wine through 2017.
In recent years, Villa's Chardonnays have dominated the New Zealand show circuit, but this is a reminder that the company can make some darn good Sauvignon at a darn good price. Tomato leaf and white grapefruit aromas and flavors are the order of the day, easing into a long, mouthwatering finish. Rock solid.
This extracted, oaky wine is generous on the nose, with minerally notes, iodine and potent blackberry aromas. It's big but balanced, and the flavor profile delivers common berry, toast and oaky flavors that finish strong and with espresso-like bitterness.
From cool, high-altitude vines, this Riesling is aromatic and crisp with a hint of steel and plenty of freshness. Acidity cuts through this already delicious, very fruity wine that is about to move to maturity. Drink now.
Rock solid, this substantial Merlot is grounded in earth flavors, laced with butter cookie, and finished with tart tannins. The fruit is tight and tangy.
Cranberry and currant aromas come with hints of herbs and juniper. An astringent initial mouthfeel turns more complex with airing. Flavors of berry and plum are roasted and rubbery. It finishes on the grabby side, with chunky tannins. Drink through 2020.
Flint, orange blossom and Mediterranean herb aromas take center stage. The palate offers grapefruit, lemon-lime, nectarine, peach and mineral alongside crisp acidity. It finishes bright and clean.
Produced from organic grapes, like so many in Provence, this is light, fruity and lively. Fresh acidity goes with the red currant fruits and the tight, nervy texture. It's lightly perfumed and fine as an apéritif.
A pure line of fruitiness dominates this wine. Ripe wild strawberry flavors are in charge with acidity giving an attractive sharp edge. The wine is round, full in the mouth,  rich at the end.
Ripe and smooth, it has layers of red fruits, a touch of caramel and delicious acidity. It's full of flavor with depth as well as some richness.
Aged in a mixture of French oak (32% new) and stainless steel, it shows the best of both with fresh peach notes and barrel spices intermingling with crème fraîche. It's creamy in feel with the concentration winnowing slightly toward the finish.
Spiced berry and cassis are the lead aromas on this medium-bodied, zippy Malbec. In the mouth, this shows mostly fresh acidity, red-fruit zest and snap. Flavors of loamy berry, baked plum and earth run dry, while the finish is compact in feel, light in weight and overall seems clean and fresh.
It opens with lovely aromas of wild flowers and stone fruit. The juicy palate offers creamy white peach, pear and apple accented with aromatic herbs and mineral alongside lively acidity.
This wine has the lightest of rosé colors, so fresh and light and fruity. With crisp acidity, raspberry and red currants, it just dances on the palate.
This southern Rhône-style blend is 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 10% Syrah, sourced from the excellent Olsen vineyard. That perfect fruit anchors a ripe, juicy and forward wine loaded with cherry/berry flavors. The Cinsault brings in light herb, and the wine rolls into a mocha-dipped finish with a bit of heat.
While restrained on the nose, this wine shocks the palate with a powerful punch of white peach, nectarine and citrus flavors. A brisk line of lime acidity invigorates the midpalate leading to a long, floral finish.
Full-bodied but elegant , it leads with aromas of white spring flowers and stone fruit. The round palate delvers juicy white peach and citrus notes alongside fresh acidity.
This remains quite tight, almost shuttered, with boysenberry fruit and sharp acidity. Hints of composted earth and somewhat tarry tannins may be attributed to the addition of 8% Malbec in the blend.
This single-vineyard wine, rounded and rich, is smooth, spicy and full of quince and lychee flavors that are developing well. Concentrated and dense, it will be best in late 2014.
Drawn from Craggy's extensive holdings in Martinborough, this is a food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn't push the herbal extremes of the variety but instead offers plenty of zesty citrus fruit tinged with snow pea, medium body and a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink it over the next year or so.
Aromas of raspberry, caramel and toast introduce flavors of pomegranate, strawberry, cherry preserves, vanilla and toast. There is a nice interplay of tannins and acidity, with supple mouthfeel and a fresh, clean finish.
Mango, citrus and candied white-fruit aromas set up a weighty yet vital palate with melon, apple, citrus and gooseberry flavors. On the finish, mellow flavors of stone fruits and mild acidity create a pure, solid ending. Drink immediately.
Alluring aromas of stone fruit, pear, apple and slate all carry over to the palate along with mineral notes. The richness is brightened by fresh acidity that gives nice balance.
This earthy, mature Cab is rusty in color, with aromas of dried red fruits, tobacco and leaves leading to a medium-bodied, smooth palate. Flavors of cola, cocoa, red licorice and cherry finish with mellow tannins and a final dusting of cocoa powder. Drink now.
This spicy, fruity blend sources from seven different vineyards, and includes 5% portions of Cabernet Franc and Syrah. The acids bring up hints of pink grapefruit and orange, while the cherry and plum fruit flavors hold the center. The wine seems to thin out a bit through the finish.
A focused wine, it has lemon-lime and slate aromas. The linear, citrusy palate offers grapefruit and mineral accented with rosemary and sage.
A chalky textured and mineral-driven wine, it's crisp while also smooth and rich. It is full of white fruits, softly textured herbaceousness and lively final acidity. A wine to age for a few months or even a year or two. Screwcap.
Already showing a bit of evolution in its bricking color and aromas of dried cherries and brown sugar, this should be consumed over the next couple of years. It's still reasonably round and supple, with an admirably silky finish.
Coffee, mocha, char and roasted black-fruit aromas control the bouquet on this modern Rioja. Lemony acidity provides lift to the palate, which has a raw, abrasive, tannic bite. Flavors of toast, chocolate, lemon rind and black fruits finish similarly, with a chewy texture. Drink through 2018.
Rich, jammy black-fruit aromas come with plenty of wood, char and campfire-related grit. The palate is chunky and a bit soft, with prune, raisin, baked plum and herbal flavors, especially on the finish, which feels plump, loamy and fully ripe.
I Quadri offers violet and iris aromas accented by vanilla and toasted oak sensations. The palate shows a black pepper streak wrapped around a core of plum and ripe cherry, finishing on a roasted coffee bean note. It's forward and ready to enjoy soon.
While thick and dark, this brawny Syrah is elegantly structured, firm, and aged enough to be a wise choice with food. It tastes of wild blackberry—just picked—dripping off the vines.
This delightful rosso has enticing fragrances of violet, iris and red berry. The bright palate delivers wild cherry, white pepper and mint flavors framed by silky tannins. This is made to be drunk young, so enjoy soon.
Big boned and brawny, this is a lushly textured wine full of intensely ripe black plum and cherry flavors. It's richly fruity, but textured with velvety tannins, crushed granite notes and a hit of acidity that lingers on the finish. A blend of Bulgarian and international grape varieties.
This barrel-fermented Viura shows toasty popcorn aromas that are derived directly from oak. The palate has a woody personality with tight acidity and flavors that suggest Burgundian Chardonnay. Baked apple and vanilla notes come in front of a long finish.
With a nose of strong plum and baked raspberry, Miro's blend of 67% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 8% Syrah is strong in Grenache's perfumed rose petal and bright fruit flavor, fairly priced and sure to be enjoyed with food.
Put two powerful, warm-climate grapes together and you get a rich, densely fruity and structured wine. Solid tannins complement a concentrated palate full of ripe red-berry fruits. Drink now, and until 2020.
Cool-climate Touriga Nacional brings forth intriguing red-fruit flavors and tannins that are soft. The wine is spicy and herbal, and lightly textured with a floral character and a smooth aftertaste, touched by brisk acidity. Langdon Shiverick, Comète Wines.
This Rosso di Montepulciano offers pretty floral fragrances of violet and rose typical of Sangiovese and Mammolo grapes. The palate boasts wild cherry and white pepper flavors, with a hint of cinnamon. This is silky smooth and easy to drink; it's ready now, so enjoy soon.
Intensely fruity, ripe and full-bodied. It has delicious apple and apricot flavors, bursting out of the glass with pure enjoyment. Lively acidity gives an extra dimension of brightness. Drink now.
Very spicy and mineral in character, this is a distinct terroir wine, speaking of the gravel and loam soils of the Traisental region. It has richness, complex lychee and mango fruits and a tight texture of acidity and pepper. Screwcap.
Guigal's long-term aging in new barrels has left a sheen of oak on this wine, but the underlying material is excellent, with mocha and plum notes supporting cedar and vanilla. The finish is long and savory, with a distinct granitic edge to the flavors. Drink now–2020.
This smooth and rich wine has spiced apple, white peach and pink grapefruit flavors, all mixed into a serious package. It's a wine worth aging to bring the beautiful fruit right to the fore. Screwcap.
Sappy and deep, this brings a mouth-pleasing mix of citrus and stone fruits, broadening into a full midpalate. Full-bodied, it puts the emphasis on fruit, with just a trace of minerality.
A tight, spicy Pinot with a chocolate heart, this has a lot of aging potential. The fruit and tannins are tightly wound at the moment, with a lavish coating of milk chocolate from the barrel aging. Cellar it another 5–6 years and let it knit together.
Intense and rich wine, with touches of smoky wood, the tannins ripe, the acidity a refreshing balancing factor. With its cherry character, there is fruit already, but wait a year and this will be impressive.
A really ripe wine, rich and with a generous feel to it. The sweet cherry fruit is powered with plum juice, dense tannins and structure. A wine for aging.
From a vineyard selection, this is a powerful wine, very rich and opulent. With a year's age, it shows concentrated spice and ginger mixed in with orange peel, red apple and lime flavors.
Firm and spicy, this well-crafted wine has the supple fruit and steely tannic spine to evolve nicely over a decade or more. Purple berries, whiffs of moist earth, a suggestion of brioche and unexpected chocolate truffle highlights keep it interesting all through the finish.
Leather and earth aromas are just part of the meaty, roasted, lightly charred bouquet. The palate is thick and jammy, with savory, roasted flavors of berry fruit, pepper and leather. Finishes with chocolate and a fine texture. Impressive despite having a light herbal streak. 500 cases made.
Smooth, deep aromas of bacon and dark berry form a proper and likable greeting. The palate is tight, with piercing but balanced acidity creating lift and structure. Tastes of bacon, vanilla, raspberry and plum, with cured meat, vanilla and coconut on the finish. Drink now through 2016.
O.K., so it's a New World-ish blend of fruit and oak, but leaving stylistic prejudices aside, it's also a darn fine wine. Black cherry fruit balances the cedar and vanilla nicely, while the texture is rich yet supple and the finish lingers a good long time. Drink now–2018.
A wine with a core of steel. It is taut, nervy, full of acidity, creamed apples and a mineral character. It's powered by richness, although totally restrained by its tightness. It is an impressive wine with a good aging potential. Screwcap.
Biodynamically-farmed, old vine fruit from the Eola Hills vineyard is the source. The wine is forward and tangy, with a Vouvray-like sweet/sour character. It could be Chenin Blanc, only just a bit lighter, but with the same tart and tasty mix of acid and sugar, with lemony fruit and floral highlights. Really tasty.
Soft strawberry and blossom make for a scented nose. The very frothy palate adds a slightly bitter note but compensates with lots of lemony freshness and a light-footed agile body that leaves you very refreshed. The finish is dry and the fizz is exuberant.
Fresh and crisp, this light-bodied wine has fragrant pine, floral and citrus aromas, vivid lemon-lime flavors and a nice, tight balance that wakes up the taste buds.
This nicely concentrated wine smells like black cherries and tastes rich and almost chocolaty. It feels smooth but hefty, laced with fine-grained tannins.
Offering value and full-bodied flavor, this wine sources grapes from Price Family, Durell and Wildcat Canyon, among others. It finds a way to be earthy and herbal while also fruity. A leathery texture and medium acidity combine for likable complexity, the wine ultimately retaining its savory bones.
Deep color, dark-fruit flavors and a dense layer of fine-grained tannins make this full-bodied wine palate-coating. It feels firm and structured, tastes ripe and satisfying, and will continue to improve with age. It will be best after 2019.
Known best for its Merlot, Three Palms is also planted to all five Bordeaux red varieties, with each one represented in this wine. Blueberry, huckleberry and a reductive undertone mark this effort, sinewy in tannin and soft at its end.
Brambly berry fruits are rounded out with smooth tannins and some barrel toast, from 10 months in 30% new French oak. This is a most enjoyable wine, though it feels a bit diffuse, rather than tightly focused.
This is the winery's reserve-level effort, and will reward those who look for elegance over sheer power. Subtle, sculpted yet firm flavors of raspberry, cola and a touch of smoke come up, with a graceful, well-defined finish.
This southern Oregon Pinot Gris does not have the fleshy concentration of Willamette Valley versions, but compensates with a racy, sculpted mouthfeel that falls closer to Italian Pinot Grigio in style. The just-ripe fruit conjures pear and cucumber flavors, with a slice of green melon on the side.
This fresh, light-bodied dessert wine opens with classic Moscato aromas of sage, exotic fruit and yellow stone fruit. The frothy palate delivers apricot, yellow peach and a hint of honey alongside mouthwatering acidity. It has a quenching crispness that stops it from being too sweet while the restrained alcohol makes it perfect for brunch and summer picnics.
Ripe and bright flavors emphasize cherry fruit, deftly highlighted with touches of orange peel and fresh herb. New wood is lightly applied, just a couple of barrels out of 15, and adds a touch of chocolate to the finish.
This rich and relatively soft block-designated wine has a lighter-than-usual color, a rich, buttery aroma and jammy flavors that recall strawberries and plums. It's a smooth variation on the often tannic and restrained personality of Sangiovese.
This block selection is a field blend of four different clones, and brings complex flavors of herbs, tree fruits and melon. The low alcohol content and high acidity make it a good choice to drink slightly chilled. There's a light touch of toasty oak resonating through the finish.
Wrapped in a coat of oak that provides toasty character, this voluptuously concentrated wine is marked by deeply defined flavors of cola, blackberry and cherry, lifted and given a sense of freshness by spicy acidity.
Fruit from the Cummings Vineyard and Thale's Vineyard is represented in this wine. A varietal expression of floral, fruity aromas and flavors, it's thick, concentrated and wrapped in smoky oak. Chocolate cherry makes it seem luxuriously ripe and lush.
Pretty and pink, this light-colored wine has subtle peach aromas that continue to dry fruit flavors that are peachy and crisp. A little bite in the texture makes the mouth water.
Bright tangerine and honey notes lend a sunny demeanor to this voluptuously dry Riesling. Ripe grapefruit and lemon flavors penetrate through the palate, finishing on a steely tang of acid and minerals.
This wine shows the fresh, juicy raspberry character of the grape. It has fruity aromas, fresh berry and cherry flavors and a deceptively full body, with a good streak of crispness on the palate.
Spicy and savory rather than simply fruity, this wine offers lively oak, smoke and black-pepper aromas and meaty, stewed-fruit flavors. It is full bodied, moderately tannic and very textural.
Refreshing and aromatic, this wine is 15% Tocai Friulano and has some good depth. Aromas like lemon and light herbs lead to deeper flavors that have a light buttery element as well as ripe apple and more crisp lemon on the finish.
Subtle in aroma, this is nevertheless a luxurious wine that offers Anjou pear, honeydew melon and a touch of honey in the flavors. It has a wonderfully smooth texture and apparent sweetness on the finish.
An aroma like honeydew melon and rich flavors like pear juice and bananas make this full-bodied wine extremely fruity without being openly sweet. It has light color, soothing texture and lingering finish.
Clean, pleasant aromas suggest homemade applesauce. This is more fresh and fruity than weighty and yeasty. Slightly bitter, dry lime flavors are offset by sweeter pear and apple notes, while a lemon-lime flavor drives the finish.
Aromas of pastry, cake spice and a whiff of chopped mint take center stage. The rich palate offers ripe strawberry, candied cherry, anise and bitter almond alongside invigorating bubbles.
As with its companion releases, the inviting aromatics capture your attention. On the palate, the wine offers classic varietal flavors of berry and tart plum, along with nuanced highlights of sassafras, bramble and a slight hint of hemp. Concentrated and compact, it should cellar well for at least a decade. Drink now through 2026.
An explosion of fruit flavors incorporating creamy peach, apple and pear are the highlights, nicely balanced by lemony acids. It seems to gather strength and focus as it weaves through the palate, deliciously framed by toasty oak.
Ripe, earthy aromas of prune, blackberry, baking spices and barnyard set up a rich yet balanced palate with mild tannins and integrated acidity. Flavors of blackberry, cassis and hoisin sauce end with meaty, spicy notes akin to barbecued ribs. Drink now through 2022.
This tiny-production wine from a great vineyard sings in a layered perfume of roses, forest floor, pomegranate and more nuanced elements of cola and dark cherry. Bright and elegant within a substantive body, it is inviting in equal measures of plant, fruit and spice, showing tremendous taste.
Austrian Bert Salomon has turned out a wonderful Grenache-based blend. Potent cherry-berry fruit and ample spice (licorice, mocha and pepper) combine in a plump midpalate and linger on the velvety finish.
A strong black-pepper character on the nose of this bottling by veteran Rick Longoria also works dark elderberries and a woody spice into the aromatic mix. It's tightly wound and very young on the palate, where blackberry paste, black plum and roasted fennel barely peek out. The firm structure will reveal much more spice and fruit in the future. Drink 2018–2034.
This wondrously vibrant and energetic wine shows fresh-pressed raspberries and strawberries on the zesty nose alongside fennel bulb and sandalwood. The just-ripe raspberry and cherry-tomato flavors on the palate make for an intriguingly light elegance, but it's sewn together with a defined structure. Thyme and oregano herbs complete the experience.
Aromas of berry, cherry and earthy schist are what the Priorat is known for. This wine feels tight and pure, with firm tannins and a gritty personality. Toasty flavors of mocha, black cherry, raspberry and cassis are generous, while the finish is fresh, tight, balanced and indicates that midterm aging will only help; drink 2017–2022.
Wichmann is the smallest of the estate vineyards, with Trisaetum's oldest vines. The signature Dundee Hills flavors of big bold black-cherry fruit come through, full and round, with a light frame of bitter herb. Let it breathe and highlights of orange peel, clove and dark chocolate emerge. This wine should drink especially well from 2020 onward.
The aromatics impress with bold notes of lemon tea, orange blossom and Key lime. The vineyard's typical minerality is in full force, underscoring bone-dry flavors of wet stone, tarragon, chervil, lime and grapefruit. The density and balance are impressive.
Exquisitely fragrant notes of ripe, aromatic apples rise from the glass: tart, fruity and fresh in equal measure. The palate shows both evolved autolysis by way of soy-spiced breadiness and even more fruit in the way of bruised, tart apple notes of great purity. The finish is long and full of flavor, complex, nuanced and resolutely dry.
This has gone up in price over the years, but it's still a solid, relatively affordable example of Barossa Valley Shiraz. This is youthful and edgy, with meaty, savory notes accenting mixed berries and a hint of mint. The finish is a bit chewy right now, but mouthcoating and long.
Produced from old vines in a quinta in the high eastern end of the Douro, in Douro Superior, this wine is aged for 15 months in wood. That has broadened the tannins and given the wine its rich, opulent black fruit character. After four years, it is still young, and should not be touched until 2018.
A lively mousse is the starting point for this wine. It is intensely rich, dense and still young, with a soft background to the ripe white fruits that are cut with lime. From a vintage year whose wines need to age, this follows the pattern, so wait at least until 2018.
This is an unusual combination of Calera and Pommard clones, from a young vineyard amassing an excellent client list, Harper Voit among them. It's made in a soft, full-bodied, supple style that offers a cagey mix of purple fruits, caramel and chocolate. Tannins are smooth and polished, finishing with a light hint of cannabis.
Cropped down to just 1.5 tons/acre, with firm acidity and lovely floral aromatics, this elegant wine piles up refined notes of citrus, stone fruits and brambly berries. The aging in one-third new oak adds hints of toasted hazelnuts, caramel latte and sea salt chocolate. The finish has a lightly waxy sheen.
The good 2006 vintage has produced this well-balanced wine that is now showing delicious signs of maturity. The initial fruit has gone, replaced by toast, spice and grilled almonds. At the same time, the acidity and taut mineral texture are still in play, giving a wine that is lively and just ready to drink now.
Subtle but enticing scents of pear, citrus zest, pastry and a warm whiff of freshly baked bread lead the nose. The smooth, creamy palate delivers juicy yellow apple, tangerine zest, aromatic herb and a spicy ginger note while tiny, persistent bubbles lend elegance. A bitter almond note closes the finish.
A rooty-smelling nose suggests sarsparilla soda, with accents of oak, malt and baked blackberry. There's just enough energy to the ripe palate, which tastes of earthy, savory blackberry, baking spices and cola nut. A smooth, ready finish revolves around surprisingly soft tannins. Drink this easy rider through 2022.
There's a compelling feral quality to this bottling by Rick Longoria. A carpaccio note on the nose carries through aromas of ripe berries, pine-forest underbrush and wet river stones. The palate also offers a raw-beef funk along with black olive, cherry tomato, sandalwood and reserved elderberry fruit.
Tasted blind alongside the 2005 and 2010 vintages, this bottling, which is Chad Melville's first for his family winery after years focused on the vineyard, carries the same persistent sizzle of acidity on the front of the sip. But it's fresher on the nose, with pear juice, lychee and vanilla dust, and more approachable on the tropical palate, where jasmine, exotic banana, papaya, plumeria and a touch of guava shine.
Starting with beautifiul aromas of cassis, cocoa and coffee beans, this wine has a velvety texture and deep, ripe layers of black fruit. It does a great job of combining layers of black cherry, blackberry and cinnamon on a full body but without seeming heavy.
From a very fine vintage, this structured, tight while also fruity Champagne is poised and stylish. A creamy mousse balances the crisp texture and beautiful acidity. Red fruits and blood orange come through well at the end. It is ready to drink.
From the excellent 2008 vintage, this is a very complete, ripe wine. It is rich, packed with crisp white fruits that are developing into a structured, concentrated wine with a great future. The balance between acidity and dosage is just right. Drink ideally from 2018.
This is a ripe and creamy wine from the great 2008 vintage. Tight acidity and lively citrus are balanced by a more serious richness and texture. The wine, bringing all three of the main Champagne grapes together, is still maturing. Wait until 2018.
From the legendary Hyde, a source since 1996, this vintage continues the greatness of the prior years, showing depths of fresh dirt and spice. Stewy damson plum, blackberry and black cherry provide succulent complex, ripe flavors accented in vanilla and cinnamon. The acidity is mouthwatering.
As with many of the winery's other single-vineyard selections from this vintage, this is strongly scented with fresh tobacco, and brings generous black-cherry fruit to the front and center. The fruit is accented by a wide swath of cola, perhaps Dr. Pepper. The finish continues long, clean and fresh.
Mild raspberry and tomato aromas precede a grabby-feeling wine with sandpaper tannins and flavors of medicinal plum and tomato. It comes across loud but raw and unrefined.
Tan in color, this has fleshy, almondy aromas. It feels flat and creamy, with soft, lightly oxidized flavors of mealy apple and walnut oil. This is past its prime.
This is gritty, burnt and stalky smelling. On the palate it's sour and underdeveloped as a whole.
A huge, harsh Cabernet without much in the way of varietal character.
A soupy sort of wine with raisiny aromas. It tastes salty and feels astringent, with tomato, herb and brothy flavors. The mouthfeel is the best part.
This smells of latex and cinnamon. On the palate it's light and lean, with dilute flavors of cherry pie and unusual Middle Eastern spice. Grating and acidic on the finish.
Burnt and gritty smelling, with rubbery, meaty berry aromas that turn candied and herbal with airing. This feels hollow, with roasted, stalky flavors and buttery young oak. It's grabby on the finish.
This smells like compost. It feels hard and clacky, with sharp acidity and weedy, minty flavors that finish rough and green.
This starts with aromas of cinnamon, hard candy and weedy red fruits. It feels sugary and broken, with candied strawberry flavors in front of a sweet, confected finish.
Murky and stewy smelling, with no vitality and overt green accents. It's a bit heavy in feel, with salsa-like flavors of tomato, tomatillo, chili pepper and herbs.
Powerful and dense, this wine exudes the darkest of tannins as well as intense black fruit. Layers of richness and structure show in this Port's considerable ageability, while its acidity lends freshness. This is a wine that should be aged for 15 years or more.
An astonishing wine, creamy and loaded with lush fruit flavors. The tropical fruits are just the beginning; layer upon layer of marshmallow, whipped cream, brioche, butterscotch, buttered nuts, toast and more keep piling on. With all that richness, it remains a billowy, pillowy Chardonnay, light as a feather, yet deep and dreamy.
A powerful, almost black-colored Port. It has the richness of the vintage allied to ripe blackberry flavors, and a mineral, tannic structure. Its great fruit makes it almost drinkable now, but aging will add so many more dimensions.
Here is a powerful, dense wine, with modest alcohol— thanks to the Dão's mountain climate and granite soil. Pape is a top wine from Alvaro Castro made predominantly from Touriga Nacional. Perfumed, elegant and structured, with plenty of concentration, this is a wine for serious aging.
Dark in color, this is a powerful, classic wine, with dense tannins. It has rich black-fruit flavors, and notes of wood and herb that are packed into its concentrated, dry structure. This is a great Douro for aging.
Some vines at Bouscassé are 150 years old, which inevitably give this wine great depth and concentration. It is hugely structured, with very rich, intense black-plum flavors. The tannins are still developing.
This smooth, wood-aged wine demonstrates the acid of Zweigelt, plus complex toast, red cherry and dark chocolate flavors. The wine is rich, ripe and full-bodied, finishing with fresh juicy acidity.
This is a rich, intense wine, its spice and pepper characters mingling with ripe tangerine and peach notes. It is full, round and concentrated. The pure fruit character is delicious, though it could age a year.
Rounded and honeyed, this is a wine that shows a sweeter side of Pinot Blanc, buoyed by fresh, juicy white-peach flavor. Full, rich and dense, this is fruity, yet it has a complex structure.
Packaged in a lovely, Champagne-like bottle (but without a cage), this is very pretty, with a hint of cherry candy. The palate is round, full and forward. This is a wine to set on the table for a special occasion—but don't wait too long.
This pure estate-grown Cabernet shines. It's tight and somewhat earthy, with nuanced notes of bark and stem. The fruit is medium bodied, firm and clean, showing good balance.
For many years, Red Willow Cabernet was exclusively produced at Columbia Winery in a style that emphasized rather green, stemmy flavors. This is the polar opposite. It's roasted, earthy and tannic, with a mix of prune, fig and compote, along with a highlight of cinnamon spice. The finish turns lighter, with a leafy component typical of fruit from this vineyard.
Gorgeous violet and spiced red-cherry notes are fragrant on this harmonious Pinot Noir. Elegant and brisk, this has tart, sour fruit flavors that are accented by loads of fresh green herb and a crushed-stone minerality.
This is rich and concentrated, spice as well as pear and melon flavors. It is complex, with almond and nutmeg notes, balanced by the taut acidity that completes a full, ripe wine.
Firm and compact, this is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Malbec, offering a broad red-fruit flavor, finishing streak of mocha. As with all Hightower reds, it is immediately accessible and drinks with smooth power.
Buttercup and fresh pear aromas are friendly and inviting. It feels full and correct, with good acids and minerality. Flavors of pears, melons and lees are very nice, while the finish is simultaneously flowery, crisp and salinic.
This is the second label for Col Solare, the Ste. Michelle-Antinori collaboration on Red Mountain. Except for a splash of Syrah, it's a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and three other Bordeaux grapes, mostly sourced from the recently planted estate vineyard on Red Mountain. Mixed black-fruit flavors come dusted with baking spice, plus notes of olive, cedar and coffee.
This wine's aromas are strongly citrusy, with a squeeze of lime zest that gives it a lively sensation, but the flavors are more sedate and ripe, veering gently into apricots and melons. The texture is plush and luxurious, while the finish is undeniably sweet and decadent.
For a wine labeled merely Zweigelt, this is anything but simple. It has plenty of fruit, which is counterbalanced by complex tannins and dark texture. A spice note and acidity add to this wine, which should be aged for another year. Screwcap.
Strawberry and raspberry aromas come on with aggression, and the bouquet doesn't really evolve. The palate is crisp, snappy and high in acid, with grating red cherry and red plum flavors. Decent red fruit character throughout but not much feel or depth.
This is two thirds Chardonnay and the rest a Viognier/Roussanne blend. There is something a little off-putting in the aromas, a hint of volatility and sweatiness. In the mouth it is a simple, generic dry white.
Scents of plum and cassis lead into a tart wine with acidic, tannic, black cherry fruit flavors. The acids are quite chalky, and the tannins chewy and slightly green.
Very light, to the point of being watery, with hints of citrus and tea. The finish leaves a sour aftertaste.
Jammy aromas mix with grassy green notes in front of a sweet, chunky palate that offers unconvincing, generic berry flavors. Devoid of elegance and character but loaded with heft and baked fruit. A sweet, rudimentary wine.
This Cabernet is a bit on the green side, with sharp, slightly bitter tannins that are not completely masked by the overlay of chocolatey barrel flavors.
Light and lemony, this simple, tangy white wine has some pretty, fresh baked bread scents, but inviting as they are, the wine feels acidic and one dimensional in the mouth. Lemon/lime is the prevailing flavor.
Balsamic and hard, with a briney, stemmy set of chemical-tinged black fruit aromas. The palate hits with force and noise; it's hard, tannic and unforgiving. The flavors of baked berry are rich, but the finish is grating and blazes with tannic burn.
Woodland berry, new leather, dark baking spice and rose aromas are front and center on this radiant red. It's well structured and loaded with finesse, delivering morello cherry, wild strawberry, clove and star anise framed in firm refined tannins and vibrant acidity. Young and balanced, it will be even better with more bottle age. Drink 2023–2043.
Wild berry, crushed herb, violet and baking spice scents lift out of the glass along with a whiff of menthol. Focused and elegantly structured, the delicious palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon, sage and white pepper, while refined tannins and bright acidity provide supple support and impeccable balance. Drink 2023–2033.
The musky touch of botryrtis clings to the mellow, sweet ripeness of juicy Mirabelle plums and candied citrus on the nose. The palate follows with a supremely balanced sweetness that's nonetheless bright and luminous with lemony freshness. A floral perfume fills the palate with a fragrance that lasts and lasts.
Menthol, pressed rose, iris, woodland berry, chopped mint and a whiff of oak-driven spice take center stage. It's still tight, with youthfully assertive refined tannins but it also boasts layers of red cherry, raspberry compote, cranberry, licorice and vanilla alongside bright acidity. Thanks to its age-worthy structure, you'll need patience for this one. Drink 2028–2048.
This is a complex and layered Mourvèdre. Fragrances of rose petals, cinnamon, mace, blackberry and black cherry prove almost overpowering, yet delicious. The palate puts black plum and black cherry together with star anise, clove and an array of baking spice. There's a lot going on, but it's harmonious and balanced.
As is often the case, a poor red wine vintage in Bordeaux is a good year for sweet wines. This unctuous wine, still young and dominated by 95% Sémillon, is beautifully balanced. Its honey and botrytis flavors give it a dry edge that comfortably contrasts with the opulent sweetness. The acidity, a source of freshness, gives the wine the lift it needs. Drink this serious and major wine from 2023.
Tremendously delicious, this bottling combines hedonistic flair with elegant depth, satisfying both carnal and intellectual desires. Waves of hot cherry pie with vanilla ice cream and cola spice show on the nose, but the sip grows more dry and refined. Black cherry is enhanced with crushed nutmeg, black pepper and a pinch of dill, balanced via underlying acidity and a leathery tannic frame.
Beguiling scents of fragrant berry, rose petal, baking spice, new leather and aromatic herbs swirl around in the glass. The vibrant palate is loaded with finesse, doling out morello cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and star anise, while polished tannins and bright acidity provide impeccable balance. It's just gorgeous and while it's already accessible, it also shows midterm aging potential.
Intensely fragrant, this beautiful, vibrant wine offers enticing scents of iris, violet, rose and perfumed wild berry. It's elegantly structured and loaded with finesse, offering cherry, strawberry, crushed herb, coffee and white pepper alongside taut refined tannins. It's impeccably balanced, with bright acidity. Give it time to fully unwind and develop even more complexity.
Almost as big as a Port, but not sweet, this densely concentrated but surprisingly gentle wine offers opulent, ripe and almost jammy berry flavors that coat the palate and cling to the sides of the mouth long after each sip. It's technically dry, but so rich with blackberry and cassis flavors that it seems sweet from the first aroma to the lingering finish. It will be best after 2024.
Lush aromas of cinnamon, black and red cherry, vanilla and toasted brioche show on this unabashedly potent and downright delicious bottling by the region's pioneering winery. Soft tannins joyously present rounded red-fruit and vanilla-cake flavors, with rich accents of cherry compote and chocolate chip cookie that are cut by streaks of bitterness and tartness. It's a voluptuous, attention-grabbing wine.
It's difficult to match the pure, expressive fruit and focus of this medium- to full-bodied, concentrated and complex wine. Substantial, enticing aromas of red and black cherry with a touch of butter lead to cherry, rhubarb, forest floor and mint notes on the palate. The mouthfeel is full but lively, and the finish lingers nicely. Best after 2022.
Intensely fragrant, this offers enticing scents of woodland berry, violet, rose, aromatic herb and new leather. Elegantly structured, the linear palate is all about finesse, delivering red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and licorice framed in firm refined tannins. Drink 2022–2032.
Aromas of exotic spice, wild berry, blue flower and French oak meld together on this luminous delicious red. The bright structured palate delivers succulent cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and vanilla alongside polished elegant tannins that give it an irresistibly smooth texture. Bright acidity lends balanced. Drink 2019–2033.
This is a gentle giant of a wine, so packed with flavor and drenched with ripe tannins that it literally coats the palate. Clove, cedar and blackberry fill the aroma, while dark chocolate, spiced cherries and blackberries flood the flavors. While full bodied and richly tannic, it maintains fabulous balance, and is destined for a long life in the cellar. Best from 2024–2035.
This is a big, gutsy, but far from overpowering wine that's nearly opaque in color. Packed with dark chocolate and violet aromas, it pours out black cherry and blackberry flavors from a deep well. Well-integrated tannins give good grip on the palate and perfectly support the ripeness and richness of the fruit. It will be best after 2023.
From blocks of old Wente vines planted in the 1970s, this producer and site continue to find beautiful synergy together. This wine shows high-toned floral notes around full-bodied richness and flavors of crème brûlée and anise. A salty accent begs for attention as a kick of citrus finishes with grace and freshness.
Aromas of exotic spice, rose, red berry, tobacco and a whiff of French oak mingle together in the glass. The aromas carry over to the elegant, firmly structured palate, along with strawberry, morello cherry and licorice. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide refined support, while a coffee note wraps up the lingering finish. Give this a few more years to unwind and fully develop; drink 2023–2038.
An abundance of chaparral spice adds intrigue to the nose of this bottling by veteran Ken Brown. Dried sage and a eucalyptus-like menthol character decorate the red currant and raspberry core. Pine needles play prominently on the palate, giving depth to the cranberry, pomegranate and white-pepper flavors. It offers tons of flair, but also elegance.
Beautiful aromas of ripe red cherry and cherry blossoms mix with rose-laced potpourri, dust, cola and vanilla on the nose of this best-barrel bottling by Jim Clendenen, named after his daughter. Bright and zesty acidity grabs the palate's immediate attention, making the mouth water as flavors of tart cherry, rust, marinated olive and fig come forth, finishing in a very earthy way.
A gorgeous aroma like roses and blackberries meets richly concentrated and ripe black-fruit flavors in this full-bodied, luxuriously textured wine. While extremely ripe and bold, the wine is also smooth and voluptuous, balanced out by silky tannins that keep the mouthfeel lively and fresh sip after sip.
The aromas pop, with notes of diesel, lychee, dried orange peel, marmalade and peach. The stone-fruit and tropical flavors are rich, sugary and intense, showing an exquisite sense of balance. Skip the rest of dessert. This delivers it all by itself.
Made entirely with Pinot Nero, this stunning sparkler from Piedmont opens with delicate aromas of wild berry, bread crust and a whiff of cake spice. The vibrant palate is loaded with finesse, doling out red cherry, strawberry, vanilla and cinnamon. Tangy acidity brightens the creamy flavors.
Guigal's flagship Condrieu is always flashy, fleshy and opulent, and the 2015 is no slouch in those areas. Hints of toast and vanilla accent apricot-laden fruit, while subtle spice shadings linger on the long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now–2020.
A blend of Pinot Nero and Chardonnay, this stunning sparkler shows its Piedmont pedigree, boasting structure and finesse. Dosed with the firm's own 1967 Barolo, it opens with delicate scents of perfumed red cherry, juicy strawberry, rose, cake spice and a whiff of baked bread that follow over to the vibrant palate. A blast of tangerine zest closes the crisp finish. Delicious!
Promising aromatics include lifted scents of ripe redcurrant, blood-orange peel and a wild streak of elderberry. These fruit notions carry through on the slinky and smooth palate. Elderberry notes are joined by something more resonant and earthy, reminiscent of truffle and autumn. The structure has light feet but is sure-footed, and the purity of the fruit indicates that it will continue developing. It's a subtle, convincing wine.
This is a Pinot Noir for lovers of lush expressions. Fat black cherry meets with nutmeg, vanilla, clove, raw meat and leather on the nose. Juicy blackberries and black currant explode on the sip, alongside sandalwood and myrrh. It's super rich and a tad sweet but also lively with persistent acidity.
This bold, beautiful wine has toasted, oaky undertones that support concentrated layers of apple skin, caramelized crème brûlée and a texture of gritty minerality. Papaya, mango and baked pineapple tug at the palate amidst a strong streak of stone.
This is prototypical Gisborne Chardonnay, featuring a whack of spicy oak and buttered popcorn allied to tropical-fruit and peach flavors, brought into focus by mild citrus (tangerine) on the finish. A very fruity and somewhat simple style, yet executed perfectly.
Named after Danie de Wet's wife, this elegant Chardonnay balances smooth fruit with crisp acidity and a spice-and-toast finish. There have been better, more concentrated, vintages of this wine—notably the 1998 and 1993—but it will develop well over the next four or five years.
This is very appealing when first popped, with plenty of forward  butter and caramel scents livening up the fresh fruit. Ready to drink right now, it retains enough acid to stand up to food, though the finish is a little bitter from all the new oak.
Tasty fresh fruit, leaning toward grapefruit and pineapple, peach and lemon. Zesty and forward, it refreshes rather than fatigues the palate, and is perfect for sipping on a spring afternoon. Best Buy.
This weighty California lookalike nevertheless comes across as balanced, thanks to a long, mouthwatering finish. Citrus and yellow-plum flavors stand up well to a hefty dose of vanilla and buttered toast.
Very fresh pear, melon and tropical fruit, medium body and a clean, crisp, citrusy finish make this a wine to rely on with a wide range of foods. It should pair well with just about anything that normally works with white wine.
A pillowy and tropical Chard that doesn't get sloppy soft or overly tart and hard. Toasted marshmallow, pineapple and banana aromas; lightly caramelized pineapple dusted with cinnamon flavors. Finishes with a smoky edge. Best Buy.
Seems almost Burgundian in this crowd, with its aromas of smoke and white peach and flavors of roasted hazelnuts and grilled peaches. Finishes clean and crisp, with tart, lime-like acidity and hints of smoke.
This is forward and oaky, almost bulky in the nose, but not overdone. The palate offers some nice orange flavors, along with a dose of ripe tropical fruit. The mouthfeel isright on, with proper acids providing necessary balance. The finish is clean and smooth, although a little sweet.
The aromas are so promising, redolent of toast and pears, butter and nectarines, that expectations are high. And make no mistake—this is very good wine. It's just that a slightly resinous veneer of spicy oak largely dominates the palate and finish.
There's a distinct hardness to this wine, so that the fruit comes across more as a tough-skinned yellow-plum than as a soft, ripe peach. It's a little stingy on the midpalate, but there are plenty of other things to make up for it. Melon and pineapple flavors add layers of interest, as does the toasty, nutty finish.
The Finlaysons, father and son, have made some impressive Chardonnays in the dozen years since they took over this Paarl estate. This is not as fine as some (1995 was exceptional), but it has many of the same characteristics: ripe, tropical, fat fruit, with an element of complexity provided by the lees. Yet, the high toast flavors tend to spoil and dominate the fruit.
A richer, yet no better, style than the 2000 Limestone Coast bottling. Peach and vanilla aromas and flavors take the lead, with buttered popcorn and alcoholic warmth playing supporting roles. The finish is long, featuring a slightly bitter note akin to citrus rind.
Fresh key lime aromas meet sweeter tangerine and floral scents on the nose of this single vineyard bottling. The acidity is punchy on the palate, with tangy green fruit flavors that recall Anjou pear and lime skins.
Restrained compared to the winery's other bottlings, this single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc offers dried yellow apple, lime and orange rind aromas. There's plenty of acidity on the palate, but it presents itself subtly, with wet cement-like mineral tension.
It's fairly rare to find estate-grown Willamette Valley Pinot Noir in this price range. This one is all about forward black-raspberry fruit, perfectly ripened, with a palate-pleasing candied character. It thins out in the middle, but for near term consumption, that shouldn't dampen your pleasure.
The aromas on this wine are unusual, with notes of wood spice, tire rubber and earth, showing some reduction on first pour. The flavors are soft and silky, while the tannins bring a slightly gritty feel. Vanilla flavors linger on the finish. There's intrigue, but it doesn't all come together.
A ripe wine from a fine Bergerac vintage, this is balanced without being weighty. It is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, giving both a fine tannic structure and plenty of black-currant juiciness. Drink this wine from 2018.
Previous vintages have impressed more than this one, which admittedly wasn't an easy year in Marlborough. The marriage of toasty oak and ripe fruit comes across as similar to popcorn, aligned with linear notes of pineapple and citrus that extend through the long, clean finish.
High toned, with deep cherry, strawberry and vanilla notes, this wine is velvety and dense, with powerful tannins and a breadth of earthy flavor.
Cola and soft red raspberry scents show on the nose of this blend of 58% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 17% Syrah. It's easy-drinking and simple, with red fruit, white pepper and asphalt hints. A great, light, quaffable red for a warm day.
This is a rich blend of Duras and Braucol. It is densely textured with ripe black-plum and berry fruits and some still young tannins. The wine will age well to show ripe fruits and a generous texture. Drink from 2018.
High-toned aromas of herb, flower, spice and cherry are followed by tart elegantly styled fruit flavors. The new oak influence seems minimal. Pair it with food to see it at its best.
A dark core of black plum, blueberry and violet marks the nose of this single-vineyard bottling. The palate showcases purple fruit and floral notes, with concentrated black plum skin and more violet leading the way.
This wine has a personality that's both crisp and satisfying. White pepper and light earth aromas lead to tempting peachy flavors and an appealing texture that balances tanginess and richness. The blend includes small portions of Chardonnay, Albariño, Gewürztraminer and Orange Muscat.
Fleshy red plum and alpine strawberry fruit shows alongside vanilla and baking spice on the nose of this well-priced bottling from the Center of Effort team. The palate will please many, thanks to buoyant acidity and bright red cherry, raspberry and garrigue flavors.
Powerful berry and spice aromas open this jammy slightly heavy Monastell. Desert-herb notes of sage and thyme accent a core blueberry flavor, while this tastes of carob, roasted beet and toast on the finish.
A slightly reduced nose signals that this wine needs to breathe. A little time in the glass reveals fresh, ripe flavor that's perfectly suited to summer picnics. It's fruit-forward and uncomplicated, with a light but ripe body.
Raw herbal spicy aromas come with a heavy draping of savory oak. This Bonarda feels full, rustic and a touch creamy. Dry spicy barrel-heavy flavors outweigh fruit on this oaky smoky red wine.
Cooked plums and cherries meet with dill, tarragon, cola and asphalt on the nose of this wine. Rocky flavors of tar and pencil shavings meld with Dr Pepper elements, cedar and more cooked fruit on the palate.
Light in color and silky in texture, this earthy wine offers overtones of cinnamon, dark cherry, raspberry and clove. Well integrated in terms of oak and tannin, it's full-bodied enough to please those who like a bigger styled wine.
This is full-bodied expression of the variety, big in oak and tannin presence, grippy still, with a leathery feel on the palate. Baked plum is seasoned by a hint of clove and cola, finishing expansively.
Dry and semisparkling, this opens with aromas of hazelnut, pear and a touch of bread crust. The crisp, vertical palate offers nut, apple skin and grapefruit alongside brisk acidity. Rather than sip as an aperitivo, try it with fish or lightly seasoned rice dishes.
Delicate aromas of wisteria, jasmine and a whiff of white orchard fruit mingle in the glass. The bright palate offers tart Granny Smith apple, green pear and lime alongside racy acidity and a soft mousse.
A spicy aroma of ginger cookies meets dark, blackberry flavors on the palate of this medium-bodied, pure-tasting wine. The gushing fruit flavors are compelling and palate-cleansing, with light tannins and acidity keep it fresh and lively.
Bread crust and golden apple aromas lead the way and follow through to the lively palate along with citrus zest and toasted hazelnut. Bright acidity and brisk, persistent bubbles offset the rich flavors.
This barrel-fermented Viura is crystalline on the nose, with tropical fruit aromas, minerally apple notes and a touch of yeast. Balanced and properly acidic, this tastes like nectarine, lemon and persimmon, while the finish is balanced, zesty and a touch oily in texture.
From 45-year-old Gamay vines, Stéphane Aviron created an open, fruity wine that has fresh cherry flavors cut with acidity and a dry edge of tannin. A smoky as well as juicy character adds interest and spice.
Aromas of citrus zest, peach and a whiff of tropical fruit lead the way. The rich palate delivers creamy apple, pear and lemon drop while brisk acidity and a firm perlage provide the framework. A saline note backs up the finish.
A heavy chaparral element consumes the nose of this wine, with sagebrush, eucalyptus, pencil lead and just a touch of elderberry fruit. The palate is all about tart cranberries and sour cherries, with a bit of graphite minerality holding it together. It's a brisk and earthy sipper.
Creamy aromas predominate on the nose and carry through to a round, rich palate. This is generous, full and bready, with a lot of earthy flavors on the midpalate. While there is balance, there is little fruit and lots of yeasty character.
Woody, wet herbs of oregano and thyme mix with bitter chocolate, a whiff of smoke and extract cranberry and blueberry on the nose of this winery's top-end bottling. Dark flavors of black cherries, blueberries and pencil lead show on the highly structured palate.
This is a lighter, thinner vintage for this wine, but it offers a lot of pleasure to those with the patience to let it breathe. Delicate fruit flavors of raspberry, cherry and rose water carry a musky note. The finish is underscored with a mineral base.
Smooth and fruity, this all-stainless effort carries a citrusy tang into the finish. It quickly settles into a good flavor groove, with suggestions of fresh-baked bread.
This wine leaps out of the glass with fresh and bright aromas of strawberry blossoms, ripe raspberries, red flowers and a tiny bit of iron. The flavors are reminiscent of a potpourri satchel, with dried hibiscus flowers, tart cranberries, sour cherries and touches of pencil lead.
Chiroubles is highest of the Beaujolais cru villages, producing wines with good structure. This wine, with its firm tannins, shows some aging potential. It has acidity and ripe red-plum flavors over a dry core. Drink from 2017.
Even tasted blind, this wine's Awatere origins shone through, bursting with fresh nettles and tomato leaf which garnish currant-like fruit. It's amply concentrated and round in the mouth, then long and mouthwatering on the finish.
Finely balanced wine, showing the warmth of 2009 as well as keeping bright peach, pink grapefruit and red berry fruit flavors. The wine shows lively final acidity for a delicious aftertaste.
Rich, full-bodied wine with a serious nature. It impresses with its ripe red fruit, the layer of caramel well integrated with acidity. The feel is soft, but certainly dry, giving an impressive structured aftertaste.
The label reads “The Original coffee/chocolate Pinotage” and boy are they right! This is pure decadent bliss with intense aromas of crème de cacao, raspberry chocolate sauce and coffee granules along with hints of hickory bacon and tobacco. The mouth is huge, ripe and full, with a balanced structure and gorgeous flavors of juicy mashed black raspberries, plum flesh, sweet smoked meat and mocha that leads strongly throughout the lengthy finish. With 500 cases imported, this is a Pinotage worth searching out and trying.
The results of a partnership between Golan Heights Winery's Chief Winemaker Victor Schoenfeld and world-renowned winemaker and consultant Zelma Long, Rom (meaning “summit” in Hebrew) is a reference and tribute to the culmination of their relationship. The inaugural effort is a gorgeous wine composed of 37% Syrah, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot aged in French oak for 21 months. The result is a powerful, lush and concentrated wine loaded with black raspberry, blueberry, thin mint cookies and savory spice. Full weight with forward tannins and medium acidity, this is an Old World wine with a New World attitude.
Like some of the other 2008s, this wine seems to be evolving rapidly—a common enough occurence in hot vintages. Apple and citrus flavors still dominate, but the wine is already showing hints of honey and toast. Drink it now and over the next 3–5 years.
Bright, sappy, with fresh raspberries, mocha, moist earth and light details of green herb. With alcohol just over 14%, this has young vine flavors, a bit less concentration than the very best Washington Syrahs, but it's balanced and tasty.
The attractive presentation, with handwriting directly on to the bottle, is followed by an equally attractive wine, ripe and full in character, but balanced with good acidity. There is a final vanilla burst.
A dusty-textured wine, its fruit like grains scattered over the surface of a fresh crisp structure. The freshness is palpable and so is the depth of flavor. A food-friendly wine.
Representing a good value in top-flight Cabernet, Jim Barry's 2008 The Cover Drive (a cricketing term) features subtle hints of cinnamon, coffee and vanilla layered over blueberry and plum fruit. It's on the full-bodied side, with plush, velvety tannins balanced by crisp acids. Drink now–2018.
A gorgeous and well-balanced Chard that's on par with some of the more popular offerings from other notable regions. Elegant and expressive with butter, toasted brioche, red apple skins and almond paste unfolding in the bouquet while flavors of baked apples and pear lead through to the marzipan-infused finish. Full and intense but not fat or overdone; drink now with stuffed lobster or thermidor.
Of all this year's seven Pioneer Block Sauvignon Blanc offerings, this one most seamlessly blends passion fruit, green tomatoes and leafy notes into a medium-bodied yet amply concentrated wine with a long, citrusy finish.
Roundly fruity, loaded with bright berries, and nicely spiced with herbal (tobacco) highlights.  Immediately approachable and nicely structured, this open and generous effort glides into a smooth and chocolaty finish. The tannins have been especially well ripened and polished, so the bright fruit has no sharp edges.
Winemaker Joe Forest has brightened the fruit and livened up the mouthfeel by blending in 20% Grenache. Fresh raspberry flavors are wrapped into the earthier, herbal, lightly chocolaty character of the Syrah. Once-filled French barrels were used.
This is 90% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; it's dark, toasty, smoky, earthy and dappled with ground coffee flavors. The fruit holds its own—it's tight and tart and firm, with plenty of blackberry flavor. This wine keeps resonating through the palate into a solid, textural finish.
Dark to the eye, with perfectly adequate raspberry and black plum aromas. The palate is a touch acidic and tangy, but even though it's lean it packs ample cassis, plum and herbal influences. Solid for the money, with a feel-good personality.
This is a soft, crisp, lightly herbaceous wine. It has fruity peach and pear flavors that are touched with citrus. The fruit dances easily on the palate. Screwcap.
This is made from equal proportions of ripe, fleshy Merlot and herbaceous, violet-inflected Cabernet Franc. The resulting blend is brisk in acidity and framed with hints of cedar, baking spice and vanilla. It's robust with tannins but should round out with braised meat or other hearty fare.
Smoke and dark chocolate notes abound on this elegant Long Island Merlot (made with 10% Petit Verdot). A touch austere on the palate, it has a black plum flavor shaded with hints of resin, leaves and game. Bold tannins add structure and power.
Aromas of crusty berry, olive and juniper mark the nose. It feels dry, solid and tannic, with racy, slightly fiery flavors of red berries and herbs. A mint note and an oaky, resinous flavor rule the finish.
The aromas of herbal berry seem crusty and roasted. The palate feels round, with herbal, burnt flavors of berry fruits surrounded by spice and warmth. It turns toward molasses and syrup on the medium-long, powerful finish. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.
A bit fiery on the nose, but it's also smoky and earthy. It feels clacky and zesty, with red plum, raspberry and spicy-oak flavors. Warm, toasty and regular on the finish, with crisp acidity all the way out the back door.
Anise, blackberry, black pepper and savory spice aromas lead this ripe red from Pavlidis. The palate is laced with a vanilla note, and the red berry flavors are rich and easy to like. With its good spice and complex fruit, this should pair well with grilled meats and tomato pastas.
Black plum and cherry aromas take second stage to the earthy notes of bramble, spice and crushed iris petal. Medium weight with satiny tannins, this has a spicy black-cherry finish.
This has a rubbery, smoky nose, as if it were caught between a campfire and a burning tire. Tangy, snappy and grabby around the edges, this also has a resiny, lactic oak flavor blanketing the robust berry fruit. It finishes grabby, with raspberry and herb notes.
Notes of lemon rind, mineral and a spin of warming spice start this cheerful, easy-drinking white blend from the Cyclades. This is what Greek whites are all about: fresh, lively fruit and a clean finish?that pairs great with seafood.
With light fruits and a dry texture, this mature wine is very ready to drink. It is light in texture and the bitter chocolate tannins are just starting to dominate. Drink now.
With wood and black currant aromas, this is a soft, ripe and ready to drink wine. It has a rich texture, with a smokiness and black fruits that are smoothed by wood and lifted by acidity.
Bacon aromas and very dense tannins give this a lean, rather than fruity, character. It does have some density along with a more juicy black-fruit finish, although high amounts of toast also show strongly.
Alluring aromas of exotic fruit and citrus are followed by equally lush flavors throughout: think pineapple, lemon curd and even banana. Intriguing and fun, but not overly complex.
A significant price drop and a riper vintage make this a fine, every day go-to Pinot Gris. Apple and pear fruit, spiced up with cinnamon highlights, lead into a clean finish. Drink it young.
Smooth ripe-fruit aromas of raisin and blackberry lead to a jammy feel and concentrated palate that's home to baked black-fruit and molasses flavors. A gritty, grippy finish holds its form. Drink now.
This low alcohol wine offers tart, young, raspberry fruit, without much concentration. It was aged in 70% new French oak, which imparts a toasty, chocolatey edge to the finish.
This blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is vinified in steel and bottle aged. It's young and fresh, boasting bright red cherry and raspberry sensations along with notes of freshly tilled earth.
Made with 80% Pinot Nero and 20% Chardonnay, this sparkling rosé has bright aromas of rose, berry and spice. The palate shows bitter cherry on the front, with a note of toasted almond and mineral.
This Chianti has a fragrance of berry with a whiff of violet. The palate is soft and offers plump black cherry and raspberry with a note of nutmeg and clove. Not much complexity but it has savory flavors. Drink soon with cured meats or pecorino cheese.
This wine should be Cesarini Sforza's crown jewel, but this sparkling riserva has a fragrance dominated by oak and vanilla. The palate is aggressively sparkling and shows vanilla, oak and Golden Delicious apple flavors.
This is a smooth and soft wine with attractive white-fruit aromas and bold acidity. It's finely textured with juicy, fresh apple and pear flavors. It is ready to drink now, but will age over the medium term.
A pretty purple-hued wine, Chehalem's Gamay Noir invites sipping with flavors of blueberries, chocolate and spice. It's fruity and forward, but seems to suddenly hit a wall, stopping short with a hint of plastic in the finish.
This is a fruity but also structured blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional. It's full of red fruit, dusty tannins with a dry core and balancing acidity. Drink until 2020.
This is a rich wine, smoky with vanilla and apple flavors. It has some good intensity, as well as a textured character that gives it some aging potential. Bright, fresh acidity cuts through the riper fruits. Drink now and until 2019.
This shows dark berry aromas with hints of toast and sandalwood. The palate delivers black fruits layered with licorice, spice and espresso, but it's a bit shy on length.
Whiffs of minerality, waxy lemon peel and lanolin add complexity to lemon-honey flavors on the palate. It's dainty, with a steely acid backbone, and hints of saffron and spice on the finish. Made from grapes frozen after harvest.
Intensely herbaceous notes of fresh green leaves and stems add briskness to crisp red-plum and cherry flavors in this full bodied, yet keenly balanced wine. Wisps of violet on the palate and soft, furry tannins lend it an elegant feel.
Though labeled merlot, this is truly a Bordeaux-style blend with Cabernet Sauvignon (6%), Malbec (5%), and Petit Verdot (2%) added to the mix. It is reserved in style with notes of cherry, dried herbs and pickling spices backed by firm, dry tannins.
The aromas are barnyard and rustic, but on the palate the wine has a richer character altogether. It has dark fruit flavors, solid tannins and a dense texture, well combined in a structured package. Wood softens the attack of the fruit, resulting in a wine that can be drunk now, but will be better in three years time.
This is a Muscat for the masses, except that the masses better hurry because there were only 220 cases made. With 60 g/L of residual sugar, it has a gorgeous nose of jasmine and drinks clean and bright, sweetly balanced and satisfying. Pair it with the spiciest curry or Thai noodles. It'll pop in magnificent ways.
Tight with tart cranberry acidity but juicy cassis flavor, this is a structured Cab with herbal undertones that'll serve you well in a series of settings, from midweek meals to casual gatherings.
This is a beautifully fruity wine with great acidity and citrus flavors contrasting with ripe apple and melon fruitiness. The wine is cool, crisp, full of juicy acidity, and ready to drink now.
Raisiny berry aromas come with notes of spice cake and green herbs. This wine feels narrow, hard and gritty. Uncommon flavors of fennel, licorice and bitter chocolate are as prominent if not more so than blueberry and black-plum fruit. The wine is louder and more demanding on the palate than on the finish.
Effusive fruit flavors and a vibrant texture make this wine easy to pair with a meal. Spicy, chocolatey aromas meet cherry and raspberry flavors while full body lends richness in the mouthfeel and length on the finish.
This tasty, well-balanced wine is oaky in style, with lightly smoky and buttery nuances and generous apple and lemon flavors. It's medium bodied and smooth but lively in texture and has a light, buttery finish.
There is a distinct tannic edge to this 100% Pinot Noir Champagne. It gives a firm character and with spice as well as red fruits and citrus. These elements, not quite integrated, show the wine needs to age further. Drink from 2019.
A step up from the Willamette Valley cuvée, this is a barrel selection from the same eight vineyards. One-third was new French oak, adding a hint of toast around wild raspberry fruit with a peppery note.
This blend of 50% Sémillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc Clone 1 and 20% Sauvignon Musqué from Monte Rosso and Leveroni vineyards was aged in French oak. Succulent as a peach, it's intensely ripe and flavorful, with vanilla bean and melon notes and a wisp of sweetness.
At first the nose on this Malbec seems granulated, with individual notes of heady black fruits, oak, iron and dried blood. The palate is saturated but without much lift. Solid blackberry and chocolate flavors extend across a finish with stature.
From a single parcel of organically grown Pinot Blanc, this was partially vinified in wood. It is dry, although the fruitiness of the grapes balances that dryness. The result is a rich wine, full of fruitiness and with a toasty edge that adds complexity. Drink now.
A blend of Friulano, Chardonnay and Sauvignon, this opens with aromas evoking toast, butterscotch, aromatic herb and graphite. The rounded palate offers dried yellow apple, crushed thyme, lemon peel and a hint of salty mineral. It closes on a pleasantly bitter almond note.
Made entirely with dried Traminer grapes, this offers aromas of honeysuckle, lychee and mango. The aromas follow over to the sweet rounded palate together with acacia honey notes.
Generous Bing cherry and black plum flavors saturate this smooth and full-bodied wine, supplemented by subtle nutmeg, cinnamon and clove notes. It has a suave, mouth-filling texture, soft acidity and a warm spicy finish. Winemaker Greg Graziano blended in 14% Pinotage.
A nicely balanced Chardonnay, marrying subtle buttered apple notes with bolder notes of toasted hazelnut and white peaches. It's got a silky texture and plenty of intensity on the fresh, citrusy finish. Drink now–2012.
Hugely liquorous wine, full of honey, superripe fruit, yellow peach and apricot flavors, along with orange marmalade. This is big, very densely flavored, richly textured. It could certainly age for 5–10 years.
A lively, fresh, red-fruited wine, with a good balance between new wood flavors, spice and intense fruit. This is a great wine to drink now, with its direct fruit flavors backed with tight tannins.
The importance of a great vintage is evident in this crianza holdover from the lauded 2001 harvest. The wine is loaded with cola, root beer, molasses and leather aromas, while the flavors of earthy cherry, plum and raspberry are subtle and upright, yet still a touch angular. Will go well with food; drink now.
The under-$10 high scorer is fast disappearing, so take a good look at this young, jammy Tempranillo-Shiraz blend that hits nicely with ripe boysenberry and black plum. The Shiraz seems to have darkened the wine, and the mouthfeel is ripe and lush.
This starts off with some odd wet wool and fresh tar notes, but quickly rights itself, delivering a medium-bodied mouthful of crisp lime and melon fruit. If possible, give it a quick splash in a decanter before drinking.
This wine doesn't have the easy elegance of Nik Weis's best vintages, but it still packs in plenty of mineral-tinged apple and citrus flavor. Give it a year or two to come together, then drink it over the next five.
A plump, amply concentrated Riesling, with plenty of pineapple fruit to balance the hints of kerosene, slate and lime. Finishes crisp and clean, with a dry quality that invites another sip. Drink now.
Quite ripe for a traditional crianza. The bouquet starts out on the stewy side but soon sheds its weight to reveal flavors of blackberry, black cherry and earth. The mouthfeel is a bit creamy due to the wine's mild oak and overall ripeness. Drink now through 2010.
This dry Vinho Verde shows great crisp, green apple and grapefruit flavors, a deliciously fresh wine, with green edges and lively flavors. Great summer drink.
A perfumed, juicy wine with delicious red fruits and well adjusted with acidity. There are good, dry tannins as well, suggesting this will make a good food wine. The aftertaste has chewy structure and acidity.
Early aromas of wintergreen, pepper and autumn leaves are joined by plum and cherry sweetness on the palate. The wine opens fairly quickly into a bright, juicy, lively package that offers grabby tannins, a touch of coarseness and zest. Should drink well for the next four or five years.
This is a limited (two barrels) bottling from a Dundee Hills vineyard. Tight red currant fruit is streaked with licorice and baking chocolate. There's plenty of acid, not entirely integrated into the fruit, and a hint of caramel in the finish. Good components, though not yet a complete and seamless wine.
Aromatic and floral, this lovely bottle has a tangy, nicely defined core of raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate. The tannins are crisp, the acids bracing, the fruit etched in minerals, and the balance poised and appropriate to the lightness of the wine.
Shea, as always, is a full-bodied, fruit-driven Pinot with a broad midpalate showing blackberry fruit and citrusy acids. It falls away rather quickly, leaving a stony impression, but is missing the concentration of Shea bottlings from other vintners.
Clean and only ever so slightly waxy, with yellow-fruit aromas, mineral and floral scents all coming together. The palate is crisp, zesty and stony, with fresh Golden Delicious apple and tangerine flavors. All in all, the sum is more than satisfying. Drink as soon as possible.
This is Oregon Pinot from the Columbia Gorge AVA. This new region is still defining itself, but on first blush it's warmer, with more ripe, sweet strawberry fruit and very little of the herbal, resiny, tomato leaf character of most Oregon Pinots in this price range. This is sweet, jammy, spicy and thick, with fruit compote flavors dominating.
This elegant blend of stainless- and barrel-aged lots captures the fresh fruit flavors of red apples, kiwi and lime, letting just a hint of barrel toast creep into the finish. It's leesy and bracing, finished at 14.8% alcohol but tasting much lighter.
This ripe wine fully expresses the fruitiness of the vintage while also having a firm, tannic structure. It does need to age, although juicy black currant is already showing through. Wait until 2017.
Made entirely with native Gaglioppo grapes, this vibrant rosato offers a delicate fragrance of white rose and red berry with a light anise note. The savory, refreshing palate delivers red raspberry, morello cherry, orange zest and white pepper brightened by tangy acidity. It's so fresh and easy drinking, you may need two bottles.
Made with 80% Cannonau, 10% Carignano and 10% Bovale, this rich dessert wine opens with subdued aromas of raspberry jam, mocha and Mediterranean brush. The sweet, full-bodied palate offers fig, candied date, clove and hazelnut.
Oaky accents like nutmeg and cinnamon stand out in the aroma, and continue in the flavors while concentrated cherry and berry flavors flood the tongue. This wine is bold, appropriately tannic, and piles on both wood and fruit flavors in profusion. It was aged in American oak for 14 months.
Made with 100% Grillo and aged for seven years in oak, this opens with intense aromas of dried apricot and stewed prune. The velvety, robust palate delivers fig, candied date and walnut.
Packed with delicious, ripe blackberry and blueberry flavors, this is a concentrated and full-bodied wine, with fine-grained tannins. Very tasty now with fatty cheeses and meats, it will improve through at least 2020.
Strong oaky, smoky, peppery aromas and flavors define this robust, assertive, high-alcohol wine. It will appeal to some consumers more than others, and those who like lots of seasoning on their steak will love it.
Electric acidity sends a thunderbolt through this bright, concentrated Riesling full of stone fruit and tangerine flavors. Dry and lithe, it finishes with puckery flair and a lingering sheen of honeycomb. Drink now.
Tiny amounts of Zinfandel and Malbec are added to this wine, which otherwise delivers varietally appropriate notes of tart cranberry and black currant. From there, leather comes onto the palate, bolstering an already heady mix of tannin and oak, finishing rich in tobacco and dark chocolate.
This wine smells like toasted bread, salt and black pepper, and tastes like a grilled steak, with smoke and blackberry accents. The tannin meter goes high, as the varietal's notorious thick texture and controlled astringency show through. Best to hold this and drink after 2019.
Vanilla pervades the luscious palate of plum and berry. Everything here is at full volume: opulent fruit and ripe, structured tannin, alcoholic heat and oaky spice. This is unashamedly big and bold and will need a rare T-bone steak to tame it.
Concentrated aromas of ocean brine, sweat and citrus fruits feed into a juicy, minerally palate. Green, tangy flavors of tangerine and canned beans end long, minerally and fresh, with lasting acidity.
Plump cranberries, anise, charred cinnamon and a touch of a forest floor character hit the nose on this bottling from a longtime regional farming family. It's light but bright on the palate, with Earl Grey tea, chaparral scrub and citrus rind decorating an elegant pomegranate fruit structure.
Soft notions of grapefruit zest and green apple provide an inviting opening, the palate delivers fresh, juicy flavors that broaden in the mouth. A lemony freshness lights everything up.
A bottling commemorating the winery's 10th anniversary, this Merlot and Cabernet-dominant blend offers aromas of barrel spices, dried herbs and Red Vines. The red-fruit flavors are supple in feel with a reserved styling.
Light, bright and racy, this wine from Dave Potter's new label shows fresh and clean touches of lime, quinine, mandarin orange pith, baking soda and light mint on the nose. The texture is appropriately oily, with petrol flavors and sprinkles of acidity that play across the palate.
This full-bodied wine has a deep color and smoke and charcoal aromas. The flavors are ripe, concentrated, grapy and berry-like. The texture has moderate tannins but is polished around the edges. It's a big and rowdy wine that doesn't lose control.
Aromas of brioche, strawberry and citrus are fresh in style. The citrus and smoke flavors are light and lively, broadening at the finish.
Initially, this is all about lemon and yellow grapefruit—all citrus freshness, lightness and zip. It is on only on the midpalate that some of the lovely nettle and passion fruit notes come through. Drink soon for its utter liveliness.
Aromas like melon and almond, then flavors like peach and honey make a sophisticated blend in this dry, light-bodied wine. It has vibrant acidity for good balance and richness in texture that lingers on the finish. The name refers to the egg-shaped concrete vats used for fermentation.
Made with organically farmed grapes, this opens with subtle aromas of red berry, clove and blue flower. The easy-drinking palate offers black cherry, mint and a hint of anise alongside polished tannins and racy acidity.
Rich aromas of concentrated raspberry, dried strawberry, beet juice, clove, turned loam, rose petals and forest floor show strongly on the nose of this bottling. The palate offers a lush body, with mocha, mace, and Indian spice, along with a touch of tart cranberry and dark soil.
Made with 80% Nero d'Avola and 20% Syrah, this opens with aromas of mature black-skinned fruit, toast, leather and Oriental spice. The firm palate offers ripe black cherry, raspberry jam, vanilla and oak-driven spice alongside fine-grained tannins.
Green pear and ripe lemon are the chief aromatic markers on nose and palate of this slender, refreshing wine. This has a spring in its step and a whole lot of zesty, lemony freshness with an ultraclean finish.
This wine demands attention for its deep, dark color, distinct smoke, bacon and maple syrup aromas, rich fruit flavors and a texture saturated with fine tannins. It will appeal to those who love boldness, lots of oak flavor and full body.
Cut lime and nectarine flesh meet with orange oil on a lean and focused nose in this wine by Paso pioneer Gary Eberle. The palate is framed by racy acidity, with clean, crisp flavors of lime juice and green pear. The salty finish is mouthwatering.
Exotic spice, toast, espresso and mature black-skinned fruit aromas lead the nose. The palate is rather austere, showing dried berry, spearmint, ground pepper and wild herb alongside aggressive tannins that clench the finish. Give the tannins a few more years to soften then drink up.
Fragrant and fresh, this sleek red offers scents of wild berry and just-picked violet. The smooth palate provides juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry and a hint of spice alongside bright acidity and supple tannins. Enjoy now.
Aromas of browned apples and vanilla bean contrast with a steely backdrop on the nose of this wine. Seared pears, lemon juice and jasmine decorate the palate, which is relatively light in body, with a strong acidity and hints of fresh mint toward the finish.
Brooding aromas of coffee, vanilla and herbs lead to elegantly styled fruit flavors that taper toward the finish.
This blend of 60% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre and 2% Petite Sirah pulses with racy red fruit and sizzling acidity. Fiercely tannic, it builds in sweet flavors as it opens, recalling graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate—a children's treat in a glass. The texture is leathery and wholly satisfying.
From a section of the producer's Quail Hill Vineyard, this wine sings with smoky sage and forest floor notes, its tingling acidity emphasizing freshness. Its backbone of thick tannins offers strength and power, contrasting more delicate layers of blueberry flavor.
Fresh juicy pear has a touch of bergamot zest on the nose that lends a heady enticing note. That same aromatic zesty touch pervades the entire palate, perfuming the rich ripe pear fruit and providing a wonderfully bright firm structure. There is a warm energetic core to this wine and quite some warmth, but this is beautifully countered by the citrus freshness. Right now all the notions are primary and delicious but this will evolve and develop. The concentration certainly is there. Drink 2017–2035.
A velvety texture makes this varietal wine luxurious. Cassis, tar and clove notes mingle with dried herb and black olive flavors, all integrated and deliciously graceful. Its robust tannins soften as it progresses toward a long finish.
Glowingly ripe apricot and pear notes make for an enticing nose. These notions become even fruitier and more honeyed on the palate where they shine with ripeness and generosity. Beautifully bright and zesty lemon freshness counters this and creates a dry lip-smacking finish that celebrates all that is ripe, rounded and generous about this lovely clean fruit. Plumpness and freshness strike an absolutely delicious balance. The finish is zesty and long. At five years of age, this has barely begun to develop. Drink 2017–2030.
Cola, red cherry, thyme, green peppercorn, iron and chocolate hints show on the nose of this bottling from an extreme coastal property near Pismo. The palate is herbal in character, with thyme, sage, oregano and pine forest seasonings that overlay its bright cherry fruit. Already mature, there's tons of life left in this wine.
A restrained but pure note of lemon constitutes the nose, suggesting both tangy zest and juicy flesh. The subtle mousse of tiny bubbles and a sonorous backdrop of autolysis counters all of this freshness and allows it to blanket the senses with its shimmering, lemony but also creamy briskness. That luminous lemon core leaves a lasting impression on the palate. Purity, slenderness and elegance are its hallmarks. Lovely now this wine will age with grace. Drink 2017–2025.
A touch of blossom honey enriches the tart but ripe apple notes of the nose. On the palate that honeyed touch turns into lemony, golden shortbread while the tart apple notes are joined by fresh, ripe lemon. Thousands of tiny, pin-prick bubbles make for a creamy, elegant mousse. The contrast between honeyed, autolytic richness and bright, pure citrus is a joy. This wine is exciting and elegant, drawing you to its mellower, richer core. The purity on the finish is luminous and long.
Here's a stunning sparkler that opens with delicately enticing scents of white spring blossom, ripe orchard fruit and a hint of Alpine herb. A blend of 70% Pinot Nero and 30% Chardonnay, the crisp bone-dry palate delivers mature apple, tart citrus, bread crust and mineral. Bright acidity lends freshness while a creamy perlage gives it tons of finesse.
Sizzling acidity enlivens the succulent, juicy fruit in this lush expression of the appellation. Made from grapes sourced in the Olivet Lane area, it builds in exotic spiciness, with forest, herb, earth and tea accents that grace the foundation of strawberry and blackberry flavors.
This wine is all Dijon clone, aged in two- to four-year-old puncheons. Bright and aromatic, it opens with a toasty scent and a mix of lemony citrus, pineapple and banana fruit. It's smooth and delicious and nicely layered, with an enduring finish.
This blanc de blancs, fermented and aged in wood, is a fine Champagne. Its mineral texture and light oxidative character from the use of wood is contrasted with the tight citrus fruitiness and nervy steely texture. The wine is just mature although still with plenty of fruit. Drink now.
A shy, floral nose subtly emanates from the glass in this lightly built, elegant expression from the spectacular vineyard in the Petaluma Gap. Anise, sea salt and preserved lemon flavors form its foundation; subtle oak and tense acidity provide support.
Now approaching maturity although certainly not leaving its fruit behind, this is a fine structured wine. It has hints of toastiness as well as spice while keeping bright acidity and a tangy texture. The wine is rich still tense and ready to drink.
The latest release in this series of wines with its Belle Epoque bottle is, as always, a blend dominated by Chardonnay. So although the dosage is relatively high, that is balanced by fine acidity and minerality. It is a stylish wine, ripe and with the maturity to drink now.
Blended with 6% Petit Verdot, this wine is treated as a reserve-tier bottling. It delivers high-toned red fruit and plum notes dusted with spice and dried herb. It's robust in body and weight and long on the finish.
This is the producer's longstanding ode to historic field blends, from a site in the Napa Valley planted to handfuls of mysterious varieties. The result is intriguing and unique, evoking fresh dough, plum and blackberry cobbler, the texture thick, soft and spicy. A thread of white floral perfume courses throughout.
This is a delicious, memorable wine that does the vineyard justice, offering layers of baked strawberry fruit tempered by moderate acidity. As it slowly opens, it reveals rose petal, cherry and pomegranate flavors, its texture broad yet defined.
This bold, spicy, well-structured makes a big impact on the palate. Cedar, clove and black pepper aromas lead to rich, ripe blackberry and dried plum flavors, while firm tannins and good acidity lend both grip and texture. Known to age well, this wine will be best after 2022.
Named after the daughter of owner Alain Thiénot, this elegant Champagne from grapes grown on the Montagne de Reims is just reaching maturity. It shows structure as well as ripe white fruits, with a citrus background. Drink now.
Lithe yet concentrated, this gorgeous Spätburgunder balances crisp-tart blackberry and cherry flavors against shades of earth, game and dusty minerality. Zesty cranberry acidity and fine grained, persistent tannins lend four-square structure. The finish lingers on a rich, umami tone. It drinks beautifully already but should improve through 2025.
This elegant and tightly wound Grenache shows hints of black plum, boysenberry and blackberry alongside dried rose petal, gravel and sagebrush scents. The palate is effusively floral, with lilac and lavender flavors accenting an exotic backdrop of damson plum. The structure is firm and the acidity judicious.
BlackJack is sourced from the oldest block in the vineyard, planted in 1965 by original owner Charles Coury. This clone, rumored to have arrived from France in a suitcase, is named for him. This new release, still young and integrating the French oak (14 months, 30% new), offers black-cherry fruit with barrel toast and coffee flavors. Drink now through 2028.
Big, brawny tannins carry wave after wave of ripe black cherry, cola and clove flavor in this ethereal, earthy wine. Its velvety texture is rich and rewarding, balanced by a persistent thread of acidity and a tease of ash.
A tender but perfumed hint of honeysuckle appears first on the nose, followed by rich peach hints. These notions persist on the palate where the peach and ripe yellow-plum notes are boosted by residual sweetness and countered by phenolic, slightly zesty but pleasant bitterness. You can feel the warmth on the medium-sweet finish. This is full on and rich, almost unctuous—perfect for blue cheeses.
Dandelion, earthiness and apple peel appear vividly on the nose, and a certain creaminess can also be discerned. The off-dry palate is incredibly fruity and boosts the sweetness of deliciously ripe apples while remaining absolutely tart and fresh. The finish is dry and fresh but this will echo any sweet element in an otherwise savory dish. Delicious and long. Drink 2017–2035.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, this is a bold, concentrated and flavorful wine that will mature well over the next 10 years. Aromas of espresso, crème de cassis, spiced blackberry, boysenberry preserves, tobacco and woodspice abound and carry through to the robust, gripping palate. It's firmly structured, but harmonious in it's overall strength, with final notes of campfire, char and cocoa on the long finish.
Perfectly mature, this ripe wine with its fruit from premier cru vineyards is balanced. The touches of toast go with the still-vibrant white fruits and acidity. With a richly textured background, the wine is ripe and deliciously ready to drink.
Intense and fragrant, this impressive wine opens with enticing scents of rose, iris, red berry and baking spice. The structured, elegant palate delivers sour cherry, raspberry, white pepper, aromatic herb and licorice alongside youthfully firm but refined tannins. Hold for even more complexity. Drink 2019–2024.
Perfumed and loaded with finesse, this offers scents of woodland berry, aromatic herb, menthol, new leather and wild flower. The vibrant, elegant palate offers succulent red cherry, strawberry, star anise and clove while bright acidity and supple tannins offer impeccable balance and a smooth texture. A mineral note wraps around the finish. Drink 2018–2023.
Baked bread, pine forest and strawberry rise out of the glass in this relatively light yet complex and layered wine, spicy in cinnamon and black tea. It shows the powerful grace of good winemaking, showcasing the appellation's beauty and brawn from a warm, even year.
Dominated by 60% Cabernet Franc, with 37% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, this is a demonstration of elegance married with ripeness, offering rich, round, luxurious plum flavors alongside savory teases of clove, cigar and leather. Lengthy and smooth on the palate, it's a wine for the table, with length and breadth developing in the glass as it goes.
This is a cool vineyard site farmed by Steve Matthiasson. In this small-production offering, anise, lemon and lime rise to the fore of a lengthy, complex texture of tangy acidity and light body. It'll linger in the mind, too.
Red berry, menthol, grilled sage, leather and a whiff of oak lead the nose. The palate boasts a weightless concentration, offering raspberry compote, oak-driven spice, white pepper, licorice and a mineral vein that weave together around a backbone of fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2019–2029.
Longtime growers, most notably to Schramsberg, which still gets the majority of the grapes, the Tognettis have just begun to make wine of their own, and this one is stellar. Classic barrel tones give it depth and breadth, but never dominate, allowing juicy pear and spicy lemon acidity to do all the talking.
Lovely scents of rose petal, iris and perfumed berry slowly take shape in this striking wine. The full-bodied palate delivers ripe red cherry, licorice, white pepper, cinnamon and sage alongside firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. A mineral note wraps around the finish. Hold for even more complexity; drink 2019–2024.
Red berry, tilled soil, leather, aromatic herb and clove aromas slowly take shape in the glass, together with a balsamic note. The bright, elegantly structured palate doles out layers of black raspberry, ripe black cherry, white pepper and licorice while firm, refined tannins provide the framework. It's subtle and loaded with finesse. Drink 2017–2022.
Enticing scents of pressed rose, wild berry, scorched soil, leather and menthol take shape in the glass. The juicy, savory palate doles out red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice, baking spice and grilled herb alongside ripe, velvety tannins. It's already approachable and will drink well for several more years. Drink through 2022.
Ripe and racy on the nose, this always much-anticipated release shows black raspberry, baked strawberry, wet cement, cinnamon and mace spice and cola on the nose. The palate is surprisingly, refreshingly restrained, with sizzling acidity cutting across the chocolate-dipped black cherries, baking spice, dried oregano and rosemary that show in the midpalate.
From a tremendous site sourced by the producer for multiple vintages, this wine shows a charismatic match of winemaker and grapes, beginning with a lean, bright entry that's smooth and rounded on the palate. A medium body doesn't skimp on complexity or richness though, the wine a tribute to balance and elegance in fennel-dusted ripeness.
The aromas of this wine pop, with notes of fresh flowers, green herbs, olive brine, coffee, grilled asparagus, gravel and a touch of smoked meat lurking in the background. The fruit and savory flavors are plush and palate-coating in feel, with floral and smoked meat notes persisting on the finish. It's a very pretty interpretation of the area, with a compelling sense of balance.
Another triumph of fine winemaking, this appellation wine is leathery and full bodied, wild and savory in tea, strawberry hull and rocky earth. It shines in subtle acidity and plenty of structure, with ample body to support its angular temptations.
This is a 100% varietal wine, age-worthy and decadent, a hedonistic display of raspberry and chocolate with just the barest hint of clove and pepper. Soft, velvety tannins give it additional lushness and pleasurability. It's enjoyable now, but should hold well through 2022.
Structured and delicious, this opens with aromas suggesting underbrush, leather rose petal and a balsamic note. The juicy palate doles out raspberry compote, ripe red cherry, cinnamon and a sprinkling of white pepper. Firm velvety tannins provide the framework while a licorice note closes the lingering finish. Drink 2019–2025.
The pinnacle power-showing bottling of each vintage, this wine is brawny on the nose, reminiscent of hearty black cherry, bay leaf, crushed clove, roasted game and leather. The intriguingly herbal character is lavish on the palate, where dark cranberry and deep pomegranate gain complexity from peppercorn and thyme, showcasing very well-blended flavors.
This opens with a classic Nebbiolo nose of blue flower, rose, perfumed berry, new leather, cake spice and a balsamic note. The ripe, juicy palate delivers crushed black cherry, black raspberry, cinnamon, white pepper and clove framed in youthfully assertive tannins. Drink 2018–2027.
The four fingers of land that stick out over the Layon Valley in the Chaume appellation are immensely propitious for the formation of botrytis in the autumn mists. This wine with its opulent honey and spice character is the result. It is full of yellow fruits, while keeping freshness that lifts the richness of the wine. This wine is still very young, don't drink before 2022.
From one of the estate's west-sloping blocks, this wine sizzles in acidity, with seductive layers of kirsch, maraschino cherry and raspberry, counterbalanced by Carneros earth and spice. Lengthy and full bodied, it's luxurious and beautiful, integrated in oak, with a lengthy end note of orange peel spiked in cloves.
Inky in the glass and thick on the nose with deep blueberry and concentrated violet petals, this bottling is a study of richness and extraction, and would grab anyone's attention in one whiff. Lavish flavors of blueberry and blackberry mesh with fudge, mocha and espresso on the palate, which hangs on extremely soft tannins and a boisterous acidity.
Pointy, pinched black-fruit aromas come with complex notes of graphite, tobacco, tree bark and horse hide. A young, fierce palate is tannic like sandpaper, while roasted blackberry flavors are backed by savory spice notes and wood grain. Big, lusty flavors of coffee, mocha and toast unfold on the finish, which is everlasting. Drink 2018–2028.
Fresh but creamy notes of ripe Conference pear on the nose mute into a peppery, herbal, yeast-savory palate with verve and freshness of utter typicity. This is textbook Grüner that offers the full and perfect package of spice, freshness and fruit on a light but concentrated body. The finish is both long and clean.
Compelling aromas of dry herbs blend with ripe berry, plum and leathery scents. This feels tight, juicy and ripped with raw, hard-pumping acidity. Flavors of currant, plum and cherry run deep, while the finish is presently youthful, grabby and drawing, with a slight note of raisin. Drink through 2032.
Thick, rich and intensely velvety, 1910 Block is structured and surprisingly elegant, with developed acidity surrounding a taste of chocolate-covered strawberry. Leather and black pepper give it a burly robustness that complements the ripe fruit, while the tannins come off as dusty and rocky at the same time.
This vineyard-designate rocks its way into your heart, opening in spicy, soft aromas of cinnamon stick and dark, luscious fruit and toasted oak. Medium in body with a light finish, it teases along the way in fragrant rose petals and orange blossom.
Leather, dark spice, cherries marinated in spirits and a balsamic note come together in the glass. The ripe, chewy palate delivers chocolate covered cherry, coffee, tobacco and clove alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2022–2032.
From a vineyard 1,500 feet above the valley floor in Soda Canyon, blended with 4% Cabernet Sauvignon from Morisoli Vineyard, this is a beautiful beast of a wine, concentrated in red cherry and plum as well as mocha. Nicely weighted with soft tannin and length, it's well made and should age. Drink now through 2020.
Aromas of vanilla, prune and nutmeg lead the nose on this robust Merlot. The dense, monolithic palate offers raisin, leather and licorice alongside the heat of evident alcohol and drying tannins. It's shy on freshness and fruit richness so drink sooner rather than later.
A blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, this robust red is juicy and smoky, offering tastes of blackberry, cassis and mocha. Dusty tannins give a heaviness, accented by black licorice on the finish.
Fruity and forward, with a spritzy mouthfeel, this is like a bowl of cherries, with a cherry candy finish. Highlights of orange and grapefruit come through also. Drink now through 2016.
While the wine has some concentration from the old vines, its general effect is of a soft, open and generous texture that is full and rounded. There is some spice, a touch of toast and full-bodied blackberry and currant flavors. Drink now.
Concentrated aromas of plum and black currant come with a leathery, earthy accent. Dense, jammy and ripe in feel, this features blackberry, baked plum and chocolate flavors. A licorice note and controlled heat rise up on a powerful finish.
Mossy, herbal, baked-berry aromas are accented by shades of green tones. On the palate, this is lively but a touch raw, with bold acidity. Blackberry, spiced plum, oak and herbal, grassy flavors finish snappy.
This is very flavorful, fruity and full bodied. It maintains a sleek texture in spite of considerable tannins that keep it feeling dry. Aromas are like wild berries and cherry blossoms, the flavors are exotic and very ripe, and the finish keeps adding more fruit nuances.
Bruised apricot, lemonade and citrus rind-laden marzipan notes hit the nose on this wine, which is showing just a touch of nutty, honeyed oxidization. The macadamia nut element arises on the palate too, alongside intriguingly peaty flavors reminiscent of Scotch, with almond liqueur on the outro. It presents decent acidity throughout.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah, this opens with aromas of black currant, pencil shavings, toast and a whiff of pine. Notes of mocha, graphite and anise add depth to the black cherry core alongside chewy but astringent tannins that leave a drying finish. Drink 2016–2018.
Light as gossamer, this nimble off-dry Riesling enlivens the palate with delicate bursts of lemon and lime accented by blossom and pear. Brisk and clean on the finish, it's best enjoyed for it's youthful refreshment.
This is a light-tasting, dry wine with white pepper and fennel aromas, crisp green apple and lemon flavors, and a savory, earthy nuance that adds complexity. Medium bodied and mouth-filling, this interesting wine steps outside the flavor box.
Racy and revitalizing, this delicate off-dry Riesling balances a core of fresh white peach and citrus flavors with savory smoke and nut tones. Fresh and easy going in style, it's a likely to please a wide audience.
Savory apple and lemon, earth and bramble tones persist throughout this semisweet Riesling. It's refreshingly crisp and nimble making it an easy everyday pairing for casual chicken or fish dinners at home.
Aromas of ripe, dark-skinned berry and crushed violet emerge from this vibrant blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese. The  savory palate doles out black cherries and black currants accented with notes of toast and ground pepper. It's already accessible and made to be enjoyed young.
This medium-bodied blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (25%) and Mourvèdre (5%) is aged in large oak vats. Leather and spice notes accent modest cherry fruit, then fold in touches of black olive and mocha on the slightly dusty finish. Drink now–2017.
Briary berry aromas come with notes of mint and oak-based vanilla scents. Earthy berry, prune and licorice flavors finish with rooty spice and mild herbal notes.
Bright and fruity, this Sangiovese offers aromas of wild berry, clove and tilled soil. The easy-drinking palate doles out dark cherry, raspberry, white pepper and a hint of crushed mint alongside polished tannins. Enjoy through 2016.
This full-bodied, focused and distinctive wine has a deep, dark color, aromas of black cherry and cocoa, and flavors that are ripe and lingering. It offers power and complexity.
A rich blend that includes the local Abouriou grape gives a structured, firm wine that has both tannins and juicy black fruits. The oak aging still shows in the spice and vanilla edge that underlies the fruitiness. It should be aged, so drink from 2016.
Red currant, blackberry, espresso, wood shavings and cedar aromas unfold in the glass. The palate offers dried black cherry, anise, coffee, coconut and oak alongside alongside drying tannins that leave an astringent finish. The fruit is starting to dry up so drink sooner rather than later.
With light herbal and earthy aromas, and crisp citrus flavors, this is a mouth-cleansing, appetizing and refreshing drink. Tangy grapefruit, lemon and tart apple notes make it vivid and the ample acidity carries everything through to a lingering finish.
A senior version of Purple, this wood-aged wine is smooth, soft and generous, with attractive mint perfumes along with toast. Big black plum fruits are generous and warm, while still solid with tannins. The wine is drinkable, although it will be better in 2017.
Blackberry, cherry and earthy aromas are backed by a secondary wave of oaky char. This is 80% Garnacha and 20% Carignan with raw clamp to the palate created by grabby tannins and tomatoey acidity. Briny raspberry and plum flavors finish with rubbery tannins and related grab. This is a tough wine but one with lots of life and power. Drink through 2019.
Closed on the nose at first, this wine reventualy reveals black currant and cassis around wrapped tobacco leaf, the midpalate somewhat dry and puckering in tannin. Concentrated and dense, it finishes in dusty mocha.
From one of the great names of Port, this LBV is a richly sweet wine, full of dried fruits, balanced acidity and a soft, smooth texture. It is a generous, very accessible wine.
Chardonnay in Gascony retains the freshness of the region. In this wine, there is the richness of the grape, with touches of caramel and a floral perfume. It is balanced and fruity, needing a few more months in bottle. Drink from the end of 2015.
Aromas of raisin, vanilla, nutmeg, peppermint and a whiff of resin lead the nose of this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. The easy-drinking palate delivers crushed black cherries, black currants, clove and chocolate covered mint alongside supple tannins.
A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 30% Syrah, this opens with aromas of espresso, toasted oak, ground pepper, ripe black-skinned fruit and game. The extracted palate offers licorice, raisin, clove and tobacco alongside raspy tannins that leave an astringent finish. The fruit is starting to dry up so drink sooner rather than later.
Here is a well-focused wine with appealing toastiness as soon as it's opened. Fruit flavors are still tight, but unfold into tangy raspberry. It spent 18 months in half new French oak, to good effect.
Smoky, herbal aromas, a tannic mouthfeel and austere flavors like unsweetened cranberries characterize this deliberately taut wine. It might soften with time, but it's tough to discern if the fruit character can sustain long-term aging.
This basic Tempranillo has many good things to offer. Although a touch heavy and oaky on the nose, it's generous and congruent. Initial flavors of raw wood and campfire settle down and are replaced by dark-berry fruit notes. On the finish, this is woody, with powerful berry and cherry notes in support.
Jumpy berry aromas are young, simple and raw. This feels fresh but jagged, with clean but basic pomegranate and berry flavors. An edgy palate with juicy acidity helps to maintain the wine's integrity.
Pinchy, staunch citrus and briny aromas are gritty and lacking in fresh fruit notes. Tight citric acidity makes this austere, while juicy but bitter flavors of orange and lime are tangy but pithy-tasting on the finish.
This dark-colored and smooth-textured wine has classic aromas and flavors like black cherry, black olive and bell pepper along with medium body.
This 50/50 mix of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris was fermented in a mix of stainless steel and French oak, with a portion aged in barrel as well. It's a pleasant drinking white wine, with neither grape providing a defining varietal note. It finishes with an aromatic whiff of barnyard.
This is a soft, rich and ripe wine that is full of red fruits. It has well-integrated tannins and a warm, southern feel of generous fruitiness. The wine is deliciously ready to drink now.
Grown on the plateau above the Douro valley, this wine is rich, generous and finely balanced. Green plum and citrus acidity are dominant, while ripe melon and spice grace the finish. Drink now.
Elderberry and blueberry fruit meet with an interesting eucalyptus oil and spearmint component on the nose of this bottling. The minty charatcer shows strongly on the palate, with camphor tones decorating the black-plum fruit.
With a pale coral color and flavors like strawberry and watermelon, this wine is bright and appealing. It is medium bodied and has a hint of sweetness.
Blended from two-thirds Zinfandel and one-third Sangiovese, this red is rustic in smoky fruit, soft tannin, raisiny-plum compote and black olive. Moderate in acidity, it presents as fairly light bodied.
Produced from high-altitude (1,800 feet) vines, this wine is ripe while also crisply fresh. Its lime and lemon flavors are balanced by the mineral texture and intense final acidity. Drink now.
This is a good, traditional-style wine with aromas like sage and plums. Flavors are fruity but accented by herbs, with a texture that is mild in tannins and relatively soft.
This is a blend of premier and grand cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Vintages from the difficult 2010 harvest are rare, so this wine with its soft texture and smooth fruit is an exception. Already mature, it offers hints of almonds as well as ripe fruits. Ready to drink, it's rich in the middle and crisp at the end.
This is a soft, fruity 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon wine. With gentle tannins and red fruit flavors, it is developing well, becoming a juicy and fruity wine.
Neutral-oak barrels figured into the making of this full-bodied, richly styled wine, tart and floral in aromas while thick in leathery texture. Lemon, lime and grapefruit frame a larger notion of fresh-cut grass and hay.
This soft, simple wine, with small touches of Malbec and Petit Verdot, delivers sizable tannin atop notable acidity. Tart red currant and cherry meet cedar and a taste of toffee, allowing for a pleasantness on the palate that's rich and ripe.
Bold oak aromas like wood smoke and toasted baguette meet almost-sweet flavors like cherries, plums and a bit of maple syrup in this medium-bodied wine.
From several blocks planted to a mix of clones, this wine is defined almost entirely by its earthy, stemmy core of compost and tobacco, with a slight reductive quality on the palate. Smoky, toasted oak rounds out the richness.
A soft texture and slight sweetness make this deep-pink-colored wine easy on the palate. It has lots of fresh melon and raspberry flavors.
Here's a fun, simple dessert wine that opens with scents of sage and citrus. The aromas carry over to the frothy palate along with lime and apricot. This would be ideal to accompany brunch or summer picnics.
A bright and crisp wine with its red currant and raspberry flavors that are lifted by the delicious acidity. It is lively, and ready to drink.
This is a rich soft wine full of tannins that have merged with the generous red-berry fruits. Colored by the unusual blend of Alicante Bouschet with Petit Verdot, it is smoothly textured and ready to drink.
This late release, from a single barrel the winery considers its best, is soft, light and simple. Tart red fruits carry a suggestion of tomato and a slight hint of toast. Drink up.
This is a solidly built wine with ripe black-fruit flavors and lots of texture. It looks deeper than usual, smells like blackberries and black pepper, and tastes dry, full and firmly tannic.
This wine shows how aromatic and floral this varietal can be. It offers clove and rose petal along with raspberry in the aromas. The full body is supported by good acidity and moderate tannins.
Gritty, earthy berry aromas lack refinement. This wine has a narrow, blocky mouthfeel and salty flavors of baked plum and carob. That same roasted, salty character carries over onto the finish.
Spicy from the wood aging, this wine is rich, fruity and ready to drink. It has red fruit and acidity along with a smooth texture that gives it an attractive and ripe aftertaste.
The second wine of Château Carignan is ripe and fruity. It has red fruits and layers of tannin and acidity. It is a young attractive wine that will be ready to drink soon, certainly from 2017.
Mushy black fruit characteristics lead on the nose and mouth, and don't really subside until the slightly astringent finish takes hold. Medium weight with a firm structure; drink now.
The little-known Mosel village of Reil is the source of this perplexing wine. It possesses attractive and slightly stony, citrus aromas, and starts off on the sweet side, with bright pineapple fruit. But somewhere on the palate it shifts gears, turning dry and tart almost to the point of being sour.
A mild Sauvignon Blanc, with white grapefruit, grass and mild asparagus aromas. Feels chunky and round, with soft acids creating sweet, green flavors of grapefruit and grass. Round on the finish, with a modest variety of flavor.
Minty and smelling of sawdust on the nose. This is oaky for a $10 wine, with berry aromas and flavors touched up by green notes, resiny oak and milk chocolate. The finish tastes herbal and feels chewy.
Barnyard aromas offer a wine that is spicy and ripe, with the somewhat hard tannins lending a rustic feel. There is some juicy red fruit that blends with the acidity.
A young, fruity wine with soft tannins and juicy berry fruits. It is forward, very approachable, and is ready to drink with pasta or spicy food.
Smooth and rounded with light, perfumed sweetness, this is an easy and approachable wine. Its pear and kiwi flavors come together easily. Screwcap.
Quite green upon first impression, with bell pepper and a potpourri of green herbs on the front end. Feels healthy and crisp, with bite and structure to support the herbal flavors of tomato leaf, oregano, bell pepper and red berry fruit. Finishes with a minty, herbal aftertaste.
A wine whose real quality lies in its great fruitiness and open, soft tannins. With just a touch of wood, its stalky black-fruit flavors are all ready to drink. Screwcap.
Neutral smelling except for stalky hay and straw notes and a touch of pear and/or peach. Feels citrusy and alive, with flavors of green herbs, orange and tropical fruits. Flattens out on the finish, where things turn chunky and yeasty.
A ripe and lush style of Chardonnay that's widely available, this has assertive characteristics of pineapple, mango and sweet citrus that are plentiful throughout the nose and mouth. Medium weight, with a straightforward style and a brisk, clean finish.
This unusual offering is a cross of two hybrids: Schuyler and Seyval Blanc. It immediately shows noticeable sweetness, opening with sugary flavors of honey and orange marmalade. Once in the mouth the acids kick in, and the wine turns tart.
A smoothly textured wine that shows red-berry flavors, with very soft tannins along with a farmyard character. It feels ripe and fruit; a fine barbecue wine.
Neutral up front except for some pine and minerality. Feels grippy but highly regular, with apple cider and stalky white-fruit flavors. Resiny and mildly bitter on the finish.
With its roundness, this wine shows the character of the Loureiro grape. Giving a tweak to the softer element is a burst of fine acidity, a lime juice note and a fresh aftertaste.
The clever label reads “Original Flavor—Unoaked” and the wine has not a hint of anything other than bare-bones apple-flavored fruit. It's simple, light and balanced.
The fruit is hard and shows some earthy flavors of seed and stem, but this serviceable red has been enhanced with spicy, toasty oak flavors.
Here's a rich and smoky Chard with nice aromas and flavors of wood-grilled red apples with a caramel drizzle, peach pit and Key lime citrus. Solidly structured with good heft, a long finish and prominent acidity that keeps the wine from going over the edge and being too flabby. Drink now.
By Belasco de Baquedano, this is a chunky, low-acid Malbec with mint, raisin and slightly damp, earthy undertones. The palate is weighty almost to the point of syrupy, while the flavors are of cola and sweet berries. Soft and slightly herbal, but good in a no-fuss sort of way.
This is a fresh, vibrant stainless steel-fermented Chard that boasts charming notes of fresh apple slices, nectarine, lemon rind citrus and a hint of yellow florals. It's ripe and big without being too spicy or overdone, with a solid, lengthy finish. Drink now.
Spunky and sweet smelling, with a touch of stemmy pepper to the nose. The palate is narrow but fruity, with your standard allotment of zesty red fruit flavors along with mellow spice. Finishes short, with drying tannins. Good but lacks nuance and sophistication.
Sweeter, more developed aromas of caramel, candied red apple, Boston baked beans and honeydew develop on the nose, while the mouth shows more typical Chard notes of baked apple and hazelnut butter. A touch round and flabby, but ends with a long, delicious, vanilla-kissed finish.
A well-made wine with a creamy texture and long finish, infused with aromas and flavors of buttered toast, grilled peaches, apple skins and almond shells. Balanced and not over-oaked; an excellent choice for hearty chicken pasta dishes and bisques.
There are plenty of dry tannins here, dominating light red berry and hedgerow fruits. It is never going to be a big wine, but the tannins should soften in a year to leave a fresh, fruity wine.
Full, rubbery and robust on the nose, with earthy berry aromas. The palate shows cassis, cherry and raspberry along with spiky, zesty acidity. Herbal, savory notes accent the finish, and overall this is a medium bodied Cab with lively fruit and freshness.
A little bit baked, but overall it's a good, semirich Malbec with roasted, dark fruit flavors and a backdrop of chocolate. The palate has slightly more acidity than you might expect, so it doesn't come across heavy or out of whack. Regular wine done well.
A well-balanced, partially oaked Chard with aromas of wood-grilled red apples, smoke and a hint of black licorice backed by flavors of toasted challah and tangerine citrus. Ample acidity keeps the palate and finish lively and clean.
This unoaked Chard has a somewhat Chablilsienne quality to it, with a beautiful mineral-driven freshness supported by delicate aromas of white peach, green apple and lively orange citrus. Light and immensely refreshing, it's a perfect apértitif sipper to be enjoyed with cheese and crudité.
Quite big and decadent smelling as notes of caramel-drizzled apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top emanate from the glass. The mouth is full and milky with solid acidity supporting the rich flavors of toasted brioche and smoky apple. A solid choice for dishes that can match its intensity of flavors: think lobster newburg or crab thermidor.
This Chard offers a delicate but intricate bouquet with aromas of apple, vanilla spice and tropical acidity. The palate shows more floral and ripe red apple flavors, with a moderate weight in the mouth and a balanced finish. A solidly made and easy-to-enjoy wine.
This is a straightforward, regular Cab with berry/cherry aromas and flavors. Nothing is out of the ordinary; the palate is bright and focused on simple berry flavors, while the finish has proper feel, lift and power. Shows a good mixture of fruit, acid and tannin.
This is a nicely made blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon with almost equal additions of Malbec and Petit Verdot. Dark in color and leathery on the palate, it offers black pepper, cinnamon and a taste of vanilla-caramel, finishing in spice and well-grooved tannin.
Hailing from a warm vintage, this vineyard-designated wine from northern Michigan shows a vibrant and integrated nose of ripe cherry and raspberry, with hints of white pepper, dusty cedar and button mushroom. Don't let the light color fool you; this wine shows an intriguing depth of flavor and breadth to the palate. Juicy red cherry tones are sprinkled with tilled earth and red flowers, all supported by finely-grained tannins.
Aromas of Dr Pepper, black-cherry cola syrup, chopped lavender candies and a touch of leather show on the intriguing, distinct nose from this historic property. The cola character plays heavily into the palate, where condensed purple flower, blackberry, black tea and licorice flavors also abound.
This opens with subtle aromas of white stone fruit, yellow flower and crushed rock. The structured, savory palate offers tangerine zest, yellow apple, lime and minerals. Toasted almond marks the close.
Buttered toast, apricot, sour cream, Key-lime frosting and mandarin rinds show on the nose of this wine by veteran Chuck Carlson. Citrusy sourness starts the palate before strong chalk and slate notes arise, settling onto tones of seared lime, lemon rind, peach skin and apple. It packs lively energy.
This single vineyard wine shows its pedigree with firm tannins and structured fruit. It is serious wine, designed for aging with its structure, wood aging aromas and perfumed fruits. It is a blend of Tinta Roriz and Castelão which together bring out both tight texture and fruitiness. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2018.
This is a fruity, pineapple and citrus-flavored wine that is tight and with a tangy texture. It is fresh, juicy and attractively crisp. It has weight and richness from the intense fruit that contrasts with the acidity. It is delicious now although it will be much better from late 2016.
Given time to ferment slowly in large oak casks, this wine offers golden color and a taste of baked apple and lemon pie. Tart in minerality, it's also fulsome in body and weight, finding a balance between flavor and buoyancy. It finishes with length and breadth.
This is a medium-bodied, fleshy and floral wine, happy in violet aromas and a light spiciness of nutmeg behind the soft layers of black plum and cherry. With a yeasty backbone reminiscent of baked bread, it is fulsome and balanced.
The nose on this amber-colored wine is initially shy but eventually reveals ripe stone fruit, crushed rock, spice and a balsamic note. The mature palate offers tangerine zest, dried apricot, anise, vanilla and mineral together with bright acidity. It boasts complexity and depth.
This wine, boosted by 8% Syrah, is relatively light in the glass, showing vanilla and plush red cherries on the nose. The palate offers lots of baking spices and touches of dried herbs, but is based primarily on rose petals and ripe olallieberries.
The freshness of seared Meyer lemon and squeezed lime peel meets with the warmth of vanilla and pineapple in the nose of this solid bottling. The palate offers white peach and smoked apples laid across a very tense and pithy texture. It finishes on a Juicy Fruit bubblegum element that's intriguing and not overdone.
A tasty vein of cranberry and raspberry runs from the nose to the palate, and lingers on the finish, giving this value-priced wine focus and vibrance. It has plenty of fresh acidity, fine tannins and good depth of flavor.
Dark and earthy on the nose, this bottling shows sage, menthol, black tea and forest-floor elements that decorate the dark hibiscus and pomegranate fruits. The palate is much like a fruit-laced black tea, with tart cherry, grippy pluot skin and black-peppercorn flavors.
Aromas of raspberry and black pepper lay the groundwork for flavors of raspberry, eucalyptus, black cherry and thyme. Soft but ever present tannins go on long after the bright cherry finish.
Deep ruby in the glass, this aptly-named wine has a nose of black cherry and aniseed. Slightly grippy tannins and strong acidity stand at the core of blueberry, raspberry, anisette and peppermint flavors. Touches of mint and orange zest make an impression on the taste buds well into the enduring finish.
Aromas of black cherry, clove, black pepper and chocolate lay the groundwork for flavors of ripe black cherry, strawberry, chocolate, fennel bulb and black pepper. A hint of coolness arrives towards the finish in a burst of eucalyptus, but restrained tannins and final notes of bright fruit make for a satisfying experience.
Subtle aromas of grapefruit, citrus zest and kiwi float out of the glass. The radiant palate is more expressive, doling out juicy yellow peach, honeydew melon, nectarine and sage. A mineral note backs up the finish.
Aromas of blueberry, cherry and anise yield on the palate to flavors of cherry, blackberry, eucalyptus and black pepper. Smooth tannins appear early on and endure into a pleasing finish that is interspersed with bright and spicy notes.
Raisin and molasses aromas and flavors are a big part of this full-bodied, syrupy number from Cafayate in Salta. Additional scents of licorice, herbs and reedy berry only add to an overbearing sense of ripeness. In the mouth, this is heavy, with weighty tannins. Flavors of prune and P.X. Sherry precede coffee, chocolate and fig flavors on the finish.
A briny note of saline and pickle provide an intrigue to the entry of this wine, which is otherwise integrated in oak and medium to full bodied. Smooth and floral, it sings on the palate, revealing baked apple and pear around a hint of wild vanilla and herb.
Everything about this wine is big and heavy—including the name, the psychedelic label and the massive bottle with wax capsule—but in spite of all that mass, it tastes great. The color is deep and dark, aromas are full of oaky spices of nutmeg and vanilla, and rich fruit flavors are layered with texture.
Abacela makes a fortified wine from Portuguese grapes, but this is a dry, varietal expression of one of the most obscure. Bone-dry, it's got tongue-scraping tannins that taste of black tea. It offers dried raspberries, vanilla and cocoa elements, and the overall complexity is impressive. This seems built for a thick steak.
Aromas of wild herb, citrus, flint and orchard fruit lead the nose on this polished white. The bright palate offers up Bosc pear, sage, energizing mineral and a note of lemon zest. It's well balanced, with crisp acidity.
Racy and refined, this opens with alluring scents of fragrant white flower, citrus and white stone fruit. The vibrant, balanced palate delivers apple, white peach, tangerine and flinty mineral. It finishes crisp and clean.
The wood aging is still showing in the aroma of the wine. On the palate, the fruitiness of the blend of Antão Vaz, Arinto and Viognier comes across richly with flavors of apricots, green plums and pink grapefruit. This fruitiness is layered over the wood spice to give a creamy wine that will age. Drink from 2017.
Veteran winemaker Lane Tanner teamed with Will Henry of the Henry Wine Group on this newer brand. This bottling shows scents of rose petals and earthy hibiscus as well as more brooding rooibos tea and plum aromas. The action-packed palate is subtly presented with flavors of iron, black plum, cranberry and clove.
This earthy wine unfolds with aromas of wet soil, leather, underbrush, mature black fruit and just a whiff of barnyard. The warm, dense palate doles out overripe and sugary black cherry extract, milk chocolate and cinnamon.
Early aromas of stalky, herbal berry fruits set up a palate with peppery, herbal flavors of cassis and berry. This is earthy and a touch green on the finish, with notes of fine herbs and oak.
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.
The barrel notes of vanilla and wood spice are out front on this blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. It's dry in feel, pulling up a bit short.
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.
Rich tasting, dense in a good way, this layers ripe cherry, light herbs and cinnamon flavors on a firm texture of tannins and acidity. It's a solidly structured, full-bodied Cabernet that carries some complexity.
Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc often compete for the herbaceous stakes. Here, though, there is an added element of warmth, with ripe yellow fruits and just a touch of honey. It makes for a delicious, ready-to-drink wine.
Ripe grapes give a rich, fruity, crisp and clean wine. Strong minerality, spice and dried fruits come together with tight lemon flavors to produce an intense wine with high acidity at the end. Drink young.
Light structure and perfumes come from the blending of Syrah with Muscat. It's an intriguing wine, providing spice as well as fresh fruits and acidity. Crisp and fruity at the end.
Made from Carignan, Mourvèdre and Grenache, this comes from Chile's budding small-lot movement. It is floral but sweaty on the nose, while the palate is citrusy but also feral. Pink grapefruit and passion fruit flavors finish with a citric blast.
Violet and berry aromas lead into juicy black cherry and red currant flavors. A hint of clove adds interest while fresh acidity and soft tannins makes this wine already extremely enjoyable. Drink through 2016.
Aromas recall acacia flower, chamomile and beeswax. The palate offers subtle lemon-lime, notes of yellow peach, toast and a hint of sage. You'll also notice evident alcohol.
This remains tight and somewhat impenetrable, with focused, tart flavors of red berry, lemon and pineapple. The scent of oak references considerable time in 40% new barrels. Once the fruit flavors fade, it's mostly acid that remains in the finish.
Here's a spicy wine that opens with aromas of black berries, leafy underbrush, white pepper, clove and whiffs of game. The palate has more spice than fruit alongside firm tannins. Drink soon for freshness.
Sunny and tart like a bushel of Maraschino cherries, this is a zippy, delicately composed Syrah. It's fresh and primary on the palate, with bristling cranberry acidity that drives a long, lean finish.
One would like to see more aromatics, considering the variety, but it remains enjoyable with a lightly spritzy palate with off-dry red-apple and stone-fruit flavors. A straightforward, easy drinker.
On the nose, this Carmenère is integrated and earthy, with cedar, black cherry, baked plum and spice aromas. The palate is a touch abrasive and edgy, while core blackberry flavors are surrounded by oak, chocolate and earth notes. A long, woody, persistent finish is mildly complex. Drink through 2019.
This is a lovely, lighthearted vineyard-designated wine. Soft, layered and decadent on the palate, it offers a mix of green apple, Meyer lemon, ginger and marshmallow. Intense on the finish in savory, briny fennel, it sees only 20% new oak and is structured enough to hang out in bottle a few years more.
A crowd-pleasing quaffer of a wine, this is tart, with a fresh-squeezed lemon palate that also offers anise, caramel apple and pear. Crisp and dry, it indeed sees no oak—it's pure, with a lasting finish.
The aromas explore Cabernet's greener side, with overt notes of bell pepper along with vanilla and other barrel spices. The black-fruit flavors show richness, with grainy tannins backing them up. This wine is best for those who enjoy the variety's savory aspects.
Bolder and bigger than most, this wine combines generous fruit flavors with great acidity and structured tannins for a lip-smacking texture. The red cherry and raspberry aromas are intriguing, while the flavors deliver the goods and the finish is firm.
Sunbaked earth, mature black-skinned fruit, blue flower, tobacco and new leather aromas waft out of the glass. The juicy, chewy palate doles out fleshy black cherry, blackberry, cinnamon, white pepper and a hint of game accompanied by ripe, solid tannins. Drink 2017–2027.
Swirls of honey melt into ripe, rich pink grapefruit and peach in this decadently fruity Riesling. Off dry in style, it's lip smackingly sweet-tart, anchored by a zesty streak of tangerine acidity. Drink now–2016.
Tropical mango and melon mingle elegantly into swathes of blossom and peach in this lush, juicy Gewürztraminer. It's lusciously textured, a bit brawny even, boasting creamy swirls of fruit that linger long and heavy through the finish. Drink now through 2016.
Mostly Merlot with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon (11%), this wine hails from Bacchus, Ciel du Cheval and Elephant Mountain vineyards. It's immediately appealing, with aromas of toasty spices, herbs and red fruit followed by plump but well-balanced fruit flavors.
Aromas of peppery spices, hay and apple lead to dry, sleek flavors, high-wire acid and a citrus-rind-filled finish. Try it with shellfish.
Made with 90% Nasco and 10% Malvasia, this full-bodied dessert wine opens with intense aromas of tangerine zest, dried fruit and a whiff of baking spice. The rich palate delivers mature apricot, roasted hazelnut and orange-blossom honey. A vanilla note closed the lingering finish.
This spicy-smelling, dry wine is well balanced, generous in flavor and a pleasure to drink. Aromas of black pepper, clove and black cherries carry the nose, while on the palate, ripe and delicious flavors spread across the smooth and lightly tannic texture.
This starts off a bit funky, with struck match aromas partially obscuring apple and citrus fruit. Yet it's full and custardy in feel, with hints of fruit showing through and a long, harmonious finish, so there's optimism for its future development. Drink now–2020.
This juicy, full-bodied blend holds several Bordeaux red varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominant. Smooth and soft, it dances elegantly in clove, black currant and licorice, exhibiting both structure and weight. It finishes lengthy in more of that clove.
Merlot makes up 55% of this blend, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon (27%) and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The aromas of fresh and dried herbs and smoke enchant, while the palate expertly balances fruit and savory herb flavors, with tart acids providing the frame. It leans into the savory but with much to enjoy.
The aromas of dried flowers and green herbs have yet to fully blossom, seeming light and elusive, with green pepper providing accents. The blackberry and black currant flavors are light and layered, with well-balanced tannins and an extended finish.
Very savory, earthy, even animal notes spice this crunchy cherry-ish, easy-drinking and refreshing red. There is a proper drying, tannic grip on the palate and tons of peppery spice, enlivened by bright freshness. The aftertaste is one of crunchy red, fresh cherry.
Luscious, sun-kissed black plum and cherry flavors are offset by a revitalizing crush of pomegranate acidity in this briskly composed Syrah. It's satisfyingly ripe, but complex tones of graphite and smoke maintain an appealing edge. Shows well now, but could improve through 2020.
This producer shows its aptitude for whites with this dry, estate-grown effort, a bit cloudy thanks to the lack of fining and filtering. A touch of grass is on the nose, but then it's all rich, vanilla-laden texture and pear, the body medium and the wine lengthy and in balance.
Glimmers of spice and nuts lend a savory accent to this bright, bristling Riesling full of rich apple and pear flavors. It's dry and light in body, yet punchy and full of zest. Honeyed fruit tones extend through a long, long finish.
Herb and clove wrap around strong, structured tannin in this pretty wine from a cool region of the Napa Valley. Blackberry and cranberry play off one another, allowing for a balance of savory and fruit, while the finish is peppered in integrated oak.
Owned by Château Larose Trintaudon, this wine comes from the same plateau west of Pauillac. It is well made, bringing out ripe fruit and generous black-cherry flavors, with a touch of spice from wood aging. The tannins are dry, in the background and sufficient to allow the wine to age. Drink from 2018.
This well-made, ripe wine has a good balance between its fresh black currant fruits and tannins that are already softening. It is a success for the vintage, emphasizing fruit and fresh acidity, and will likely be ready to drink soon. Drink from 2018.
Fonréaud's vineyard is on the highest point of the Médoc (all of 120 feet). This vintage shows a smooth, ripe wine full of juicy black fruits. It's not dense, and the fruitiness will let it age relatively quickly. Drink this attractive wine from 2018.
This is a structured wine, packed with black-currant fruits and fresh acidity. It is already becoming balanced with the finely drawn structure in balance with the perfumed fruits. Drink from 2018.
Very herbal, this wine is all tangy acidity and spice. It shows strong Sauvignon flavors and texture with a fresh background to all this richness. Drink from 2018. The property is owned by Bordeaux Sciences Agro school, which uses the 55-acre vineyard for training and experiments.
Situated at the southern end of the Haut-Médoc, close to Margaux, this estate has produced a warm, ripe wine. The tannins are very present, still young and up-front. However the rich red-berry and black-currant fruits have plenty of weight to allow the wine to age. Drink from 2018.
Aromas of barrel spice, vanilla, dill and blue-black fruit are bright and focused. The plum and barrel flavors show depth and a sense of texture, with lingering flavors. This wine is not typically Cabernet but it offers much appeal.
Touches of smoke and wet stone accent ripe peach and apricot aromas on this dry, boldly structured Riesling. Despite it's expansive mouth feel and body, it's refreshingly brisk with flavors of crisp green apples and limes. The finish is long, lean and steely.
Predominantly crafted from Chardonnay, this features a fistful of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to add silky smooth layers of texture and a seductively elegant body. It's marked by a long finish and spiciness.
Creamy and fresh, this sparkling Lugana shows real class, starting with its floral aromas of lemon blossom and stone fruit. The crisp palate delivers green apple, peach and yeasty bread crust alongside a refined perlage and bright acidity.
Mature and smooth up front, this is showing rooty, earthy black-fruit aromas that are loamy and ripe. A shot of lively acidity creates good flow, while flavors of ripe, baked, toasty berry fruits are dark in nature and suggest espresso and bitter chocolate. A crisp, peppery, lightly burnt-tasting finish is smoky and long. Drink through 2019.
There's a heady bouquet of blossom and stone fruit on this lavishly aromatic Riesling that persists from nose to finish. The palate is ripe and juicy, penetrating with honey, yellow cherry and apricot flavors, but cut with a zesty streak of grapefruit and limes. Finishes endlessly long.
Initially this Malbec-led blend is reduced, but with airing minerality and concentrated aromas of jammy berry fruits and latex win out. This is packed, ripe and stacked on the palate. Flavors of ripe black fruits, licorice, pepper and berry preserves finish spicy, peppery and with a note of chocolate. Drink through 2020.
Adorned with a gorgeous label, the artwork of film production designer Dean Tavoularis, this spicy, earthy Pinot Noir has medium weight with supple tannins and toasty oak. With velvety layers of dark ripe cherry and black tea, this is classically Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley, and it finishes long and spicy.
The warm Beauroy vineyard has produced a rich, full-bodied and concentrated wine. It has a ripe structure that's cut with mineral notes, honey and apple and pear flavors. The wine is still developing and needs to age. Drink from 2017.
This boisterous Pinot Noir offers heavy cedar, raspberry liqueur, cola syrup and Kahlua aromas. Bright red fruit flavors of strawberry pie are rich and mouth-coating like a fine brandy, but remain soft and tasty throughout. This is a no-holds-barred wine.
Pure, estate-grown Cabernet Franc, this is focused and spicy, with hard-packed black fruits in abundance. Initially showing lush aromatics with plenty of baking spices, it's also threaded with graphite, black coffee and a whiff of smoke off the grill. This needs decanting or better yet, some further cellar time; try after 2017.
A terrific value in a benchmark Oregon Pinot Gris, this is bright and refreshing, with the palate-cleansing minerality that characterizes all of the Adelsheim white wines. Jicama and melon and pear fruits mingle seamlessly, and the wine's texture and length are impressive.
Coming from a vineyard on the eastern slope of the Salinas Valley near the Chalone appellation, this Santa Cruz-made, 20% whole-cluster wine smells of blackberry, unearthed tree roots and licorice. Core flavors of brown spice are surrounded by ripe raspberry and racy, potent acidity.
Lush, fruit-forward aromas of watermelon pudding and bubblegum make for a pink wine that engages on many levels. Ripe, soft fruit flavors match well with the almost gritty acidity. A delicious and refreshing sleection to drink now.
Forward and already packed with subtle details, this bursts forth with red plum and cherry fruit, backed with juicy acidity. The acids carry a bit of orange flavor into a balanced, extended finish with a lick of milk chocolate. Delicious now and crafted for enjoyment through 2020 or more.
This shows a bit more of the herbal side of the 2011s, wrapping peppery notes around light strawberry fruit. Barrel-aged for 15 months in 44% new French oak, it's still filling in and benefits from extended breathing.
Fermented in one- to three-year-old French oak puncheons, this shows the balance and tension of a young, precise, detailed wine built for aging. There's a light touch with the mix of apple, pear, peach and melon fruit, set up with vivid acidity and an overriding sense of perfect proportion.
Toasty and rich, this offers generous blackberry and black cherry fruit, scented with cigarbox and streaked with veins of dark chocolate. It's long and supple, matching instant flavor appeal to long-term cellar potential. Drink now through 2025.
A solid effort from a well-balanced vintage, this is whole-cluster pressed and largely fermented in stainless steel. A percentage went into neutral oak, and none went through malolactic. It's a clean, honest style, that confidently displays the fruit flavor of the grape—a juicy and refreshing mix of apples, white peaches, melon and spice.
This very affordable wine from the Gregory Ahn portfolio begins with clean notes of blackberry juice, black iced tea and graphite. It's spicy, bright and juicy once sipped, proving very refreshing, and a great example of the stripped-down wine everyone talks about making.
Plum, herb, blue fruit, vanilla and spice aromas lead to soft, plush fruit flavors in this wine. The texture and blue fruit flavors bring appeal.
Walla Walla Valley Barbera is rare, although this producer consistently makes one. Its toasty spice, tart cherry and herb aromas give way to well-balanced plum and cherry flavors, needing food to truly shine.
A soft and even presentation, this bottling shows lush if slightly sour blackberry jam, dark chocolate, coconut shavings and vanilla on the nose. It's a very safe and down-the-middle Cab on the sip, with dark red fruit, nutmeg and vanilla framed by structural and slightly chewy tannins.
Medium-intense aromas of black plum, cherry and berry are upfront on the nose of this ripe wine, with supporting notes of woodspice, char and black pepper for added depth. The tannins are structured yet fine, with a firm hold and rich, grippy fruit-skin flavors that carry the close.
Plum and berry aromas are tight and focused, with no indication of oak. A blend of Tempranillo and Rufete, this wine is snappy and drawing in feel. Plum and currant flavors finish long and juicy, with ripping acidity.
Pinched, briny red-fruit aromas are rubbery. This has a distinctly raw but juicy and fresh palate. Tea, plum, currant and pink-peppercorn flavors are gamy, savory and a bit salty on the finish. In every way, this reflects its cool coastal origins.
Aged 40 months in French and Russian oak, this leads with green herb, bell pepper, vanilla, cherry and spice aromas and follows through with ripe black cherry flavors. The nose and palate seem disconnected, the green notes unusual for the appellation and vintage.
This wine starts out as dense and fruity, but turns floral with airing. In the mouth, it's a bit jammy and overextracted, making for a weighty drinking experience. Flavors of prune, blackberry and dark chocolate end quickly on a finish that lacks the structure to go the distance.
This is a mouthfilling wine that doesn't go over the top in terms of ripeness or tannins, so it's smooth to drink and offers mild plum and cherry flavors.
Aromas of spicy oak and dried berry fruits lead to a clampy, rubbery palate. Plum and berry flavors are slightly saucy, while the finish, which is still fresh for a 2009, is tannic and pulling.
There's an impressive amount of garrigue packed into this bottling, which is a bit light for the usually very dark grape, as well as touches of sandalwood, cedar and a gamy animal hide aromas. It's zippy on the sip with black raspberry and dark cranberry flavors plus thyme, pepper and sage.
This wine, which includes 17% Mourvèdre and 8% Grenache, is a blend of fruit from Arianses, Stone Tree, Ciel du Cheval and Heart of the Hill vineyards. Baking spice, vanilla, dark fruit and cocoa aromas lead to ripe, generous black fruit flavors. It's a bold, hedonistic interpretation of the variety, with oak playing a prominent role.
This wine's underbrush, menthol, dried herb and game aromas follow through to the firm, linear palate, along with sour cherry, pomegranate, espresso and clove flavors. Tightly woven tannins provide grip while a star anise note marks the close.
This is a crisp fruity wine, full of red-berry fruits and acidity. It has the vintage's rich character, juicy and with a core of tannins that will soften quickly. Drink from 2020.
Big but well balanced, this full-bodied wine has been tamed a bit by two-and-a-half years of aging, but it still has the typical firm tannins that cling to the sides of the mouth. Accents of cedar and earth accompany the tasty blackberry core of flavor.
In the rush for white wines, it is sometimes forgotten that Chassagne-Montrachet once produced more red than white. This soft perfumed wine shows the generous nature of the wines from this appellation with red-cherry flavors coming from the Pinot Noir. Rich, soft and fruity, the wine will be ready from 2018.
This bottling is showing a touch of age on the nose, with clove, allspice and black-plum aromas most prominent. Dried ginger spices up the dried fig and plum on the sip, which approaches prune as well. Drink up now before more age sets in.
This is a big, bold wine with a wild, slightly earthy and herbal character in the otherwise ripe blackberry and spicy pepper aromas and flavors. The texture is quite thick with tannins, and the body is full. It comes from the windy and cool Jameson Canyon corner of Napa Valley.
This smells smoky, meaty and slightly earthy—in an attractive way—and tastes almost as savory as it is fruity. Flavors resemble ripe plums with added cardamom, cinnamon and dried fennel. The texture is ultrasmooth and it seems to melt in the mouth, leaving a soft impression on the finish.
This is a pretty traditional example of Barossa Shiraz, with oak-derived elements of vanilla, chocolate and a touch of dill backed by bold blackberry and deep cherry fruit. It's round and full on the palate, with a finish that fades easily into dusty notes of espresso and cocoa. Drink now–2020.
This svelte Barbaresco delivers aromas and flavors of bright red cherry, crunchy strawberry, licorice and white pepper. Nervous acidity and assertive tannins provide the backbone.
This garnet-colored wine has a pure aroma of ripe cherry. Made from a grape that is native to Moldova and Romania, its fruity palate is dominated by flavors of red and black cherry with notes of pomegranate and cranberry. Its lively acidity is pleasantly offset by graceful tannins.
This wine is firm and structured, although it allows plenty of room for the aromatic berry and black currant fruits. The tannins are the support system to give the wine shape and the potential to age. Acidity at the end adds freshness. Drink from 2016.
Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional from two Ramos-Pinto quintas results in a consistently smooth, finely rich wine. It has ripe blackberry fruits that are layered with subtle wood accents and given a great lift by ample acidity. It's a ripe wine, with enough tannins to age for the medium-term, although it can be drunk now.
Refreshing, crisp and attractively reserved, this is a subtle but substantial wine with a smooth texture, medium body and light flavors of cucumber, mineral and kiwi. It does a fine job of cleansing the palate, and keeps you coming back for more sips.
Blackberry and black cherry fruit is lightly dappled with peppery spices. There's also the slightest suggestion of fresh herb. It's a sturdy, supple wine of modest proportions.
A brisk mineral edge adds elegance to buoyant tropical mango and pineapple flavors in this densely concentrated off-dry Riesling. It's lip-smackingly honeyed, but sharp citrus acidity keeps the palate vivacious and fresh. Effortlessly enjoyable with a long finish.
Medium ruby in color with a purple core, this wine exudes dark bramble berries on the nose, anise and sweet baking spices adding nuance. The round, silky palate is supported by supple tannins which carry the core of blackberry and cranberry notes.
Fresh pomegranate, smoked green olives and pencil shavings make for an intriguing nose on this county blend from Ernst Storm. Tart raspberry fruit and fresh sage show on the palate, but it's quite retrained and mineral driven, proving a bit bitter.
Though just two years past fermentation, this is already taking on a mature hue with hints of bricking around the rim. It's soft, smooth and lightly toasty, a blend of rose water and wild raspberry flavors that have the precision and elegance to impress. Though light and low in alcohol, it's a well-made, true-to-variety style.
This delicious, ripe and juicy wine is full of rich yellow fruits and refreshing balancing acidity. It has a crisp, mineral side to it, with a tangy lemon zest flavor. It's an attractive wine that's just ready to drink now.
Aromas of underbrush, tilled soil, leather, red berry and mint come together in the glass. The focused palate delivers dried cherry, licorice, tobacco, grilled sage and a precise mineral vein alongside chewy but fine-grained tannins. It's still young and tightly wound but should open up over the next few years. Drink 2016–2023.
Hard grape candy and melted dark chocolate show on the nose of this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 25% Petit Verdot from a vineyard near Happy Canyon. It's boisterous and juicy on the palate with blackberry fruit, shows some beef char in the midpalate and finishes with a peppery spice and graphite minerality.
Vibrant and refreshing, this easygoing red offers aromas and flavors of ripe raspberry, crushed black cherry, ground black pepper, smoke and star anise. Bright acidity and supple tannins lift the savory flavors and give it a silky texture.
Elegant and mineral-driven, this refreshing white offers alluring scents of Spanish broom, acacia flower, peach and aromatic herb. The bright, polished palate delivers ripe pear, green apple, apricot and mint alongside fresh acidity. A note of white almond closes the clean finish.
Nature in the name of this wine signifies it was made with organically grown grapes. It is stylish, fresh in red berry fruits and attractive acidity. There is a tangy character that gives the wine a taut, nervy structure. With further aging, the wine will fill out more. Drink from 2018.
Here's a bowl full of fresh purple berries, plums and cherries. It's forward, fruity and just substantial enough, with supporting tannins, to age for another half decade or so. Drink now through 2020.
DFJ was the first to plant Alvarinho in the Lisbon region. This wine shows tropical flavors, pineapple as well as apricots. This richness is layered by a mineral texture as well as final, bright acidity. Drink from 2016.
Cherry, blackberry and cassis aromas are full and friendly, with notes of prune and chocolate seeping through. This feels flush, with lively acidity that keeps things cranking in the right direction. Ripe blackberry and fig flavors finish with composure.
Aromas of wild flowers, honey, lychee and oily citrus fruits announce a minerally palate with steely yet tropical flavors of citrus and lychee. This is better cut than most, with racy acidity that keeps things running on the finish. Drink now.
Tight, snappy and linear, this is a clean and refreshing rosé that's a perfect pairing for light fare or dining al fresco. Notes of white melon, cherry and strawberry hull dance on the nose and palate, with underpinnings of white flowers and fresh savory herbs. The medium acidity lends good cut to the mouthfeel, finishing bright and juicy.
This wine's full-bodied nature and chunky-blocky texture matches its name. It's dark and brooding in style, with hints of charred meat, asphalt and black olive. Give it some time. Drink 2018–2022.
Beautifully textured, this offers attractive minerality plus tangy lemon flavors. It has good depth, rich with fruits and balanced acidity. This ripe wine can be drunk now.
Made from over ripened Zibibbo grapes grown on the island of Pantelleria, this smooth, structured dessert wine opens with heady aromas of dried stone fruit and pressed elderflower. The concentrated but elegant palate offers dried apricot, vanilla, toasted almond and acacia honey that easily support the hefty alcohol.
Rajat Parr's single-vineyard expression may be the priciest white wine in the region, but it does impress, with aromas of lemon curd, limestone and macadamia-nut mousse. There's just the right combination of oak, fruit and acid on the palate, with flavors of sea salt, yellow flowers and a pinch of cinnamon.
Burnt toast, mineral, raw char, pencil lead, tobacco and blackberry aromas make for a highly complex and powerful nose. Following on that theme, this is packed and intense on the palate, with smoky black fruit and licorice flavors that finish oaky, toasty and blackened. This is the epitome of a modern Rioja thrill ride. It will take its passengers now through 2035; 200 cases made.
Forest floor, ripe black fruit, truffle, leather and balsamic aromas open this bold, concentrated wine. The delicious palate offers layers of blackberry, spicy plum, black pepper, cassis and savory herb alongside big, velvety tannins. It has balance and depth but it's still young and needs time to develop complexity. Drink 2018–2030.
Buttered berries, bitter rhubarb, bergamot, wet sage and pencil lead comprise another fascinating nose from Bryan Babcok's twist on the Radian Vineyard. The mouthfeel is lush and the flavors quite complicated, with black licorice, cinnamon-laced tea, fennel bulb and underripe blackberries. Boasting a nice tannic structure, this is drinking great right now, but hold off till 2020 for supreme sipping.
This appropriately named wine hits the nose with appealing aromas of vanilla buttercream and honeyed cashews, evened out with a limeade spritz. The palate is luscious at first, then moves into an exotic spice rack laden with seasoning salts, chopped oregano and green garlic stalks. A truly delicious, thoroughly intriguing wine.
This delivers a spectacular explosion of fruity, floral flavors. Notes of apricot preserve and honeysuckle are exuberantly aromatic, balanced with a delicate palate of sweet, sugared peach and tangerine. It's sprightly and lean, yet elegantly lingering on the finish.
An impressive wine by any measure, this shows ample complexity in its mix of black cherry, dark earth and briery notes. The tannins frame the wine's opulent fruit, while remaining wonderfully unobtrusive. This should drink well for at least 15 years from the vintage.
Floral aromas and tight raspberry fruit flavors are the first impression. Next come notes of wild game, with blood, herb and a bit of liver pâté. Unique, deep and yet somehow delicate, this has impressive complexity for a vineyard's first release.
Ripe boysenberry, root beer and mocha latte aromas make for a dynamic, delicious nose on this bottling from Foxen's seven-acre estate vineyard. The flavors range from black pepper and roasted meats to dried thyme, sagebrush and black licorice, all set against emerging tannins and a long, lingering finish.
This offers a well-defined balance between ripe, juicy cherry fruit and a seductive earthiness that keeps every sip intriguing. Structured and medium in weight, it's a fine choice for the table, the spiciness on the back palate particularly well-honed and worth recognition.
Camaspelo is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 20% Merlot. The fruit shines through brightly in this cooler vintage, black cherry and plum with a saline minerality. The wine saw 40% new oak, perhaps for the last time, as Christophe Baron believes “the barrel is dead” and is moving to all-neutral, large format foudres, puncheons and concrete. Soft, supple and sensuous, this is a delicious wine drinking quite nicely already.
Sourced from Rodgers Creek Vineyard, this is an ethereal, feminine Pinot, sublime in color and texture, bright in tart cherry. Brisk in acidity, it offers an undercurrent of dried herbes de Provence, cinnamon and exotic spice, evolving in the glass as it goes.
While the nose is buoyant, bursting with honey, mango and flowers, a polished elegance reverberates throughout this dry, steely Riesling. Rich in body and texture, it's ripe and peachy, yet balanced with streaks of lime, lemon and mineral. The finish rolls endlessly on the palate.
Black cherry, blueberry and blackberry combine for a rewardingly rich, ripe nose, layered with flecks of graphite and chai-like spice. The palate is driven at first by black soil elements, evolving into cooked cherries, tar and bitter root vegetables, yet possessing a strawberry lightness as well. This is extremely complex and as fresh as any more recent vintages.
Though it didn't see any oak, this wine—a sister brand of the pioneering Santa Barbara Winery—presents rich and complex aromas of saffron, seared lemon rinds, rosemary and roasted chicken. It's elegant and supple on the palate, with just enough citrus juice, salt and Italian spices.
The first impression is of steak tartare, with blood and a saline, savory character. There's a floral, violet topnote, and streaks of black olive, orange peel, umami and brine. Tight, toned and muscular, it's set in a compact, perfectly proportioned frame that requires many hours of breathing to open fully.
Among a half-dozen Pinots released by the winery in 2012, this seems to have the most stuffing. Dense black cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate flavors carry highlights of earth, iron, graphite and tar. It's expressive, long and compact, with aging potential through at least 2025.
An estate blend of 12 different clones, this dark ruby wine is bristling in acidity and swirling in flavors of strawberry, cherry and wild fennel. Well integrated and concentrated, it offers a fully balanced, elegnat expression of the site. It provides a perfect introduction to the winery's lineup of site-specific Pinots. Start here and delve deeper; this wine is both a preview of and statement of more to come.
Intense aromas of dried orange peel, tangerine and spice entice from this silky-smooth wine. It's deeply mineral, yet lusciously fruity, loaded with ripe, sweet yellow-cherry and berry flavors. Finishes with a honeyed cling.
A gorgeous, rich and aromatic Riesling, this is a tribute to the expressive dimensions that old vines can provide (these were planted in 1965). Ripe, lush citrus fruits, tangerine, spicy pekoe tea and hints of tropical fruit all come into play. It's a pure, lengthy, utterly delicious wine offering excellent value.
The blend on this Claret-style red is a bit different this year—half Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. As with the other 2011 Cayuse reds, this has a noticeable shift to floral, delicate aromas, with the savory/funk present but somewhat muted. The minerality under the ripe raspberry fruit gives it a crunchy feel in the mouth, lightly dusted with fresh herbs. The persistent finish seems to have a steel frame supporting it.
Beefy and broad, this offers up the aromas of a rich stew, with sweet tomato, peppery herb and game. Supple and soft, the flavors blend seamlessly, with the accent of savory notes rather than specific fruits.
Winemaker Jesse Katz pulled out all the stops to craft this small-production Malbec, proving that the right fruit in the right hands can yield crazy-good results. Having spent time aging in 100% new French oak, the wine needs time to open, but once it does, look out. Concentrated swirls of wild blackberry and truffle are framed by soft tannins and measured acidity. Drink now through 2024, easily.
Five different Dijon clones go into this barrel-fermented wine. It starts out tightly wound, well-defined with a mineral base under ripe flavors of caramel apple. The crisp, razor-sharp acidity lets the fresh apple fruit shine through, wreathed in notes of flint and smoke and finished with pretty barrel toast.
From a coastal vineyard in the southwest corner of the Russian River Valley, this is earthy and brambly on the nose, inviting in its sense of wild abandon. Concentrated yet vibrant in acidity, the flavors lean toward cranberry and tart cherry, completely enveloped in intriguing cardamom spice. Elegant and balanced.
Sourced from select barrels drawn from five estate vineyards, the reserve spent 10 months in oak. It is only made in exceptional years, and 2012 was certainly among the best in memory. Berry, cherry and toast components are here in full measure, with a sumptuous mocha-infused finish. Still young, this wine will show best with aeration, or tuck it away for some extra bottle age.
Full bodied and plushly textured, this is an opulent wine that's approachable now, but should last through 2025. It's tight and reticent when poured, then opens in the glass to reveal raspberry fruit, with subtle baking spice and cacao.
Coming from one of Ballard Canyon's premiere vineyards, this offers aromas of black cherry, wet black loam and morning dew on sage. The mouthfeel is all silk, and flavors are savory, with elderberries, crushed sage and wild mint.
Ripe black plum, leather, game, truffle, blackberry and tobacco aromas unfold in the glass. These follow through to the rich palate along with black cherry, clove and baking spice. It's structured but elegant, with velvety tannins and a smooth texture. Drink 2016–2028.
This is a mature Cabernet that's still generous in brambly black cherry and plum, with layers of spice intermingled among the fine tannins and charred oak. Black tea and tobacco complete the intrigue of this wine, with a black licorice finish.
Le Pigeonnier, Lagézette's top wine, pushes Malbec to its limits. It's a big wine in all senses, perfumed, tannic with truffle and black fruits alongside a dense, extracted character. It will balance out as it ages, but will always be bold and powerful.
This has a classic, lighter red color and equally classic aromas of red cherry, sour cherry, black tea, lightly toasted oak and a touch of forest floor. Generous cherry and plum flavors are perfectly balanced with crisp acidity and fine-grained tannins. It's not a big wine, but a vivid, polished and memorable one.
This compelling and distinctive wine is redolent with scents and flavors of sweet cherry and pipe tobacco. It punches up the palate and tickles the nostrils. Crafted from old vine Pommard (planted in 1973 and 1984) and cropped down to three-quarters of a ton per acre, this spent 14 months in 20% new French oak. It's one of those Pinots that requires your full attention.
Blossomy and perfumed, yet reverberating with steel, acid and minerals, this stunning off-dry Riesling packs so much more power and punch than it's diminutive frame suggests. Sweet, pristine white peach and cherry flavors persist through a long, meandering finish. Drinks beautifully now, but is powerful enough to evolve well till at least 2025.
Aromas of licorice, cedar, red currants and graphite unfold in the glass. The structured palate offers black cherries, blackberries, coffee, tobacco and black pepper alongside firm, velvety tannins that wrap around the palate. Drink 2016–2022.
Spain's preeminent varietal Cabernet is excellent in its 40th rendition. This single-vineyard wine opens with dark, brooding aromas of rooty spice, licorice, tar, herbs, cassis and prune. In the mouth, this is wiry and tight at the core, but friendly around the edges. Flavors of currant, toast, vanilla, pepper and barbecue sauce finish with ripping acidity but also cuddly, creamy weight. Drink from 2017 through 2030.
Big in every sense, this powerful, almost black-colored wine is solid, packed with dry tannins and ripe fruit. Made from Alicante Bouschet, it is a rich, opulent wine, with a strong spice, pepper and fruit character. This blockbuster needs aging, so drink from 2018.
This is a wondrously complex wine from Deborah Hall, showing roasted pork and other animal flesh on the nose along with graphite, clove extract and red rose petals—each piece there, but hard to pull apart because it is so well integrated. The flavors meld grilled game with cooked cherries and black loam.
A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this supple, delicious wine opens with aromas of blackberry, tilled soil, leather, vanilla and tobacco. The juicy palate doles out black cherry, fleshy plum, well-integrated oak and graphite. It's balanced with firm but fine-grained tannins and modest acidity. Drink through 2019.
This wine explodes with a glorious mix of buttered nuts, toast, ripe yellow fruits and supporting acidity. The exceptional length proposes at least a decade of development ahead. Drink now through 2025.
Penetrating flavors of preserved peach and honey are nuanced by layers of saffron, pollen and high-toned acidity in this sun-kissed auslese. It's delicate in body, yet concentrated in flavor and ripples of sweet nectar seem to amble endlessly on the finish. Gorgeous now, but should develop well for decades to come.
This very complete wine displays a fine balance between its tannins, black fruits and acidity. The structure is firm, still dry while giving space for the developing fruitiness. It is almost ready to drink, although it will be better from 2016.
One of the first Super Tuscan wines, this iconic blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc opens with aromas of scorched earth, underbrush, ripe plum and a whiff of blue iris. The palate offers dried black cherry, prune, mocha, licorice and clove. Assertive but refined tannins provide the framework. Drink 2016–2021.
Made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine opens with aromas of red berries, sweet baking spice, grilled herbs and a whiff of cedar. The structured but almost weightless palate doles out ripe red currants, red raspberries, licorice, mocha and white pepper. Supple, smooth tannins weave alongside the juicy flavors. Drink through 2016–2022.
This bright, structured Sangiovese opens with aromas of blue flowers, tilled earth, red and black berries. The savory, silky palate doles out juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, clove and licorice alongside supple but chewy tannins. Drink through 2019.
Rooty blackberry, cassis, vanilla and cola aromas are vintage Numanthia. So is a saturated, tannic palate that's deep and dense. Baked blackberry is the lead flavor, and that's matched by espresso and chocolate. Heat and ruggedness need to be resolved on a rich, powerful, chocolaty tasting finish. Drink through 2020.
Luxurious aromas of gingerbread, blackberry jam, black cherry juice and smoked pork meet with a touch of iodine, loam and lava rock in this wine from a producer just north of San  Diego. Red cherries and pomegranate juice tighten up around dried fennel stalks and pencil shavings on the sanguine palate. It's tasty now, but will blossom from 2019–2025.
Blackberry-laced chocolate syrup, black cherry extract, freshly tanned leather and sweet tobacco leaf join forces to power a remarkable wine from this winery near San Miguel, where the owning family first planted vines in 1997. The palate shows black olives, leather, tobacco, clove, black cardamom and dried black cherries, all held together by solid tannic grip.
Ripe, juicy white peach and honeydew flavors are fleshy and plump on this richly textured dry Riesling. It's undeniably opulent in style, but soft acidity and a crystalline edge of minerality drive a long, elegant finish. Gorgeously balanced.
Meandering streaks of mineral oil and petrol hint at the developing maturity of this otherwise sunny, tangerine-scented Riesling. Dry in style, with a lush, expansive mouthfeel, it's balanced by a crush of wet stones and bitter white-tea notes on the finish. It's an elegant, complex wine to enjoy now through at least 2020.
This has a very deep, dark color that goes almost to the rim. It smells like blackberries and black pepper, tastes exotic and almost full-bodied but stays quite dry. It gives the sense of being well-stuffed with flavor but keeps a rather lean, lighter texture. Firm tannins give it structure and suggest drinking now through 2019.
This new vintage of Caitlin's Reserve was barrel-fermented in 25% new French oak. It went through regular lees stirring and a generally traditional Burgundian élévage. Trim and compact, it remains up to the taster to forecast how well this will age, and how much complexity is locked within it. Based upon the wine's track record, there's every reason to put away a few bottles to drink in the mid-2020s.
A 50/50 blend of Pommard and Dijon 777 grapes, this is the biggest, brightest and juiciest vintage to date for this cuvée. The concentrated raspberry fruit carries a touch of sweetness, set against refined, proportionate tannins. The mouthfeel is smooth and the finish chocolaty, with enough concentration to drink well into the mid-2020s.
This has a traditional medium-garnet color with brick rim. Effusive aromas that are smoky, beefy and earthy lead to distinctive wild berry, sage and cherry flavors. The texture is smooth but nicely supported by acid and tannins, and all the complexity of this wine lingers on the finish.
Ripe plum, spiced blueberry, cedar, toasted oak and tobacco are some of the aromas you'll find in this structured blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The full-bodied palate delivers blackberries, black currants, clove, espresso, ground pepper and licorice while assertive but fine-grained tannins provide support. Drink 2016–2025.
Still young, this complex and dense wine packed with tannins celebrates the fact that the vineyard is on the Greenwich meridian longitude line. The 95% Tannat (and 5% Cabernet Franc) has weight and a layered structure of black fruits and acidity, all of which promise aging. Drink from 2019 or hold until 2034, 150th anniversary of Greenwich Prime Meridian.
Blackberry, cassis, coffee and charred aromas make for a smoky, healthy, attractive bouquet. This is dense, deep, tannic and a bit rubbery and bouncy in feel. Tea, herb, chocolate and baked blackberry flavors end with cocoa and herbal, earthy notes. Drink this ripe gran reserva through 2023.
Septette is supple and sexy, using all seven Pinot Noir clones grown in the estate vineyard. The fruit flavors run toward blueberry and blackberry, with supporting acidity and drying tannins. Aging in 40% new French oak adds suggestions of mocha and dark chocolate to the finish.
This powerful and rich wine wants to be sweet but is bone dry. Hints of honey accompany opulent ripe peach and spiced pear flavors. The balance of the acidity is crisp and refreshing. Drink from 2017.
The little touch of wood aging (three months) is just enough to round out the Chardonnay. At the same time, it does show freshness and apple flavors, with an attractive floral character. It is soft and finally ripe.
Liberally oaked, thus there's sawdust and spice to accent the berry fruit aromas. Tannic and full-bodied, and tasting of roasted black fruits with a generous sprinkling of baking spices. Chunky, tannic and arguably a little saucy/soupy on the finish. Best if you like big, roasted, chubby wines.
Watermelon, blueberry and black cherry fruit come through in this Bordeax blend, the flavors light and forward, with details of pencil shavings, red licorice and moist earth. It offers good complexity in a lighter style, with a suggestion of heat in the finish.
A pure and proper Cabernet with aromas of balsam wood, toast, berry and cassis. There's some power and kick on the palate, but the overall feel is good. So are the flavors of cassis, raspberry and plum. Spicy on the finish, with a bit of piquant heat.
Not quite as distinctive as some of the other 2009 Block offerings from St. Clair, this is nonetheless a solid wine, exhibiting gently leafy nuances layered over pick grapefruit and melon flavors. It's mainstream in style, not overly heavy, with a crisp, refreshing finish.
Pure Cabernet Sauvignon from the Pepper Bridge vineyard; now with several extra years in bottle. It's drinking well at five years of age, with strawberry and cherry fruit, bracing acidity and chalky, highly astringent tannins. The finish brings in leaf, pepper and coffee grounds.
The opening of tobacco, lemon peel, floral notes and mixed black fruits is alluring, while the palate is crisp and acidic but still fresh and good. Herbal berry fruit flavors with citric hints work the flavor profile, and the finish smacks down with firm tannins and bite. Nice aromas and flavors but the mouthfeel needs some work. 55% Carmenère with 30% Syrah and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aromas of sweet black cherry, cough drop and smoke work well together and draw you in. The palate is full and pretty smooth, with black plum, blackberry and creamy oak flavors. It's just spicy and interesting enough to earn a Best Buy recommendation. Best if you like sweet, ripe Syrahs.
Darker in color than many Provence rosés, this caramel-flavored wine has a fine line in ripe berry fruits to go with the smooth, velvet texture. Dry in style, its firm texture is right for food.
Big, dark, earthy and rubbery, with hefty black fruit on the nose and palate. A generous wine with toasty blackberry, cassis and a sprinkle of chocolate, and then a smooth finish. Among value-priced wines from anywhere in the world this is more than one should expect. It's really a nice Cab.
Minerally and intense on the nose, this Riesling remains fresh and strident right through the palate and onto the long finish. Apple and citrus flavors seem to carry a hint of sweetness, but it could just be the ripe fruit coming through rather than residual sugar. Drink now.
Elegant fruit and minerals on the nose start this affordable wine from Brampton. Balanced, refreshing but substantial, it offers lovely Chardonnay fruit with a layered character. Overall, a wine to impress.
Dark plum, herb and charcoal aromas give this Carmenère a very sound bouquet. The palate is ripe and smooth, and when you take in the fact that it costs but $9, the value factor skyrockets. With pure berry fruit, a smack of fresh herbs and even a hint of silk to the feel, this wine overdelivers.
The largest of the Beaujolais crus makes relatively soft wine, and this is no exception. It has open fruit flavors dominated by red berries and tinged with acidity. The background is soft tannins and the foreground is all fruit.
Even after five years, this wine still shows its primary fruit—black plums, sweet but structured. Callabriga, a Tinta Roriz based wine, goes light on the acidity, but the tannins and the hints of vanilla balance well with the blackberry jam fruits.
Ripe fruit, touched by vanilla, layered with dark tannins: this is a winning formula, a wine packed with black jelly flavors, made more tense by acidity and smoothed with the hint of wood.
From biodynamic producer Marcel Lapierre, this is probably as good as it got in 2007. It's a rich wine, concentrated, although the crisp fruits of the year tend to dominate. There are raspberry flavors, very pure, very fresh, but with some good depth of flavor.
This is a classic red blend, with its lovely nose of pepper, spice and dark berry, and its clean, integrated spice and fruit character. Restrained but flavorful, it's a great go-to red for any meal.
With 75,000 cases of this wine now coming to the U.S., it has to be one of the more ubiquitous New Zealand offerings. Thankfully, the quality is very good, with ripe nectarine aromas and flavors touched by just a slight varietally correct grassiness. Long and mouthwatering on the finish.
Appealing aromas of mature orchard fruit and chopped herb lead the way. The ripe round palate doles out creamy pear, white peach, candied ginger and a hint of bitter almond while just enough fresh acidity gives it a lift.
Big in flavor and unabashedly tannic in texture, this dry and full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend has ripe flavors, dense concentration and firm, fine-grained tannins. Vanilla and milk chocolate aromas lead to red cherry and cranberry flavors on the palate.
White floral and lemon zest scents perfume this zippy, light-footed Pinot Blanc. It's not a deeply concentrated wine but offers sunny yellow apple and citrus flavors, warmed by a touch of caramelized sugar. The finish is crisp and slightly mineral.
A blend with 5% Tannat and 5% Petit Verdot, this wine is squarely focused on pitch black minerality; freshly turned soil and crushed graphite notes overwhelm the fruit. The palate's chipped slate and crushed lava rock flavors also contribute to its dark presence, its dusty tannins shyly revealing hints of blueberry and blackberry.
Ripe black-plum aromas veer towards prune without fully going there. A full chewy palate holds blackberry and plum flavors, while this finishes oaky and lightly herbal. Overall, this captures much of what's good about Mendoza Malbec.
Dark berry and cassis aromas precede a focused chewy palate. Blackberry, blueberry, chocolate and spice flavors come together well, while a chunky full finish is ripe and satisfying.
This is a light and lively take on the grape, with dried apple, hay, sour lime and petrol touches to the nose. The palate packs gravelly minerality and a touch of green herb alongside tangy lime peel flavors.
This wine's aromas display a mixture of fruit and barrel, with notes of vanilla, coconut shavings and plum. The flavors are the same, silky and elegant, with barrel flavors lingering on the finish. It's a very stylistic wine.
A blend of 51% Viognier and 49% Traminer, this wine is made with organic grapes. It has aromas of jasmine and guava flowers and lush tropical flavors of mango and freshly cut guava.
Made entirely with Gewürtztraminer, this opens with aromas of rose petal and tropical fruit. The full-bodied rich palate is loaded with ripe tropical fruit, apricot, acacia honey and candied ginger alongside the warmth of alcohol.
This wine is a blend of Merlot (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Petit Verdot (10%) and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of savory herb, carob, wood spice and cherry lead to plump fruit-forward flavors that also show intriguing earthy accents. The finish lingers. There are lots of good things going on but the wood seems a bit prominent.
Powerful oak flavors and a firm texture make this wine imposing at first sip. It smells like cedar and tobacco, tastes like tart cherries and cranberries and feels astringent on the palate. Within that tannic framework, it has enough fruit concentration to make it well balanced and complete.
Aromas of freshly cut wood, pencil eraser and spice crowd out berry scents. Choppy grating tannins make for a firm mouthfeel, while flavors of savory spices and briary black fruits finish oaky, with residual scratchy tannins. Give this plenty of air for it to show its best.
Situated on the plateau above the river Lot, the estate is able to produce cool fruity wines. This reserve is full of typical Malbec tannins while also having bright red fruits and fine acidity. It is a wine for aging, just to soften the tannins, so drink from 2019.
This is a ripe, attractively fruity wine with black plum flavor and a generous texture. It's firm and rich, cut with acidity and tannin and needs further time to develop. Drink from 2018.
Tropical pineapple, mango and melon tones burst from nose to palate in this luscious bang-for-your-buck Auslese. It's densely packed with fruit yet deft and darting in mouthfeel. While it may lack the complexity and nuance of greater sweet wines, it's an irresistibly fresh and fruity sip.
Ripe blackberry and cassis aromas show a note of graphite. In the mouth, this Cab is rocky and hard, with crusty cheek-sucking tannins. Herb-infused black-fruit flavors of cassis and blackberry finish oaky, chocolaty and minty, with biting, hard tannins.
Pristine fruity touches of fresh apple, pear and lemon shine in this unoaked Chardonnay. Full bodied and round, it's an easy approachable wine with soft sunny acidity. The finish lingers on a bright lemon-candy note.
Layers of smoked nut and dark toast aromas lend savoriness to slightly muted black cherry and plum notes in this dry Lemberger, a.k.a. Blaufränkisch. It's a light-bodied, briskly composed red with delicate concentration. Fine grained tannins lend soft structure to the finish. Drink now.
Cherries, dusty earth and faint herbal notes define the aromatic spectrum and flavor range of this supple wine. The blend is 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre; drink it over the next few years.
This is an elegant, pretty, lightly oaked white that's stony and savory with lemongrass, nutmeg and a strong crunch of green apple. Its depth of body and ripeness complement its more exotic elements.
This opens with aromas of ripe black plum, scorched soil, toasted oak and roasted coffee bean. The dense ripe palate offers dried cherry, clove and espresso with chewy tannins. Drink through 2019 to catch the remaining fruit.
Earthy aromas of underbrush, used leather, violet and game lead the nose while the straightforward palate offers juicy red cherry, clove and a saline note. Supple tannins and fresh acidity give it an approachable framework. Drink 2018–2024.
This bottling, which blends 15% Barbera, shows smoy cranberry and baked raspberry scents, accented with beef jerky. The smoke persists into the palate, where ripe red fruit meets with salted caramel and vanilla flavors. It's an easy wine to enjoy.
This opens with aromas of black-skinned fruit, soil and grilled porcini mushroom. The dense palate delivers black cherry, tobacco and mocha set against firm tannins and the heat of evident alcohol. Drink through 2020.
There's a very likable umami character to the nose of this wine, its soy and black pepper touches playing well with the lilac and dark fruit aromas. A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Petit Verdot, 17% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot, it offers bright blackberry and black cherry flavors on the palate, which transition to soy and sarsaparilla notes on the finish.
This is a rich blend of Aragonez and Touriga Nacional that fills out broad black fruit and acidity with soft tannins and a ripe texture. Rich and juicy, it's ready to drink.
Bright with a touch of smoky leather, this ripe, full-bodied red is lengthy and lush on the palate, seasoned with black pepper, mocha and blackberry preserve.
Solidly structured, this features concentrated tannins and powerful, ripe fruits. It has weight, and its rich black fruits are layered with acidity. Age for at least three years.
This very herbaceous wine shows almond, toast and a rich texture. The wine has a creamy feel, ripe in the mouth while retaining grapefruit-driven freshness at the end.
Ripe, spicy tropical fruits give this wine a rich feel. There is a touch of caramel along with pineapple and apricot flavors. It is full bodied and structured, with a finish that shows acidity and a streak of nutmeg.
Strong lime and lemon zest flavors dominate this attractive, zingy wine. It has a strong texture that brings out the acidity and citrus flavors. It remains bright and crisp on the finish.
This richly perfumed wine is firm with tannins, showing its high alcohol through a sharp peppery edge. It is dense and concentrated, almost too much so to pair with food.
This Merlot-dominated blend has resulted in a wine that is both juicy and structured. With its forward flavor of black currant juice, it is surprisingly ready to drink, although the tannins also promise aging. It's ripe and dense, while the final acidity offers a fresh finish
The tannins are firm and dry, producing a solid structure. A black currant flavor emerges slowly, offering a fruity counterpoint. Although the wine—named after the cedar trees on the property—is ripe and tarry, it needs another year or two.
This tannic and extracted wine shows touches of burnt wood and solid, dry tannins. It misses the generously fruity feel of the vintage, replacing it with a firm, tight character. It needs several years.
This is a ripe, rounded and firmly tannic wine. It has weight and a dense texture, with a black plum flavor. With its fruits, sweet tannins and solid structure, it's likely to age well over several years.
Smooth and creamy, this shows touches of wood aging and flavors of ripe apple and peach. The toast brings out an attractive spiciness, leaving a complex, fruity finish.
Densely textured, this has firm and dark tannins. Powerful notes of rich berry and stone fruit give weight to this concentrated wine. This needs time to age.
Ripe and juicy, this wine melds red berry and black currant flavors easily into its dry texture. A deliciously ripe wine, it feels soft and forward; it will likely be ready to drink in six months.
This off-dry Riesling has enough acid to balance the 2.7% residual sugar. Aromas of flower and citrus blossom lead into lemon-driven fruit. There is just a bit of a granular, sugar-like feeling on the tongue.
Very dense and tannic, this wine is hiding its fruit behind its firm structure. It is solid, chunky and powerful, with plenty of weight that will always be dry. Needs to age for several years.
This is a rich and rounded wine, and its tannins have already integrated into the soft, ripe black fruits. It has concentration and an attractive juiciness for drinking after 1–2 years.
For an entry-level bottling, this is a little stern at first. Hints of char and licorice issue forth after lengthy swirling, followed by vaguely berry-like flavors and mocha notes. Finally, dark fruit and spice emerge on the finish. Worth splashing in a decanter to wake it up prior to serving.
It's the barrel notes of toast, vanilla and spice that make the first impression on this blend of Dionysus Sauvignon Blanc (64%) and Bacchus Semillon, followed by caramel and fig. The tropical fruit flavors are rich and creamy in feel and linger on the finish.
This tastes full of dark-fruit flavors and is well structured by moderate tannins and firm acidity. The color is deep red, while aromas are bright yet ripe like black currants. On the finish a hint of spicy oak comes through. It's bold and full-bodied.
Crushed cloves, black cherry and brandy aromas greet the nose on this blend of 64% Syrah, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot. Blackberry juice flavors dominate the palate, picking up complexity from bay leaf, anise, marjoram and chaparral elements.
Green apple, flint and apricot are some of the aromas of this elegant, medium-bodied white. The smooth palate offers layers of juicy white peach, Mediterranean herb and mineral alongside refreshing acidity.
Winemaker Larry McKenna is a proponent of age-worthy Pinots, and this 2011 reflects his muscular preferred style. It's chunky in texture, framed by firm tannins and tinged with mocha and dark cherry fruit. Drink 2017–2022.
This still comes across as very young and closed, but the palate is one of subtle, rounded, soft red berry fruit, held in a slender embrace by very fine, barely-there tannins. Elegant and unobtrusive, this shows earthiness and fruit in equal measure.
Oaky and ripe up front, this offers graphite, inky berry and cedary aromas. A plump, full-tannin palate has flavors of black cherry, plum and cassis along with integrated spice notes. It's woody, tannic and demanding on the finish.
Aromas of meat juices, peppercorn, underbrush and game lead the nose. The palate delivers dried cherry, prune, clove, grilled herb and anise. Tightly knit tannins lend support but still need to unwind. Drink 2017–2023.
A lush, creamy, seductive style, this opens with forward aromas of caramel popcorn, berry preserves and raspberry sauce. The palate shows a bit more restraint, with berry-cherry flavors that flesh out the crushed satin texture. Oaky tones of sweet spice and vanilla bean resurface on the medium-length finish.
Dark, concentrated, mildly charred aromas of black plum and blackberry are toasty, strong and minerally. Following the nose, this Malbec is chewy, extracted and fairly rich. Blackberry is the lead fruit flavor, backed up by a lot of oak and vanilla.
Refined and delicate on the nose, this offers aromas of white flowers and wet stone. Medium-bodied, with a silky palate, it presents flavors of tart pineapple, lemon rind and struck flint. A playfully textured lemon-custard note adds length to the finish. Drink through 2018.
The label is somewhat confusing (though attractive) as it has taken the appellation name Aix as its own. Rich and full of spicy red fruit, the wine is balanced with crisp acidity. The blend is Grenache (60%), Syrah (20%) and Cinsault (20%). A definite dry character puts it on the dining table.
The winery's second release coming from the cool 2011 vintage, this wine is still in its shell, with brooding aromas of raspberries and blackberries, fresh thyme, savory herbs and tobacco. Blackberry and cherry flavors are lighter in style, backed by a wall of tannins that at present permits no entry. The wine needs significant time in the cellar to reveal it possibilities. Best after 2020.
This refreshing and light-bodied Grüner also has a rounder, riper aspect, referencing flavors of red apple and green pear. While the nose does not give away that much, concentration characterizes the midpalate before an easy, super-clean finish.
Plum, coffee, tilled soil, leather and savory herb aromas come together in the glass. The concentrated palate offers mature black cherry, raspberry, espresso, mocha and ground black pepper alongside brooding tannins.
Austere and steely at first, this white settles into crisp, tangy grapefruit and lemon notes, centered around a bright, medium body. The mouthfeel is crisp and clean, uncomplicated, yet well-crafted and composed.
White pepper spice and crunchy cherry are the aromatic markers on this light-bodied but vibrant Zweigelt. Its structure is soft and pliable but inherently fresh. The lightness makes it ideal for lunchtime or summer drinking. While this may be simple, it is incredibly vibrant and full-fruited.
While the nose does not give away much, the palate reveals simple but supple cherry fruit, joined here and there by darker blackberry and plum. The structure is there but lightly worn. This is a friendly, unobtrusive, medium-bodied red with an edge of tar and spice.
A blend of fruit from Arianses, StoneTree and Heart of the Hill vineyards, this wine, which includes healthy dollops of Mourvèdre and Grenache, displays aromas of cocoa, tar, blackberry, vanilla and barrel spices. The flavors are medium-plus bodied backed by tart acids.
This well-structured white boasts an alluring bouquet that recalls beeswax, acacia flower and stone fruit. The polished palate offers juicy yellow peach, green apple and a honey note.
Aromas of beeswax, pressed broom and acacia flower lead the nose. The juicy palate offers up yellow peach, apricot and a ginger note alongside bright acidity.
The label keeps its promise of simple but joyful cherry-ish pleasure with freshness, verve and pepperiness thrown in. This wine celebrates the fruity, peppery nature of Zweigelt. Its ideal for informal entertaining or as a lighter-bodied summer red.
This wine is named after the mountain that dominates the west of the Côtes de Provence vineyards and gives an extra-rich dimension to the wines. It is structured and full of ripe red fruits and tangerines along with a touch of vanilla.
This blend of 79% Syrah and 21% Petite Sirah is a powerhouse, showing hot asphalt, blueberry pie, mocha and teriyaki-pepper pork on the nose. The palate is quite dense with elderberries and roasted beef elements, with sour and bitter accents pulling the flavors in interesting directions.
romas of hawthorne, peach blossom and passion fruit take center stage on this savory white. The luminous palate delivers creamy apple, zesty citrus, white almond and a touch of ginger alongside lively acidity. Steely mineral energizes the lingering finish.
Pear drop and fresh, green conference pear join lemony freshness on nose and palate. Light bodied and easy-drinking, it refreshes but does not weigh down.
This is a kitchen sink-style blend of 11 different varieties with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot making up nearly 75% of the mix. It offers direct, appealing notes of cocoa, sugared plum, blueberry, black olive and high-toned herbs. The black and blue fruit flavors are sugary-sweet and palate-coating, with cocoa accents on the finish.
Scents of leather, coffee and a hint of barnyard emerge, adding some interesting funk to the fruit flavors of tart, wild berries. Barrel aging adds notes of cocoa and cedar on the finish.
Owned by the Trocard family since 1628, this vineyard has produced a rich and rounded 2010. Dominated by Merlot, it is solid, concentrated and ripe. Acidity cuts through the richness to give a full and fruity character at the end. Drink from 2016.
Elements of granite and steel combine with scents of pork fat and flavors of wild berries. The tannins are smooth and supple, and the wine carries a streak of green olive through the finish.
Blended with 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Viognier, this is an impressive offering with notes of smoke, vanilla, spice, and smoked meat. It's light in style, silky soft in feel without an ounce of extra alcoholic fat to weigh it down.
Judged against other modern, very ripe 2009 Rioja wines, this Graciano is austere. Minerally, gritty black-fruit aromas give way to a juicy, hard-driving, high-acid palate, with salty, roasted black-fruit flavors. A shearing finish with saline notes and zesty acidity is what you get from this single-vineyard varietal wine.
Waves of berry aromas matched by oak-based vanilla and a hint of violet comprise the nose on this Malbec-led blend that smacks hard in the mouth with tannic bite and acidity. Flavors of wild berry, cherry and hard spices finish juicy and lively. Drink through 2018.
Hailing from a warm year, this wine is still a brute. Smoky, rubbery aromas of cassis and strawberry vascilate between ripe and candied. This is full-volume, even pushy, on the palate, with blazing acidity and rocky, spicy, peppery berry flavors. Let this rest at least another five years; revisit in 2019–2020.
This smooth, supple Bordeaux-style blend is principally Merlot, yielding a lush mouthful of blue and purple fruits. Light chocolate and soft leather bring added richness through a mouthcoating finish.
Easton's classic Sauvignon Blanc stands out year in and year out and this is no exception. Complex in texture and flavors of lime and tropical papaya, it's marked by minerality and a pronounced crispness. It calls out to be served as an apéritif or to enjoy while cooking.
Opening aromas include forest floor, red berries, cooking spices and Mediterranean herbs. The juicy palate shows bright red berries, mint and thyme accented with notes of white pepper. It's well balanced but will benefit with a few more years in bottle to fully develop. Drink 2016–2020.
Restrained but flinty, this is a fresh and mellow wine with enough texture to be serious. Zesty acidity gives a lovely lift.
Offering aromas of sweet peach, this is a round, full Sauvignon Blanc with a pleasant texture. Light in alcohol but rich on the finish, it just begs for shellfish or melted goat cheese salad.
Slightly high-toned and sharp, this Bordeaux-style blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc was aged in a mix of French and American oak. Cherry cola flavors, with a dash of sassafras, are highlighted with hints of toasted walnuts. It's a good value, a bit tannic, but drinking nicely right now.
Blackberry and black cherry fruit anchor this well-built Cabernet, accented with scents of sandalwood and smoke. The acidity keeps it vibrant and brings good definition throughout.
Ripe, full in the mouth and with a smooth, already silky texture, this is a generous wine. Its ripe blackberry fruits are juicy, while the tannins are soft and cushioned by the ripe fruits. This is a wine that will develop well, so drink from 2016.
Made by the team from Château Chasse-Spleen, this elegant, smooth wine has deceptively firm tannins. The wine is dense, structured with plenty of juicy black currant fruits to balance. It will age, so don't drink before 2018.
A finely integrated and ripe wine that is full of rich fruits and solid, dusty tannins. It has good concentration, sweet black fruits and great acidity. It will age well; drink from 2017.
This lively wine is sourced from the excellent Boushey vineyard in Washington's Yakima valley. The deep blackberry fruit is ripe and tasty; and the tannins nicely smoothed out with a dusty, chocolaty finish.
Vines planted in the 1960s give this wine its great concentration. With its powerful fruits and dense tannins, it is well structured, with the hallmark bright fruits of the vintage along with acidity. The tannins are very present at the moment, and the wine will need long aging. Drink from 2024.
Powerful and structured, this wine is dark with black fruits. The rich fruit and acidity are surrounded by firm tannins provide a solid scaffolding. With acidity and tannins at the end, this complex wine will age slowly, so don't drink before 2022.
This wine has a smoky character that gives an exotic touch to the red fruits. It comes from 60-year old vines that give concentration and dark tannins. As it ages, the wine will broaden and expand to convey opulence and richness. Drink from 2022.
This wine is opulent and rich without losing sight of the freshness of the vintage. Layers of new wood (100%) are blended with rich and perfumed fruits. At the same time, the acidity goes right through the wine, indicating an impressive future. It comes from a tiny patch of vines that gave two barrels. Drink from 2022.
This wine has power along with great fruit and a rich structure. Yellow fruits are laced with a more finessed texture that adds minerality. It is a dense wine, full of fruit, with a measured touch of wood. Age this until 2021.
This is gorgeous, structured and complex Cab: savory and Old World in style in some ways, revelatory in Napa richness and roundness in others. It conjures up visions of cherry crisp topped in vanilla gelato, with traces of smoke, dark chocolate and black pepper, the tannin integrated and persistent on the finish. This is a good choice for cellaring as well, through 2023.
This dense and complex wine comes from one of the magnificent Grand Cru vineyards in Morey Saint-Denis. It is a powerful wine with its rich, generous fruit and dense tannins. It has everything larger than life: big fruit, big tannins and a big future. Drink this exceptional wine from 2024.
From the vineyard around viticulturist Anne Moller-Racke's home planted to the Donum clone, this is a stunner from start to finish, an elegantly tousled expression of mint and bay leaf that's big-boned at first, yet completely lively and fresh on the palate, settling into a place of grace, bursting in brooding dark berry, cherry, cinnamon and clove all wrapped up in a sultry texture.
This wine is dense and severely tannic. It has dense ripe-fruit flavors as well, although they are buried under the power of the structure. For a wine of such impressive character that is not a bad thing, it just indicates that it needs time to mature and will age well. Drink from 2023.
This wine is concentrated and dense. Big tannins flow up through this wine, giving shape to the ripe black fruit. In the back, acidity dominates bright red berries and the potential for a rich, generous future. The wine will age over many years. Drink from 2022.
This is a selection a cut above the winery's Reserve. Potent and rich, it's packed with layer upon layer of citrus and stone fruits. There's a seam of licorice, and concentrated flavors of almond and buttercream. This utterly decadent effort just goes and goes.
The Factor is always one of Torbreck's biggest wines. The 2012 continues that tradition, offering ample weight, richness and texture. Alluring notes of Christmas spices and plum pudding mark the nose, while the flavors continue the dark theme, picking up hints of cola and roasted meat before finishing somewhere between creamy and velvety, spicy and peppery. Drink now–2030.
Nashwauk is Kaesler's McLaren Vale project, first released from the 2006 vintage. The 2010 is full bodied, creamy-textured and plush, filled with dark fruit and hints of vanilla, asphalt, maple syrup and mocha. The supple tannins enhance rather than impede the finish, contributing scary length. Drink now–2030.
This wine is the product of farming by Anne Moller-Racke and winemaking by Kenneth Juhasz, the original team behind Donum Estate in Carneros. Here, they've created a gorgeous, elegant expression of lemon zest and pear that harmonizes with stony minerality and brash, bristling acidity that becomes succulent on the palate. Atop it all is a scent of fresh-cut white flowers.
Big, ripe and smoky, this wine is generous while having great freshness. It's packed with fresh strawberries and raspberries along with powerful tannins. The combination of structure and great fruit will allow this wine to age. Drink from 2022.
Powerful and rich, this has a great spice component that shoots through the pure fruit flavors. It is already a delicious wine with its juicy acidity and fresh, zesty, mineral character. But at the same time, it has a great structure, beautifully ripe fruitiness and excellent potential. It will drink at its best from 2022.
Produced from vines mainly planted in the 1970s, this is a concentrated dark wine. Rich and ripe, it has powerful tannins mingled with beautifully perfumed fruits. The wine is dense and packed with floral fruitiness as well as fine, sweet tannins. Drink from 2025.
Fruit, wonderful fruit flavors drive this rich and ripe wine from the first whiff to the lingering finish. Very little obvious oak intrudes on the vivid strawberry, cherry and black currant notes that are backed by a firm but velvety texture of fine-grained tannins and good acidity. Save this wine until at least 2018 if you can, to allow more bottle bouquet to develop.
There's a rugged earthiness and delicious meaty character to this fantastic bottling, which shows dried cranberries, dried olallieberry, smoked pork and hummingbird sage on the brawny nose. A similar power infects the palate, where red and black cherry meet with plum, mulberry, cola, shaved chocolate and a deepening sage character, finishing on crushed mint.
A stunning bottling from the Franscioni family, this shows exotic cinnamon, crystallized black-cherry juice, fresh black raspberry and graphite on the extremely elegant, soft and inviting nose. There's a tension between ripe black raspberry and everything else on the palate, from fennel and black pepper to black slate minerality. It's a seamless wine.
Violet and raspberry perfume persist in this pristinely fruity yet deeply complex wine. Morello cherries and cranberries pulsate deeply in the core, but the periphery is shaded by savory tones of underbrush and black-tea leaves. While voluptuous in body, it's crisp and structured by soft tannins that linger dramatically on the finish.
Tasted with over a decade of bottle aging, this late-release Spätlese is a heart-stopper. The core of this delicately honeyed wine is still vibrantly fruity, concentrated in luscious yellow peach and cherry flavors. Intonations of maturity show in glimpses of creamy cashew, dried mushroom and crushed rock that extend from nose to finish. It should maintain its spry, electric feel from now through 2021 at least.
Gavin Chanin's wines manage to pack a stunning array of elements behind a veil of restraint, here showing sea salt, lemon skins, struck flint and smoked nectarine on the nose. The palate is alkaline and botanical in presentation, offering lime skin, chalk, dried butter flakes, cement and a salty acidity. The wine tastes like foggy sunshine.
Dark fruit backs up the dense, dark and firm character of this wine. There is sweetness from the ripe fruits into which the tannins fall, leaving a trace of dryness at the end. A fine wine with a great future; drink from 2022.
Firmly structured, this dark wine has smoky tannins and intense acidity combined in a texture that is dusty, almost dry at the core. Over this the ripe red fruits are spread thickly, giving a powerful concentrated wine that will age well. Drink from 2022.
Made with 85% Nerello Mascalese and 15% Nerello Cappuccio, this radiant red boasts a beautiful fragrance of blue and red flower, ripe berry, cake spice and aromatic herb. The radiant, delicious palate doles out layers of juicy black cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon, white pepper and clove while a mineral note backs up the lingering finish. It's young but balanced, with bright acidity and tightly wound but refined tannins.
This is a tremendously, remarkably and memorably bright and tangy wine, floral on the nose and delicious on the palate. Blood orange, lithe minerality and sparks of lemon and lime highlight the experience, the grapes grown on Atlas Peak.
Ripe and full of red berry aromas and flavors, this is a generous, warm wine. It has great swathes of juicy acidity and an attractive touch of toasty, spicy wood that is integrating well with the fruit. The tannic structure offers good support for the bright acidity and rich fruitiness. Drink from 2020.
This memorably beautiful and delicious wine is made from estate-grown Grenache. The grapes weren't designated for saignee, but rather picked specifically to make this tart and tangy expression of an inviting grape. Orange in color, almost like a beer, it's dry and sneakily succulent, with inviting floral aromas at its core and enough body to stay interesting as it develops.
Rose, sage, menthol and cellar floor aromas carry over to the palate along with raw sour cherry, cranberry and clove. Assertive tannins clench the astringent finish.
Aromas of sour berry, blue flower and leather emerge on this medium-bodied red. The palate is raw and lean, showing unripe cherry, sage and grainy, aggressive tannins that segue into an astringent finish.
Lazy berry and mild raisin aromas sit heavily in the glass. This crianza is rubbery and grabby in feel, but also pretty big. Stewed berry and prune flavors finish with some excess weight.
Medicinal, grapy berry aromas come with a hint of latex and Band-Aid. This flush, fruity Toro feels grabby and tannic. Uncomplicated, bold flavors of plum, blackberry and cherry are brash on the finish.
This is a medium-strength white, richly constructed to show concentrated flavors of vanilla bean, apple and toasted oak.
Grape-jam aromas and ripe, sweet flavors make this wine attractive in its easygoing, accessible style. For a deep, dark red, it has a surprisingly soft, velvety texture and a mild amount of sugar.
The wine is balanced, structured and with some fine ripe black fruits. It is dense in its fruitiness and tannins. Give it until 2019 before drinking.
A bright and juicy wine, this has good potential. Its red-berry fruits are right up front along with some light tannins. Drink this fruity wine from 2018.
This dense wine has ripe tannins and generous fruits. Its black-fruit flavors are full of spice and acidity with a crisp texture. Drink this wine from 2018.
Soft and muddled in smoky oak and generous tannin, this wine mixes red currant, raspberry and dried herb, easygoing and robust on the finish.
This blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Cabernet Franc is a bit over the hill, so drink up now. Prune, raisin, leather, roasted meat and pepper show on the nose, while the palate offers dried cherries and dust.
Aromas of new leather and menthol segue into the brooding palate along with dried cherry and a note of medicinal herb. It's tightly tannic, with a lean astringent finish.
A strong smoky aroma, spicy oak flavors and a blast of ripe fruit make this a boisterous wine. It's full bodied, with heat on the palate. A little berry and cherry concentration comes through on the finish.
Coconut, French oak and camphor aromas carry over to the palate along with oak-driven spice, toast, raw sour cherry and a green note of powdered sage. It doesn't have much have much fruit richness while astringent tannins give it a raspy finish.
A nose of redcurrant signals tart freshness. The palate has this in spades but seems tinged with bitter earthiness that detracts from the berry charm. This light, fresh wine would benefit from chilling. Drink soon.
Tightly wound and leathery on the palate, this wine is ultimately light-bodied. The flavors mix dried cherry, blackberry, tobacco and sage.
Featuring a fat, short, ornately dressed holy man on the label, this is one of the most visually compelling brands to hit the market in a while, but the wine inside isn't so exciting. Black fruit and slight licorice show on the nose, with blackberry and cola on the palate.
Robust in oak, this full-bodied expression of the variety is reduced on the palate, showing sizable tannin weight and length. Plum, dark cherry and dried herb combine to offer swirls of flavor.
Aromas of purple fruit, cocoa, green-pepper, vanilla and cherry bring easy-drinking pepper and cherry flavors. The concentration seems surprisingly light and the fruit a bit green given the quality of the vintage.
Aromas recall toasted oak, espresso, rubber and roasted herb. The palate offers raw red cherry, vanilla, grilled sage and black pepper alongside astringent tannins.
Tangerine peel and citrus blossom are fragrant and fresh on this flirtatious off-dry Riesling. Straightforward and juicy in style, the palate is saturated with peach and apricot nectar. Zesty lime and touches of mineral add lift to the finish.
Ripe aromas of black cherry and blackberry come with hints of leafy herbs and a shot of alcohol. This four-grape blend is well structured but a touch tannic. Flavors of baked black fruits, herbs and olives finish savory, with plenty of unabsorbed oak.
Aromas highlight violet, iris, incense and espresso. The lively palate doles out sour cherry, mocha and coffee alongside smooth, rounded tannins.
Ripe aromas of raisin and cassis come with creamy oak scents. This is jammy, deep and concentrated on the palate, with tobacco, earth, fig, cocoa and baked berry flavors. The finish is earthy and baked, but boasts enough acidity to keep it fresh and lively.
The Napa-Sonoma winery, straddled across two counties, has added 12% Cabernet Sauvignon to the Cab Franc in this wine. The result is sizable in ripe, blueberry and blackberry fruit, soft tannins and a finish of dark chocolate. Void of any of the variety's signature herbaceous signature, it could easily be mistaken for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Rich aromas like Anjou pears and rose petals combine with generous ripe pear and vanilla flavors. It feels full-bodied but is light in alcohol and has a soothing texture. Good acidity balances the ripeness and the finish lingers.
A proprietary blend of Zinfandel and Malbec, with smaller parts Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, Heritage is powerful and soft. It's awash in blueberry, red plum and vanilla, all verging on superripe, the finish particularly intense.
Leathery red berry aromas move to dark fruit after sitting in the glass. This Malbec is jammy in feel, but overall it's fresh. Earthy flavors of spiced plum, baked berry and salt finish toasty, woody and briny.
Sweet aromas of white peach entice one into this lively wine, a profile that carries through to the delicate palate. A refreshing apéritif that finishes dry, the wine is light in alcohol and body.
Brown dust, plum jam, red cherry and black tobacco power the nose on this medium-bodied Cab. It's alluring on the palate with dark fruit, mouthwatering spices and a crème brûlée sense to the whole package.
Medium in weight and body, this offers juicy black cherry fruit around a core of dry tannins. The overall texture is soft enough to enjoy now, the finish savory in clove.
This five-grape, Bordeaux-style blend is principally Cabernet Sauvignon, and offers forward, moderately light fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry. It's balanced and pleasant tasting, though lacking the depth that you might wish for in this price range.
Totally herbaceous and crisp, this is a rich, citrus-flavored wine. Grapefruit flavors dominate with a twist of lemon on top, giving a zesty texture that shows a young wine. For it to calm down and broaden out, wait until the end of 2015.
The wine is full and ripe, generous both in its black fruits and its tannins. It's rich, juicy and packed with berry fruits, a touch of wood and a mineral texture showing at the end. Drink from 2016.
While the wine certainly has structure, its main character, from the dominant Merlot, is the juicy, stalky fruit and jammy, ripe black plums. It does have an edge of bitter chocolate and a layer of wood. When that softens, it will be a ripe, broad wine. Drink from 2017.
Firm and stalky, this wine has intense black currant fruitiness. A dry tannic core is balanced by the fresh fruits and acidity. It's almost too fruity at the moment and needs to soften, so wait until 2016.
A wine that is, unusually for Bordeaux, dominated by Sémillon. That gives a creamy, ripe and still muted character and demands another few years aging. The acidity and fresh citrus fruits are filled out with melon and ripe pear flavors. Drink this wine from 2016.
Very perfumed and dense, this is a structured, aromatic wine, full of dark berry tones and fine acidity to balance. The dry texture and the solid tannins promise some medium-term aging, so drink after 2015.
A taste of Key lime and tonic unveil a vibrancy of aroma and high-acid flavor in this wine, additionally characterized by layers of crisp white peach and pineapple juice.
This earthy wine features aromas of truffle, ripe plum, leather and just a whiff of barnyard. The palate offers black cherry, crushed raspberry and notes of baking spice alongside assertive tannins.
A straight, clean, very fruity wine that is bright, steely and crisp. It's light, fresh, aromatic and full of white fruits, with a tight lemon-zest texture. Drink now.
With 4% Viognier giving this wine a distinct floral lift, it's aromatic with notes of nectarine, pear and toasty barrel spice. It's creamy, almost oily in feel, with an assortment of stone fruit flavors that carry through the finish.
This blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot, Aragonez and Alicante Bouschet shows power, with dense tannins shouldered by ripe black fruit flavors and a solid structure. From the Estremoz region of the Alentejo, it's a powerhouse of flavors and juicy acidity. Drink after 2016.
Made from vines planted in 1948, this brawny wine opens with aromas of toasted oak, espresso, black plum, violet and a whiff of leather. The palate offers coffee, chocolate, sage, toast and a hint of black cherry alongside drying wood tannins.
Rich, plummy and oaky, this wine combines 52% Zinfandel and 48% Petite Sirah. The two varieties pack a punch of intensity and a plush mouthfeel, finishing with a touch of heat.
This is certainly dry, as stated, but it doesn't have the texture and stuffing that the best dry Rieslings bring to the show. Simple and straightforward lemon and grapefruit flavors tell the whole story, and those high acids leave a sour impression.
This informal red has subdued baking spice and black-skinned fruit aromas. The simple palate delivers prune and confected notes, alongside chewy tannins. Drink soon.
Black-currant, dark-plum and herb aromas are in the lead. The flavors are on the lighter side, with the oak seeming quite dialed back.
Lightly smoky, herbal aromas and an almost-sweet fruitiness give a frank, easy-drinking quality to this medium-bodied wine. It comes through on the palate with a rich plummy flavor, soft texture and very mild tannins.
Robust tannins soften slowly in the glass as this hearty, straightforward wine opens, showing touches of red and black cherry fruit.
Spice, leather and oak aromas rest on top of an earthy base that doesn't suggest any particular fruit. This Garnacha-Tempranillo blend feels narrow and choppy. Flavors of savory oak, baked berries and chocolate finish dry and drawing.
Ripe fleshy cantaloupe and pineapple flavors abound in this forward fruity Chardonnay. Its juicy, almost overripe, fruit expression is accentuated by soft slightly yielding acidity. Drink now.
This opens with mature plum and vanilla aromas. The dense, simple palate shows mocha, toast and prune flavors, with rounded tannins. Drink through 2018.
The aromas are somewhat underripe, with notes of herb, thistle and medicine cabinet. The cranberry and cherry flavors seem more dried out than its age would indicate.
Easygoing lemon pudding and peach scents show on the nose of this bottling, which is a blend from four vineyards. Ripe stone fruit flavors mark the palate, further enriched with tropical coconut touches.
Made from 100% Trebbiano di Soave, this has a shy nose that eventually reveals white spring flower and white stone fruit whiffs. The palate is lean and dilute, offering hints of peach, bitter almond and citrus peel, alongside racy acidity.
Pine needle, cedar plank and forest floor define the mature nose, while the full, grabby, tannic palate is loaded with likable cola, black fruit and chocolate flavors. Ripe, pure, rich and tannic, with some bite, burn and ruggedness. Drinkable now but needs food to cut the tannins.
Offers up a nice blend of savory and fruity elements, marrying marinated beef and ripe cherries and framing them in vanilla-scented oak. The wine is full-bodied and supple in texture, ending with hints of fine tobacco and silk. Drink now-2015.
For a Valencia D.O. wine, this is darn appealing. The nose is warm, rooty and smells of cola nut, fresh raisins and cassis, while the driving palate offers roasted black fruit flavors along with sweet tomato and herbs. Drying and tannic on the finish, but balanced. Neither cooked nor overweight. Drink now through 2011.
A bright purple luster draws you in, and the nose is bright, clean, focused and full of wild blackberry. Balanced in the mouth, with size and tannin but plenty of acidity and fruit. Tastes of blackberry, vanilla cream, molasses and spice, and the finish brings it on home. Sincere and excellent for the price.
An interesting, well-made wine with distinct barrel notes. There's woodspice, toast, vanilla and elegant white fruit on the nose, yet the palate maintains Verdejo's natural verve while offering flavors of cinnamon apple, spiced pear, banana and tropical fruit. Drier on the finish, with a nip of butterscotch.
A terrific value, Plantagenet's 2006 Hazard Hill Shiraz is a silky, feminine-styled Shiraz that starts with smoky, slightly floral notes, then adds in peppery spice, delicate red berries and just a hint of chocolate before leaving your mouth watering on the finish. Drink now.
Plums, vanilla, toasty oak and a bit of chocolate fudge. The 2007 Angels Share features all of those flavors in a full-bodied, chewy Shiraz. The long, richly textured finish suggests pairing with grilled steak or lamb chops.
A finely judged blend of fruity and savory, the 2006 Parable marries ripe plums with meaty elements as well as hints of coffee and vanilla. It's round in the mouth and cuddly in texture, finishing with the softness of velvet. Drink it over the next five years.
Although this is fortified, it's not overly so, with the finished alcohol level resting around 18%. The result is a decadently sweet mash-up of brandy-macerated raspberries that turn chocolaty on the finish. Although it lacks the complexity, tannic grip and minerality of the best true Ports, it's a tasty drop nonetheless. Drink now-2025.
Tapestry's style is to blend bold fruit with ample oak, and that's the case here, with plum and spice cake notes framed by toast and vanilla. This is a full-bodied, creamy-textured Shiraz, showing some warmth on the persistent, fruit-driven finish. Drink now-2020.
Hunter Valley Shiraz is somewhat out of fashion here in the U.S., but this is an excellent example of the genre, one that can be taken home and enjoyed tonight. It starts with intense, smoky, pungent leathery aromas, and the fruit is more leathery than fruity in character, yet there's compelling complexity in this medium-bodied, silky-textured wine. Drink now-2015.
Water Wheel wines consistently deliver quality and value. The winery's 2007 Shiraz is made in a decadently supple, drink-now style with enough cocoa and mocha overtones to bring chocolate cake to mind. There's some cedar and spice complexity as well. Drink now-2013.
Purple in color, with ripe, meaty, earthy aromas mixed with herbs, exotic berry fruit scents and vanilla. This is feisty and full-bodied Pinot with integrated plum, blueberry and well-applied oak. It's a little more citrusy and zesty than in previous vintages, and definitely a heavier style than its Cincuenta y Cinco counterpart, which will allow it to age for another four to seven years.
A round, chewy wine with a nice mix of black fruit, vanilla, aged cheese and light balsam wood on the nose. The palate is big but doesn't bite back, and the flavors of creamy berry are broad and nice. A very solid wine with weight and heat; drink now through 2011.
Yellow fruits and fresh aromas characterize this attractive, fresh wine. With a touch of citrus to add to the bright character, it's a fruity wine that can be drunk now–2017.
Some young-tasting, tart raspberry fruit is front and center here, with the character of hard candy. It hits the palate quickly and stays there, without showing much else. More bottle age may help to unwind this a bit.
This rich and buttery Chardonnay is made in a classic California style. Its smooth texture coats the palate and helps the generous pear and pineapple flavors linger on a slightly sweet finish.
This often-overlooked grape brings big, blocky, fruit-powered flavors of lemon and pear. It falls on the sour side of acid, with just a hint of vanilla.
Smooth and light, it's all about fruitiness, crisp apples and a squeeze of lemon juice that perks up the soft texture. It's fresh and ready to drink.
Light and fruity, this is an immediately attractive, fragrant, off-dry wine. With its red berry flavors, it tastes warm and inviting. The touch of acidity reinforces the bright drinkability.
A bright salmon color, this playful selection is bright and easy drinking. Aromas and flavors of melon rind, sweet pea, red cherry and cranberry fill the nose and mouth, with bright acidity that keeps the palate fresh and the finish clean.
With a firmly tannic structure, this is a bright and ripe wine packed with black fruits. It's not a wine for aging, so drink now and until 2018.
With this wine that comes from the cool 2010 vintage, you have to strain to hear the notes of cranberry, herbs and orange peel. The style is light, almost faint though remaining well executed.
Exhaling honey-vanilla in the glass, it gives off a hint of sweetness on the quick finish. Midpalate, expect fleshy apricot and white peach flavors. Enjoy on a summer's day with spicy peanuts.
Floral soap, plum and red-berry aromas bring a pinch of spice to the nose. This is lively and a bit of a grinder on the palate, with zingy acidity and some grit. Plum, berry and ripe tomato flavors finish short and simple.
Spicy, racy red-plum and cherry aromas come with a spot of herbs. This feels raw and lively, with zesty, hard acidity bolstering true but choppy flavors of raspberry and citrus. A peppery, drying finish is tight as nails.
Pretty and scented with watermelon and strawberry, this rosé turns tart in the mouth, tasting of rhubarb and sour berry. It's fresh and refreshing, especially drunk cold in hot weather with a picnic spread.
Tomato leaf, olive and floral notes carry the nose on this wine that offers a juicy mouthfeel and raspberry, plum and spice flavors. Although it's a generic, textbook Chilean Cab, it's balanced in feel and good in flavor.
Aromas of pencil eraser, green herbs and briary berry fruits are oaky and pack some punch with this full, blocky wine. Flavors of blackberry are woody and slightly green, while the finish is peppery in flavor, spicy and shows some heat.
This wine still shows its youthful tannins. Juicy acidity brings up the blackberry and blueberry. A touch of bitterness will blow away, giving an attractive, fruity wine by 2016.
Medium-bodied and well-priced for the quality, this Merlot is herbal in cassis and red cherry flavors, on the elegant side of the spectrum, and relatively low in alcohol. The tannins are firm and mellowed, the finish just fine.
Perfumed in leathery cinnamon-cola and cedar with gobs of tannin, it will get you through a party or midweek meals.
Meaty and savory with balsamic notes, it will need hearty food to tone its wildness and size. At 15.4% from a great vineyard, there's heat on the finish, that again food might tame.
A pale pink color introduces this wine, as do fairly weak aromas of bubble gum and freshly squeezed lime. This is one of three rosés made by Proulx, and they are all rather subtle in expression, this one delivering a bit of lime and decent amount of tannic grip to the palate. It would be a great match for anything rich in texture but light in flavor, as it could be easily overwhelmed.
This white blend from Mallorca is melony up front and, like an island wine is prone to show, saline is all over the nose. In the mouth, this is melony but not too soft, with flavors of papaya, banana and honeydew. A smooth, creamy finish says drink this soon.
Perfumed and exotic, the wine has a touch of lychee as well as fresh acidity, both given lift by a lemon zest flavor. With a crisp aftertaste, it's a lively wine for drinking now.
The 2010 vintage in Chile was quite cool, and that's reflected in this wine. Aromas of berry fruits are lean and underdeveloped. In the mouth, this shows astringency and rubbery tannins, while flavors of red fruits are slightly sharp and a touch green. Drying tannins make for a drawing finish.
Here is a straightforward Central Valley Sauvignon Blanc with prickly aromas of citrus and jalapeño. The wine delivers flavors of passion fruit, lime and green herbs in front of a short, crisp finish.
Made at Casa Emelinda Freitas in Setúbal, this is part of the nationwide range of wines under the Azul Portugal name. The Castelão grape dominates this spicy wine with its bold tannins and juicy red fruits. With its smooth texture, it's ready to drink.
This blend of Fernão Pires and Arinto is soft, fresh and fruity. Juicy green plums, citrus and bright acidity all give a lively character. A tangy texture needs several months aging. It will be best at the end of the 2014.
A full-bodied expression of plum and cherry, it has a sanguine halo with rustic edges and a faint astringency to the finish. Made in a bigger style than other Barberas, the finish is lingering.
Still fresh, this is a crisp, herbaceous wine. It has layers of grapefruit, lime and bitter orange flavors along with a more steely texture. It's ready to drink.
A fragrant, fresh rosé that is full of red fruits and tight acidity. Crisp and bright, it makes a delicious summer refresher. Drink now.
Toasty, inviting aromas of apple and melon lead to a balanced palate with layered flavors of resiny oak, pear and peach. The finish continues with resin and oak, but by then it has already established itself as a well-balanced wine, with tasty flavors of white and tropical fruit.
Dense and meaty up front, this has cola, wild berry and herb aromas. It feels big and bursts with spicy berry and pepper flavors. It finishes dark, with coffee-like bitterness, and it's nicely balanced overall.
Jammy red-berry aromas come with a hint of lemony oak. It feels meaty, with a rich texture for a $12 wine. Flavors of roasted black fruits come with an overriding peppery note and a touch of heat, but overall the wine is sturdy, flavorful and balanced.
This is marked by bold, dense and rich fruit. It has a sweet, soft character and is deliciously fruity. Packed with blackberry-juice acidity and ripe red plum, this is ready to drink now.
This is the entry-level wine from Vallado, bright and fruity, with an attractive red-berry flavor and a solid, tannic core. As is typical with the 2010 vintage, it has some structure and should be aged for another year.
A unique wine with a proprietary Elqui imprint, this smells balsamic-y and tomatoey, with a rooty, earthy undercurrent. It feels grabby and full bodied, with tomato, boysenberry and green tobacco flavors. It holds onto that ashy tobacco character on the full-force finish.
Quite dry and reaching just 12% alcohol, this smells of rose petal and lychee fruit. It's delicate and floral, showing dashes of lemon rind and mineral on the finish.
This pleasing effort is light but interesting. It first introduces flavors of strawberry and rhubarb, with a dash of pepper. A whiff of root vegetables does not interfere with the overall enjoyment, and a lick of chocolate lifts the finish.
This marks a real departure for Michael David, a producer that tends to make its wines big and bold. This soft, hardly oaked, lightly tannic Cinsault is from a very special old vineyard. With a smooth texture and a core of red cherry and cranberry flavors, it is light-bodied and very floral.
Aeration is key to deciphering the layers of barnyard, leather, earth and tannin that dominate the attack of this brawny, bold wine. With time, a multitude of delicate red-fruit, flower and hay notes unfold, contributing a feminine flair that's elegantly appealing.
Didn't much like the 2005 basic Tempranillo from Vall Sanzo and this twice-as-expensive Ribera Del Duero isn't much better. It starts out heavily gaseous, with aromas of wet clay and roasted fruit. The flavors are herbal and on the fringe of being sour, and there isn't much deftness to the wine.
Mulchy aromas of tomato and tobacco lead toward a raisiny, sweet palate that exhibits more than a touch of burnt character. Later it evolves into a sweet, medicinal wine with no shortage of mealy flavors. As a 50th anniversary wine it's trying to be too much.
Starts out severely jumbled and hot, and while it always remains clumsy and over-the-top, it settles into a tolerable medicinal, syrupy sort of mode. Flavorwise, we're talking heavy blackberry and some cloying sweetness. Just a big, burly youngster without much future.
A wide-open, jumbled rosé without much focus or charm. There's peppery heat on the nose and then a lemony, citrusy palate that's at first soda-like and later kind of flat. Has acceptable intentions, but seems to be fading.
A raw-edged wine, with dusty tannins and blackberry fruits and sawdust wood flavors that don't quite gel, and some green asparagus flavors to finish.
This rating is a follow-up to one we did about a year ago, and it doesn't seem as though this wine is making any progress. It's still clumsy as an ox, with stark pineapple flavors and overt acidity. Citrus juice is the best way to describe it; it bears little to no resemblance to Chardonnay as we know it.
What's up with this once proud value leader? Wines of character and balance used to be the norm (circa 2001-2002) but now Rívola has devolved into an herbal, green wine with difficult aromas and vegetal flavors. The mix is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Tempranillo.
This is just this side of unctuous, a decadently ripe and rich late harvest Riesling. The residual sugar is at 23%, the alcohol a moderate 8%, and the balance impeccable, with a buoyant underpinning to the intense sweetness. It avoids sugary granularity as well, offering seamless, concentrated fruit that piles on flavors of peach, apricot, banana, mango, papaya and melon in wild profusion, trailing into sweet tea and honey. Apart from the winery's Single Berry Select Trockenbeerenauslese project with Ernie Loosen, this is the best dessert wine made in Washington.
Tight, taut and mineral, tense and concentrated. There is intense acidity and a touch of spice, but this is all about structure and suppressed fruit. Keep this wine at least until 2010.
The extreme eastern vineyard of the Wachau is a stony valley, giving an extreme wine, all mineral and cool, poised fruit even in a warm year like 2006. Yes, there are pears and currant fruit flavors, but the wine goes more towards the lime and salt, to fit with its austere structure. Age for at least 10 years.
Warm whiffs of cinnamon and brioche accent aromas of black cherry and plum on this plush, fruit-forward Saperavi. Plummy and soft with black-fruit flavor, it's a straightforward, yet tasty wine. Finishes with a fringe of fine, delicate tannins.
This opens with pretty aromas of blue flower and rose petals. The palate delivers flavors of raw red cherry, but dried-berry characteristics seem to be developing on the back, so drink this soon to enjoy optiumum fruity freshness.
This perennial Best Buy is one of the richer, more expressive styles of Pinot Grigio. It combines a ripe pear aroma and tangy apple flavors in a smooth texture that stays crisp enough to linger on the finish.
Fresh and tangy, with little or no oak influence, this refreshing, crisp white wine will be very versatile with or without food. It has citrus aromas, green apple flavors and a nicely tart finish.
Sugary sweet, this robust Rosso delivers sensations of ripe—just short of overripe—black plum, cherry extract, vanilla-sweetened oak and espresso. It's forward and ready to drink now.
This forward, fruity Cabernet Sauvignon is plummy and ripe with notes of black cherry preserves and cassis liqueur. It's plush on the palate, with soft, sunny acidity, but moderate alcohol keeps it fresh and quaffable.
Ripe white grapefruit and lychee notes perfume this refreshing, easy-drinking Grüner Veltliner. On the palate, gooseberry and lime flavors are delicate in concentration but it finishes with an invigorating brace of crushed minerals.
This dense wine doles out sensations of sweet oak, espresso, chocolate, plum cake and vanilla alongside notes of mature black berries. It's shy on freshness and has an almost sugary finish. Drink now.
Herbal, spicy berry aromas are varietally correct. This has a chunky mouthfeel and also some flatness to the palate. Flavors of herbal berry, spice and lactic oak finish a bit green, with herbal, olive notes.
Bright apple and lemon aromas are touched with hints of savory nuts on this brisk Riesling. It's dry in style, with a mouth-quenching freshness.
This dry, light-footed Riesling offers savory notes of bruised apple and walnut skin. It's refreshingly breezy on the palate with streaks of lemon acidity, and finishes crisp and clean.
Pretty fragrances recall blue flower, forest floor, spice and bright berry perfume. The palate isn't quite as expressive as the nose, delivering licorice, red cherry and a hint of white pepper. It's shy on freshness so drink now.
Aromas of apricot and nectarine carry over to the palate along with lemon drop, yellow peach and pineapple. It's round and ripe with a slightly sweet midpalate, but fresh acidity gives a clean, fresh finish.
There's a world of lemon chiffon and vanilla crème brûlée in this wine, both aromatically and in taste. Medium weight and well-balanced, it delivers a hit of tart lemon on the finish.
Burned tire rubber, oak, espresso and roasted coffee bean lead the nose on this extracted wine. The dense, monolithic palate offers sweet vanilla, toasted oak, chocolate, stewed prunes marinated in spirits, and overripe, sugary plum. It's already evolved and lacks energy.
This pretty, aromatic Riesling is lush with cherry-blossom and berry scents that mingle lusciously into layers of wax and lanolin. By contrast, the palate is crisp and bracing with tones of lemon and lime acidity.
This blend of Merlot, Tannat and Syrah is soft, fruity and very tasty. It has a juicy character, its red berries lightly enveloped by some dry tannins. Acidity cuts through the wine, giving a lifted character that is ready to drink now.
This is only 7% Malbec, so think of it as a Merlot when considering what to drink it with. Modest cherry fruit is framed by hints of toasted almond and dried herbs, and the wine finishes tart and crisp. It would probably be a great match with herb- or olive-seasoned lamb.
A lot of this Cabernet-Merlot-Syrah-Cab Franc blend is produced, and for the money it gives you plenty of enjoyment. Soft raspberry fruit seems loaded with oak-derived flavors. Toast, vanilla, bare wood, even a streak of cola come through. The wine drinks far more mature than the recent vintage, so drink up.
This wine has a firm tannic structure and fresh acidity but the fruit is drying up fast. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol.
Citrus and green herb with a prickle control the nose. Mixed citrus, passion fruit and arugula are the main flavors, and they are backed by matchstick bitterness, citric acid and sulfur on the finish.
A well-built red, this features a tasty core of plum and raspberry flavors surrounded by appealing, slightly sweet oak accents that come out as vanilla and cinnamon. Perhaps it's not tight or tannic enough for everyone, but it should be a crowd pleaser.
This simple wine has aromas that recall red berries, espresso and toast. The palate is on the lean side, displaying notes of clove, cinnamon and coffee bean. Pair it with hearty first courses, like pasta topped with ragù.
Smoky, rubbery aromas of berry and cassis are lightly herbal. This has a firm mouhtfeel with piercing acidity. Salty, briny plum and berry flavors lead to a finish that holds onto the saline notes and feels crisp.
Made with organically grown grapes, this ripe, simple wine delivers crushed black plum, prune and dark cherry flavors layered with notes of black pepper, nutmeg and licorice. It's already evolved so drink now to enjoy the juicy 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.
Pale pink in color, this predominantly Grenache (89%) blend has appealing notes of red currant, fresh herbs and watermelon Jolly Rancher. It drinks off dry (9.9g/L residual sugar), with abundant red fruit flavors.
Opens with alluring, classic aromas of spice, cinnamon, leather, vanilla and tomato along with raspberry. The palate is firm, healthy and dry, with tea, baked berry, dill and cinnamon flavors. Aged six months in American oak, this is a textbook Rioja crianza that's smooth, herbal and on the money.
Flirtatious on the nose with whiffs of tropical fruit, honey and a touch of lanolin, this bright golden icewine seems to vacillate between the playful and the elegant. It's rich on the tongue with honey-coated mango and papaya flavors, but retreats beautifully with a bracing lemon-lime acidity and black tea flavors that carry through a long, clean finish.
Tumbarumba is an up-and-coming cool-climate viticulture region, and this Chardonnay is a fine example of why the area is considered to have promise. The wine is medium in body and nicely plump in the mouth, and displays a harmonious blend of apple, pear, citrus and butter flavors and an elegant, lingering finish. Drink now and over the next 1–2 years.
A great first effort from the new Jaxon Keys winery's estate Sauvignon Blanc vineyard, with green apple, pear, ripe melon and honey prominent throughout the wine's rich, creamy texture, with just a touch of key lime. A great example of inland Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc.
This is pure varietal, about one fifth new oak. From young vines, it's sharp-toned, dark and juicy. Cassis, dark chocolate and coffee showcase a wine with a strong grip, tight and tannic. This needs time, but the fruit is crisply defined and immaculate; the varietal character peeks through in a hint of tanned leather.
Restraint is one of the buzzwords in Australian wine, which might be one reason that for all of this winery's cult status in Australia, it remains relatively unknown in America. This medium-bodied wine's black cherry fruit is definitely restrained, flecked with delicate herbal notes and rounded out by supple tannins. It's well made and well balanced, but lacks sizzle.
A little prickly and sharp on the nose, with cherry, raspberry and piney aromas. The palate is racy, healthy and solid, with wild herb notes giving character to more basic but ripe blackberry and oak-based coffee flavors. Finishes long and whole, with a final dusting of dried herbs.
With a crisp nose of brisk green apple accented by lime rind and yellow florals, this is a beautiful Limoux Chard with great expression. Mineral notes drive the palate, with ripe apple and lime juice flavors lingering through the softly spiced finish.
In 5–10 years, this rating may look conservative, but right now, this wine's tannins are just too rustic and tough to be certain of its future evolution. It's a massive wine overall, with brambly, briary fruit, tinged with clove, cedar and chocolate, and those drying, astringent tannins on the finish.
Full bodied and supple, this nicely balanced Barossa Shiraz shows that value still exists even in big-name regions of Australia. Intense blueberry and spice aromas give way to mixed berries and vanilla on the palate, and if it's not overly complex, it's a still a concentrated mouthful of Shiraz at a bargain price.
This wine's aromas and flavors amount to an inconsistent mix of superripe (chocolate and prune) notes with those that are less so (herbal, tart raspberry) at first, but it does seem to settle down with some time in the glass, becoming more integrated but staying rather crisp on the finish. Drink 2013–2020.
Just two barrels of 100% Syrah were made, using fruit from this dry-farmed vineyard with a distinctive flavor stamp. Tart, acidic, a bit spiky, with fruit flavors of sweet cherry tomato and grape candy. It hits a wall in the midpalate, seems to hover there for awhile, perhaps awaiting another couple of years of bottle age to flow freely through the finish.
Bill Easton's “large” production GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre) blend out of the Sierra Foothills exhibits intense mushroom and licorice notes and makes for a great first entry into Easton's headier wines. An affordable Rhône-red pairing with earthy dishes.
Round and soft, very much in the style of warm-hearted Brouilly. The wine has a layer of tannins, while it's the delicious red berry fruits that dominate. Ripe, full and ready to drink.
With fruit from coastal Leyda in the blend, this Curicó wine surprises with crisp, focused understatement. The mouth is fresh but basic, with juicy, perky apple and citrus flavors followed by a crisp, slightly pithy finish. Overachieves in the context of  Echeverria's past Sauvignon Blancs.
Dark to the eye, with bacon, ham, spice and savory fruit aromas. The palate is extracted and grating in feel, with dark berry, herb, pepper, smoke and barrel resin flavors. Spicy on the finish, with a blast of clove and cardamom. Very good but not as filled out as in prior years.
Piercing aromas of very ripe fruit, verging on scents of raisins and prunes, mix in with dark streaks of cedar, coffee, and baking chocolate. Nothing shy here! This is full-bodied, forceful, big, bold and still balanced, though not a wine to pair with anything but the most robust foods.
Sourced from excellent Yakima Valley sites, fermented in stainless steel, and ripened perfectly to 13.5% alcohol, this juicy, fresh, fruit-laden wine captures the ideal mix of snappy citrus and luscious stone fruits. Delicious.
Peppery and tight, a wine with a distinctly dry character. Its black currant flavors are enveloped by the texture of the wine, although there is an excellent pink juicy character. Age for a year. Glass stopper.
A great success, this perfumed and dry wine gives a forward burst of lime juice and green apple. The wine is delicious. Glass stopper.
An interesting blend, with 10% Petit Verdot. The PV puts a rich and evocative bouquet front and forward—a lush and seductive mix of incense, cinnamon, Asian spice and coffee cream. You are saying yum before you take a sip. The fruit tastes young and clean, raspberries and strawberries and Rainier cherries, with enough acid to keep it lively and fresh. Drinking well now, but give it another three or four years and it should fill out perfectly.
Beautifully perfumed in a relatively light style, this Santenay is full of red fruits, sweet tannins and mouthwatering acidity. It has some richness, although the main character is of freshness.
There's a hint of violet perfume that permeates this dry yet honeyed wine. The palate is fruity, with abundant ripe cherry and grapefruit flavors, and layers of crushed chalk and stone lend a minerally complexity that builds on the midpalate.
Made from Cold Creek and Wahluke Slope fruit, this pure Syrah is compact and dense, and it reveals blueberry and boysenberry flavors that are set in a frame of coffee-flavored tannins. The acids are suggestive of lemon verbena, and the 15.5% alcohol shows a little heat in the the throat.
Part of a Limited Release series, this wine includes 17% Syrah, but the varietal character of the Mourvèdre shines through. Light touches of chocolate, clean earth and mineral underscore flavors of plum and cherry. There is also a streak of vanilla, perhaps from aging in French and American oak.
Equally well known for its Ports, Churchill's makes this red wine from fruit that's sourced from its own vineyards. It has firm tannins and dark plum fruit, which is just waiting to break out beyond the concentrated, dry core. Give it 3–4 years.
Named after David Moreau's mother, Simone, this old-vine wine is concentrated, with sweet-tasting fruit and spicy tannins. The tight acidity gives a delicious lift to the red berry flavors.
Quite tawny in color, this traditional Georgian qvevri wine has a high-toned apple aroma that's peppered with carmelized sugar and dried tea leaf hints. Dry and crisp, with penetrating dried-apple and orange rind flavors, it finishes long, with its powerful black-tea tannins reverberating on the palate.
Dashwood's 2010 Pinot Noir offers complex aromas and flavors of roses, ripe cherries, cinnamon and nutmeg. It's rather full bodied and a bit dusty on the finish without being excessively drying. Drink it over the next few years.
A typical local blend of Arinto, Fernão Pires and Chardonnay, this is smooth, ripe and creamy. It has touches of herb, honey and pineapple, which are laced together by citrusy acidity. The finish is soft.
This is made from fruit sourced from the Milbrandt, Olsen and Kiona vineyards, which are located in three different AVAs. The wine is packed with black fruit, with light accents of smoke, toast, espresso and dark chocolate that add interest to the finish. Merlot and Petit Verdot are also in the mix.
This is an elegant wine, with balanced fruit and tannins that make for a soft texture. It is rich and laced with fresh, raspberry-like acidity. It can age for another year, but it is also ready to drink.
A ripe, apple-flavored wine, this has a round feel that is pierced by crisp, citrusy acidity. Made from grapes that were sourced from the hills above Puligny-Montrachet, this is a generous selection, with yellow fruit flavors that are balanced by the refreshing, crisp finish.
A delicious shot of citrusy acidity makes this a wine of great freshness. At the same time, the wood-derived flavors add some richness and a spice note. Let this intense effort age for another couple of years.
While this is dry in style, it exhibits all of the varietal's ebullient rose and lychee tones. It has vibrant acidity and an intense, honeyed palate that's full of rich citrus and tea leaf notes. This is full bodied, with a lingering finish.
The herbal aromas are forward on the nose of this Cabernet-based wine, which includes 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Mourvèdre and 3% Merlot. Gamy, rich red plum and cherry notes unfold shortly after, while the hefty palate offers earthy flavors of cassis and tobacco leaf. Sweet smoke and toast accents linger on the long finish. The wine is young and powerful now; try after 2015.
Despite starting off with some stalky-woody aromas and a healthy dash of hickory smoke, this wine turns fruity and approachable on the palate. Strawberry and cherry notes are accented by twig and herb touches, while the texture is supple and the finish is long. Drink now–2017.
This wine has a fine definition of minerality that's combined with tense structure. There is a hint of wood, a flavor of fresh-peeled apple and a taut, steely edge. Layers of acids mark the finish.
Fruity and fragrant, this Savigny shows extra weight that makes it serious and age worthy. The wine's tannins are cushioned by the generous red fruits, which promise aging potential. Wood and spice flavors emphasize the finish.
A touch of exotic spice gives a musky appeal to the ripe lychee and rose petal notes. Lush, languid and semisweet, the palate has a dense, concentrated pink-grapefruit flavor and soft, lemony acidity that lingers on the palate.
A very structured wine that seems ready for aging. Its tannins are still firmly present, lying over the dark black fruit. Acidity gives the wine a rich, juicy finish.
Complex aromas open into detailed black fruits, with broad streaks of coffee and accents of iron. The fruit fades into some fairly thick tannins, suggesting that a juicy steak would be the right companion for this sturdy wine.
Dry, spicy and floral smelling, with modest herbal accents. The palate is saturated and fairly rich, with good texture and broad, satisfying flavors of berry and plum. Sturdy, consistent and fresh, with easy drinkability.
Primarily Syrah, this was barrel aged in 40% new French and American oak––surprising at this price. Complex and layered, with dark berries, licorice, coffee liqueur and roasted meat. Though lighter than many Washington Syrahs, at less than half the price it captures the essence of the grape, with a citrusy finish.
With inviting Dr. Pepper-like aromas, this Terra d'Oro Deaver Vineyard wine is structured like a building, with lots of savory layers over sweet. It's big alcohol-content wise at 15.5% but is a good example of Deaver's intriguing blend of power and finesse.
Opens with hard, tight, rubbery aromas of black cherry and blackberry. The palate is deep and tannic, with a vise-like grip and dark, herbal flavors of cassis, plum and berry. The finish, not surprisingly, maintains the wine's dark, rubbery, pushy character.
The rose petal aromas on this heady, ruby-hued dessert Muškat Ruža, or Muscat Rosé wine, are so pronounced, it's almost overwhelming, but  provide a rare and intriguing experience nonetheless. Semisweet in style, the wine is rich and full bodied, dripping with rose petal jam, black cherry pie filling and a musky, dusty rose perfume that trails from start to finish.
Soft fruit, with a tannic hint underneath. The wine is supported at this stage by wood, while the fruit has strawberry jam sweetness. The acidity and structure really only come through at the end.
This excellent rosé is one of a handful given extra bottle age before release, and it rewards that time with unusual flavors––rhubarb and strawberry, hints of banana and a touch of creamsicle in the fade. Not typical in any way, but tasty and full-bodied.
This modern white starts with aromas of peach, lemon zest and tropical fruit, with a rich and rounded fruit palate. Crisp acidity finishes the wine cleanly. A versatile wine with wide appeal.
This is Brian Carter's SuperTuscan blend––Sangiovese-dominated with 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Syrah. Stiff and unyielding when first opened, it rewards decanting with a broader expression of black, tarry fruits, black olives, coffee beans and dark chocolate.
Zippy flavors of melon and new-mowed grass, nicely integrated and loaded with the sort of spicy herbs that might have come fresh from the garden. Note the relatively low alcohol, making this a perfect summer sipping wine.
This Rhône red puts lots of toasty goodness around light fruit from a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise grapes. Soft and generous, it starts with watermelon and ends with black cherries, all coated with mocha and cinnamon. What's not to like?
Lime, fresh-cut grass, tangerine and other clean, pure aromas are the greeting. The palate is whimsical and offers good acidic cut; flavors of lime, green apple and chili peppers are correct and turn mildly pithy on the finish.
The nose on this layered Merlot offers dark cherry, cocoa and spice aromas. Cedar, cigarbox, cherry and chocolate on the palate are balanced with a clean, chalky mouthfeel. The wine can age but has appeal now, and a serious focus.
Reminiscent of a good Crozes-Hermitage, Paritua's '07 Syrah displays bold aromas of smoke, espresso, cracked pepper and blackberries. The fruit comes through bouncy and buoyant on the palate and juicy on the finish, making it easy to drink now and over the next few years.
There's great purity of fruit here in the wine's sweet flavors of candied pineapple and fresh apricot balanced by mouthwatering acidity. It's intense, concentrated stuff, finishing long and sticky.
This Meritage blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cab Franc, 4% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, and barrel aged for a couple of years. Dark, sappy, loaded with ripe cassis and black cherry fruit, perfect, silky tannins, juicy acids, this Bordeaux blend is beautifully integrated and will age for many more years.
Labels like this one are probably what confuse American consumers, but the truth is that this is just great wine. Peach and mineral notes with a generous squirt of lime mark the nose, followed by a round, juicy midpalate and with lots of fruit and lots of minerality. It's lush, yet structured with firm acids on the long finish.
Huge, bitter chocolate-flavored wine, spiced with cinnamon, sweet herbs and intense new wood flavors. It benefits from very ripe fruit, but with all its great richness, the wine manages to keep a sense of balance, the acidity cutting through the opulence to leave a fresh finish.
Focused and fragrant, this beautiful expression of the vintage opens with scents of violet, rose, perfumed berry and a hint of cake spice. The silky, linear palate doles out juicy red cherry, chopped aromatic herb, cinnamon and star anise alongside polished tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and approachable, it will provide sheer drinking pleasure over the next several years or more. Drink 2017–2024.
Earthy aromas of underbrush, truffle, wild berry, blue flower and a whiff of new leather emerge on this stunning wine. The succulent, full-bodied palate shows ripe raspberry, black cherry, licorice, clove and grilled herb alongside firm but velvety tannins. Drink 2018–2024.
Ripe berry, cake spice, grilled herb, eucalyptus, fragrant blue flower and a hint of baking spice are just some of the scents you'll find on this gorgeous wine. The intense palate has great energy, offering black cherry, chopped mint, cinnamon and clove alongside youthfully firm tannins and fresh acidity. It boasts balance and aging potential. Drink 2020–2032.
This is the kind of wine that might leave you speechless, it's so good, so complex and so well made. The tenth vintage from this marquee vineyard site, it shows dark-golden color and pungent toasted-oak aromas, with a touch of petrol. Smooth and nearly full bodied, it celebrates all notions of pear, apple and almond atop lifted acidity and a lengthy finish.
Warm, earthy, ultraripe aromas of blackberry, raisin and cassis announce a bold, forward, fiercely tannic palate. Flavors of lactic oak, baked blackberry, cassis and licorice finish long, toasty, dark and chocolaty. This is brash, powerful and modern. Lusty and built to age; drink from 2018–2032.
From one of the preeminent Chardonnay producers in the country comes their least expensive yet perhaps most stunning bottling, showing strong lemon rind, sea salt, Gravenstein apple and a floral touch of honeysuckle on the nose. The wondrously zippy and saline palate is framed by a grippy, grapefruit-rind-led tension, but opens just enough to allow the slightest hints of lemon curd and delicate marzipan warmth.
This own-rooted block is usually blended into Peter Hunken's larger bottling, but this extra-special vintage thankfully got its own stage. Dense boysenberry, black peppercorns, asphalt, charred lamb, dried violets, lilacs and lavender show on the tarry yet floral nose. The palate is zesty with acidity but deep with flavor, offering thyme, soy, rosemary and more peppercorns. It's ideal for a lamb or game dish.
This wine is heady in apple blossom and jasmine, deeply honeyed in color with an accompanying taste of honey and apple. Big on the nose, it impresses in surprising ways by being quite lean and well integrated on the palate, with a lingering heft of juicy ripeness on the finish.
This wine is a blend of fruit from the Ciel du Cheval and Force Majeure vineyards. Aromas of black cherry, herb, graphite, barrel spice and violets are followed by dense yet focused and lively black-fruit flavors, as well as tightly wound tannins. Best from 2022-2028.
Sourced from the estate's best blocks, this opens in a seductive whiff of bay leaf and sour, muddled cherry and strawberry, with lacings of orange for refreshing tang. Full bodied and concentrated, with sizable tannin providing structure and complexity, the density is balanced by ample acidity.
Cool, alluring aromas of ripe blackberry and fine oak are complete and highly attractive. A deep palate offers excellent balance, while flavors of cassis, blackberry, oak and delicate spices finish with power, elegance, length and an overriding sense of high quality. Drink through 2028.
Fragrant blue flower, woodland berry, underbrush, scorched earth and grilled herb are just some of the aromas that float out of the glass. The dense, succulent palate doles out ripe raspberry, black cherry, chopped mint, clove and cinnamon framed in velvety tannins that lend structure and finesse.
Intense and well structured, this offers scents of wild berry, blue flower, chopped herb and a balsamic note. The firm palate boasts juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, pipe tobacco, licorice and clove alongside a backbone of polished tannins. A mineral note lifts the finish. Drink 2020–2027.
New leather, blue flower, raspberry and Mediterranean herb aromas emerge on this full-bodied, concentrated wine. The structured palate doles out creamy raspberry, juicy black cherry marinated in spirits, cinnamon and pipe tobacco alongside velvety tannins. A licorice note wraps up the warm, lingering finish. It's delicious and already surprisingly accessible.
A dark color and big, brooding flavors make this wine bolder than most Pinots. The aromas are full of toasty, spicy oak, with more meaty, rich and almost earthy flavors that are very concentrated. With more sips, more complex accents of tea and forest floor add complexity.
This offers intriguing aromas of chopped mint, menthol, leather, soil and spiced berry. The mint note carries over to the chewy palate, along with soothing licorice, clove and tobacco, all of which add depth to the core of juicy black cherry. Velvety tannins lend structure and polish. It's already accessible and will make wonderful imbibing over the next several years. Drink through 2025.
Tropical stone fruit and wild honey rise from the nose of this exquisite white wine, from a spot smack in the middle of the appellation. High-toned citrus lifts the acidity to refreshing, supporting levels, a mix of Meyer lemon and limestone-like stoniness. A lean, lithe underbelly underlies a heart of apple pie and baked pineapple.
Fragrant and elegantly structured, this radiant red offers scents fragrant blue flower, aromatic herb and wild berry. The structured palate offers ripe red cherry, orange peel, cake spice and star anise alongside a backbone of assertive but polished tannins. Drink 2022–2032.
A rich and slightly feral quality characterizes this bottling by Steve Dooley, with aromas of elderberry, slate, fennel, dried purple flowers and raw lamb and beef. The palate is dynamic and evolving, with lavender, rose hip, tar and black pepper. It's powerful and strongly flavored, yet not overly rich.
Made from the estate's highest vineyards, ranging between 800 and 1,000 meters high, this boasts balsamic aromas of wild Mediterranean herb, leather, menthol and dark spice. The palate is youthfully austere, offering dried cherry, licorice, espresso, clove and tobacco. Assertive, fine-grained tannins and firm acidity provide backbone and an age-worthy structure. Drink 2019–2029.
Brooding and powerful, this ripe and regionally representative blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre shows caramelized blueberry, chocolate sauce, crème brûlée and coffee bean on the nose. It hits the palate with density that masks the fruit at first, and then unleashes waves of fudge, elderberry, blackberry, licorice and jet-black coffee laced with black cassis.
Feral on the nose and palate, awash in cherry but also a savage garden of wild rose, this wine is precociously young. It expands slowly in the glass finally to unleash a ferocity of cranberry and raspberry. Drink 2018 through 2024.
Cherry and orange please the palate immediately, with a subversive note of peat and forest—it's a good commingling of fruit and exotic savory elements that remain memorable through the lengthy complexity of medium-bodied, velvety texture and weight. This wine is so good now it'd be hard to set it down, but it will reward cellaring, through 2024.
From the proprietor's sought-after vineyard site, on the southern side of Sonoma Mountain near Gap's Crown, up to 1,400-feet high, this wine is concentrated in cherry kirsch and orange peel, with a sultry hint of pine. Underlying flirtations with white pepper and cardamom provide further temptation, as the lengthy finish rambles on.
Aromas of underbrush, tobacco, sunbaked earth and mature black-skinned fruit lead the nose on this fantastic, firmly structured red. On the concentrated palate, notes of licorice, graphite and clove add depth to the core of mature black cherry. Drink 2019–2024.
This young, massive Rioja smells of raspberry, plum, char and tar. The mouthfeel is chunky, rich and deep, with manageable tannins. Blackberry, mocha, char, clove and chocolate flavors announce generous oak, while the finish is spicy, peppery, toasty and ripe. Drink 2018–2034.
This Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, a celebration of cherry, vanilla and clove that's seasoned in black pepper and smoke, is impressively crafted. Firm yet integrated tannins ensure a seamless texture and smoothness that's instantly compelling, while the finish continues to add to the intrigue with further layers of savory meat.
An earthy dimension still clings to the zesty notes on the nose but on the palate a whole load of citrus flavors are expressed without strain: For now, lemon and the tangy zest of tangerine carry everything on this slender but concentrated wine to a glorious, totally refreshing finish. This is the glory of youth but with such purity and bundled energy this has a long, promising and decidedly delicious future. Drink 2016–2036.
From the oldest commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County comes this heady bottling, showing aromas of deep black raspberry, vanilla bean, beef carpaccio, black pepper and sesame oil. Black and white pepper and bay leaf spice up the acid- and mineral-laced palate, where dark but sharply focused fruits of elderberry and boysenberry gain a savory touch from smoked pork.
Aromas of wild raspberry, smoked meat and oregano lay the groundwork for flavors of raspberry, black cherry, thyme, rosemary and smoked meat. There is an interesting yet sophisticated array of fruit and herbal flavors, and the burst of orange zest on the finish complements the soft but ever-present tannins.
This 100% Dijon-clone bottling offers a bold mix of peach, banana and pineapple. It's fruit-driven from top to bottom, with supporting acids to keep it fresh and invigorating.
While honey and white peach flavors ring pure and sweet, there's a slatey, mineral tone that penetrates deeply in this off-dry Kabinett. It's nervy and brisk, finishing long with zesty lime pith bitterness.
A minuscule amount of this wine is made, coming from 45-year-old vines. Ripe, dense and dusty red and black berries combine against soft, approachable layers of integrated tannin and oak, finishing with leather and cigar.
From grapes grown in the Douro Superior region, this is an open delicious fruity and ripe wine that is ready to drink. Its black currant and red berry tastes are balanced by spice, wood aged flavors and a core of tannins. The aftertaste introduces fresh juicy acidity.
Succulent in red cherry and cassis, this wine has a surprising level of depth and grip. It finds its way with integrated tannins, soft layers of caramelized oak and a brightness of fruit and acidity.
From a fourth-generation farming family, this wine is sourced from the Niebaum-Tonella and Morisoli-Borges vineyards along the Rutherford Bench. It opens with a bouquet of sweetly ripened mango, peach and pear, which continue on the palate. Fierce acidity and a drop of anise form the backdrop of the wine, which finishes somewhat tropical.
Mouthcoating, this is a full-bodied wine with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Tar, leather, cedar and black cherry stand out as characteristics, with added weight from the heavier, darker elements of chocolate and oak. Drink now through 2022.
Wild berries, from elderberry to salmonberry to mountain strawberries, are in play in this wine. The underpinning scents suggest earth and wet cement, while in the finish a strong flavor of breakfast tea lingers. This is an interesting addition to the Sineann lineup.
This bright and spicy wine refreshes with palate-cleansing minerality. The crisp, fresh-cut pear and apple fruit carries hints of orange liqueur. Drink this while it's in the bloom of youth.
A bright fruity nose of tart cherry and cranberry yields to surprisingly sophisticated flavors of ripe black cherry, blackberry, coffee and white chocolate. Mouth-coating tannins are at play on the palate, culminating in a finish marked by a lingering sense of zestiness.
Showing the heat of the vintage, this offers earthy sensations of leather, scorched soil, truffle, stewed prune and ripe cherry. Bracing tannins provide the backdrop.
Red rose, bright berry and anisette aromas lead the way. The taut palate offers sour cherry, tobacco, clove and chopped herb alongside bracing tannins and brisk acidity.
Perfumed berry, iris and baking spice aromas float out of the glass. The firm palate offers mature wild cherry, ripe raspberry, licorice, menthol and chopped herb while assertive but refined tannins provide support.
Full bodied, this estate-made, 100% varietal wine is sinewy and dense, a combination of ripe, luscious blackberry and blueberry, akin to a compote, seasoned in lavender and black licorice. Weighty, it'll pair well with wintertime meals, finishing with a suggestion of vanilla bean.
This brawny, forward wine opens with aromas that recall spirits, steeped plum, roasted coffee bean and menthol. The dense, chewy palate offers black cherry liqueur, licorice, espresso and the warmth of evident alcohol accompanied by brooding tannins. Drink sooner rather than later.
Aromas of rose, red berry, espresso, grilled herb and toast lead the nose. The taut palate offers crunchy red cherry, raspberry, star anise and white pepper alongside tightly wound, assertive tannins. It closes on a note of roasted coffee bean.
This wine is very structured and firm. With some barrel aging, the tannins have been smoothed out although the wine remains with a dry core and fresh acidity. Black-currant flavors dominate, giving a wine that is bright and fruity at the end.
This is a beautifully balanced, medium-bodied wine that's not too deep in color. It smells like ripe blackberries and has a whiff of wood smoke in the bright berry flavors. In the blend, Zinfandel is supplemented with Syrah, Petite Sirah and Carignane.
Firm and focused, this lightly spiced effort supports its tart cherry fruit with ample acidity. Hints of toasted coconut build in the finish. A few more years of bottle age should bring further integration.
Another of the producer's inaugural releases, this hails from the heart of Carneros where vineyards once belonging to Buena Vista had stood. Characteristic of the appellation, the wine is earthy and herbal, with light, crisp waves of grenadine and strawberry, staying light and textured on the palate.
This red wine is ripe and structured. It is has a finely textured mineral character that's typical of the Dão region. Rich berry and spicy fruits are dominant with attractive acidity. Behind this fruit, the tannins give a fine shape to a wine that is ready to drink now.
Cabernet Sauvignon is blessed with 9% Merlot, coming together in a seamlessly rich wine intense in dark chocolate, coconut and vanilla. Soft, the tannins are integrated and the juiciness of the fruit concentrated, finishing with more of that rich taste of chocolate.
Black as night in the glass, this wine shows black cherries, lava rocks and espresso beans on the dense nose. It's thick and chewy once sipped, with zesty acidity that sizzles across the palate, showing blackberry and coffee flavors. It's all power, with very little finesse. Sales of the wine benefit multiple sclerosis research.
From vines on the cooler left bank of the Serein river, this wine offers notes of toast, spice and ripe yellow fruits cut by tense, zingy lemon zest. It is textured, tense and full of minerality. Drink from 2017.
A hint of bramble wafts amidst crisp Asian pear and green apple notes on this invigorating spry Spätlese. Searing lemon-lime acidity is softened by a plump kiss of honeyed apricot on the midpalate. It's elegant, yet accessible, and drinks well now.
While soft and approachable, this wine also offers a density of black currant and cherry that gives significant power and juicy exuberance. Sizable tannins risk overtaking the fruit, but never do, with the oak imparting a jolt of smokiness on the finish.
Targeted aromas of citrus, apple, grass and minerals precede a lemony laser-sharp palate that sweats the insides of one's cheeks with battery level acidity. Chiseled flavors of lemon and green apple finish long, pure and persistent.
Rich blackberry and chocolate form around chalky tannins and a juicy palate, with a waft of cigar in the distance. Medium bodied, round and soft, the finish is brushed in cherry and pomegranate.
Bold and chunky Ribera wine with black fruit aromas that don't tread lightly. The palate is lush and features a nice overall feel, while the flavors of berry fruit and chocolate hint at raisin but don't fully cross the threshhold. Heavier and darker than prior years. Drink now.
Fresh, inviting raspberry, strawberry and tempered vanilla aromas set up a snappy, equally fresh palate of cherry and raspberry. There's no excess heft, beef, extract or color to this wine; it's restrained but not miserly. And it finishes crisp and flashy. Well made and likely good with food.
This well priced wine offers typical Shiraz aromas and flavors, ranging from cherries to black olives and weaving in some smoky and tarry accents. It's medium-bodied, with a plump feel but also a firmly tannic backbone that would serve it well alongside steak, chops or burgers.
Dark berries or plums, cedar and spice notes sum up the aromas and flavors you can expect from this Heathcote Shiraz. It's medium to full in body, and while it's not overly lush, neither is it overly lean—making it a balanced drink with moderate complexity. The firm finish suggests cellaring another year or two, or pairing it with grilled or roasted meats.
There's an exotic twist to the nose, which rests on black cherry, plum and a splash of black coffee. The palate is sound and structured, with dark fruit flavors accented by spice and tea notes. Comfortable on the finish, with good tannins and acids holding it all together. Drink now.
A smooth, velvet textured wine. It has some weight, but the balance is what is most attractive about this wine. It has spice, crisp black currant fruits and intense freshness that tips over into final acidity.
Given more time in bottle, this wine is blended with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. A smokiness permeates the bouquet initially, before a more floral, violet perfume weighs in. Tannic and concentrated, the wine is also subtle in herb and tobacco, with a layering of cassis and raspberry.
Up front, this smells smoky and woody, although in due time earthy berry aromas emerge. This feels ripe and full in body; flavors of black cherry, cassis, fig and chocolate end with heady, toasty heat and a rich sense of extraction. Drink through 2018.
There's brilliant black cherry and blackberry richness on the nose of this blend of 10 grapes, from Syrah to Malbec to Touriga Nacional, as well as a mineral character of cold asphalt, clay and mud. The palate offers earthy and delicious flavors, with dried strawberry and olallieberry as well as black pepper and cappuccino.
High-toned baking spice, flower and herb aromas are backed by broad yet well-balanced dark-fruit flavors. The tannins are present but are polished to a fine sheen.
Coffee, dark chocolate, dark raspberry and spice aromas lead to full-bodied, palate-coating dark-fruit flavors backed by grainy tannins. The barrel influence rides high but it generally pulls it off.
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot, this offering is defined in light, ethereal layers of soft, floral red fruit. The mix of pomegranate, cassis and cranberry is buoyed by natural acidity and a streak of black pepper.
This wine is round, opulent and beautifully perfumed., with a structure smoothed by the ripe fruits and generous texture. Acidity and a fresh aftertaste bring out cherry flavors and leave a bright aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
Leathery on the palate with sizably structured tannins, this estate-grown wine is robust in black cherry and blackberry, sprinkled subtly in black pepper, tar and coffee. Grown on the producer's BCD Vineyard off Olivet Lane, where it also grows Pinot Noir, it finishes softly, and spicy, with length.
Only slight notions of fruit appear on the nose. The palate is softly fruited with ripe pear and tart apple, achieving a beautiful, unobtrusive and quiet balance. This wine may be quiet and understated but it has honesty and a supple drinkability that makes you want more. Subtle notes of orange peel become more convincing with every sip.
Aromas of brandied cherry, crushed violet black pepper and a whiff of exotic spice lead the way. The round palate doles out dried plum, raisin, nutmeg, vanilla and a confectionary note alongside velvety tannins. Drink 2016–2021.
A rich umami character of smoked beef, freshly laid pavement and cola mixes with sour cherries and a light raspberry element on the nose of this wine. Flavors are quite dynamic, with a punchy strawberry-raspberry-sour cherry juice picking up complexity from a eucalyptus bite.
This powerful wine that also holds 5% Cabernet Franc shyly packs a punch. At first it comes off as elegant, soft and highly approachable. Faint notions of blackberry and black cherry are highlighted amidst a concentrated, tannic build.
Edges of lemon juice and plumeria flowers accent denser peach and sea salt aromas on this popular bottling from winemaker Sashi Moorman. He keeps this often dense grape light and playful, with flavors of lime sorbet, nectarine flesh, sea salt, white rocks and a nicely herbal twist of minty dill.
Not your average Pinot Grigio, this has the depth, body and complexity of a seriously delicious wine. The aromas and flavors resemble honeydew melon, watermelon and ripe peach, while the texture is smooth—almost thick—and luxurious. It will pair well with cheese and even dishes usually reserved for red wines.
Saint-Maur's vines are planted close to Saint-Tropez in one of the warmest sectors of the Provence coast. This wine is firm and tannic, with signs of bitter coffee from extraction that are balanced by the ripe black-currant flavors. It will develop well; drink after 2017.
A light, straightforward and focused wine, 100% varietal, this offers cranberry, mushroom and a complexity of tannin and oak. High acidity dances around fresh layers of strawberry and raspberry on the palate, with a grippy, cinnamon-spiced finish.
The inaugural release of this producer's GSM blend is comprised of 55% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 12% Mourvèdre. Jammy and dense in blackberry, espresso and leather, it offers a mouthful of flavor and intensity without ever becoming over the top.
Tender, freshly cut yellow pears and yellow plums play on a rounded, rich and almost oily palate that remains dry but expresses richness in terms of texture and mouthfeel, edged with earthy and nutty notes. This finishes exquisitely clean.
Beautiful and appetizing notes of Cox Orange Pippin apples shine. The palate is zesty, sprightly and textured, and shows pure fruit—a combination that spells ideal refreshment. The lemony fillip on the finish is lip-smacking.
Smoky black cherries, toasted oak, smoked meats, soy, iron and wild sage show on the nose of this top-level blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot, 17% Petit Verdot and 11% Malbec. It's both ripe and restrained on the palate, with blackberry fruit plus a line of licorice and pencil-lead minerality.
Dried strawberries, plum and an iron character combine for a lush yet balanced nose on this entry-level bottling from the longtime Foxen Canyon winery. Condensed purple flowers, ripe olallieberries, turned earth and citrus peel show on the energetic palate.
Framingham is one of New Zealand's top Riesling producers, so it's good to see this bottling again here in the States. It opens with hints of wet stone and moss, then proves more generous on the palate, adding notes of apple, citrus and honey. For a wine that's described as “off dry,” it tastes pretty dry on the lingering finish.
Initially, this seems hard and piercing on the nose. The tight palate with scratchy tannins is home to ripe, medicinal flavors of berry fruits, burnt toast and black coffee. A minty, oaky finish is the close on this blend of Syrah, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink through 2018.
Toasty oak and rich crème caramel are top of mind in this estate-grown wine, sourced from two distinct blocks on property planted to Clone 4, as well as the Platt Wente Clone. Together they combine to offer an intensity of body and texture, finishing softly in citrus and red apple.
This majority Sauvignon Blanc also contains almost 25% Sémillon, giving it a tropical, papaya-like bouquet. Layers of medium body and a developing texture provide weight and complexity while a balance of tangy acidity and floral aromas remain pleasing all around.
Muddled at first, this wine comes around to reveal a strong, floral component of rose water and geranium, staying light and fresh on the palate, subtle yet flavorful. It finishes earthy in Asian spice.
Great structure meets abundant fruit flavors in this big but well-balanced wine. The aromas are like Bing cherries and dark-roast coffee, while flavors recall dark chocolate and boysenberries. While obviously tannic and robust in texture, it seems to melt in the mouth for a smooth and lingering finish.
This is a sleek, crisp and streamlined first offering from the young appellation's newest vineyard, which overlooks nearby Lake Cachuma. Fresh and bright lime sorbet aromas lead to peppery verve on the palate, with flavors of white pepper, cut grass, sour lime skins and apple peels.
This is as serious as Grüner gets. It's a very rich wine, fully structured, packed with ripe apricot flavors with a touch of lime. The texture is dense, mineral still very young. With concentration and young acidity, it needs to age. Drink from 2017.
This wine is still very closed, and not yet showing its rich potential. That doesn't detract from its fine, botrytis texture, core of acidity and dried apricot flavors. It's a wine that needs to come out of its shell, so don't drink before 2018.
Enticing scents of grapefruit zest and bees wax are fitting openers to this creamy, rich TBA full of luscious orange-marmalade flavor. Bright, brisk tangerine acidity adds freshness and levity to the palate, leading to a long, honeyed finish.
A venture into the deep end of pricing perhaps, but the proof is in the bottle. From vines planted in 1964, this is a rich, full-bodied and creamy-textured wine, with complex notes of smoke, vanilla, plum and roasted meat. Approachable now because of its lushness, it should drink well for at least the next several years.
Aromas of sugar cookie and apple preserves entice on this ripe, rich spätlese. It's ethereally light on the palate, but deeply concentrated, with honey and peach flavors braced by soft pink-grapefruit acidity. It finishes elegantly, with a slick of honeycomb and lavender perfume. Drink now for its floral, fruity decadence.
This vintage will be the last Resonance bottling under the Sineann label, as the vineyard has been sold to Burgundy's Louis Jadot. This delicious, ripe, detailed wine bursts with mixed red fruits. It's a lovely way to say goodbye, good luck and bon chance with the new owners. The perfectly ripened fruit is accented with toast, sandalwood and mocha as it heads into a deep, concentrated and lingering finish.
This is a veritable bargain for the incredible quality it delivers. It's lavishly composed, with a flurry of floral, fruity attributes—cherry blossoms, sweet peaches, and yellow plums—all kissed with honey, and a shower of lemon-lime acidity. Enjoy now for its youthful exuberance, but put a few away to see its honeyed tones darken and mature over the next decade.
Ripe and rich, this irresistibly fruity spätlese is concentrated with peach marmalade, guava and grapefruit flavors, but braced by a streak of lemon-lime acidity and a delicate spritz that tickles the palate. Satisfying and juicy, it finishes long with a hint of grapefruit-pith astringency.
From vines planted in 1893, this is an inky, concentrated Shiraz. The aromas hint at cracked pepper, vanilla and blueberries, while on the palate, this is superripe and full bodied. Although close to being fat and overdone, yet it's held back from the edge by its long, licorice-and-spice finish. Drink now–2020.
These 100-plus-year-old vines were transplanted to another site, but continue to yield outstanding wines. Intriguing aromas of fruit compote and roasted meat lead into a palate of blueberry and spice. It's medium to full in body, with supple tannins that finish on a faintly dusty note. Ready to drink now, but should hold at least through 2020.
Very mineral in character, this wine is named after a former priest of Dürnstein who renovated the village church. It is certainly ripe, while very textured and chalky in character, with its acidity whirling around the glass. There's great concentration as well, beautifully smoothed out by the spice and crisp apple balance. Screwcap. Artisanal Cellars, Select Wines.
Talk about a ripped, structured wine that could use more rest. This pumps out minerally blackberry and coconut aromas along with raw, inky intensity. The wine's texture is defined by a strong tannic backbone, while flavors of burnt toast, bacon, licorice and black fruits finish with graphite and energy. Drink from 2015–2023.
Because St. Henri is aged exclusively in large, mostly neutral oak vessels, it often requires more time to come around than Shiraz aged in barrel. The 2009 is tight and reticent on the nose, while showing hints of boysenberry, black olive and roasted meat on the palate. Full bodied, rich and firm in structure, with a long, amply textured finish, it needs a few years in the cellar, and should last at least through 2030.
This 100% varietal wine opens with alluring aromas of plum, clove, stems and spice. The purple-fruit flavors are palate coating, speckled with cocoa and barrel accents throughout.
Light cream, peach and malolactic aromas lead to a medium-bodied nuanced palate. It has plenty of subtleties to explore, with a finish that stretches out.
Bright minerality wraps around a taste of wet stone and unctuous, buttery apple in this silky smooth and well-integrated wine. Lemon rind and brioche each make strong companions to the concentrated richness and ripeness of the finish.
This is a beautifully aromatic wine with toast and yellow fruits mingling easily together. It is ripe while also light to taste, a crisp burst of acidity giving the wine a fine lift. Yellow fruits, citrus and toast play together in this attractive wine that is ready to drink.
Aromas of black currant and cherry set the stage for flavors of cassis, leather, juniper berry and dark chocolate. There is a nice balance of fruit and deeper savory notes, and velvety tannins make way for a splash of cherry on the lingering finish.
The wine is soft and rounded. With creamed apple and pear flavors over touches of wood, it is a toasty wine in a generous style that has made Meursault popular for many years. Fruity and ripe, the wine will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a rich smooth wine, full of delicious citrus and apple-fruit flavors. It is ripe, still with signs of wood aging that add a juicy character to the wine. It is developing well and should be ready to drink from 2018.
Aromas of raisin, purple flower, stewed plum, Asian spice and a hint of resin lead the nose on this dense red. The big monolithic palate doles out mature black plum, raisin, blackberry extract and licorice alongside velvety tannins. A confectionery note closes the finish.
Herb, pencil lead, plum and vanilla aromas are followed by smooth, soft blue-fruit flavors. It shows a beautiful sense of balance.
Dark, rich and full bodied, this wine has great structure and bold, tasty flavors like boysenberry and blackberry. It feels firm and tannic on the palate, but without overdoing it. Generous fruit flavors linger on the finish.
This opens with aromas of mature black currant and dark baking spice. The full-bodied palate offers mature black cherry, ripe blackberry, licorice and pipe tobacco alongside a backbone of firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2017 through 2022.
This firmly built wine is big in flavor and bolstered by a broad layer of fine-grained tannins. It tastes like blackberries, cranberries and dark chocolate. This wine should improve and soften a bit after 2019.
Wood spice, vanillin and blackberry aromas are followed by rich, fleshy black-fruit flavors. The warm vintage shows but it's undeniable in its appeal.
The aromas offer notes of dark coffee, baking spice, vanilla, and barrel spices. The palate pulls no punches with full-bodied fruit and barrel flavors along with lightly grainy tannins. The wood plays prominently but it works.
Earthy compost and sage provide a rustic undertone to this well-made wine, dotted in cranberry, green tea and a hint of menthol. Medium bodied, it offers velvety texture and body within a graceful structure.
For the fan of big, bold flavor, this Rutherford red is robust in tannin and oak, as well as full, ripe waves of blueberry, black cherry and chocolate. Interspersed among the enjoyable proceedings are dessert-like elements of caramel and cinnamon.
This vineyard is within the relatively cool Coombsville appellation. It leaves a memorable impression in its happy mix of violets, white pepper and blueberry, completely robust in integrated tannin. Boldly built, it's balanced, with a softness to the finish.
The aromas bring notes of milk chocolate, flowers, herbs and black cherry. The flavors are velvety and smooth, carrying through on the finish.
Estate-grown Roussanne (63%), Viognier (32%) and Chardonnay (5%) are blended together in a medium-bodied coming-together of floral, light aromatics and supportive acidity. Fruity highlights run the gamut of apricot, peach and lime, with a tiny touch of sweetness on the finish.
Deep ruby in the glass, this wine has a nose of fruits of the wood and smoke. It offers a sophisticated medley of fruit and savory flavors, in particular blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and leather. Firm tannins coat the mouth but do not overpower the palate, allowing for a surprisingly bright finish.
Steely in stony minerality, this lovely offering was blended with 18% Sémillon and whole-cluster pressed for an ultimate mouthfeel of juicy fruit. High-toned lemon and pear offset the intense acidity, combining richness and ripeness with brightness.
Plump lusciously ripe black plum and cherry flavors are offset by a tantalizing edge of acidity and fine penetrating tannins in this neatly composed Malbec. It's supple and full in body yet refreshing and brisk. Drinks well already but should continue to improve through 2021.
Harbes' standard-label Merlot offers a plusher, more voluptuous expression of sun-kissed berries and cherries. Rich in body and textures, it's warmed by hints of Graham cracker and cinnamon and soft feathery tannins. Sunny cranberry acidity brightens the finish. Drink now through 2021 to enjoy its fruity forward nature.
Saturated with color and ripe fruit flavors, this almost-thick wine is medium bodied, mouthcoating and bursting with black cherry and prune flavors. It is dry, moderately tannic in texture and well balanced despite its richness.
The aromas are bright, with notes of green herb, vanilla, clove, wood spice and cherry. The palate brings a mouthful of dark-fruit flavors along with barrel accents, providing a whole lot of texture and appeal.
This is a big-boned wine, showy in spearmint and eucalyptus, burly blackberry and tar. With integrated oak and tannin, it presents a respectable showing of approachably lush texture and succulence, the finish persistent in juicy fruit.
This pink blend of 64% Grenache, 31% Syrah and 6% Marsanne offers the expected array of bubblegum, pink roses, peach, watermelon and cool steel aromas on the nose. It's wound nice and tight on the palate, with warm notes of strawberry and bubblegum emerging on the midpalate, leveled by lemon-skin tartness and a chalky tension.
An elegant and well-balanced Syrah, initial scents of red cherry and brambly berry lead into more refined notes of cola spice, game, leather and a touch of sweet smoke. The palate is smooth and easy, with silky tannins that are surprisingly approachable and red cherry and berry flavors that are bright and refreshing. Final hits of white pepper and cured game grace the medium-length finish.
Fresh green apple, lemon and gooseberry notes abound in this gorgeously fruity and juicy Sauvignon Blanc. It's surprisingly bold on the palate: full bodied and supple yet balanced. Flavors of ripe white grapefruit and quince are concentrated yet brisk. A hint of musky spray marks the finish. Drink now through 2020.
Bergström's Sigrid is one of the finest Chardonnays made in Oregon. Racy and refined, it shows Burgundian finesse, toast and acidity. As in other top tier wines from the Northwest, the fruit has a certain vibrancy that shouts “New World.” Peach, apple and pear flavors abound.
The lyra system of training vines is designed to give the fruit maximum exposure. With that and the vines' placement on the steep Heiligenstein hill, it's no surprise that this wine is ripe and rich. Perfumed, intense and generous, this will age for many years.
The Frog is a bit reductive, a bit shy in 2009 and needs extra decanting. With proper breathing time, it shows inviting notes of violets and strawberries, and it gains concentration through the midpalate, with additions of cherry and an almost liquid minerality. An almost delicate version of this wine.
Always a standout, this is the only one of the Cayuse Syrahs that is cofermented with Viognier. This explodes with flavors of blueberries, soy, earth, black tea, iodine, anise and salt, plus a hint of sassafras. Notes of herb and cured meat add further interest to this unique, captivating effort.
An ebullient, gorgeous example of cool-climate Pinot Noir from an 1,800-feet elevation vineyard at the north end of the Anderson Valley. Sheldon's Roma is classic in its layers of nuanced cherry, raspberry, spice and acidity. Focused and intensely delicious.
Youthful and compelling, this 100% estate Merlot comes with a seductive smoky note. The juicy berry flavor is rich and racy, while the barrel aging—50% new—hits exactly the right toasty note.
Dark and smoky, this wine is relatively tannic and emphasizes flavors of leaf, bark, root and herb. There's plenty of depth and exceptional power to this wine, which seems unique among New World Tempranillos.
Also labeled Parcel A1611, this new release from Tour des Gendres is a wine made using fruit sourced from a single parcel. It's rich and concentrated, with a juicy black-plum flavor. While the wood influence is present, it isn't dominant. This should age for at least six years.
Ripe, smooth and gold in color, this is a nectar-like wine. It has a honeyed note and a dry edge from botrytis, with an opulent, complex texture. It also has lively acidity that offers the purest expression of Petit Manseng. A great wine to drink at the end of a meal, or with a rich terrine at the start.
This is a taut, dense and minerally wine that's packed with as much tannin as black currant fruit. The structure and layers of acidity demand long-term aging.
This is a vibrant, lush and layered Cabernet- Sauvignon-dominated blend, with smaller percentages of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Powerful yet focused, this age-worthy effort is resplendent in notes of leather, chocolate and dark plum, plus a slight trace of licorice. Lay it down for a special occasion many years from now.
With its intense black color and perfumed aromas, this is a superb wine. The palate is firm, solid, still tannic, with the fruit just coming into balance. Nineteen months of wood aging has rounded the wine without dominating. Give this seriously ageworthy wine 5–6 years.
De Bortoli's Noble One is as good as ever in 2007, offering intense botrytis, dried apricots, honey and bergamot in a sweetly unctuous style. Think of a Sauternes, but with more sugar and less alcohol. It should age well for 10 or more years.
Lush and classy, with earthy blackberry, hard spice, chocolate and lemon peel aromas. The palate is a mile deep and tannic, but it's not too hard or mean, and it tastes fantastic, with ripe blackberry, chocolate, spice and toast flavors. Complex and masculine, with tobacco and woodspice on the finish. Drink from 2012 through 2016.
Fragrant with smoky red fruits, this tight, young, pure Cabernet Sauvignon brings a generous mix of raspberry, pomegranate and cherry fruit into play. The firm and supple tannins are folded in seamlessly, with hints of iron, coffee and chocolate.
This is the winery's flagship Cabernet. It's full-bodied, with classic Bing cherry Cabernet fruit as a base flavor; then a wrapping of toast and broad, astringent tannins. There's ample acidity to lift it a bit, and finishing layers of coffee, licorice, smoke, olive and loam.
Aromatic, tropical textured wine. Great flavors of ripe pineapple and mango balance with more green fruit characters and a twist of lime. The wood flavors are well restrained, offering just a touch of final spice.
Winemaker Chris Camarda is antiformulaic; his wines in 2008 feature radically different blends from the 2007s. This is a third each Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cab Franc. It reflects the vineyard's penchant for tart berry fruit set atop astringent, mineral-driven tannins. It's tight and dense, with vertical power. Flavors roll gracefully into a medium-length finish.
Effusively fruity, bursting with ripe scents and flavors of berries and cherries. There is an interesting underlayer of earthy peat moss, just as an accent. The concentration is exceptional, dense and layered and constantly reinventing itself as it rolls through a spicy, herbal finish.
An impressive wine, with spice, intense ripe black berry fruits and a solid core of tannins. It has power without being overwhelming, densely textured and ready to age for several years.
Hogue is back as a value player. This is a fine effort, ripe enough to avoid the greenies, and showing some detail and cut to the tannins. There's nothing wimpy here; it's got some chewy red fruits backed with earthy tannins, acids proportionate, and a finish that's just under 14% alcohol.
La Playa does a good job capturing Colchagua's warmth and translating that into healthy wines like this. Light oak aromas are manifested as butter, dill and coconut, while berry fruit and cola are also part of the aromatic package. It's a bit lean and snappy in the mouth, with strawberry and raspberry flavors mixed with carob and cream. Tight and typical for solid Carmenère.
Unusual for Oz, in that the primary variety in the blend is Cabernet Franc (74%), with lesser amounts of Merlot (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (11%). The result is a fragrant, slightly herbal wine with plenty of red cherry fruit balanced out by vanilla and chocolate notes. It's lighter in body than most Ozzie Cabs, with silky tannins on the finish. Drink now–2012. Imported by Margaret River Wines, LLC.
Quite saucy and spicy upon first blush, with a heavy bouquet. Here's a wine that holds nothing back; it is compact, tight and hard on the palate, but it tastes meaty, big and generous, with plum and chocolate flavors. Finishes with heat, rusticity and peppery power. A brawny wine that shoots high but doesn't hit every target.
Dark purple in color, and very rich on the nose. There's also balancing tart aromatics of rhubarb and bramble. Looks, smells and tastes like a New World/California style of Pinot Noir. It's creamy and oaky in the mouth, but behind that there's ripe, varietal flavors that grow on you as the wine airs out. Maybe too big and brawny for fans of elegant PNs, but plenty good if you like a full-bodied modern wine.
Marlargo's wide range of wines includes this big-boned, rather chewy offering from Heathcote. Mint, chocolate and cassis flavors are pretty standard fare, but well executed, with a dusting of dry tannins on the finish. Drink now–2016.
Fèvre's basic Chablis still shows the quality of this producer, with its finely textured, fully ripe fruit layered with a strong citrus character. There is some toastiness, which adds complexity but certainly doesn't dominate the green plum fruit flavors and lively acidity.
An appealing nose of pepper and anise leads here, with meaty, smoky flavors following. On the palate, this is full of flavor. Structured tannins give it an ageworthy edge, and its mineral backbone lends it to pairing with myriad dishes.
The nose on this wine impresses from the start, with its clean aromas of apples, spice and citrus. On the palate, an attractive balance of minerality and refreshing fruit triumphs. Not terribly complex, but fun and exciting.
An elegantly crafted Chardonnay that marries vanillin oak with crisp, citrusy flavors. It's medium-bodied, with a slightly creamy texture akin to lemon custard yet stays refreshing through the finish. Drink now through 2010.
A bit rubbery at first, with dark tar and other hard-coated aromas. Airing reveals cherry, cassis and slightly herbal flavors, while the finish is all about wavy coffee and mocha notes. A wine that covers the bases, this has just enough kick to earn its stripes.
Intensely perfumed, this is herbal but ripe, too, with fig and melon fruit aromas. It's boldly flavored in the same vein, with the only quibble being that it finishes a little short. A solid effort.
The spirit of South Africa's Swartland region shines through on this rustic but fun Shiraz. On the nose, red fruit and a spicy edge lead into big flavors of spice, smoke and fruit. Sturdy tannins give the wine an ageworthy appeal. Pair with grilled meat and heartier flavors for extra enjoyment.
Kudos to winemaker Laurent Montalieu for holding the line on price. His Soléna Grande Cuvée is one of the four or five best value Pinots in Oregon, if not the entire country. Nine vineyards contribute to the blend, a spicy and herbal mix of rhubarb, pepper, tomato leaf, black raspberry, currant and rose hips. The flavors and scents are detailed and nicely consolidated into a complex and harmonious wine. It will open up nicely with a couple of hours in a decanter.
Silky and smooth, this is loaded with effusive cherry fruit and scents of perfumed cherry blossoms. It's open and warm and packed with red fruits, and is the most accessible of the Owen Roe 2006 Pinots. Enjoy it for its forward fruit and immediate pleasures.
This popular vineyard, now almost 20 years old, yields a brambly Pinot Noir which might pass for a Sonoma Coast bottling. More elegant, almost steely, than many of the other Soléna vineyard designates, this offers cooler fruit flavors of rhubarb and wild strawberry, along with anise and dried herb.
The top rosé from Minuty is 95% Grenache, and shows a richly spiced nose that's almost musky or feral, balanced by pink grapefruit aromas. It's longer and finer in the mouth than the Cuvée de l'Oratoire, with more pronounced minerality and crisper acids.
Lively and crisp, this has some good concentration and almond and creamy flavors over new wood. It shows ripe fruit, but there is also a zesty lemon character that gives it a lift and vibrancy. Deliciously refreshing.
Cropped at a tiny 20 hl/hA (just over 1 ton/acre), this wine is 99% Mourvèdre (all AC Coteaux d'Aix en Provence reds must be blends). It's rich and creamy-textured on the palate and turns pronouncedly tannic on the finish, but showcases ripe blackberry, vanilla and cola flavors. Should easily age 5–6 years or more.
Round, floral, fruity and just a bit bretty. Almost everything is right about this value-priced wine. The fruit is dark and veers toward black cherry and plum, while the feel is good. Finishes with a nice run of dry oak and chocolate flavors.
This 100% Syrah is tight, young and sappy, and the tart fruit tastes of salmonberries and blueberries, with hints of mineral and flint. Call it a Euro style, with that sort of grip and detail. It rewards airtime and attention, yet still hints at a slightly green edge.
Hannah vineyard is a select block of Tualatin Estate, and carries the same set of herbal, pine needle aromatics. But the fruit is more intense, with deeper cranberry and raspberry flavors, more weight and a stiffer finish. The time in barrel adds clove and cinnamon to the mix. Tannins are ripe and hard, so give this some extra time to breathe.
Citrus and tropical fruit notes are pure, powerful and provide a fine entry to the wine, which dances with melon, green tobacco, pineapple, honeydew and lime flavors. It's big and ripe, with prickly acidity and good complexity. A nice example of Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc with all the zest and ocean influences you should expect.
Mouth-filling wine, with delicious creamy red apples, some tropical fruits and a fresh, green citric edge. It is rich, full-bodied, layering citric crispness with rich white fruits.
This is a Bordeaux blend, using all five grapes, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Forward, fruity, round and immediately appealing, this tasty effort shows good balance and supporting structure, but the real story is the bright, vibrant Washington fruit, packed in tightly and substantial enough for aging.
The wine, though true to variety, is approachable and soft, not oily. Round and fruity, with 1.7% residual sugar, this lush, forward style will meld comfortably with Asian fare.
A floral, fruity and intensely perfumed wine, yeasty, with mature acidity and almond flavors underlining the green lime element. It is very dry, needing the extra year since harvest to round it out and give it richness as well as freshness.
A huge, smooth wine, full of superripe fruit that is intensely mouth-filling. The structure is submerged by all this black fruit. It's supremely rich, kept in balance by the acidity.
This delicious wine is as soft, silky and supple as can be. The fruit is slathered in spicy, chocolaty oak, which lends some sharpness to the edges. Red berries and red licorice lead into finishing flavors of baking chocolate. But as tasty as it is when first opened, it fades quickly, suggesting that this is one to drink up rather than lay down.
This unique and delicious dessert wine from Hungary offers apricot and honey on the nose and palate, as well as an earthier element of tobacco and mocha. It's dense but delicate, too, with a weight and complexity that unfolds in the mouth.
Septima is owned by Codorníu of Spain, and it hit the market solidly in 2002, disappeared for a couple of years, and now is back with a great Best Buy. The 2006 Malbec is a rock star wine in sheep's clothing. Shows size and power along with pure fruit, texture and balance. Lush and fruity until the end.
This is just the second vintage for this winery, whose inviting labels look like handwritten notes. The rosé captures the bright color, fresh fruit and silky texture of its Pinot Noir grape; it's a perfect salmon or turkey wine, and one you could happily sip as an apéritif.
Though quite dark, spicy, smoky, fragrant and seductive, this is a very flavorful wine. Citrusy acids underscore flavors of grapefruit and orange, but the core of the wine is straightforward, pure and ripe berry. It's nice not to fight the fruit with oak; the aromatics are beautiful.
This is a little gem, perfectly capturing the mix of flower, body powder, citrus and stone that only Gewürztraminer can evoke. Graceful and elegant, it spreads evenly across the palate and slides down the back of the throat. The residual sugar—1.8%—puts it squarely in the Alsatian camp.
Firm and detailed, this light-on-its-feet Sauvignon Blanc has a wonderful spiciness, as if it's been dappled with sweet pepper. The fruit is just ripe enough to capture the grassy sweetness of the grape, and it holds itself together well into a long and satisfying finish. Elegant and beautifully proportioned, this is a real pleasure to sip.
This vintage of Peg Bay's Pinot shows the firm structure of the year, suggesting 2–3 years of cellaring. But while the black cherry fruit may not be immediately accessible, there's plenty of it, touched with herbal, minty complexity and a touch of oaky toast on the finish.
Elegant flavors of apricot and honey are light and delicate, with a lively acidity keeping the wine dancing on the palate. Though the wine shows intense depth of flavors, it's never heavy and has a clean, poised finish. From start to finish, the wine is balanced and refined, with a character that speaks of its unique terroir.
An off-dry, leesy, delicately floral Riesling, this elegantly captures the floral and mineral qualities that make the grape so exceptional. The wine doesn't push too hard, but it persists, mixing white peach and papaya with citrus blossom, rosewater and body powder. Exotic and delightful.
Just 40 cases of half bottles were produced. Tasting more like a late harvest than a true ice wine, this soft, lush and creamy wine bring lots of mashed banana flavors, very smooth and rich, with butter, caramel and butterscotch. The flavors compound and surround the palate in a luscious blanket of sweets.
This is quite delicious, bright and tasting of fresh-squeezed oranges and tangerines. Fruity, forward and lush, it's really quite charming. The aromas convey light hints of rose petals, jasmine and honey; the fruit an intriguing mix of ripe pear, papaya and apricot.
A deliciously dry wine, evoking flavors of crisp green-apple skins and white currants; this is elegant despite its weight and body. It has freshness, certainly, and needs some bottle age. The style is ripe, but the dryness gives some opening austerity.
Forward and ripe, with flavors of tangerine, lemongrass and light herb. The elegant, nicely textured midpalate is extended and still a bit tight. There is a delicacy to this fruit that rewards those who prize nuance. Lightly touched with cinnamon and sweet spice, flavors linger pleasantly with hints of wet stone.
This is immensely promising, offering scents of slate, slightly leesy notes, white peach and pineapple. But on the palate, the flavors aren't quite as fresh, changing over to dried pineapple and golden raisin, and while the mouthfeel is rich and sweet upfront, the wine seems to dry up a bit on the finish, where it shows a touch of bitterness. Probably best to drink it young.
Lively, spritely and with a touch of spice, this wine also offers weight without heft, and complexity that's still approachable. Clean and fresh tropical fruit and citrus with a rounder mouthfeel. A balanced, elegant white.
This elegant, medium-bodied kabinett boasts textbook Mosel flavors of green apples, lime, pineapple and slate. Its slightly creamy texture is nicely balanced by crisp acidity and a light touch of spritz.
It's full-bodied and a little warm (14% alcohol), but this also boasts baked apple and citrus fruit and restrained, pencilly, toasty oak. It's lush and mouthfilling without being overblown; rich without being exotic—a well made New World Chard.
Pretty, balanced and elegant, this wine offers varietally correct aromas and flavors of citrus, melon and apple, all buoyed by a crisp minerality that offers lift. Also true to the style, there's a round sweetness here that gives the wine an opulent edge. Pair with a chicken salad or seafood.
From a 250-acre vineyard on the slopes of the Entre-deux-Mers above the Garonne river, this wine is silky smooth, attractively balanced with wood and soft but dry tannins. Flavors of dark chocolate, black plums and spice from the wood all blend together well. To finish, there is good acidity.
Despite some heat and a candied, almost carbonic bouquet, this basic Toro packs a lot of punch and depth of fruit. It's absolutely, positively looking for some steak tips, cheeseburgers or spaghetti and meatballs to run up against; by itself it's ripe, ready and lusty, with sweet berry flavors, vanilla and spice.
A solid and satisfying wine from La Mancha. The blend is 60% Tempranillo with descending parts Cab, Merlot and Syrah. It has big black-cherry aromas along with touches of leather and earth. The palate is plump and healthy, with dark, rubbery flavors and then lots of smoky, beefy length to the finish.
Round, ripe and pure, with olive, blackberry and a dusting of herbs. For the money this is a satisfying Cabernet with a firm but solid mouthfeel and flavors of cola, berry syrup and cassis. Creamy and semisweet on the finish, but not cloying or candied. Well made and a good value.
This wine has rich flavors and aromas but an overall refined style. In the nose, savory pepper, coffee and a touch of cedar. On the palate, luscious flavors of cedar, coffee and pepper. An elegant wine with depth.
Fresh apple and pear flavored wine, very creamy, toasty almost, with only just a pinch of pepper to go with the richness of the fruit. A warm, rounded wine, easily finished with acidity. Screwcap.
Red in color as if it were Merlot, with generic but entirely pleasant berry fruit aromas. The palate is round, creamy and comfortable, with oak-infused berry and plum flavors. Slightly resiny on the finish, with a peppery aftertaste. Solid Chilean Pinot Noir. 10,000 cases produced.
From Yakima Valley grapes, this is a solidly made Riesling with just a trace of sweetness. Citrus fruits, lemon oil and hints of tea and honey fill out the palate, which has a pleasing roundness.
Pretty aromas of fresh white flowers and apple blossom open this mouthfilling, satisfying wine. Complex and interesting on the palate, it's layered with tension and acidity. It has a lean, clean finish that's dialed-in for the table.
This is an unctuously ripe Chardonnay dense with melon, tangerine and even mango flavors. Balanced solidly in acidity and alcohol, it's an impressive, powerfully concentrated wine. Swirls of vanilla, coconut and smoke could still use a few years aging to integrate but it should show beautifully by 2020.
Named after a work by the Chilean poet Vicente Huidobro, this spicy, earthy, slightly herbal blend of mostly Carmenère and Carignan offers aromas of tobacco, licorice root and anise. The palate is tight and fresh, but with padding. Earthy berry, hoja santa and tobacco flavors finish with a touch of oak and related graphite. Drink through 2023.
From nose to palate, smoke and dusty mineral notes extend a savory, regal tone to this dry, full-bodied Riesling. It's richly textured, almost oily, on the palate, but refreshed by spine-tingling streaks of pineapple, lemon and tangerine flavors. The finish is long and penetrating. Drink now through 2020.
The Westhofen Morstein seems the most vibrantly citrusy among Wittmann's 2014 GG bottlings. Its lemon-lime acidity is almost puckering, but cushioned by creamy textured layers of tangerine, grapefruit and yellow cherry flavor. It's a powerful, elegant wine with a deep mineral finish. Drinks well now but should intensify in minerality through 2020.
The blend of Malbec and Merlot allows the wine to develop relatively quickly, broadening out the tannins of the Malbec. This wine is ripe with black and red berry fruits, packed with both acidity and dry tannins. It is developing into a generous and full-bodied wine. Drink from 2017.
This is a generously juicy, powerfully intense wine, rich and rewarding in blue and black fruit, cedar and dried herb. Lengthy and medium bodied, it weaves a complex tangle of tannin and oak as it goes, finishing with a strong taste of tobacco. It's attractive now, but will reward further if held until 2020.
This wine is made from fruit grown on the well-regarded Hudson Vineyard in Carneros, a sought-after site known for yielding grapes with tropical character. True to form, this offers ripe elements of guava, but also pear, vanilla and salty caramel, with a full-bodied texture.
Intense honeysuckle perfume is offset by enticing complexities of mushroom and earth in this sprightly off-dry Riesling. Concentrated tangerine and stone fruit flavors extend through a long, sunny finish. It's showing well already but should continue to improve through 2020.
Coconut macaroon and blueberry and blackberry preserves make for a juicy, satisfying mountain-grown wine that sparks in black pepper, before finishing full of fresh acidity and complexity. Light bodied and restrained in oak and tannin, it's ready to enjoy now.
A 100% varietal wine blended from three vineyard sites, this has fantastic aromatics, floral and meaty in all the best ways. Sanguine, it flirts in black peppercorn, game and a density of black licorice, remaining sturdy and firm on the palate in leathery grace. Drinkable now, it has years to go, through 2022.
This wonderful and youthful wine shows how the Rhône varieties blend so well. It tastes as if the Grenache gives ripe fruit and the Syrah adds power and tannins. It's a big wine, with ample grippy texture, full body and good potential for aging through at least 2019.
Richer scents of maple smoke and bacon fat integrate well into a sexy purple flower, blackberry and clove-laced black-cherry-syrup character on the nose of this wine, which includes 2% Viognier. A black-pepper-crusted beef quality shows once sipped alongside boysenberries, violets, lilacs, Sichuan peppercorn and even black tea.
A rich and perfumed wine that brings out the violet aromas and juicy black currant fruits of the Touriga Nacional. It is rich, structured with a tannic dryness that is well balanced with the juicy, ripe black fruits. Drink this concentrated wine from 2018.
You'll find aromas of French oak, blackberry, exotic spice, menthol and a whiff of crushed violet on this glossy red. The palate shows both structure and finesse, offering juicy black cherry, vanilla, licorice and mocha framed in fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2020.
This fairly limited release remains sturdy and tight, with flavors stacked impressively. Deep cherry kirsch fruit is at the core, with streaks of cola and sassafras. As the wine breathes, it gains both flesh and momentum, moving into a long and delicious finish.
A field blend of 80% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah and 2% Mixed Blacks, this wine offers a wealth of flavor and likability, from its velvety bouquet of red berry to its vivacious acidity and soft texture. Bright and soft, it has length and complexity to boot.
This top wine from Lamartine is a fine, solid expression of the firm nature of young Malbec. It has dark, dense black fruits layered behind the dry, tight tannins. With this concentration, this is a wine that needs to age. Leave until 2020.
A selection from parcels of vines in the La Rochelle section of Moulin à Vent, this wine comes from one of top recent vintages in Beaujolais. It is rich and packed with mature fruit. There are acidity, integrated tannins and secondary flavors of juicy acidity and smokiness. It is ready to drink. Owner Jean-Jacqus Parinet left the IT world for wine and bought Château Moulin-à-Vent in 2009 and Bief in 2012.
From a section of the rocky vineyard planted to the Martini clone, a thick-skinned grape, Deer Camp is full bodied, densely concentrated and marked by a streak of spiciness throughout. It's perfumed with roses and forest floor, while it presents a texture that is seductively velvety and smooth.
Distinct aromas of sour plum and dried pomegranate meet with damp tobacco, forest floor, green olive and Greek spice on the nose of this clonal study. It's herbal on the palate, with oregano, marjoram and green cardamom notes, alongside cranberry and red cherry fruit in the midpalate. Altogether, it's a light, bright and highly seasoned wine.
This small-production Rioja (under 200 cases) is focused, minerally and lightly charred up front, with blackberry, cassis and vanilla aromas. A flush, bright not-too-heavy palate offers lively black cherry and blackberry flavors accented by creamy vanilla and char. A medium-long, elegant finish with healthy acidity indicates that this will age nicely through about 2023.
Fresh, enticing fruit aromas and a smooth yet firm texture make this full-bodied wine hard to resist. Toasted oak, ripe berries and cherries gush from the glass, and light tannins add grip to the generous mouthfeel.
Made with only 30% whole-cluster, this bottling by Bradley Brown allows lusher red-cherry fruit to show on the nose, alongside slate, mint and sandalwood notes. Those same red-cherry elements meet with cranberry on the palate, growing more complex as layers of graphite, bay leaf, pine needle and turned forest floor arise.
Cinnamon and spearmint elements give depth to the pinpoint, laser-sharp fruit notes of cherry blossom and strawberry on this bottling. Strong herbal flavors of thyme and marjoram and spices of green cardamom of peppercorn hit the palate right away, seasoning cranberry and pomegranate fruit, and finishing on a slate minerality.
A fabulous bottling from one of West Paso's most beautiful vineyards, this blend of 54% Grenache, 22% Mourvèdre, 18% Syrah and 6% Tannat shows aromas of fresh black cherry, dried mint and fudge on the well-integrated nose. Black plum, soy, pencil lead, condensed teriyaki, lilac and violet flavors unfold on the delicious palate.
In a strong lineup of beautifully balanced Pinots, this cuvée shows just a touch more stem and leaf, and keeps the fruit on the tart end of the berry and cherry spectrum. The tannins remain a bit stiff and unyielding, but overall the punch and weight suggest that this is a wine bound for further development and improvement in bottle. Drink 2018–2025.
Concentrated, delicious fruit flavors and subtle spiciness make a great combination in this harmonious and full-bodied wine. There is no obvious oak character, but it tastes like a gently barrel-fermented wine that developed hints of cream, nutmeg and honey along with a river of ripe pear and peach.
The winery's annual 100% new French-oak bottling, this is rich and smoky, with heavily clove-laced blackberry and blueberry juice, dark strawberry, nutmeg and gingerbread spice on the nose. Similar flavors show on the palate, from mace to dried ginger. A bright red-cherry and cranberry character lifts the sip, as does the juniper and forest-floor finish.
Chipped slate and wet-clay minerality give depth to the baked strawberry, black plum and rose-petal aromas on the nose of this single-vineyard study by Brian Loring. Similar earthiness descends on the palate, with a slow-simmering acidity allowing the juicy black fruit to steadily emerge.
Done in a bracing, sappy style, this is a concentrated wine with lush flavors of lemon drop, orange candy and Key lime. It's ripe and juicy, with a suggestion of beeswax in the mouth.
The estate's reserve, this pure Cabernet Sauvignon has been given 22 months in new French oak. Sculpted and well-defined, it offers raspberry and blueberry fruit, set in lovely tannins. The finish shows details of orange blossoms, citrus and coffee grounds. At this time, the new oak is a bit overwhelming, but additional bottle age or decanting for several hours will help to balance it out.
The current releases from Scarborough show a winemaker dedicated to obtaining excellent fruit and experimenting with an interesting range of barrel sizes and sources. Here it all works well, a Southern Rhône-style mix of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Cinsault with a flinty, mineral base note. There's a sweet-tart cherry core and a lick of peppery spice that livens up the finish.
A rich and dense selection, this offers intense aromas and flavors of black plum, boysenberry and blackberry, layered with notes of milk chocolate, licorice root and baking spice. The texture is full but not overdone, with a firm yet approachable tannins and a lingering finish.
Now completely mature, this is a toasty, while fragrant wine, rounded and rich. It brings out the warmth of the vintage without losing the right acidity and flavor intensity. It is now completely 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.
Aged in wood, this is a smooth and polished wine, opulent at the start and then developing firmer tannins, red plum skin flavors and a straight line of acidity. It is weighty, but wears this well, a wine that is elegant as well as powerful. Drink from 2016.
The Chester|Kidder Red gets an extra year in barrel and bottle prior to release. It's 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah and 17% Petit Verdot, yielding a big bruiser of a red that is oaky and tannic, with black cherry and cassis under substantial flavors of char, smoke and toast.
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.
Made by Jillian Johnson, who long ago fell in love with the Bechthold Vineyard and whose last few vintages were under the Phoenix Ranch name. This is her first Onesta Cinsault. Shy, it takes some coaxing to reveal itself, blossoming into a textured, lean mix of the vineyard's classic rhubarb flavor with a bit of strawberry mixed in. Streaks of spicy pepper come to life on the finish.
This pure, single vineyard Viognier enters the mouth rather soft and silky, with well-structured flavors of cantaloupe melon, grapefruit and pineapple. It shows good concentration, focus and length, and will age nicely for another five or six years.
Proemio has a bouquet of mature black fruit and mushroom, layered with bitter almond. The warm palate delivers ripe raspberry and prune flavors, accented by black pepper and nutmeg. This is already developing complexity but is fast approaching its ideal drinking window, so enjoy soon.
Grapes from the Riverbend and Lewis vineyards are often featured in far more expensive bottles. Here they create a 50/50 blend with bright boysenberry fruit and a generous dash of spice and pepper.
This is delicious and forward, with aromas of ripe plum, spice and raisin. The rich palate delivers opulent black fruit flavors along with black licorice and white pepper notes. This is big, soft and open, and should be enjoyed soon.
Ripe and spicy, this is an opulent wine, showing great swathes of tropical fruits as well as pepper and just the right amount of acidity. The wine is rich, intense, concentrated and needs to age. Drink from 2016.
Stillwater Creek is the source of this 2012 rosé of Sangiovese, which sports a color that could easily be mistaken for Bandol. It's drinking very well, with complex flavors of strawberry and baking spices, nicely integrated.
This wine is all herbal fruits, with spice from the wood-aging and lively acidity. It has considerable potential, full of its nervy texture, minerality and tight acidity. Wait at least into 2020. Tristan and Loïc Kressmann now run the family estate.
Unusual for a Bordeaux, this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has plenty of tannins, although they are embedded in the pure black-currant fruits and the acidity. It shows the gentle side of Comtesse—fruit and freshness—although with spice and a touch of wood that are likely to balance soon. The wine will develop well over the next few years. Drink from 2022.
Yeasty like baked bread, this is a robust wine embodied by mint and dried herb, the tannins smoothly polished. The fruit speaks to edgy cranberry and red cherry, never getting sweet, yet still offering plenty of juicy flavor.
Structured but elegant, this polished wine opens with scents of tilled earth, dark-skinned berry, dark baking spice and a delicate note of toasted almond. The smooth, full-bodied palate delivers juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and white pepper while velvety tannins and fresh acidity lend balance and finesse.
Silky-smooth tannins surround a foundation of herb, cherry and plum before integrated oak gives way to thicker, richer elements of tobacco, smoke and chocolate. A well-made, 100% varietal wine, it offers exuberance and elegance.
This is a structured wine, firm with tannins and still showing some of the wood-aging. Red-berry fruits are cut with crisper blueberries and considerable acidity. This is going to be a firm wine that is lightened by the fruit, and a very good representative of the vintage. Drink from 2020.
Tar and smoke add a note of intrigue to dark, dense plum, blueberry and black cherry fruit. Everything is still held back, still taut, still tightly coiled. There is fine structure and smoky-tinged spice. Medium-bodied midpalate weight is countered by freshness and an elegant structure, what echoes is spiced blueberry. A very classy bottle indeed.
A hint of black, intense elderberry steals away almost as soon as it appears. Intriguing blueberry and plum remain on a slender, supple and lissom palate that is dense and toned. There is focus, concentration and purity, framed by stony notes, smoky oak and great freshness. This will take time to relax, so drink 2018–2025.
An stunning wine, this has enticing, complex aromas like black peppercorns, grilled beef, licorice and blackberries, with similarly layered flavors and a great sense of richness and depth. Full bodied and bold, it's packed with velvety tannins, yet finishes with elegant polish.
This intensely powerful wine is named in honor of the winery's co-proprietor and founder. Chewy and earthy, it's concentrated and robust, strong in black-cherry cola and truffle. From the estate vineyard surrounding the winery, it's for those who love their Pinots bold and velvety.
Taut grapefruit zest on the nose relaxes into lovely mandarin fruit and zest on the palate. This is fresh and fruity, flavorsome and rounded by rich mandarin flavor as only a slender, willowy Riesling can be. Totally refreshing with a pristine finish. This dances and pirouettes like a ballerina.
Intense aromas of red-skinned berry, fragrant blue flower, Oriental spice and a whiff of graphite take center stage. The taut, chewy palate doles out Marasca cherry, blackberry, anise, mocha and a peppery note alongside bright acidity and polished, fine-grained tannins.
A very restrained nose hints at citrus zest which comes into full, exciting force on the concentrated, taut and slender palate. This is so fine, so clean, that it suggests a cool, Alpine stream. Zesty freshness conquers all—just a few peppery, yeasty notes are glimpsed at the edges. A racy memento of the 2014 vintage.
Richly expressed black plum and strawberry notes mesh with Red Hot candies, purple flowers and potpourri aromas, along with flashes of rosemary and pine. The palate is perfumed with touches of lavender, anise, dried black sage and mint, laid across alpine strawberries, black cherry and raspberry fruit.
Deliciously flinty notes of good reduction still play on the nose and hover just above an immensely inviting waft of fresh green and yellow pears. The palate reveals more white pepper and savory yeast and a neon-strip of lively and brightening acidity. This is linear, zippy and superclean and yet brings all the varietal spice.
Gentle fruit notes hint at yellow pear, cantaloupe melon and ripe apricot. On the palate, the fruit develops real drive and is edged by the yeasty spice so typical of Grüner, accentuated by appetizing apple tartness and citric lift. The more you savor, the more this gives.
The slightest and most haunting aromatic promise is made on the nose. The palate does not disappoint and follows up in waves of fruit-tinged petals and floral fruitiness. The texture is taut, dense and packed with crushed blueberry and cherry, yet there is a lightness of touch and an unforced charm that make this very, very attractive. Freshness and white pepper add the finishing touches. Lovely.
Creamy, nutty hints of oak frame fresh pear on nose and palate. The creamy texture cushions the freshness of the wine which has a pleasant weight. Together this makes for an unusual but convincing wine. Lovely now but this has the mileage to last three to five years.
Blueberry and pepper beckon on a broodingly dark and moody palate. They deliver with an even spicier, more lusciously berried palate of dense intensity, yet there is nothing heavy about this. There is a pleasant tannic grip and immense freshness. Elegance, spice, velvet and poise unite in this very bottle.
This is a wild-yeast, barrel-fermented wine that makes one wonder why other producers' versions are so pricey. Silky textured and moderately weighty on the palate, it offers up complex aromas of smoky struck flint, subtle herbaceousnes and ripe melon and fig. Drink it now–2017.
This is a smashing American debut for this wine, which comes from a small vineyard atop Roy's Hill, overlooking the Gimblett Gravels. Welcoming peach and pineapple fruit is framed by toasted-grain elements in this whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented wine. It's mouthfilling, but maintains a sense of balance while finishing long, with hints of honey and citrus. Drink now–2018.
Lovely, hazelnut-scented creaminess signals the use of very well-handled oak. The palate has the same attractive, soft smokiness and a beautiful midpalate texture which accentuates a certain oiliness. This is cut by luminous, lemony freshness and makes for a very fluid, delicious but unusual white.
This is a sturdy, tannic wine, but one that should come around in a few years. Vanilla, cedar and dark fruit notes have the spotlight for now, with hints of mocha coming on strong on the long finish. Drink 2018–2025.
Succulent in white peach, pear and apple, this is a nicely balanced, pretty wine. It offers just the right amount of richness on the palate, with a swirl of vanilla caramel suggested in the background amid an intriguingly unexpected salty, pretzel-like finish.
A slightly powdery, pleasing notion of freshly cut red apple appears first, the palate is of a gossamer lightness, barely there but wonderfully zesty, fresh and clean with some savory overtones. This has the effect of a citrus sorbet and will be balm on a hot day. There's backbone if you care to look for it.
Citrus freshness suggests lovely lightness on the nose, the palate, however, weighs in with more zestiness and brings in more rounded flesh that plumps this out beautifully. The center of gravity is definitely on the spicy-midpalate but arrives on aromatic, almost floral wings.
Plum and cranberry mark the entry into this clone-specific wine, which becomes expansively juicy as it makes its way on the palate. Orange peel, cranberry and cardamom provide an exotic take on the variety, ending in earth and spice.
Cabernet Franc's aromatic, lovely leafiness cannot be denied and beckons you to taste. The palate is of classic stature: fine-boned, poised, dense with finely woven Cabernet tannins, fleshed out with the charming plum fruit of Merlot and spiced with just a little vanilla. Whoever made this had elegance in mind. Wonderfully balanced. Drink 2018–2025.
This wine has a good structure that's overlaid with wood flavors and given richness by the generous black fruits, but everything is in balance. The dry core is enveloped by the fruit and fresh aftertaste. Drink from 2020.
Grenache Blanc is a newcomer to the Northwest, and what little exists is rarely offered in a varietal wine. Here it's spicy and phenolic, with sharp definition. Green apple and diverse yellow fruits are in the mix, with a hint of mineral and plenty of bracing acidity.
This McFadden Chardonnay is temptingly priced. A value in its offerings of honey and apple, it's medium in weight but crisp, bright and clean in profile. On the finish, apple turns to lemon—always a nice touch when accompanying food, from seafood to chicken to pasta.
This mature blend of Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Macabeo is oily, plump and fragrant, but also blocky, chunky and on its last legs of freshness. Flowery peach, melon and papaya flavors end short, with an oily mouthfeel.
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with four other Bordeaux varieties in the mix, this wine brings an aromatic medley of cherry cola, dark chocolate, and light medicinal notes. The flavors don't entirely meld with the oak showing a bit too prominently, offset by grainy tannins.
The nose on this regularly solid Verdejo is mild, with aromas of apple, pear and melon. The palate is round and a touch fleshy, with modest acidity pushing pithy peach and pear flavors. The finish tastes of almond skins and apple.
This is the first table wine to come from this Cava producer and it has its ups and downs. The bouquet smells like Sprite with peach, while the palate is crisp, citric and pointed, with orange and lime flavors and an oxidized, stalky note to the finish. This is good but middle of the road as white wines go.
Don't be shocked by this wine's saucy, herbal nose, because that's what the grape variety gives. After you get used to the wine's herbal leanings, look for an oaky, herbal palate with vanilla and peppery flavors in front of a strong, scratchy finish.
A tart, short, sharp entry leads into raspberry and strawberry flavors, underscored with a light earthiness. The youthful fruit and bright acidity suggests it will show improvement with further bottle age, as the tannins smooth out.
This is a full-force wine with a scratchy bouquet and aromas of herbal fruit, vanilla and burnt stems. It's jumpy in the mouth, and not that smooth, with aggressive tannins and baked flavors of raisin, herbs and burnt fruit. On the finish, there's oaky caramel and chocolate along with heat and stewy notes.
This is a well-made Rioja with generic plum and berry aromas that come forth in fruity, bouncy fashion. The palate is medium bodied, with standard berry fruit flavors and very little spice or complexity. A finish with buttery oak and vanilla qualifies as oaky for the level of fruit this wine is bringing.
For its bold footprint (and the amount of wood aging it went through) this rich Zinfandel offers a depth of pleasant berry flavor and a measured texture, with a savory edge on the finish.
This is a broadly fruity, wide open style with fresh melon, pink grapefruit and orange marmalade flavors criss-crossing the palate. It's ready to enjoy right now, low in alcohol, with a touch of marshmallow sweetness to cut the acid.
A mature wine that has austerity and a severe countenance that is comes from the dry tannins. Secondary fruit flavors are now dominating, giving some juiciness but also a leathery texture. Drink now or over the next few months.
A firm and solid wine, tightly packed with tannins, black berry fruits and a dense structure. Laurence is Laurence Helfrich whose family owns the chateau. The wine could age for several years, but will be ready to drink in 2014.
The Insania White is 90% Semillon, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, and made at Three Rivers for heavy metal rocker Geoff Tate. The 2011 is round and fruity, with flavors of fig, apple and pear. It's a forward, juicy wine, quite tasty, but without the edgy depths of the 2010.
Not surprisingly, this young wine has dense, potent tannins, along with plenty of stem and herb accents. It's balanced texturally, and has rather acidic, young fruit flavors of cranberry and raspberry. At the moment it is the most chewy and tannic of all the 2010 reds from Animale.
This is made from estate-grown fruit in Jamieson Canyon, on the extreme southern end of the valley. Delicate in style with a soft and silky texture, it imparts rhubarb and cranberry accents around a core of rose flavor.
This firmly structured wine has robust tannins and concentrated black fruit. It's ripe and juicy, with blackberry flavor and acidity. Although drinkable now, it will be better from 2018.
Aromas of black plum, coffee and baking spice lead the nose on this hearty red. The ripe accessible palate displays prune, tobacco and vanilla framed in chewy assertive tannins. Drink through 2021.
This ripe, oak-aged wine has smooth tannins and rich black fruit. It's balanced between rich fruitiness and structure. Half Touriga Nacional and half Cabernet Sauvignon, the combination imparts a delicious, full-bodied aftertaste. Drink now.
Perfumed with oak and smoke, this is a full-bodied, robustly built and powerful reserve-level wine, the fruit taking on a candied berry quality as it opens. Soft tannins fill out the palate, while a layering of pepper and cinnamon notes weigh in, taking full strength on the finish.
This wine consists of all five red Bordeaux varieties plus 5% Syrah. Tart, soft and juicy with black and red cherry fruit, it's direct in its delivery of dried herb and licorice—flavors that complement the robust ripeness and density.
A blend of Garganega and Sauvignon, this has delicate aromas of citrus blossom and stone fruit. The aromas carry over to the savory palate along with yellow peach and papaya.
Not at all a fruit bomb, this medium-bodied wine smells like salt and pepper, has lightly earthy and herbal flavors and a crisp mouthfeel. It will prove a pleasant accompaniment to your next lunch or dinner.
Asian and Anjou pear aromas meet with fragrant peach blossom, honeydew and wet stone scents on the nose of this bottling, which shows strong promise for the variety in this region. The palate is richly textured, with light and bright candied red apple and kiwi flavors.
Produced in Israel from an ancient native grape that grows in Palestine, this wine offers a lean lemon aroma with a faint whiff of petrol. Citrus and light floral flavors are dominated by lime-sorbet notes, and this interesting yet easy-drinking quaff leaves one with a lingering lemon tingle on the palate.
This is a big, bold blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Sirah and 15% Zinfandel that persists in thick, dense tannin and leather and tobacco notes. Full of juicy black fruit and subtle cinnamon and pepper, it finishes clean.
This is a straightforward, lush and alluringly tart white that offers an oaky backbone of vanilla wrapped in fresh layers of fig, apple and green olive flavor.
Bright, juicy red raspberry and bramble aromas meet red spice and earthy loam characteristics on the nose of this bottling. Medium in density on the palate, it's playful and flavorful, if not especially complex, with hints of wild thyme giving herbal nuance its core of red fruit.
Although the nose of this blend of Tempranillo, Syrah and Grenache starts out subtly, it opens into deeper aromas of blueberry, soy and char. The palate is dry and tightly wound, its mineral flavors of graphite, slate and lava rock leading to blue fruit and tobacco touches on the finish.
Savory, caramelized toast and nut tones accentuate zippy apple and lemon flavors in this flirty, Prosecco-style Riesling. Ripe and forward, it's softer and easier in its approach than traditional Riesling Sekt. Enjoy through 2020.
Slightly muted tones of pressed apple and pear are brightened with lemon acidity in this dry light-footed wine. A hint riper and richer than Keuka Lake Vineyard's other 2015 Rieslings, it's texturally slick, enriched by streaks of honey and nectar. The finish is a bit savory, but brisk.
This wine brings together the two native grapes of Gaillac in one ripe, light and fruity whole. It has soft tannins and fine juicy acidity. There is a youthful rusticity to the wine and a crisp bright red-fruit aftertaste. Drink from 2018.
With just 49 acres for the whole appellation, Marcillac is a little-known area in the southern foothills of the central mountains of France, planted entirely with Mansois. This wine is smooth with a aromas of spice and tobacco, stalky tannins and black currant fruit. It can easily be drunk now, although this young and fruity wine will be better from 2018.
There's a pleasant fruity richness to this wine, with pronounced aromas and flavors of peach, pear and guava that are hit by notes of toast and baking spice. It's generous on the palate and full in feel, with a welcome acidic lift on the close. Drink now.
Made from 100% Melnick this garnet-colored wine has aromas of black cherry, blueberries and rolled tobacco leaf. In the mouth there are flavors of cherry, cassis and blueberry before the firm tannic finish.
This is a rich, full and structured wine with a great balance between black fruit and tannins. It shows the stony minerality of the Douro, with generous fruit and acidity. Drink from 2018.
Grown in the schist terraces of the Douro, this wine is a Touriga Franca-dominated blend. Thyme and eucalyptus flavors are balanced by richly structured red berry fruit and tannins. It will be ready from 2018.
Slightly astringent, textural tones of citrus rind, apple peel and almond skin are supported by rich notes of pineapple and mango. The medium-weight palate is zingy and refreshing, with an orange-zest flavor and soft toasty character on the close. Drink now.
Hints of dusty mineral and blossom accent this crisp grapefruit-scented Riesling. While dry in style, it's exceptionally light in body. The finish is brisk, touched with hints of earth and lime.
Delicate hints of fresh raspberry and red cherry extend throughout this light crisply composed red. A still-rare American Gamay, it's accented with touches of light toast and cedar. It's a slightly fragile wine that should be enjoyed now through 2021.
Dusty herb and cedar dot the landscape of this well-made, tiny-production wine, that shows plenty of varietal character. A juicy core of cassis is buoyed by tingling acidity, keeping the full-bodied character refreshing and food-friendly.
This is a powerful ripe wine, packed with black fruits and firm tannins. It is an impressive blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz, rich with black-plum flavors, a dark texture and great structure. This is a wine to age. Drink from 2020.
Richly smooth, this is a beautifully generous wine that brings out the perfumed nature of the Syrah. Ripe with black fruits, it is still packed with dark tannins and dense concentrated fruit. Drink this powerful wine from 2018.
Supple, almost silky in the mouth, this slips into lush flavors of mocha truffle, with a core of raspberry fruit. It remains a bit tight through the finish, with light streaks of coffee and fresh herb. Delicious already, it seems destined to improve further with a bit more bottle age. Drink now through 2025.
This wine symbolizes extended barrel aging, thus the name, the winery's holding back of certain barrels for extra aging. This is the incredible result, ready for more time in bottle, a thick, dense and smoothly layered expression of red raspberry, fig, plum and coconut. Structured, it'll do well in the cellar, best to be enjoyed from 2023 to 2033.
Deep black cherry, sarsaparilla and vanilla show on the full and hearty nose of this bottling from the historic vineyard that was planted in the 1970s. It's tightly woven on the palate, with earthy spice and dark red fruits. The acidity holds crisp deep into the finish.
Outcrop was planted in 1982, and these older vines emphasize the elegance of the grape. This cuvée seems most reflective of the Eyrie Pinots of the 1980s and 1990s, but with better overall ripeness and no old barrel funk. Tart cranberry and pomegranate fruits combine with ample citrusy acids and freshly cut herbs. Give this wine time and attention and it rewards you with extra dimensions.
Louisa Sawyer Lindquist's racy bottling would make the Rías Baixas crowd happy. Asian pear, nectarine, crushed rock and pithy citrus aromas bring great tension to the nose. The palate delivers a chalky minerality, bright and fresh acidity and refreshing if slightly sour lime peel flavors.
Tinta Negra Mole, widely planted in Madeira, is a chameleon grape that can take on the character of any grape or style the producer fancies. Here it has transmuted into a rich Bual, wood aged and with old-gold flavors and color. The acidity at the end, which is what will preserve the wine for many years, is intense and impressive. Drink now.
This is the family's top wine—a blend of selected Pinot Noir and Chardonnay lots from their 25 acres. Made to be aged, it still shows its extra-crisp fruit and acidity, needing time to soften and bring out its full, rich potential. Drink from 2019.
Inviting aromas of blackberry, cola and mixed spices are thorough. This Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend feels fresh, with balanced acidity and tannins that prod and poke. Lightly herbal, woodsy berry and plum flavors finish with classic Chilean notes of olive, tobacco and foresty spices. Drink through 2023.
Soft, and dancing in strong, present acidity, this wine honors the vineyard site in its bright, fresh components of rhubarb and pomegranate. Within the freshness and savory seasonings of sage and black tea, it remains boldly robust and ripe, with plenty of density.
Rich round cherry fruit, lightly infused with tobacco highlights, introduces this delicious wine. There is a pleasing softness to the palate, without it being in any way flat or flabby. The fruit seems more mature than the young vintage would suggest, and it's drinking more like a wine from half a decade ago, which means you don't need to cellar it to get cellar-style flavors. Pie cherry, orange peel and even a touch of pineapple peeks through the lingering finish.
Yeasty in baked bread aromas with an integrated framework of soft tannin and oak, this clone designate offers bright acidity amidst a ripeness of red currant and plum. Coffee flavor and tobacco give it an additional complexity of savory tension.
Roasted beef, chipped asphalt and black currant conspire for a very deep and brooding but not overly powerful nose on this bottling from winemaker Trey Fletcher. The palate pops with thyme, rosemary, dried flowers and pepper, with the tangy black plum fruit only emerging with patience. Built to last.
This is one of the best wines Terranoble has ever bottled. Wide-grained oak aromas are creamy and dominant, with lead pencil, plum and berry fruit scents resting below the surface. Oaky, lightly baked plum and boysenberry flavors finish in layers, with barrel-driven spice notes adding complexity. Drink through 2022.
Sizzling acidity lies beneath a density of ripe, smooth and rounded texture, the dusty flavors rich in black cherry, berry and dark chocolate.
Oaky aromas suggest sandalwood along with plum and blackberry. This feels lively but also tight and gripping, something that a few years on its side should tame. Ripe black-fruit flavors are savory on the backside. It is firmly structured, with a meaty flavor on the finish. Drink through 2026.
This elegant vibrant red offers aromas of tilled soil, Mediterranean herb, red berry, a hint of leather and a floral note. The polished palate doles out black raspberry, red currant, licorice and white pepper alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. A mineral note lifts the finish.
Dark chocolate speaks loudest in this wine, blended with 9% Petit Verdot, the grapes sourced from three vineyards across the valley, from Calistoga to Coombsville. Smoky and soft, it offers decadence within a lengthy structure, highlighted in ruby raspberry and blackberry.
This elegant red opens with alluring aromas of violet, tilled earth and red berry. The savory juicy palate doles out black cherry, raspberry, white pepper and cinnamon framed in firm, polished tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2017–2026.
A full package of aromas includes notes of cedar, vanilla, earthy spice and ripe black fruits. Ripeness is no issue on the palate, which feels intense but controlled. Flavors of berry fruits and black currant are chocolaty, with herbal spice notes. Finally, a long powerful finish tastes of spice-infused chocolate. Drink through 2023.
A combination of very ripe fruit and charred oak results in aromas of blackberry, prune, raisin and burnt toast. In the mouth, this is saturated and rich, with structured tannins. Roasted black-fruit flavors are savory and show sweet notes of baking spices, while this finishes with density and lingering grip. Drink from 2019–2028.
A magenta color and ripe grapy aromas of black fruits accented by spice and olive open this plump wide-bodied Carmenère. Spicy black cherry and blackberry flavors are stout and rock solid on a unwavering finish. Drink through 2020.
As the label indicates, this is the eighth edition of this top-level reserve (none was made in 2013). It's given 40% new oak, and tasted alongside the winery's other 2014 Pinots it's clearly the most concentrated, with plush fruit, sweet spice, and highlights of tobacco and vanilla. Drink now through the early 2020s.
Light at first, almost delicate, this pretty wine has strawberry and pomegranate fruit, gentle herbal highlights, and tannins that taste of green tea. The finish turns a bit astringent, with a lick of cola. Give it some hours of aeration and it fleshes out, with a lush mix of tart fruit and milk chocolate barrel flavors.
This is a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Lemberger—and yet the Lemberger is the dominant grape. The color is dark, the aromas and flavors are chunky and less nuanced than pure Pinot Noir, and the tannins are ripe but lack the silky character of Pinot. It's a solid, robust red that would make a nice match for burgers and the like.
Blackberry, cocoa, pepper and a touch of herbs on the nose give this hearty red some muscle. The flavors of cocoa powder, slate, spicebox and cherry are clean and easy-drinking. Food-friendly, the wine will benefit from decanting and could use some time in the cellar.
This crisp, easy-drinking entry-level Riesling from the Peter Nicolay estate represents a good buy. It's plump, with a nice balance of sweet and tart ripe apples and zesty limes that provide great refreshment value.
A little oaky and leathery at first, but as a whole this wine sings a nice song. The palate is firm and structured, with a lot of forward oak as well as juicy wild blackberry flavors. Lightly roasted and salinic on the finish, with length.
Fresh but full with ripe flavors of kiwi and Key lime citrus accented by savory herbs on the palate. Balanced, with bracing acidity and a lingering finish accented by notes of white peach. A nice choice for poached halibut. 300 cases imported.
Although it's standard in many ways, sometimes regularity done right works. In this case, the wine brings tropical aromas along with saline and green herbs. In the mouth, it's fresh and briney, with tropical fruit, citrus and green notes. Tangy and pure; nice for the price.
Black olive and lightly baked berry and cassis aromas honestly reflect the wine's Cauquenes old-vines roots. The mouth is tight, granular and jammy, with bold flavors of raisin, plum and berry. This is pretty rich and red-fruited, with a sweet side and controlled medicinal touches.
Despite the name, purchasing this wine is definitely not a giant mistake. For the price, this red blend offers loads of rich berry preserve flavors matched assertively with coffee, chocolate and caramel accents. The palate is smooth but the tannins hang on firmly through the close.
Apple, pear and nectarine fruit scents lead the nose of this wine, with a touch of raw almond contributing a gentle nutty accent. Medium weight with great vibrancy and freshness, a lively sweet citrus core lifts the palate and remains through the close.
Estate-grown and fruit-driven, this lush, pear-flavored Pinot Gris is dotted with pretty cinnamon and allspice highlights. Forward and nicely balanced, it has the texture and weight to handle rich sauces, much like a big Chardonnay, but without all the new oak.
The prickly mouth and forward acidity makes this a live-wire choice that would be a great companion to a rich chicken dish or cream of asparagus soup. Fresh- cut grass, soft chive and watermelon rind all occasionally shine through the citrus-dominant nose and mouth. Drink now.
Pungent and nettle-y, but those elements are nicely counterbalanced by a medium-bodied core of pineapple and fig. Finishes pleasantly soft; easy to drink.
Clear, breezey tangerine and grapefruit aromas roll out the red carpet on this crisp, citrusy SB that pours on the green fruit and scallion flavors. The palate is both round and crisp, and the finish is long and juicy. For fresh, citrusy, varietally correct Sauvignon Blanc, it's hard to do better.
Luisa Ponzi does such an excellent job with her top of the line Pinots that it is no surprise that this entry-level bottle really shines. Immaculate fruit, polished tannins, a vivacious, fruit-laden mouthfeel, all combine into a wine that has both suppleness and varietal power. It does not have the density of the pricier siblings, but it makes up for it with food-friendly acidity.
Nice and ripe, with light whiffs of olive and herbs and strong berry fruit aromas. The palate is pure Maipo, meaning it blends herbal notes with black fruits, especially cassis. Firm in structure, stout on the finish, and ends with a hint of chocolate.
A nice dusty Zinfandel from Sobon's Cougar Hill, with spicy, pepper and cedar elements rounding out the prominent blackberry. A deeply concentrated wine that would be great with barbecue.
Appealing aromas of acacia flower, Alpine herb and citrus follow over to the refined palate along with yellow apple, Bartlett pear and lemon zest. Crisp acidity brightens the creamy flavors.
This 100% Pinot Nero offers intense aromas of red berries and black currants. The elegant palate delivers raspberries, green tea and a hint of cinnamon alongside silky tannins and fresh acidity. Enjoy soon.
Dark-skinned berry, pressed violet, pipe tobacco and chopped herb aromas take center stage. The smooth juicy palate is already approachable, offering fleshy morello cherry, fig, licorice and a hint of black tea. Velvety tannins lend it a supple texture. Drink through 2021.
Blossom and steel aromas collide in this deliciously ripe yet nuanced semisweet Riesling. While luscious yellow cherry and apricot flavors penetrate on the palate, it shows lively freshness, amplified by breathless mineral vitality.
From the oldest vines sourced by the producer, this reserve-tier wine delivers tart, briny apple and pear flavors with a high-toned squeeze of lemon. Aged in 30% new French oak, it balances richness with elegance and delicacy.
Aromas of pineapple, white peach and lemon blossom invite you in for a mouthful of peach and green-apple flavors. There's nice weight on the palate and pleasant minerality before the crisp finish.
Delicate whiffs of cherry blossom and white pepper perfume this fresh, fruity Cabernet Franc. On the palate, bright raspberry and cherry flavors are unadorned by oak or spice tones, lending a pristine forward sunniness. It's an uncomplicated but irresistibly tasty red.
This wine has a dark color, classic cedar and black currant aromas, ripe fruit flavors and firm tannins along with raspberry-like acidity. It has been well-sculpted with barrel age—polishing any rough tannic edges—and will taste great with a thick steak or chop.
This opens with aromas of ripe black plum, resin and nutmeg. The concentrated palate delivers mature blackberry, clove and chocolate framed in polished tannins. A licorice note signals the close. Drink through 2020.
The sweet wines from the southwest of the Gers region, made in small quantities, bring together two of the greatest grapes of the French southwest. The wine is in fact semisweet, with a dry undertone as well as acidity. It has hints of botrytis as well as orange marmalade, with a tangy aftertaste. Drink from 2019.
Ripe flavors and full body give this wine plenty of impact, its thick layer of fine tannins holding together ripe plum and black cherry fruit. It has good concentration to match its grippy, tannic mouthfeel, so it's a good candidate for further aging. Best from 2020.
A blend of grapes from different growers, this is a structured, firm wine. It has a core of drying tannins as well as the bright fruitiness of the vintage. As it develops, that fruit will grow richer and fuller yet always maintaining a crisp edge. Drink from 2019.
Blending grapes from around the appellation, this wine is a fine reflection of its structure and minerality. It's rich and full, while keeping plenty of crisp acidity to contrast its creamy texture. It needs to age for another year, so wait until 2018.
Aromas of raspberry, thyme and sage are the lead-in to flavors of black cherry, cassis, cranberry, smoked meat and violet. Tannins are slightly stiff, but that is more than made up for by a constant sense of zippy acidity that carries on right into a bright and lingering finish.
Black plum, mulberry, clove and lava rock-like minerality show on the ripe and rounded nose of this bottling from a Paso Robles-based winery. The flavors are fairly reserved at this stage, the focus on its firm structure, but tart plum-skin, thyme, marjoram and cardamom touches will emerge with time.
Aromas suggesting sun-baked earth, leather, underbrush, ripe plum, espresso and a balsamic note lead the way. On the full-bodied palate, licorice and clove notes add depth to a core of ripe dried cherry. Solid tannins provide the firm framework.
This estate in Estremoz—the heart of the Alentejo—has made a ripe and full-bodied wine from the Bordeaux grape Petit Verdot. Produced in open-top stone fermenters, it's deeply colored, firm with tannins and brightened by ripe blackberry fruit. Drink from 2018.
Fragrant blue flower, spiced plum, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas meld together. The elegant almost ethereal palate offers succulent red cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and a hint of nutmeg framed in supple polished tannins. Drink through 2022.
Gorgeously purple in hue, this sharp, peppery Lemberger offers loads of concentrated blackberry and plum flavors. It's lavishly textured yet sharply balanced, marked by crisp acidity and fine tannins. Savory complexities of smoked meat and tobacco linger through a long, velvety finish.
This appellation blend is one of the more well-rounded Sauvignon Blancs on the market, with dried lime, Anjou pear, herb and apple cider scents on the nose. The palate is both grassy and mineral, its wet pavement flavors intertwined with pine needle and grapefruit pith.
Walla Walla Valley-designated white wines are a rarity. This one brings aromas of apple skin and pear, showing a very clean profile that leads to dry creamy-feeling fruit flavors. It's capped off by a warm finish, speckled with barrel accents. Overall, it provides a lot of intrigue.
Red berry, iris, chopped herb and culinary spice aromas come together in the glass. The round approachable palate offers mature cherry, raspberry, pipe tobacco and star anise framed in lithe tannins. Drink through 2023.
This is a stellar deal, so buy and drink up now. Lime blossom, ripe nectarine, lemongrass and wet gravel aromas show on the nose. The palate is focused and grassy, fleshed out with ripe stone fruit and layers of lime peel and rain-drenched cement. Elegant yet approachable.
Producers in Cahors are re-introducing Chenin Blanc back to its original home. That it is a happy grape in a Cahors vineyard is proved by this deliciously ripe and perfumed wine. It is full with a balance with crispness and white and yellow fruits. It could age another few months, so drink from 2018.
Somewhat unusual for the appellation, this wine doesn't include any Syrah; the blend is 80% Grenache and 20% Carignan. This medium- to full-bodied wine offers hints of Mexican chocolate, ripe black cherries and dried herbs backed by a smooth, silky, long finish. Drink now–2022.
Aromas of blackberry, vanilla and violet lead into flavors of black cherry, blueberry, custard, anise and a suggestion of mint. This wine is bright and fruity at first sip, but it stiffens up after a few moments as plush tannins coat the palate. The strawberry finish is marked with a touch of black pepper.
Made entirely with Moscato Rosa, this boasts heady scents of rose petal, wild strawberry and a hint of lavender. The silky palate delivers raspberry jam, candied orange zest and a hint of cake spice. Refreshing acidity nicely offsets the sweetness.
This blends 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Bright and mellow on the palate, it shows black raspberry, cola and brown sugar flavors offset by earthy undertones. The oak is integrated and supportive.
Unusual for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Brunel's white is 80% Roussanne (the other 20% is Grenache Blanc). It's a lush, fruit-forward style, with ripe pineapple and peach elements that nonetheless show surprising lift and freshness on the long finish. Drink now.
Delicately scented, this opens with whiffs of white spring flower and orchard fruit. The crisp palate mirrors the nose, offering apple, pear and citrus, alongside bright acidity. A hint of wet stone wraps up the finish.
The heavy bottle leaves little doubt that this is the top wine from Château Eugénie. Inside is an impressive, beautifully balanced wine. It has new-wood mint flavors, with still young fruit. In 4–5 years, this will be at its peak
An impressively powerful wine that balances the blackest of juicy fruit with dark, dusty and dense tannins. The right amount of wood aging and acidity are in the mix. Harmonious while still concentrated.
Dark chocolate and black currant flavors dominate this concentrated wine. It is densely tannic, while still allowing room for the brooding fruit to show through. Still young, it will age slowly and impressively over the next five years.
Black as ink, this is a rich and beautifully smooth, concentrated wine. It has weight and depth of flavor, with cinnamon and finely integrated opulent fruit and tannins. This is a wine for aging over several years.
Joseph Jewell's 2009 Elk Prairie is even better than its 2008, which is saying something. This vintage opens with perfumed cola spice and cinnamon that evolves in its lightly textured, lush mouthfeel into decadent strawberry in crème Anglaise. Bright, with a lingering finish, this Pinot Noir only gets better while in the glass.
Although the Chestnut Hill selection from Lemelson remained stubbornly hard and tight after opening, it rewarded extra patience with added depth and polish. The red fruits showed the most concentration of all the 2009s from this producer, and oak accents of cinnamon and toast were beautifully integrated. A seamless middle and exceptional length mark this wine as one to cellar.
A very dry Port, the tannins concentrating the fruit into a tight, mineral ball. Even if the fruit is suppressed at this stage, it will show through in years to come, leaving a structured but rich wine.
From this top Bergerac producer comes this powerful blend. With its 30% Malbec, it has intense tannins and a firm, solid structure, with dense and richly concentrated blackberry fruit. It does need to age for at least five years.
Even the stain on the base of the cork reveals this wine's huge color. With its open richness and structure, it's comparable to a Rhône wine. Wood aging has lended notes of spice to go with the flavors of plum jelly and ripe, sweet fruit.
A powerful, full-bodied and rich wine. Its tannins are already well balanced, layered within the dense black fruit. The wood aging brings hints of bitter chocolate and spice to go with its impressive fruit. This is a wine for aging over the next 4–5 years.
The wood aging has not yet left the fruit behind in this warm, rich yet dry Port. It has intense concentration, the herbs and spices showing through the rich, smooth texture. The aftertaste is rounded, even with its fortified edge.
Smooth and rich, its tannins are buried in the ripe, sumptuous fruit. It's packed with red-berry, wild-strawberry and raspberry flavors, along with intense and juicy acidity. The structure does have a dry edge that promises aging, although the wine is very ready to drink now.
Tiregand has long been the big name in Pécharmant. Although the estate fell behind, it seems now to have managed to use a traditional approach to create a impressive wines. This wood-aged wine, with its mint aromas and dense yet elegant tannins, is a good case in point. Wait for 5–6 years before drinking.
Opaque in color, with a driving bouquet loaded with graphite, pastry and incredibly ripe black-fruit aromas. Feels rich, but with fine acidity creating superb balance. Tastes like a cascade of blackberry, cassis and chocolate, and then comes a finish of coconut, vanilla and texture. Drink now through 2014; contains 9% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Stylish, precise, elegant and evocative, the Jessie may be the best of an excellent single-vineyard lineup from Cristom in 2009. Light toast rims deep black-fruit flavors, with excellent concentration. The lengthy finish brings in streaks of espresso and clean earth. This has the balance and detail to reward significant cellaring.
A powerful, long-term wine. Its density and great concentration all show a solid, powerful character. Jammy black fruits combine with dark tannins and acidity in an already balanced wine. Hold for 4–5 years, but with the sweet fruit, it could be consumed younger.
Charcoal aromas shadow standard black fruit scents. This is forward in its approach, with a sturdy mouthfeel. Black plum and blackberry flavors feature a lot of vanilla and cream, while the finish is mild, straightforward and tastes mostly like oak and associated vanilla. Drink now through 2020.
This is a balanced wine that has attractive citrus flavors, riper peach and pineapple and a light apricot perfume from the Viognier in the blend. It is rich while having plenty of freshness. Drink from late 2016.
Dark berry, baking spice, herb, tobacco and a menthol note lead the nose along with a whiff of oak. The linear palate is still all wound up, showing more dark spice than fruit richness. Racy acidity and astringent tannins provide a firm backbone.
Aromatically spicy, with a blast of citrus, this follows through with tart cranberry fruit. It's accented with pine needles and more of that tangy citrusy acidity.
Ripe red cherry and raspberry penetrate deeply throughout this sunny, yet briskly composed Pinot Noir. It's approachable and uncomplicated in style, but pristine juicy flavors make it quite quaffable. Drink now.
Baking spice, dried flower, dark-skinned berry and a whiff of coconut lead the nose on this straightforward Barolo. The firm palate offers dried black cherry, toast and vanilla alongside firm, tightly knit tannins.
Polished and fragrant, this charming red offers alluring scents of freshly picked rose, red berry, tilled soil and a whiff of aromatic herb. Vibrant acidity and supple tannins balance the bright cherry, strawberry, white pepper and anise flavors. Enjoy through 2017.
This blend holds 59% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 13% Petite Sirah and 4% Zinfandel. Slightly reserved at first, with some patience it begins to show violets, boysenberries and sandalwood on the nose. Aromatic purple flowers arise on the sip, along with dark chocolate and black currant. But the wine is rigidly structured, remaining quite wound-up even after many hours open.
The color of oxblood, this meaty, tannic wine pours espresso, black licorice and composted earth around tart blackberry fruit. It's aromatic, spicy and nicely balanced.
Aromas that recall stewed prune, cherry steeped in spirits, baking spice, toast and a whiff of menthol lead the nose and carry through to the firm palate along with notes of coffee, grilled sage and clove. Bracing tannins provide the framework. Give this a few more years to unwind then drink up. Best after 2020.
Dusty crushed mineral and smoke tones extend from start to finish in this sprightly off-dry Riesling. The palate balances savory and sweet well, highlighting its sweet red apple, honey and peach tones. The finish is moderately long.
There's a lot of slate minerality on the nose of this bottling, alongside bright and fresh boysenberry fruit and a pine-needle character. The palate is tart with plum skin and grippy tannins, well balanced and also showing just the right amount of barnyard funk.
This is a toasty oaky version of Pinot Noir, loaded with cedar, vanilla and wood-derived tannins. Yet there's enough cherry fruit to provide ample support, and delicate herbal shadings peer through on the bright, concentrated finish. Drink now through 2020.
Invigorating white grapefruit and lemons are cast against a deep mineral backdrop in this dry, thirst quenching wine. It's delicate and filigreed on the palate with a brisk, tight finish. Drink now.
Shocks of ripe rich yellow peach and pineapple revitalize the palate of this animated off-dry Riesling. Simultaneously bracing and sun-drenched, it's a straightforward yet delectably juicy treat. Enjoy now while young.
Aromas of children's vitamins, corn stalk and white peach set up a lemony stony zesty palate with lemon and nectarine flavors. A stony crisp cleansing finish does the job while not faltering.
A bouquet of blackberry, black plum, anise and white chocolate sets the scene for flavors of black plum, strawberry, cocoa powder and licorice with a burst of pomegranate. This wine is soft on entry, with a nice interplay of tannins and acidity that persists into the subdued finish.
Impressively dry, medium bodied, very firmly tannic and showing complex fruit flavors, this Zinfandel-based wine needs time to mellow. It smells like fresh raspberries and blackberries, and tastes concentrated and mouthcoating, while the astringent tannins hold everything back just a bit. It contains 34% Syrah and 21% Petite Sirah, and will be best after 2018.
With plenty of solid tannins to keep the structure firm, this is also based around fresh black fruits. The two elements have produced a wine that, as it matures, will become balanced and poised. It's not dense, but presents elegant structure that has enough richness. Drink this wine from 2018.
Mature berry, dark cooking spice and blue flower are some of the aromas that emerge on this firm red. On the palate, ground pepper, clove and licorice accent a black cherry core while brisk acidity provides the racy framework.
Saffron, fennel and spice are peppered throughout the nose and palate of this savory nuanced Riesling. Off-dry and zesty, it hits the palate with stacatto movements of acidity and sweetness.
Earthy and full-bodied, this offers aromas of truffle, scorched earth, leather, game and mature black-skinned fruit. The warm palate offers black cherry marinated in spirits, star anise and clove alongside brooding tannins. It shows the heat of the vintage so drink sooner rather than later.
This full-bodied wine smells ripe and buttery, like a pear tart, and has similar tasty flavors like ripe apple, vanilla and cream. Though it's not technically sweet, the personality is generous and the texture soft and rich.
Black olive, boysenberry, graphite and cracked pepper season up a slightly gamy nose on this bottling from a popular Los Alamos vineyard. The flavors are a study of blackness, with peppercorns, asphalt and deep purple fruits that are both dark and tart, all framed by a boisterous acidity.
Imprint joins the Dundee Hills Vineyards cuvée as Winderlea's entry-level blends. This is quite delicious, a refined mix of plum and berry. Delicate scents of rosewater and cherries contribute to the overall sense of elegance.
The red juiced Alicante Bouschet has produced a powerful and generous wine that's rich and full of southern sun as well as dark black fruits. It is concentrated and impressive with its ripe flavors. Foot-trodden in open fermenters, it is full and generous needing to age until 2017.
So easy to enjoy, this mild-tasting but full-bodied wine is fruity in flavor and soft in texture. It has an earthy, savory aroma, generous plum and berry flavors, a mineral influence, light tannins and a lingering finish.
This is a bright, effusive, full-bodied wine, with underlying acidity that keeps it fresh in the glass. Apple and pear flavors combine with firm texture, providing weight and breadth.
This new offering from the sparkling wine producer reveals strongly crafted layers of creamy apple pie, crème brûlée and toasty oak flavors. Made in a full-bodied, concentrated style, it doesn't hold back on its spicy acidity and lemony finish.
Well-integrated blueberry and purple flower aromas make for a casual rather than bombastic nose in this blend of 32% Syrah, 28% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 15% Petite Sirah. Roasted meat, charred blackberry and dried fennel notes show on the palate, feeling very balanced and acid-even.
This high-wire wine skirts along tart red fruits with a stiff herbal spine. Sourced from Lange Estate, Freedom Hill and Yamhill vineyards, it was aged in 40% new French oak. A nice streak of espresso, licorice and char completes the finish.
This Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, with 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, is complex and intriguing. It boasts a full profile of ripe fruit tones, expressed in layers of baked cherry, plum and rhubarb cake that are accented by notes of cured bacon, leather and pressed purple flowers. The palate is surprisingly smooth and silky, thanks to resolved, approachable tannins and a lingering sweet-smoke hit on the finish.
This Zinfandel from a warm area that hugs the Arroyo Seco appellation boundary (and will likely one day be part of it) shows baked blueberry, nutmeg, clove, licorice and turned loam aromas. Its dark plum and boysenberry flavors are strong, yet rocky mineral notes, cocoa spice and upright tannins kick it up to the next level.
Loaded with finesse, this bright creamy wine hits all the right buttons. It opens with lovely scents of acacia flower and white stone fruit while the polished silky palate delivers yellow apple, ripe pear and lemon zest alongside fresh acidity. An elegant mousse lends suppleness.
This larger production offering from the respected producer is a testament to the benefit of sourcing from multiple sites. It showcases an interesting oyster shell note, as well as robust, caramelized oak. Honey and baked apple flavors lend richness and concentration.
This wine's firm, sizable tannins underscore mountain sage and brush aromas, as layers of red and black cherry come into focus. Medium bodied and gravelly in texture, it shows power within a comfortable frame of integrated oak.
Fresh squeezed lime, apple cider and wet stone aromas meet with a touch of mulling spice on the nose of this appellation blend, which is excellently priced. The palate is clean and crisp, with pear and lime flavors as well as a touch of salt.
There is a distinct tannic edge to this 100% Pinot Noir Champagne. It gives a firm character and with spice as well as red fruits and citrus. These elements, not quite integrated, show the wine needs to age further. Drink from 2019.
Very ripe yellow plum, immediately tempered by zesty grapefruit, is the chief notion on the nose. The palate seems softer and even has a smoky note. Slender and mineral, this is toned and light-footed. The layered palate pulls to mind very stony soils. Beautiful now but will get even better—if you can wait at all. Drink as of 2017.
Smoky citrus aromas build a structure for a lighter, delicate yet very ripe wine. The acidity is like a fault line and accentuates different fresh fruits like peach, mango and tart passion fruit. Aromatically, this is a total winner with its sleek and slender palate.
Perhaps one of the best wines for the money available right now, Andrew Murray delivers aromas of cherry, blackberry, lavender and a white pepper wow factor on the very inviting, florally driven nose. The wine looks silky in the glass, and flavors of black cherry, anise, violet and oregano are easily accessible to a wide variety of palate preferences.
Subdued, ripe, yellow pear meets yeasty, almost soy-like savoriness head-on to create a palate full of interest. The wine conveys weight, concentration and a bit of alcoholic heat, but it's all carried of with peppery panache. Lovely now but will only get better.
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Petit Verdot coming from the cool 2011 vintage, this wine leans into the savory with notes of leafy herbs, cherry, raspberries and woodspice. The supple, textured, dazzling mouthfeel is the star of this show, with elegance and deftness leading to an exceptionally long finish.
A blend of Cabernet Franc (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (18%) with the rest equal parts Merlot and Petit Verdot, this wine offers brooding notes of herbs, black currant, mineral and flowers. The lighter color belies its rich structure of firm tannins and tart, lively acids that merit time in the cellar to be fully appreciated. Best after 2018 but will be well worth the wait.
Structured and refined, this opens with aromas of mature berry, a hint of leather, savory herb and cooking spice. The focused palate delivers black cherry, raspberry, black pepper and licorice alongside youthfully austere tannins. Give this time to wind down and develop complexity. Drink 2018–2024.
This 100% varietal wine from a young, emerging vineyard was aged in mixture of new French (86%) and American oak. It's aromatically brooding with notes of dark coffee, vanilla, dark cherry, herbs and chocolate. The polished black fruit flavors are rich yet light on their feet with the tannins combed to a fine sheen and mouthwatering acids. Best from 2020–2027.
This wine opens with freshly peeled mandarin segments and notes of white blossom. The palate is soft, subtle in its flavors and full of appetizing and fruity juiciness. The Riesling backbone of zestiness makes itself felt on the clean, long and citrusy finish.
A gently floral nose that also acknowledges hints of fern and fig leaf provides a fitting entry to this elegantly nuanced Grüner, which subtly plays between those aromas and more citrus. Gentle but focused and concentrated, it accentuates depth rather than power.
Pinot Noir pro Adam Lee shows his Rhône colors with this cool-climate bottling that offers scents of black pepper, violets, purple fruit and fried pork. It's both lush and energetic on the palate, presenting dark blackberry flavors but with acidic verve. An exciting look at the grape's varied potential.
More broodingly dark cherry is hardly possible. While the fruit is sumptuous, the palate remains toned and fresh. Because of the clean-cut fruit, one almost forgets to notice the subtle minerality plus a perceptible but gracious tannin structure with no heaviness. Just authentic fruit and wonderful poise.
Hints of red and black cherry are joined by darker notions of black berries. The palate seems tinged with black elderberry and iron oxide with a central vein of acidity. There is structure, the slightest tannin grip plus lots of elegance and poise. Nonetheless, this will be truer to itself by 2017–2018. Full of promise.
Sprightly grapefruit zest notions play with peppery arugula to make a spicy streamline along the palate. White pepper is vibrant along the edges and delivers lots of excitement on the tight, concentrated and slender palate. Beautiful now but with the stuffing to age.
Fragrant berry, blue flower, rose petal, baking spice and a balsamic note lead the nose on this sleek, structured wine. The palate doles out crunchy red-cherry, juicy strawberry, clove, cinnamon and savory herb shadings alongside firm yet polished tannins and surprisingly fresh acidity for a hot vintage. It's loaded with finesse and already accessible. Drink through 2019.
A McLaren Vale standard bearer, the 2010 Hillside is a complex, beguiling example of Shiraz. Toast and vanilla notes frame hints of raspberries, herbs and espresso on the nose, while the flavors add olive-tinged elements. Despite showing ample weight, this isn't the biggest wine, just one that shows impressive harmony and length. Drink now through at least 2025.
This wine is an excellent value in the world of big, rich Shiraz. While the vanilla and boysenberry aromas seem simple at first, the bouquet and flavors develop impressively with time in the glass, adding hints of roasted meat, mocha and black olive. It's full bodied and rich in texture, with a long, mouth-coating finish. Drink now–2025.
Made from 75% Syrah with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, this is barrel fermented and aged in 100% new French oak. A hedonistic wine, it offers notes of mineral, dark cherries, herbs, earth and smoked meat. It's supple, rich and creamy in feel, with abundant cherry flavors that show great concentration and intensity.
Lusciously ripe notes of apricot and honeydew melon demand attention. The palate is more toned down but has dimensions of peppery arugula and lovage leaves. The finish is long and savory with a citrus kick.
Structured and still remarkably young, this vibrant wine delivers aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, cinnamon and licorice. It's balanced with bright acidity and youthfully austere tannins that need time to mellow out. Drink 2018–2033.
Lifted notes of Conference pear blended with creamy, balmy aloe vera create an intriguing, friendly and inviting nose, while a pleasantly bitter edge suggests some grapefruit zest. The palate is zingy, sprightly and fresh, almost belying the concentrated power at its base. Texturally this is a pleasure too, with a wonderfully ripe phenolic edge.
Still very young and austere, this should blossom into a beauty. Aromas of leather, red berry, licorice, menthol and a balsamic note carry through to the vibrant, structured palate along with intense mineral. Assertive, fine-grained tannins and brisk acidity provide an age-worthy framework. Don't even attempt this before 2020. Giuliana Imports, PDX Wine.
This stunning blend of Mourvèdre (49%), Grenache (28%) and Syrah brings a complex, nuanced assortment of mineral, raspberry, white pepper, thistle and carob notes. It's richly flavored, layered, dense and supple showing both great subtlety and intensity, with fruit flavors that linger after the last sip.
The aromas on this Rocks District wine pop with huckleberry, black and green olive, plum and mineral. It's dazzlingly polished and textured in feel, with nuanced, detailed smoked meat and savory flavors. It nonetheless retains an exquisite sense of balance and restraint, capped off by an outrageously long finish.
This is the winery's first vintage of prominently labeling its reserve-tier Cab under the To Kalon name, a nod to the vineyard's importance in the blend, which is almost all Cabernet Sauvignon, with handfuls of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Soft and structured, it's a subtly powerful wine, offering cassis, cranberry, dried herb and savory touch of black tea.
Tight yet inviting aromas of honeysuckle, cement and green banana show on the nose of this ready-to-drink though possible-to-age wine. It's a lively sipper, with fresh-squeezed lime and tangelo flavors laid across an incredibly chalky texture.
There is an earthy aspect to the yeasty flavors on the nose. The palate counters this with pure, streamlined lemon freshness and the very slightest of spritz. Very refreshing and wonderfully clean-cut citrus notes on a slender, zippy body.
Brown spice, dried honeysuckle, Gala-apple skins, a touch of light custard and sea-salt-laden citrus and stone fruit show on the nose of this mouthwatering wine. Once sipped, flavors of butter-poached apples and ripe pears are spiced with more sea salt. A tight, pithy structure holds it all together.
A celebratory, medium-bodied comingling of stone fruit and green apple, this wine delights in its nicely integrated notions of structure and weight. It is ultimately succulent and satisfying.
A very pale copper color, this wine is aromatically expressive with notes of strawberry and cherry bubblegum along with light herbal notes. The palate drinks dry with electric acidity that makes the fruit flavors snap, with citrus notes that persist on the finish.
Classic Albariño aromas of granitic minerality combine with apple and stone-fruit notes gets this off to a good start. A smooth, citric palate and clean, fruity flavors of orange and peach finish easy and fresh, with proper acidity.
Candied red and black cherries, vanilla cookies, crushed stones and sweet kirsch aromas show on the nose of this red blend. The palate starts with brick and baked red-plum flavors, followed by waves of aniseseed, roasted fennel and fresh oregano. It's complex with cooked fruits.
Fresh and blossomy, this elegant medium-bodied rosé offers loads of raspberry fruitiness, but also a deeply mineral spine of chalk and sea breeze. Made predominantly from Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it holds smaller proportions of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay that lend complexity and nuance.
From the proprietor's 30 acres of the variety, planted to three clones ideally suited for the coolness of the site, this is a relatively light-bodied wine. However it presents a richness and concentration of pineapple and green olive, the oak providing a baked, creamy sensation.
A neutral nose leads onto an apple-fresh palate of Golden Delicious and pearmain apples. There is a creamy aspect, bathing this in a softer, friendly light. Both crisp and rounded apple fruit charms throughout on this balanced Morillon, a local term for Chardonnay.
This is a fresh, fruit-driven blend of four Rhône varieties: Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier and Roussanne. Pear, pineapple and lime fruit offer ample weight in the mouth and a long, zesty finish. Drink it over the remainder of 2016.
Perfumes of cherry blossom and raspberry abound on this ethereally light-bodied rosé. Brisk mineral tones and citrusy acidity add to its thirst-quenching quality. The finish is elegantly herbaceous.
Made from vines at a 3,000-foot elevation by a Zin master, this wine is flavorful, round and rich. It shows plenty of fruit in the aromas and on the palate, serving raspberry and strawberry on a light bed of tannin, with plenty of body to back them up.
Aromas suggesting underbrush, sweat, tobacco and toast reluctantly come together in the glass. The brooding palate is more appealing, delivering ripe cherry, black raspberry, grilled sage and a hint of vanilla alongside tart acidity and ripe, assertive tannins.
Fermented entirely in stainless steel, Ocel is doughy and dark-golden in color, and despite its lack of barrel influence, the nose is ripe. On the palate, it finds its balance, showing off an abundance of apple and pear along with juicy acidity.
Refreshing, dry and rather full bodied, this appetizing wine has a vividly fruity aroma, great acidity, crisp apricot flavors and a brisk finish. This will taste great as a lunch or before-dinner drink with fresh cheeses, dried meats and more.
This is a majority Cabernet Sauvignon, with equal parts Merlot and Petit Verdot and a smaller addition of Cabernet Franc. It speaks to the coolness of the vintage in its dried-herb characteristics and light-bodied smoothness of integrated tannin.
Dense blackberry and blueberry-paste scents mesh with dark chocolate, milk chocolate and graphite on the nose of this bottling from the Hahn family. A lush mouthfeel with ample weight unleashes coffee and mocha flavors, blueberry and black cherry fruit, with hints of fudge and a sweet oak touch.
Consistently one of the best of Sparkling Pointe's many excellent offerings, this elegant wine shows classic expressions of apple and lemon juxtaposed with complex notes of fresh-baked brioche, nuts and cream. High-toned acidity and fine, delicate mousse fill the palate with intensity and harmony. The finish lingers exceptionally long.
Broad aromas of grapefruit marmalade, dried tangerine skins and fresh-squeezed lemon juice show on this bottling, which is more fleshy than crisp on the nose. It's racy on the sip with razor-sharp, sizzling acidity, but also nicely rounded in the midpalate, sure to grow richer in the cellar.
A light orange-pink in color, this blend of 51% Grenache, 24% Carignan, 14% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre, 4% Counoise and 2% Syrah shows tangy peach, quince, red apple and tropical bubblegum on the nose. There is tremendous tension on the sip, with grippy cement minerality and fresh, brisk flavors of tangerine, light strawberry and lemon.
Ripe blackberry, plum and prune aromas are smoky and generous. A lush but fresh and balanced palate rests comfortably on a bed of firm tannins. Ripe blackberry, blueberry and prune flavors end long and earthy, with chewy tannins and balsamic complexity. Drink through 2022.
Aromas of licorice, roasted coffee bean and grilled herb carry over to the vibrant palate along with tart red cherry, strawberry and mineral. It's still young and tightly wound, with bracing tannins that lead to a firm finish. Drink 2020–2030.
Intense, concentrated aromas of rubber band, blackened spices, mint and eucalyptus lead to a shear, rock-hard palate that offers almost zero cushion to absorb massively rugged tannins. Woody, minty blackberry flavors end with heavy oak, herbal notes and blatant astringency. Drink 2018–2030.
Fresh melon and stone-fruit aromas are laced with a mineral streak. This feels smooth, with good body weight. Flavors of orange, lemon and passion fruit finish long and stony. As a whole, this is super tasty, balanced and done just right.
Produced from a selection of grapes, this is a bold, fruity wine that has rich tannins and a generous structure. It is all about the black-fruit flavors with balanced acidity and just hints of toast. It is now a delicious, mature wine from a fine year. Drink now.
The second wine of Château Kirwan, this has something of the same stylishness as the top wine. It certainly has structure and layers of red fruits along with acidity. Produced from young vines, it is up-front with its juicy fruitiness and fresh aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe and tangy wine from the Bellanger family. Its green, citrus and apricot fruits are all singing together in an attractive, balanced way. It has richness that gives a full-bodied wine without detracting from the fresher, white currant and spice side. Drink now.
A smooth, ripe wine that has rich fruit and balanced wood and fruit tannins. With mint flavors and a generous blackberry flavor, the wine is firm, with fine aging potential. It is a full-bodied wine that will be ready to drink from 2019.
A fine trio of vineyards—Boushey, Cold Creek and Sagemoor—comprise the blend here. The fruit runs the table from cherry to blackberry to cassis, threaded throughout with fresh herbs and clean earth. Good balance with no heat from the 14.7% alcohol; the tannins are polished and drying, and the finish has a soft, leathery smoothness.
Just one whiff of this wine reveals an intoxicating perfume of wildflower honey marked with zesty, fresh orange peel. An intensely concentrated honey elixir, it ripples persistently on the palate with a brilliant spray of Meyer lemon juice and a rich, vanilla cream note.
Lovely delineation here, the berry/cherry fruit framed with coffee and chocolate from a 50/50 mix of French and American oak barrels. The surprise is the addition (via co-fermentation) of 6% Viognier, which stabilizes color and gives a pleasing, floral/citrus lift to the scents and flavors. Good balance and follow through.
Released quite young, this is a wine to decant. It's big and dark and tannic, tight as a tick, with grainy, textural tannins wrapped heavily around tart blue and purple berries. Though the flavors are pure Syrah, the structure and density are Cabernet-like, and though it's a guess, the odds are this is a wine to cellar for at least a decade.
A Bordeaux blend of five grapes, this melds blackberry and black cherry fruit with plenty of toasty oak and ground coffee. It's a nice mix of fruit and barrel, dark and smoky, but not too heavy at 14.2% alcohol.
There should be plenty of buzz about The Buzz. Dense and dark, loaded with black fruits, coffee grounds and ground pepper, this high-alcohol, slightly volatile wine is not unlike some cult wines selling for four times the price.
A fine effort in this classic vintage, the Merlot is firm, almost muscular, and dappled with fresh herbs—cilantro and basil. The brambly blackberry fruit has the power to more than hold its own after 18 months in two-thirds new French oak.
Slightly dry and scratchy on the nose, and definitely fully oaked in the Toso style. But once it settles deeper, black fruit notes escape. The palate is snappy and juicy due to 2008's cool harvest conditions, and the flavors are a mix of plum, berry and woodiness. Long and oaky on the finish; drink now through 2013.
Kirsch, black currant, cured meat and foliage notes lead the way on this concentrated, tightly structured wine. Dried black cherry and fresh garrigue herbs fill the velvety textured mouth, and linger well into the finish alongside a touch of cocoa powder flavor. Drink now through 2014.
This wine handles its elevated alcohol level (labeled at 16.5%) well, with masses of slightly jammy fruit and a creamy, lush mouthfeel. Hints of baking spices and leather add complexity and persist through the long finish. It'd be fun to throw this in a blind tasting with some of California's top Zins.
Hailing from the cool 2010 vintage, this 100% varietal wine leads with barrel aromas of vanilla and freshly hewn wood followed by medicine cabinet and dried cherry, seeming advanced for its years. The flavors are elegant in style with the concentration a bit wanting.
Stylish and fruity, this has red currant crispness and an attractive warm, ripe background. It's balanced and fresh, with intense fruitiness at the end.
Squeezed plums and deep pomegranate extract gain some funky complexity from damp mushrooms, sour plum skins and wet wood on the nose of this bottling. The flavors are heavy with juniper, smoked pine and exotic woods, and the dried berry fruit compensates for the herbaciousness.
This wine seems a bit muddled, with aromas of cranberries, dried herbs, vanilla, cashews and barrel spices struggling to get to the surface. The palate is medium bodied with tart fruit flavors and blocky tannins, with the concentration not seeming to all be there.
All estate-grown Malbec, this pale salmon-colored wine shows high-toned notes of spice, herbs and cherry. It drinks dry with lightly styled fruit flavors, with the concentration a bit wanting.
From grapes grown in the cooler, southern reaches of the Napa Valley, this dry white exudes the time it spent in oak cask and barrel, providing a woody, sweet vanilla touch to the nose and palate. Fig and lemon rind come to the fore on the finish, accenting a medium body and length.
Cola and minty, herbal aromas come with raw oak and gritty, baked berry scents. This is rugged, tannic and grabby on the palate, with heavy wood resin flavors heaped atop blackberry and plum. Woodspice and heat drive the finish.
This taut, medium-bodied wine displays ample complexity on the nose in the form of mossy, mushroomy notes and red cherries. Those cherries are bright and crisp on the palate, then pick up touches of caramel or brown sugar on the finish. Drink now.
The palest pink suggests the almost-weightless lightness of this refreshing wine. It would be an ideal, zippy and very slender apéritif. Drink soon.
Richness and ripeness combine with just enough juicy acidity in this wine that smells lemony, figgy and buttery. Tastes recall ripe pears and fig bars without being sweet. It's an appealing wine with personality and good balance.
Delicate aromas of spring flower, nut and yellow fruit guide the nose on this linear white. Delineated flavors of Golden Delicious apple and citrus fruit, accented with a light vein of mineral, are balanced by bracing acidity.
The nose on this wine mixes up apricots, peaches and lime granita with a charred dill element. The palate shows almonds, Meyer lemon and freshly-cut nectarine, altogether refreshing if not wildly memorable.
This textured wine is tight with layers of nervy acidity. It is crisp, with good amounts of acidity and flavors of red currants that add extra freshness.
Pear drop and some citrus are the aromatic markers of this soft, light and very easy-drinking wine. The finish refreshes with green pear flavors.
Yellow flower, tropical fruit and an herbal note are delicate but still take center stage. Racy acidity supports the crisp apple, grapefruit and bitter almond flavors while the finish is crisp and clean.
Grilled pineapple, lemon zest and toasted hazelnut notes mark the nose. Time in French oak gives the palate a slightly charred entry, yet juicy stone fruit and tart tropicals offer life to this weighty wine.
Aromatically generous, this displays notes of pineapple, pear and guava. The palate drinks off dry, with abundant tropical fruit flavors, but lacks the acidity to hold it all together.
Named after an 18th-century French admiral, this wine is made by the Gilardi family. It's a ripe, dry and sustaining wine that has ripe spice and pepper, fresh red fruits and a keenly refreshing aftertaste. It is ready to drink.
Initially shy on the nose, this eventually opens up in the glass to reveal dried yellow fruit, toast, chamomile flower and a whiff of sage. The palate offers toasted oak, walnut and a buttery note, but it lacks fruit richness.
An excellent wine from Côtes du Roussillon Villages, offering yummy aromas of berry preserves, milk chocolate and fresh coffee granules. The palate is just as lush and opulent as one would anticipate from the nose, with more rich black fruit flavors and a touch of mocha on the finish. Well balanced with soft, dusty tannins and a lengthy finish.
Tight and rubbery at first, but with time it settles to show jammy wild-berry aromas and density. The palate has bounce and life to spare, while the flavors are bright, fruity and full. A serious Malbec with a bit of hit and scratch to the finish. Drink now into 2012.
The wood aging gives this wine a smooth, velvet texture, the toast lying easily over the fresh fruit that is hallmark of Renaud wines. It is finely balanced, a lively wine that has been rounded out well by the wood.
This wine might start off a touch medicinal but that blows off rather quickly, allowing the beautiful bouquet full of red cherry and raspberry with soft touches of cocoa to shine through. Fresh and juicy in the mouth with moderate acidity and tannins providing a solid structure. A touch of citrus glimmers on the clean finish. Drink now.
This is a ripe wine, structured with toast, ripe peach, spicy apricot and an attractive citrus juice character. The wine opens warmly in the mouth, but then finishes more crisply, lifted by its acidity.
Beautiful aromatics of lavender, kirsch, carnation and soft plum lead into a mouth full of cherry skins, delicate sweet spice and pepper. Chewy tannins present a gripping texture on the palate, followed by a long, wild fruit-flavored finish.
Grenache is not an easy grape to ripen in Washington, but this is just about perfect—juicy with fresh berry and rhubarb fruit, and added notes of marjoram, rosemary and cracked pepper. Full-bodied and pushing close to 15% alcohol, this is fine pizza wine.
All estate-grown fruit, blended with 11% Merlot, which seems to soften up the tannins a bit. This is aromatic and complex, weaving together scents of cassis, licorice, tobacco and smoke. Flavors follow, with plenty of black cherry fruit in the concentrated core.
This is on the weighty side of Chablis, giving a wine that is more Burgundy proper in its richness. That said, there is a good citric element, but the ripeness is more important, underlined by toast.
Aromas of anise and black plum flesh along with hints of eucalyptus and leather abound on the nose, while flavors of fresh-picked black berries fill out the medium-weight mouth. Well balanced with a satiny texture, moderate tannins and a long, spicy finish.
Another fine wine from this unheralded producer. Malbec, Cabernet and Merlot weave a nice picture based on sweet raisin, coconut and chocolate aromas. The palate is tannic but generous, with flavors of prune, blackberry, chocolate and tobacco. Chubby, rich and ripe, with intensity and darkness throughout.
Chunky, ripe and fruity, with bacon and roasted berry aromas. The palate has a good feel and tannins that melt away, while the flavors of black cherry and cassis lean toward medicinal but don't fully go there. Bold like Malbec should be, with hints of rubber and latex on the finish.
A lovely bottle, with rich aromas of lemon/lime and beeswax. Flavors combine ripe citrus, orange peel and English Breakfast tea. Balanced and full, with 12% Chardonnay fleshing out the midpalate.
Syrah and Cabernet are at the heart of this blend, which is perfumed and bold, with olive, crushed earth and minerally aromas. Subtle on the palate, with dense but narrow plum and herb flavors. Finishes herbal, with good clarity, earth and character. Just shy of excellent.
Sweet aromas of black raisin and licorice are a good indicator of what's to come. This is one thick, jammy, softer-bodied wine that's ready to drink now. Flavors of saturated blackberry, mocha and black pepper are attractive, and the finish ends with molasses sweetness and espresso bitterness.
This excellent single-vineyard varietal Syrah is thick with blueberry/boysenberry fruit. A real crowd-pleaser, the aging for 22 months in half new French oak layers in smoke and coffee liqueur. Powers does a fine job of achieving ripeness and keeping alcohol levels in check.
Warm dark fruit aromas of blueberry are accented by rubber and earth. The palate is deep and racy, with no dead weight and good flavors of berry, cassis, spice and chocolate. Bright in feel, focused and just oaky and dry enough to not be jammy and soft. 35,000 cases made.
Opens with floral, cherry, cassis and coconut aromas, which are followed by snappy, acid-driven flavors of raspberry, wood spice and vanilla. A fresh, lively, healthy wine with a toasty/spicy finish and young, clamp-down tannins. Drink now through 2012.
This warm and rich wine has bold red fruit and a background of tannins and wood-derived flavors. It's full of ripe fruit and balanced acidity and has an open character that makes it drinkable soon. Drink from 2018.
Solid tannins and rich fruit come together in this ripe, still-young wine. It has good potential, with bold black fruit and a dense, mineral texture. It will need several years for those tannins to soften. Drink from 2021.
This warm, ripe wine has spice notes, layers of wood and vivid blackberry fruit. Still young, it will be ready to drink from 2019.
This ripe and juicy wine is full of black currant fruit. The spice from wood aging is still upfront and needs to integrate. When it does, expect ripe fruit with a fine backdrop of structure and tannins. Drink from 2019.
A spearmint aroma give this wine a fresh character. That enhances its berry fruit, spice and perfumed acidity. Drink from 2020.
This wine is 47% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Aromas of dill, dried herb, cocoa and spice are followed by soft elegantly styled dark-fruit flavors that show plenty of hang time.
This ripe, jammy wine is all about fruit. Its red berry flavors burst from the glass and are gently backed by tannins. It is already attractive, ripe and full. Drink from 2019.
Aged in neutral French oak for a year, this wine is dark gold in color and tingly in acidity. Apple skin, a low impact of oak and lemon meringue wrap around a lush palate.
Built around 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, this blend also contains 17% Merlot and smaller percentages of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Given a good amount of time in barrel, it expresses char, bacon fat and a luxurious and thickly rich amount of black fruit. Concentrated, it should please a wide array of palates.
Weedy on the nose in a combination of dried herb and celery, this wine settles down nicely to offer a juiciness of red currant, cherry and cassis, with a stroke of caramel and toasty oak on the light finish.
This opens with aromas of red-skinned berry, black plum and baking spice. Reflecting the nose, the bright palate delivers black currant, white pepper and star anise alongside fresh acidity and round tannins. Enjoy through 2019.
This is a spicy earthy wine with its high percentage of Alicante Bouschet giving rich tannins and a dark dense texture. The wine is packed with dense fruit and power, perhaps erring on the side of too much, with a pepper edge to the concentrated black fruit. Drink now.
This wine comes from vines planted in 1968. Fragrant aromas of orange peel, flower, spice and sweet herb lead to dry-drinking fruit flavors. The concentration seems a bit lacking but there's still interest to be had.
Gold in color, this wine offers a bouquet of pink grapefruit and juniper berry. There is a nice balance between fruit and savory flavors, with lemon-lime, rose petal and Mediterranean herbs at play on the palate. It is soft on the palate and features a fruit-filled finish.
This is a mineral-textured wine, full of fruit and with a background of firm tannins. Its juicy fruits and acidity, the red berry flavors and the balance create a wine that is not too dense, but with a firm core. It will be accessible soon, ready to drink from 2018.
This wine, which includes 17% Grenache, is a blend of fruit from Les Collines, Discovery and Riviere Galets vineyards. Smoked meat, dried herb and baking-spice aromas are followed by red-fruit flavors that display a sense of elegance.
This wine has aromas of cherry cola and freshly picked cherries. In the mouth there are flavors of tart cherry and black raspberry, with balanced tannins and a long finish.
Floral and soft, this is an enjoyable well-crafted varietal wine, spicy in plum and cherry. Full bodied, the midpalate is relaxed and integrated in nuanced oak.
This dry wine made from Syrah, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah is smooth and gentle, nicely fruity but also spiced with touches of black pepper and clove. The mouthfeel is especially silky so it's easy to sip and enjoy.
Candied blueberry syrup, caramelized berries, lilac, shaved dark chocolate and cappuccino aromas show on the fresh nose of this bottling. Char and tar start the sip before purple-flower flavors arise against a background of sweeter blackberry.
This wine features a bouquet of peach and rose petal. It is well balanced on the palate, offering flavors of nectarine, lemon and freesia that lead to a floral- and citrus-laced finish.
This ripe rich wood-aged blend of Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon is full of juicy berry fruits and plenty of acidity. The wine is full bodied, poised and ready to drink.
This is lightly grassy and quite fresh. Whatever the residual sugar may be, it simply helps round out the searing acidity.
Toast and fresh hay aromas immediately waft from the glass, with supporting notes of red apple and spiced orange peel. Round and full in the mouth, it has good mousse and a soft honeyed accent that carries through onto the finish.
Grassy, herbaceous tones are a tad pungent, but they add freshness to this lusciously textured, easy-drinking Gewürz. It's off-dry, with loads of fleshy yellow peach, pineapple and melon flavors, with delicate tangerine-juice acidity. Drink now.
Light and fruity, this has a yeasty edge along with acidity. On the palate, there are lots of green fruits, offering a dancing, lively character. At the end, there is a touch of vanilla.
Fruit-forward and easy pleasing, this offers bright aromas and flavors of fresh peach slices, melons and yellow apples. A soft baking-spice accent and suggestions of walnut shells add interest to the medium-length finish.
Sunny and ripe on the nose, this has loads of yellow peach and apricot aromas, tinged with hints of dried, savory herbs. This dry, medium-bodied Grüner is subdued on the palate, but thirst quenching with its vivid acidity and clean, minerally finish. Drink now.
Taut and textured, yet ripe and soft, this has a nectarine flavor that's balanced by a note of fresh lime. The finish is easy, nervy and zingy.
Full, ripe and creamy, this rolls mellifluously around the palate. Pear and plum flavors dominate along with the crisp edge of lime. The finish is just as rich and smooth.
Rose petals and sweet raspberry candy perfume this dry yet lusciously fruity rosé. It's easy-drinking, bearing generous black-plum and cherry flavors, with just a hint of ripe briar. This is a perfect apéritif or accompaniment to spicy Thai or Indian cuisine. Drink now.
Notes of violet petal and graham cracker crumb accent juicy red plum and cherry flavors on this full-bodied blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are coarse and a tad grippy, but they taper out nicely toward the finish.
This has soft red fruits along with a firm structure of tannins and acids. Shapely and balanced, this is ready to drink now.
Ripe and round, this has attractive, rich fruit flavors of apple and apricot, along with a fine streak of juiciness and acidity that provides a fragrant finish.
This red pushes a pretty cherry fruit flavor forward, letting the fruit rather than new barrels, do the talking. It's a tasty, with good balance and medium length.
Green plum, apple and lemon-rind aromas and flavors are at the center of this dry sparkler. It's clean and refreshing, with medium carbonation and a brisk, mouthwatering finish. Drink now.
This is a jammy and fruit-forward selection, with lively notes of raspberry, strawberry and red plum, accented by nuances of potpourri and gamy meat. Medium tannins and skin-driven fruit flavors provide the palate nice structure and grip.
This is fruity, with a hint of the vintage's crisp minerality. It has citrus and apple flavors, with a touch of toast. Ready to drink in a year.
From organic grapes, this is a soft, red-fruited wine. The tang of acidity is well balanced by the full fruit character. It's ripe and attractively structured.
Ultraripe black fruits—berries and cherries, along with raisins—reflect the high alcohol. Even so, the wine carries an impression of almost sugary sweetness, as if still not fermented completely dry. Spice cake and plum pudding, with heat on the finish, mark this as extreme by previous Fielding Hills standards. Drink soon.
Plan de Dieu is an oft-overlooked commune within the Côtes du Rhône Villages that frequently produces very ripe wines. This one is chocolaty and chunky in style, with intense notes of black cherries and some extracted, bitter notes of coffee and cocoa on the finish. Drink it over the next few years with heaty stews or braises.
Gritty aromas of olive, herbs and charred berry give this Montsant wine a Chilean-like bouquet. The palate is wide, blunt and tannic, with blackberry and stewed plum flavors. It mellows out on the finish, with earth notes. It's solid and sturdy, but feels tough. A blend of Garnacha, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Earthy and leathery smelling, this has briary, almost cheesy-berry and oak aromas. This feels full, and it evolves with airing. Flavors of herbal black fruit join notes of tobacco, peppery spice and mint that carry onto the finish. A blend of 60% Tempranillo and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Cab standing out.
This lovely Verdelho is perfumed with jasmine and apricot. It's crisp and creamy while also tasting refreshing and light. The finish is all lime salt and minerality. Pour it at an outdoor soirée or sip it while cooking dinner.
Smooth yet crisp, this has attractive acidity and strawberry fruit. It is poised and elegant, with just the right amount of acidity.
This is a very drinkable Gigondas despite being very much in the savory-spicy style. Leather, garrigue, cinnamon and clove are the dominant notes, softened by silky tannins and modest cherry fruit. Drink now–2015.
The leathery red-berry aromas are a tad stretched and tight but still good. This feels zesty, snappy and alert in the mouth, with lightly herbal flavors of red plum and tangy cherry tomato. The hickory spice imparted from 24 months of oak aging shows up on the finish along with licorice.
This approachable, easy-drinking wine will please a range of different palates. Made by Napa-based winemaker Jamey Whetstone, it has soft red-fruit flavor and a big finish.
Icewine from Cabernet Sauvignon is pretty rare. The grape's dark pigment lends the wine no more than a hint of pink in the gold color. On the palate, the tannins do show, along with a note of honey and acidity. It's unusual, but it works. Screwcap
This is ripe, with a creamy and peppery character that's balanced with intense red-apple and pineapple flavors. It's textured and infused with grapefruit acidity. Ready to drink. Screwcap.
Good balance throughout typifies this Columbia Valley Cabernet. The tart fruit suggests cranberry and raspberry, accompanied by generous acidity. A hint of herb runs through the finish, but the tannins are well-managed and smooth.
This is a complex, rounded wine. It's texture is soft, rich and creamy, layering acidity with ripe flavors of apple and pear. It could age for 1–2 years.
Eschewing new French oak entirely and with just 10% second fill, it's lightly aromatic with notes of apple and stone fruit. With no malolactic fermentation, the fruit flavors are medium-bodied and sweet, showing a sense of balance that carries through to the finish.
From a relatively cool growing region near Canberra, this shows its origins in its smoke, herb and green-peppercorn aromas. Cherry fruit grounds the palate, which offers a smooth feel and medium body. The slightly herbal note lingers on the finish.
Blackberry, clove and violet aromas make for a full and pleasant bouquet. This young RDD is tight and firm in the mouth, but not overly tannic or hard. Oak, roasted berry and spice flavors settle on a lightly woody, fairly long finish.
Here's a bright and delicious Morellino made from a blend of Sangiovese (85%) and Ciliegiolo (15%). It begins with a mouthwatering fruit fragrance of red cherry and strawberry with whiffs of white pepper that carry over to the palate. The juicy fruit flavors are accompanied by fresh acidity and supple tannins. This is made to be drunk young so enjoy soon. Vos Selections, Tosco Wine.
A well-structured wine, it really doesn't show its high alcohol. It has ripe berry fruits plus a solid and dense texture allied to a dark, mineral character. Juicy flavors come through strongly to give the necessary fruitiness.
From a great Sierra Foothills vineyard comes this crisp, stainless steel-fermented white with muted floral aromatics and a taste of bright citrus and textured apple. Fresh and enjoyable, it has enough meat on its bones to pair with shellfish and appetizers, leaving a peppery finish on the tongue.
Its acidity turned up high, this structured Barbera has a savory profile, smooth in woody, toasty flavor, earthy and peppery. Since it's built to age, give it an hour or two in a decanter or open it on subsequent nights to enjoy its evolution.
This is a slightly leathery, medium-bodied Malbec, with tart red berry flavors and strong herbal elements. The mix of fruit, stem, saddle and leaf moves into a lightly smoky finish with sculpted tannins.
This is a red-fruit flavored wine, soft and warm. The wood aging shows as smooth vanilla that balances the soft, open, generous structure. It's a juicy wine that can be enjoyed now.
This blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo has aromas of blue flower, underbrush, leather and spice. The bright, lively palate offers juicy black cherry, raspberry, black pepper and whiffs of cake spices. It's easy-drinking and well balanced with supple tannins and fresh acidity.
A tart, astringent Pinot, it needs a bit more time in bottle to flesh out further. Tart red fruits are accented with muted herbal elements and just a light touch of barrel toast.
Aged for two-and-a-half years in American oak, this Petite Sirah shows off the variety's preference for aging, a study in dense, rounded tannins and juicy red and blue fruit. With savory hints of cedar wood and leather, it'll appeal to Petite fans and accompany roasts and grilled meats well.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this wine starts with an earthy fragrance of forest floor, woodland berries, toast and a smidgen of balsamic herbs. The one-dimensional, juicy palate delivers ripe black cherry, coffee and black pepper alongside brooding tannins.
Stainless steel fermented, off dry (35 g/L residual sugar) and low alcohol, this is a perfect spring/summer quaffing wine. Crisp apple fruit and a refreshing texture keep it light and interesting.
Opening aromas recall leafy underbrush, tobacco and toast. The palate delivers rich black cherry layered with coffee and chocolate. It's ready to enjoy now but can still maintain for a few more years.
This is a ridiculously good price for this juicy wine, which offers blackberry and cassis beneath a velvety texture. Enjoy slightly chilled with anything involving tomato sauce. Stock up and make this beauty a house wine.
An untamed style of wine, with wild-fruit and ever-so-slight citrus aromatics. It's got a nice full body to it, with some creaminess in the mouth. Proper acids and a good application of oak keep it balanced. Bridgeview has a knack for making well-priced Pinot Noir that's fruity, friendly and complex enough to satisfy those who know and love the grape. This is a perfect case in point.
Sometimes a wine’s bouquet says it all: Here it’s delectable, redolent of black cherries and prunes. It also looks great in the glass. Flavors are of raspberry and light oak. The mouthfeel is beautiful. While all Panther Creek wines have a sleekness to them, the Nysa sets the standard for being sleek. 170 cases made.
Very light in color. Opens with blueberry, rhubarb, bacon and cedar aromas. From front to back it sits on a light frame, and on the palate it dances. Shows some buttered-toast and wood on the finely etched finish. Classy and lean, not sugary sweet. Elegant, in the Bethel Heights house style.
Archery Summit wines often seem bigger-boned, oakier and more tannic than their brethren, and this bottling is no exception. Ripe cherries are framed by vanilla and toast, with firm drying tannins on the finish. Put this one away for a couple of years while you are enjoying the charms of the Premier Cuvée.
Just pop the cork, let it breathe and enjoy it as it does its thing. One of the best Adelsheim wines this taster can remember. Full of red plum, raspberry and currant, with the right acidity for it to rock and roll. Healthy tannins round out this supple sipper, which hits its stride after a half-hour of airing and then gallops home.
Displays intense aromas of beets, cola and black cherries. Some dried bracken scents emerge with airing, adding a woodsy complexity. Fairly rich and powerful, with enough soft tannins and a firm touch of acidity to keep everything together and ensure 5 or more years of longevity.
A wine that's all about finesse and fruit. This offering from Archery Summit seemingly goes a little lighter on the oak than most from that stable—to good effect. Pure Bing cherries caress the palate, with subtle toast and spice shadings, even some tea-like notes, on the finish.
Very deep, lush and welcoming in the nose—there’s an unmistakable heavy color and look to it. It’s a ripe and ready wine that should pick up complexity with bottle age. Yes, there’s a one-dimensionality to it because it’s a single-clone wine, but you should really enjoy the cherry and plum sweetness at its core.
There’s a high-wire pungency to this slightly rustic single-vineyard offering that shows notes of smoked meat, molasses, rhubarb and tar. If any one thing carries the nose it’s some burnt popcorn. The fruity palate is jammy and hard-driving. This one is about robust berry fruit rather than nuance. Give it a couple of years to lose its youthful spunk.
Somewhat tight and in need of time in the bottle to open up, this wine may someday merit a 90+ rating. Right now, it’s firmly acidic, but there’s enough rich black-cherry fruit to suggest it will be more approachable in a couple of years. Shows nice varietal features: a velvety (but not heavy) mouthfeel and black and orange tea notes on the finish.