Expanding the Casal Garcia range into the Douro, this light and fruity wine is an easy drink. It has some toast to balance the soft tannins and black currant fruits.
Mature dark cherry and black currant aromas meet cola and vanilla on the nose. This medium-bodied wine saw 10 months in American oak, yielding a palate of dark blackberries, toasted almond and sweet pie spice.
There's a hint of sweetness here, and light, almost watery fruit flavors of watermelon and strawberry. This could accompany a starter course of mild cheeses.
Pretty long in the bottle, this rich, soft, thick Zin offers a stewy taste of plums that veers sweet into molasses and jam. On the finish is an additional thickness of black pepper and leather.
Underripe red currant and green peppercorn show on the nose. The light-bodied palate brings similar flavors, with sweet vanilla being up the finish. Already showing some slight bricking in color, this Cab Franc is best enjoyed soon.
This has attractive peach and floral aromas and flavors, medium to full body, and a soft texture that is bolstered slightly by appley acidity.
As if to emphasize that Petit Chablis has an important place in the Chablis hierarchy, the Chablis cooperative produces its aptly named Pas si Petit—”not so little.” It's a soft, immediately drinkable wine, full of ripe lime and pear flavor. It is light and ready to drink.
Impenetrable upon entry, this tannic wine is leathery on the palate, offering notes of cedar, pencil shavings and tobacco. Big shouldered and full bodied, it's powerfully dense and concentrated.
Very young and crisp, this refreshingly fruity wine has intense acidity, strong citrus flavors and a light, bright aftertaste. Drink from 2016 for its acidity to soften.
Like its companion Syrah from Cedar Ridge Vineyard fruit, this is pure varietal and spent 18 months in American oak. Earthy and somewhat bitter flavors of charred wood and espresso dominate the cassis fruit. The finish is chalky and tannic.
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.
Cherry jam and raspberry preserve aromas meet a mélange of sweet baking spice on the nose. The palate shows ample weight supported by sandy tannins, with dark cherry pie flavors leading to a cherry cola finish.
It seems that there has been a dramatic increase in the production of this wine. Gassy and thin, it shows a veneer of slightly sweet apple and finishes with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Soft and muddled, this is a smoky, dusty Cab with undistinguished red fruit that's quite tannic, especially on the finish. Let it open before drinking.
A ripe style of Sauvignon Blanc with no barrel aging, this shows apple and apricot flavors along with just a squeeze of lemon acidity. It is rich, softly textured and ready to drink now.
Fuzzy stone fruit from apricot to peach dominate on the nose and palate in this straightforward, creamy and richer-styled wine. Batches of apple and lemon give it a crisp edge toward the middle before denser crème brûlée and vanilla take over on the finish.
Adding Syrah (Shiraz as the producer calls it) to the blend with Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional gives a strongly perfumed character to this firm, still structured wine. It also has a fresh element from the black currant acidity that cuts through the wine. Drink now.
Produced from Touriga Nacional, this fresh wine keeps the acidity of the grape while losing any tough tannins. The result is an attractive, crisp wine, with final strawberry flavors.
Spicy and light at heart, this is a perfumed wine that the winemaker reckons will go with Asian food. Apples, a touch of green herbs and peaches abound in this refreshing, drinkable wine. Drink now.
This wine is ripe and round, with a full, yellow fruit character. It misses out on some initial acidity although a more citrus character does come through at the end. It's rich with a touch of caramel. Drink now.
This lightly colored, luminous wine conveys intense aromas of rose and woodland berry. The vibrant palate offers wild strawberry, crushed red cherry, orange zest and almond, which follow through to the lingering finish. Crisp acidity and supple tannins balance the juicy fruit flavors.
Linear and vibrant, this opens with an enticing fragrance of hawthorn and black locust. The juicy palate offers creamy white peach, tart green apple and citrus alongside an energizing mineral vein. It's well balanced, with zesty acidity.
Lovely fragrances of strawberry and alpine herb continue to the bright palate. Fresh acidity and silky tannins support the juicy red berry and spicy cedar flavors. It's well balanced and elegant. Drink through 2019.
One of the Dão's local grapes, Alfrocheiro gives this ripe, smooth and juicy fruit. The essential mineral tannins of the region are ameliorated by the rich berry flavors and great acidity. This wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2016.
Dense and briary, with black and red plum notes complemented by a strong sense of clove, this wine is cushioned in tar, oak and cigar box, showing nicely resolved tannins. Blended with 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, it is enjoyable now and will cellar well for many years to come.
Lovely aromatics introduce this approachable young Pinot. Scents and flavors of strawberries, raspberries and cherries abound, coming into focus in a generous midpalate. The flavors hang on beautifully, set against framing tannins and supporting acidity. The finish brings a pretty touch of baking spices.
Seemingly effervescent aromas of lemon-lime soda, wet chalk, baking soda and apple blossom make for a very showy yet mineral-driven nose. The flavors are driven by ripe lemon and cling to a woolly line of citrus pith. The wine makes the mouth water strongly on the finish, creating an interesting sipping experience.
This blend of 55% Grenache Blanc, 26% Viognier and 19% Roussanne smells like golden sunshine, with aromas of hot beach sand, lemon pound cake and vanilla pudding. The palate shows pan-fried green apples, red apple flesh and fortune cookie flavors. It makes a good alternative for lighter Chardonnay lovers.
This ripe and creamy wine is both rich and fruity. With touches of tropical fruits, apricots and full acidity, it's a structured and textured wine that will be better with further aging. Drink from 2016.
This is a full, fragrant and brilliantly fresh wine. It is crisp, with a rounded character that gives richness to the bright apples and pear-skin flavors. Lively while ripe, it has an attractive, mineral aftertaste.
This is an immediately attractive and fruity wine. Bright acidity is rounded out by warm peach and pear flavors, with a mineral texture that will allow the wine to age. Drink now for the fruit, but it will be at its best from 2016.
While richly textured and boldly perfumed with melons and tangerines, the palate of this dry Riesling is delicate and lithe. Crisp honeydew and white peach flavors are almost ethereal in their subtlety, but elegantly cast against a backdrop of striking lemon and lime.
This nervy and vibrant wine takes time to reveal the intriguing flavors within. Quite tart and tannic at first, it is firm in texture to balance the ripe, sweet plum, marascino cherry and orange peel aromas. While chewy and lip-smacking in the beginning, deeper flavors come through on the second and third sips, and a smoky nuance develops on the finish.
This fragrant white opens with aromas of white spring flower, jasmine, citrus, pear and a hint of alpine herb. The vibrant, elegant palate delivers layers of creamy Granny Smith apple, nectarine zest and steely mineral balanced by bright acidity.
This Syrah-led blend delivers a blast of asphalt, cherry cough drop, licorice and raw oak on the nose. The palate is cushioned and ripe, but with solid acidity. Flavors of baked, loamy berry fruits are spicy and slightly medicinal, while the finish is woody, with related flavors of vanilla and caramel. This also contains 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Tempranillo.
Still stark and taut, this dry, delicately framed Riesling has beauty within its subtleties. Hints of lemon, lime, honey and blossom flutter on the palate against a backdrop of steely minerals and piercing acidity. It's subdued in its elegance, but should become more profound by holding until 2020–2022 for maturation.
Earth, pepper and spice aromas go well with core plum and cherry scents. In the mouth, this is chewy, round and well balanced, with red plum, raspberry, spice and carob flavors. A woody, lightly herbal, spicy finish with fresh but lasting berry notes is a good conclusion.
Suggestive of smoked duck, which would make a good pairing, this wine offers toasted oak around a core of raspberry-rhubarb compote, slightly complemented in herb. Velvety on the palate, it's well-composed, earthy and bright.
Dark, sappy and smoky, this engaging wine offers substantial cassis and blueberry fruit, dotted with highlights of caraway and dark chocolate. The tannins are beautifully polished, and the wine should have further improvement ahead as it ages through 2020.
This is a bold and ripely fruity wine. Fine tannins and blackberry fruits are already well combined in a big and juicy whole. The wine does have a structure and layers of wood aging that suggest it will age. Drink from 2018.
Aromas of white flower, tropical fruit and peach mingle in the glass. The round, juicy palate offers stone fruit, green apple and mineral alongside bright acidity. The lingering finish has a note of ginger drop.
This mature wine is beginning to dry out with its dark tannins and leather texture. A complex wine, it's on the point of losing its fruitiness, giving a firm structure along with juicy acidity at the end. Drink now.
Delicate aromas of white spring blossom, citrus and orchard fruit waft from the glass. The round palate delivers white peach, creamy green apple, lemon drop and and a hint of vanilla brightened by fresh acidity. A mineral note marks the finish.
This is a seriously wood-aged wine with a juicy character that comes as much from the French oak flavors as the fruit. It has weight and richness, with hints of the yellow fruits to come. The wine is ripe, full-bodied and needs to age. Drink from 2016.
Viognier in Portugal brings out the grape's ripe side along with layers of rich spice. This wine is full, layered with toast and almonds as well as superripe intense fruit. Powerful, complex and dense, the wine is still very young and should be aged. Drink from 2017.
Rich and structured, this is concentrated with tannins as well as generous sweet black fruits. The tannins and the accompanying acidity mean the wine should age. Drink now, although it will be better from 2016.
There's a feral element to this vineyard-designate, the producer's only one from Napa Valley, from a vineyard planted originally in 1930. Extracted and thick, it offers plum, blackberry and raspberry around big, broad shoulders of mocha and oak. And as always, there's a hint of mint.
Toasty oak and black pepper hit first on the palate and nose, followed by savory, dry tannin, black cherry and vanilla. Restrained and in balance, the Cabernet is supported by 12% Petit Verdot, which adds girth and intensity without becoming extreme.
Juicy, plummy and dusty, in well-integrated ways, this is a classically earthy old-vine Zin, with plush blueberry and blackberry on the palate that finishes rich in mocha and cinnamon. Medium in body and acidity, it's approachable and enjoyable now.
Made with Sauvignon cultivated in high mountain vineyards, this vibrant, firmly structured wine presents aromas of tropical fruit, crushed tomato vine and a whiff of hay. The linear palate offers passion fruit, alpine herb and fennel alongside brisk acidity that leaves a pristine finish.
This is a heavy-duty Cabernet, big in every way, with rich black cherry and cassis fruit, and dense, dark tannins. The long, slightly grainy finish reinforces the impression of raw power, yet the wine retains perfect proportion and is nicely differentiated from the other 2010s crafted by winemaker Chris Figgins.
Leonetti's 2010 Reserve includes 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 9% Malbec—a more complex blend than the 2009. It opens with a lovely floral aroma—a bouquet of clover and white flowers—then heads for the dark side, with black cherry and cassis. It's a big, tannic wine, beautifully crafted, and clearly differentiated from the winery's regular Cabernet bottling.
Black and viscous, this gorgeous Petite Sirah is intriguing in every way. Opening with aromas of just-muddled mint and freshly baked bread, this wine tastes as if wildflowers and brambly blackberry stems were placed carefully in a leather satchel. No doubt this Petite will get even more interesting with age.
This tastes like a more concentrated and sweeter version of Stottle's dry Viognier from the same vintage and vineyard. Deeply concentrated, complex and creamy, it's loaded with citrus and stone fruits, honey and butterscotch, yet remains lifted by defining acidity.
Dense and extracted, this dark, loamy Pinot Noir is concentrated and challenging. The fruit is black, compact, and sheathed in flavors of loam. Layers are tight and a bit unyielding. There is depth and power here, but it must be extracted over time and with a bit of patience.
Perfumed on the nose with heady yellow florals and stonefruit, this is one stunner of a Riesling. It's powerfully concentrated on the palate with flavors of honey and sweet peach tinged with lanolin and wax. Penetrating and pure in focus, yet remarkably delicate in texture, it finishes long with layers of crushed-stone minerality.
All Leonetti wines are 100% estate-grown fruit, mixing Seven Hills, Mill Creek Upland and Loess vineyard grapes. The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon includes 12% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Carmenère in the blend. Young and chewy, with a hint of herbaceousness, this shows lovely balance and a mix of raspberry, black cherry, cassis, coffee and cacao. It's a young, deep and powerful wine that will certainly reward cellaring.
Ignore its generic Oregon AVA—this is King Estate's top wine, a rich reserve-level Pinot Noir redolent with Asian spices, saffron, cumin and more. Nuances of dusty cocoa powder lead into a thrilling wine with a spine of steel, focusing its ripe, fleshy fruit through a long, cellar-worthy finish.
This exceptional wine was made by the late David Lett to celebrate the birth of his granddaughter. It's drinking beautifully, and has the color and scent of a mature wine, though Eyrie Pinots can often live longer than those who bet against them. Delicate and subtle, it nonetheless shows surpassing power and length. Mature, fully-evolved dried fruit and herb flavors are highlighted with notes of cinnamon and brown sugar.
This is McCrea's top cuvée, and the 2008 is as good as it has ever been. Co-fermented with 8% Viognier, it starts out tight and compact, with crisp marionberry fruit and a generous wash of coffee liqueur. The acids are citrusy and fresh, and the wine has depth and an emotional range that reaches almost symphonic power.
Red plum and scratchy, herbal aromas form a decent bouquet. This Cab is modest and edgy in feel, with equally raw and edgy red-berry flavors that finish quick and punchy.
A smoky wine with black currant flavors that bring together spice and fruitiness. The wine has a light touch, licorice and stalky tannins ending with attractive juiciness. It is ready to drink.
With a touch of herbaceousness and a rounded texture, this is a simple and fruity wine. Light chalkiness in the texture indicates the only complexity.
Maderized in color, this Viognier shows powdery aromas of lychee and tropical fruits. The body is round, plump and soft, while flavors of pear, almond paste, lychee and chemical turn more flat and bitter the longer this sits.
An earthy wine that has red berry fruits and acidity alongside a rustic barnyard character. There is a mineral edge to the wine as well, so maybe giving it a year will help.
Subdued aromas recall blue flower and berries, but overall the nose isn't very expressive. The one-dimensional palate offers red cherry but it's lean and short on freshness. This is starting to fade so drink now.
This is a light, medium sweet wine with touches of acidity to go with the fragrant pear fruits. Drink now.
There's big, stewy fruit happening within the midst of this soft wine. What brings it down is the finish, slightly bitter like a sour cherry.
This offers warm, dried-fruit aromas of prune, plum and raisin. The palate shows some subdued sour cherry and mint but it's dilute and falls apart quickly, leaving a short finish.
This blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot opens with acrid aromas that recall sweat and wet leaves. The palate delivers a mouthful of raw oak, roasted coffee bean and espresso. It lacks fruit richness and finishes on a bitter note of astringent wood tannins.
Citrus, tropical notes and a bit of skunky funk define the nose on this unoaked Chard. The palate is slightly metallic in feel, while the flavors suggest canned peaches and nectarine.
Fenestra's proprietary blend of 59% Chardonnay and 41% Sémillon, this is a wine perfumed in gardenia that has a bite of oaky barrel amid barely ripe apple that finishes quick.
This old-vine Zin has washed-out aromas and a savory, leathery character, tannic grip and a hit of smoke on the finish.
At the start the wine shows leafy aromas and a hint of burned rubber that eventually burns off. The lean palate is evolved, and while you can still detect a note of stewed prune, most of the fruit has dried up. It ends on a bitter, drying note of astringent tannins.
Muted aromas rise from the glass to reveal wild strawberry and floral rose notes in this wine. Crisp, underlying acidity and strong, present tannins support its ripeness and concentration, the body medium and the oak well-integrated.
One year's lees aging has softened this wine and given it great richness. It is a rounded and opulent wine, deliciously ripe and full of bold, mouth-filling fruit.
A blend of Sangiovese (42%), Merlot (32%), and Cabernet Sauvignon, this is one of the first wines coming off the estate vineyard located next to the winery. A full five years old, it's starting to show a touch of age aromatically, with notes of bittersweet chocolate, dried cherry and dried herb along with sliced green pepper. The palate shows the brightness of acidity that this region of the valley is known for, heightening the fruit flavors and stretching out the finish.
Fresh citrus and green apple have a leafy touch and something that is reminiscent of wet stone. That taut slenderness is apparent throughout the light dry palate where lemony freshness plays the central role. The fizz is fine and creamy and leaves the mouth filled with freshness. This is vivid, has lots of verve and a clean dry finish.
This is an orange wine, intentionally oxidized and left in barrel for two years. It's very much like a fino Sherry, with comparable aromatics. What truly distinguishes this effort is the finish that lingers and develops more and more nuances for several minutes. Don't expect anything that resembles Chardonnay, but pair this with salted nuts, meats or fried foods and you will be delighted.
One of the prettiest labels in Oregon adorns an equally lovely wine. It's aromatically lush with flowers, body powder and spice. The ripe berry fruit carries a dusting of cocoa powder. Drink 2018–2026.
Smoky, earthy notes of licorice root, chicory, pepper and leather spice up the black plum, berry and cherry fruit in this blend of 42% Merlot, 21% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot. The mouthfeel is plush and filling, with generous yet structured tannins and ample acidity that frame the rich dark fruits. Final flavors of cassis and char linger long on the finish.
Brambly boysenberry, blackberry liqueur and crème de cassis lead the nose and mouth of this attractive wine, with waves of cigar-box spice, mentholated herbs and leather adding intrigue. It's firmly structured and packed with black-fruit flavors, resulting in a crushed-velvet texture. The finish is long and evolving, and this should continue to develop well through 2022.
Though this is one of the first wines from winemaker Jennifer Hoage's own label, it's a study of soft integration from what can be a powerful site. Cherry, allspice and rose aromas lead into a palate full of wild berry and hearty sagebrush notes, framed by pitch-perfect acidity. A light yet spicy licorice-inflected finish completes the experience.
An unusually fresh herbal note of lemon balm hovers on the nose. The palate, however, counters this with ample honeyed sweetness. The lemon-balm note flashes here and there and the residual sugar frames notions of ripe Mirabelle plum beautifully. This will work well as a counterpoint to sharp blue cheeses with its medium-sweet finish.
Violet, sarsaparilla, crushed stone and dark berry aromas show on the nose of this bottling from Mourvèdre master Ryan Pease. Still quite young, it shows black plum, black fig, loamy earth and roast pork flavors and is bit richer and riper than his other bottlings.
This 100% varietal wine from the rocky, mountainous appellation offers sizable tannins and robust, smoky leather, black pepper and cola notes. Full-bodied and concentrated with ripe black fruit, it's a long, brawny experience.
Aromas of cola, raisin and cassis are ripe and chunky. A sinewy palate displays raisiny flatness, while this is oaky tasting on the surface and more spicy, rubbery and fruity underneath. Flavors of tobacco and wood spice finish tight, with bright acidity keeping things lively.
Crushed peppercorn, black plum, leather, dried violet, game and cedar touches show on the nose of this bottling from Ryan Roark. Sandalwood and pine notes emerge on the palate, accenting its black pepper-laced cranberry fruit. A vibrant and chillable red wine for summer.
Gorgeous fruit aromas, generous and deep fruit flavors and soft, chocolate accents add up to a very flavorful but relaxed wine. Touches of clove and cedar pop up with the second sip, while some welcome tannins clean the palate. The fruit flavors come back on the finish. It is full-bodied but very smooth.
Quite light in color, especially for the alcohol level, this wine offers dried red cherries, hibiscus, rose petals, pencil shavings and a touch of hot asphalt on the spicy and fun nose. Lots of lively red fruit energy comes forth once sipped, with nutmeg, clove spice, ginger snaps and molasses flavors rounding out a memorable pour.
High-impact aromas of sun-ripened blackberries, smoke and char extend throughout this rich, complex Pinot Noir. Blackberry and black cherry flavors are plump and ripe, yet layered with savory herb and mineral tones. It's solid in structure, framed tightly with tannins and should meld beautifully through 2025.
This wine—the first vineyard-designate to come out of this young site—is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc and 22% Merlot. It takes time to get going but once it does, it provides generous aromas and flavors of coffee, vanilla, herbs, plum and cherry along with lightly grainy tannins. The precision and elegance the winery is known for is on full display.
This is a 100% varietal wine from a prime appellation, memorably juicy in raspberry, cassis and red currant with a floral, almost tropical flirtation on the nose. Edgy tannins and a depth of concentration smooth out on the lengthy finish, giving this wine a sense of satisfying completion.
Finished off dry, this masks its residual sugar with ample acidity. Some portion of the winery's numerous individual Riesling lots is barrel fermented, and here there are unmistakable highlights of caramel. On the palate it's smooth and rich, with wide-open flavors of peach and pear.
This classic site provides a grippy, structured experience of juicy, leathery blackberry and black pepper. The wine also reveals a brighter, more vibrant underside of red berry, perhaps from the contribution of 5% Grenache into the mix, alongside 17% Petite Sirah. Firm, focused and full bodied, this is a delicious wine.
Creamy and delicious, this beautiful white offers aromas and flavors of juicy pear, ripe green apple, white almond, sea salt, wild herb and ginger. Fresh acidity brightens the creamy flavors.
Violet, iris, wild berry, tilled soil and mint aromas mingle in the glass. The structured, elegant palate delivers crunchy red cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper, iron and aromatic herb alongside a backbone of vibrant acidity and firm but refined tannins. This is quite simply a fabulous wine. Drink 2018–2030.
This is a rich, round and full-bodied wine with smooth, creamy apple and pear flavors. It is cut through with zingy lemon acidity and a touch of honey. The structure comes from a cool line of lemon zest, minerality and a tight, taut aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
This winery northeast of San Diego sources from up north and experiments heavily with stem inclusion on this bottling, which shows cherry blossoms, crushed cranberries and an earthy line of anise through the nose. Plush purple fruit flavors of olallieberry and boysenberry power the medium-bodied palate, with sage and peppercorn spice throughout.
Named for one of Barossa's top vineyards, this blends fruit from Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Langhorne Creek into a splendid warm-climate Shiraz. It's full bodied, dense and dusty in texture, with rich dark-fruit flavors of dates, blackberries and blueberries. Hints of baking spices and mocha from the barrel-aging should integrate nicely over the next several years. Drink 2017–2025.
Underbrush, tilled soil, violet, pressed rose petal and ripe berry aromas emerge on this polished, full-bodied red. The palate shows nice tension, offering juicy wild cherry, raspberry, ground clove, cinnamon and chopped herb framed by fine-grained tannins. A licorice note closes the firm finish.
A tiny-production wine that is exuberantly brambly and wild, this has a bouquet of juicy black and red berries at its core. Balanced and elegant despite the generous palate, it has softened tannins and a thickness toward the finish. offering accents of black pepper and brown sugar.
This wine opens with a lovely fragrance of violet, iris, wild berry, licorice and a whiff of leather. The smooth palate doles out ripe wild cherry, cinnamon, clove, white pepper, tobacco and anise. It's impeccably balanced, with glossy tannins and fresh acidity. Already drinking beautifully, it will also age well for several years.
This shows a combination of deep fruit flavors and a firm, tight-grained texture that make it classic in style. Black cherry and black currant flavors are wonderfully accented by impressions of pine forest and dried mushrooms. Baxter matured this wine in 100% neutral French oak barrels, so the taste is all about the Langley grapes and not new oak.
There's a warm peach ripeness on the nose of this wine from a tiny appellation north of Santa Cruz near Bonny Doon, along with aromas of kumquat, vanilla bean and sea salt. The palate shows more peach, caramelized apples and saffron, cut with a lime-juice acidity and finishing with a dollop of vanilla-butter.
This is Renacer's first Cabernet Franc, and it's excellent. Light herb notes, fine wood and deep black-fruit aromas make for a superb entry. The palate is loaded with power, but a touch of bold tartaric acidity does stick out. Black cherry, kirsch, mocha and chocolate flavors finish amid a lush mix of chocolaty oak, related spices and deliciousness. Drink through 2021.
This takes a few minutes to open up in the glass before revealing alluring classic Nebbiolo scents of wild red berry, sweet cake spice and a balsamic note. The palate is spot on; delivering juicy raspberry, wild cherry, black tea, ground pepper, cinnamon, chopped herb and a hint of pipe tobacco. Firm, glossy tannins and bright acidity give it an elegant structure.
This offers typical Nebbiolo aromas of dark red berry, blue flower, truffle and a whiff of game along with a balsamic note. The young palate is still tight but shows dried black cherry, clove, black pepper and tobacco while firm, fine-grained give it a solid grip. Chopped mint closes the finish.
Savory notes are at the fore on this wine, with aromas of saline, dried herbs, earth, stems and flowers. The coffee and earth flavors are sumptuous in feel with an extended finish.
This is another top-flight example of how good the 2012 vintage was for South Australian Shiraz. The oak here is so subtle as to not factor into the wine's scents of raspberry and cracked pepper. Hints of spice and vanilla mark the palate, gently accenting red berry fruit before ending in a flood of silky tannins. Drink now–2030.
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.
Full and ripe, this is a rich wine. Its tannins are well cushioned by the ripe black fruits and generous texture. Fruity with balanced acidity, the wine is spicy and with an open aftertaste. Drink now.
Slate, raspberry and black plum aromas mark the nose of this blend of 39% Grenache, 38% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre and 10% Petite Sirah. Pronounced gravel-like minerality leads the palate, which frames cranberry fruit with grippy tannins.
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.
Aromas of orange, pineapple and guava are ripe but bright on the nose of this fresh white. Flavors of green plum and apple skin lend verve to the medium-weight mouthfeel, in addition to cleansing acidity that enlivens the finish. Drink now.
This is from a hillside estate vineyard and is entirely barrel fermented, its oak subtle and supportive. Medium bodied and not overripe, it offers honeysuckle aromas and lime and lemon rind flavors.
This wine is produced from two of the quintas owned by Ramos-Pinto. It's fruity and crisp, packed with bright fruit and lively acidity, and finishes on tangy citrus with a riper, creamy texture. Drink from late 2017.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Aromas of green wood mixed with tire rubber, red currant, strawberry and spice. It delivers red and black-fruit flavors that linger on the finish.
This wine from the mountain vineyards of eastern Portugal is rich, fruity and made to be drunk young. With soft tannins and juicy red berry fruit, it's open and ripe. Drink now.
Aromas of white spring flower, orchard fruit and citrus spill out of the glass. The fun lively palate delivers ripe yellow peach and green apple alongside a foaming mousse.
The warm 2015 vintage has softened and rounded this 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine. That gives the wine ripe fruits, touches of pineapple as well as white peach. With attractive acidity at the end, the wine is still crisp and young. Drink now.
This is an attractive, soft blend of Arinto, Viosinho and Antão Vaz. With white fruit flavors and a warm, ripe texture, it's crisp, fruity and ready to drink.
This wine is full of red berry flavor and soft tannins. With its forward fruit and smooth texture, it's made to be drunk young, so drink now.
Closer to Bordeaux than is Cahors, this is Malbec with a cooler visage. It has spice and stalky tannins along with plenty of acidity. The wine is bright with red berry fruits and a crisp lightly mineral aftertaste. Drink from 2018.
Strong wood smoke and grilled meat aromas lead to equally assertive oak and dried herb flavors, giving this wine extreme personality. It has medium body and rather soft tannins and texture to balance.
Quite savory in style, this dry full-bodied Riesling suggests pressed apple and pear flavors marked by brisk slightly puckering acidity. A touch of sweet spice warms a moderately long finish.
Earthy rubbery berry aromas suggest pencil eraser and rubber. This Malbec-Syrah blend feels chunky and on the heavy side. Baked blackberry and chocolate flavors finish stewy and wayward.
A hint of lightly toasted brioche adds depth to the red apple and honeydew fruit aromas and flavors. The mouthfeel is surprisingly round, fleshed out by the rich fruit flavors, but then picks up some verve on the lightly bitter, pithy finish. Drink now.
Gritty aromas of herbal berry fruits and coffee grounds lead to a hard tannic, compact palate with loud acidity. Disparate flavors of burnt coffee, tomato and stewed plum finish with scraping tannins and herbal notes that reflect the nose and palate.
This broad, fruity wine brings out ripe berry flavors in spades. It has generous fruit, soft tannins and a smooth, open texture. Drink now.
A substantial dose of fruit and good, grippy texture make this hearty wine ready for any protein dishes. It has full body, tasty black cherry and plum flavors and moderate tannins that lend structure.
Contrary to its name, this isn't exactly a 100-point wine, but it is ripe and full-flavored. Smooth on the palate and almost soft in texture, it's medium-bodied and very drinkable.
This easy-to-like wine is loaded with forward citrus tones alongside additional scents of gooseberry and fresh grass. The lightweight mouthfeel gets a little lazy on the midpalate, but bright citrus flavors and ample acidity help to keep the finish fresh and lively. Drink now.
A fruity wine that is packed with red cherry and juicy plums. On top of the fruitiness, however, the acidity is prominent, which means it needs time to fill out, leaving a smoky, leathery textured aftertaste. Glass stopper.
A sweet, toffee-flavored wine, the super-rich Riesling bringing some good acidity into the mix of intense concentration and ultra-sweet honey. The flavors are edging over the top—a little here goes a long way.
Perhaps this is starting to tire? There's a slightly waxy dullness to the wine's otherwise interesting citrus aromas, while the flavors of lemon and white grapefruit are pleasant without being captivating. Drink up.
This wine gives a big, ripe nose and flavors of apricot, honey and melon, with balanced fruit and acid and a clean but rounded character. Full bodied and complex with a lingering finish.
This light- to medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc appears to aim at a minerally style, marrying hints of green (veggies?) with otherwise pleasant citrusy aromas and flavors. Grapefruit and anise make an appearance on the finish. Drink up.
A fresh and lively Chardonnay with flavors of pear, lemon and apple core. The medium weight mouthfeel comes off a bit sharp and prickly but closes crisp and clean.
This unoaked white offers rounded tropical fruit aromas and flavors like pineapple, melon and pear. The style is straightforward and exuberant, with balanced acidity and a fruity, lush finish. Keep on the table for everyday enjoyment.
An elegant white with a nose that combines zippy citrus, minerals and a touch of guava. The palate offers clean and spritzy character with a wave of rounding tropical fruit and a spin of spice. Pair with spicy food—think Indian or Thai.
Oddly, Silver Lake's least expensive Merlot is its best. It's a solidly made, straight-ahead varietal wine, with a core of black olive and currant, stiff tannins and enough grip to hold up to hearty main meat dishes.
A complex wine, exhibiting smoky tannins, rich fruit, a dark texture and concentration. Produced by the Moueix winemaking team, it feels complete with its sense of style and elegance as well as weight. Give this powerful wine many years in the cellar.
A blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, this is opulent and full bodied, with toast and wood flavors. Rich and ripe, this beautiful wine is generous and still young, with just a touch of bitterness at the end.
This is a great wine with its swathes of ripe fruit allied to a very structured character. It is concentrated with complex flavors that bring in wood, tropical fruits, apricots and a dense texture. Combined, these elements give the wine great style and aging potential.
This is a perfumed wine, dominated by Cabernet Franc. Black fruits are layered with wood, dry tannins and a beautiful aromatic quality. The wine is deep and complex, built for the long term with its power, density and considerable elegance.
This Toro wine is a mindblower. The nose is exemplary: it bursts with smooth, rooty aromas of licorice, kirsch and roasted black plum. The palate is huge and tannic but luxurious, and the flavors of tobacco, cedar, lemon peel, spice and black fruit set up a finish with espresso, black cherry and a wall of tannins. Drink now through 2018.
This wine is sourced from two parcels, one planted in the 1930s and the other in the 1950s. The low dosage is possible because of the concentration and ripeness of the fruit, resulting in a sophisticated, balanced and rich wine with a lemon zest flavor, a tight, mineral texture, and a crisp finish.
A big, complex wine from this continually improving property, this is now performing at its classed-growth level with concentrated ripe berry fruits and chocolate flavors. The wood aging is still showing through and needs time to integrate better, but as it does, this will be a great wine.
A powerful and complex wine from an estate performing on its top form. Solid tannins, layers of wood and dark fruits combine to give a wine that offers both richness and a dense structure. This Haut-Bailly should age impressively and for many years.
A majestic wine, grand in every sense. It has weight, the firmest of tannins and an immense sense of structure. This neighbor of Château Pétrus is firmly dense, showing both the fruits and the tannins in balance. Give this wine at least 10 years in the cellar.
This is a big and smoky wine that's very concentrated. It shows both the power and the structure of the vintage, as well as balances fresh, fragrant fruit. Dry tannins and the dusty texture are finely integrated into a wine that layers wood, intense acidity and great long-term potential.
Austere and severe, this single-vineyard wine is very much a product of its limestone terroir. It has a mineral intensity that pushes through the tannins and black currant fruit, giving a powerful, dark character. Firm and structured, this is a wine for the long term.
Using Grenache sourced from the moderately cool Lonesome Springs Vineyard, this is slightly leafy, with notes of forest floor, blueberry and blackberry. This is the first pure Grenache ever made by Brian Carter. It doesn't just taste like a big bowl of berries; it has power and depth to spare.
With that extra concentration that comes from low-yielding old vines, this has great depth of flavor. It has an apple flavor and crisp, citrusy acidity as well as a more toasty character. Complex and certainly ageworthy, this should keep for at least five years.
Though quite different stylistically from the 2009, this is just as good. The structure in 2010 is noteworthy for its high acid focus. There are streaks of berry and cassis, with touches of smoke and espresso. This is a wine to cellar while you are drinking up the delicious 2009.
It's rare that domestic Chardonnay is truly Chablis-like, but this delicately framed wine fits that description perfectly. Nuanced with mineral and spice notes, this has melon and apple flavors that seem to sail on a gentle sea breeze. It doesn't slam you with oak, instead it seduces with you style.
Sourced from a small vineyard in the The Rocks of Walla Walla, this shows classic, terroir-driven umami flavors. It's as if the fruit were soaked in seaweed, then lifted on a platform of rock. It has lovely aromatics, with a rather delicate finish that's nuanced with cherry and tar.
Deliciously perfumed, this shows some of the structure of the vintage, along with generous raspberry and red cherry flavors. It is rich and solid, and its open character has just the right edge of dense tannins. Already approachable, but it's likely to age over several years.
Firm, concentrated and solid, this has a tight core that's surrounded by sweeter dark-plum fruit. This is ripe and full bodied, with a definite need for aging.
This shows the textural depth of all the Efesté wines. A floral top note gives way to firm, dark, cassis and blackberry flavors. Light notes of herb, anise and earth are introduced and set comfortably into the lengthy finish. It has great power and flavor, with the possibility of cellaring for a decade or more.
Mostly Syrah, with some Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a succulent rosé with a marvelous mouthfeel. Texture and length are its main charms, with nuanced notes of rose petal, hibiscus, watermelon and pie cherry. The vineyard sources are Klipsun, Boushey and Ciel du Cheval.
Gorgeously aromatic with notes of freshly pressed apple, wildflower honey and tangerine peel, this is a richly textured, almost creamy, ice wine. Intense flavors of honey and fresh apple ripple on the palate, with striking lemon acidity that lends a squeaky clean finish.
Still tight and chewy, this lushly-fruited Syrah mixes berry and cherry flavors with earthier, mineral-driven bass notes. It will require a bit more bottle age to unwind and decompress, but it has all of the ingredients of a wine with staying power.
This is very structured and full, with a powerful minerality, citrus and spice flavors, and a tight, nervy character. It has the weight to age for 3–4 years.
Big and fruity, this is very lively, balancing butteriness with green-fruit acidity. The wine is maturing quickly, its tension is fading into rich, wood-flavored fruitiness.
This mixes blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry notes with a dressing of Bourbon and chocolate. Smooth and satiny, this is drinking exceptionally well at the moment.
A great vintage for the Sundance Red, this is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 14% Syrah. The addition of Syrah really livens up the mix. It's a supple, sappy, sinuous red, with rich and complex cherry and berry fruits. The 30% new oak is not only lavish for a $20 wine, but it judiciously complements all of the good fruit.
Using grapes sourced entirely from Boushey Vineyard, this well-structured Syrah has a claret-like refinement. Sleek and focused, it offers raspberry and black cherry flavors, with a tight, taut structure and length. Some notes of leaf and earth trickle onto the finish.
The minerality is a reminder that the grapes come from an area near Chablis. It has a tangy, zingy character, with a nervy edge that promises aging, but it also provides fruity, apple-driven pleasure now.
This is a soft, bland wine, with light fruit flavors, a creamy texture and a final tang of lemon zest. Drink now.
This wine has too much wood, with high toast and spice. The fruit is dominated by this wood that is not likely to soften.
Aromas of oak and orange peel include a strong whiff of clove. This is creamy and resiny in feel, while oaky flavors—clove in particular—sit on top of red-fruit notes. Dry barrel-related flavors are hot on the finish.
This extremely simple red has aromas recalling dark-skinned fruit and leather. The lean diluted palate shows suggestions of sour cherry, dried plum and a hint of dark spice alongside fleeting tannins.
A gluey aroma follows through, cloaking simple, sour flavors of lemon tea in its wake. There is an off flavor in the finish that doesn't subside.
This wine has a geranium aroma and a strangely perfumed character. It is light and fruity although not likely to develop much.
This wine of unknown grape varieties shows a thread of sweet cola and vanilla throughout a larger tunnel of smoky char, remaining somewhat flat, bitter and simple on the palate.
Charred, malty, foxy, herbal aromas sound the alarm. This Garnacha-Carignan blend is rough as sandpaper, with heavily oaked flavors of herbaceous black fruits. A rough and rugged finish is abrasive.
This dull, tired wine is quickly moving past drinkability. Flat and lifeless, it hints at leather and little else.
Syrupy and with a distinct taste of raisins, this 100% varietal wine is overdone in terms of ripeness, with a lack of structure. The highlight is its tight hold on black pepper.
Chunky pithy stone-fruit and citrus aromas are sketchy, while the palate is tangy and none too pleasant. Flavors of mealy citrus fruits and a finish with the consistency of orange juice do nothing to help this along.
Wiry and volatile aromas of vinegar and saucy berry fruits fail to impress. This Monastrell-Tempranillo blend is hard and tannic, with murky berry flavors that are also a bit weedy. Heat and a lack of ripeness mar the finish.
Berry and lemon-peel aromas come with a note of plastic. This feels narrow and acidic, and thus scraping. Tart plum and spice flavors lead to an herbal high-acid palate that leaves a sour lasting impression.
It's not possible to analyze vineyard practices from afar, but this wine is thin, tart and astringent, suggesting such possibilities as over-cropping, picking too early, or simply the wrong clones. In any event, it's a flavorless wine with no varietal character.
Aromas of game, cured meat, mature violet and a whiff of barnyard lead the nose. It's extremely simple and diluted, with fleeting tannins and brisk acidity. Tried two bottles, same notes.
The 2013 vintage may not have been good in Spain, but this is really struggling. Green aromas are sharp and suggest vinegar. This feels hard as a pile of rocks, with herbal flavors of green tomato and rustic plum. An herbal-tasting astringent finish will win no new friends.
Diluted and lean, this opens with aromas recalling wet soil and cut flowers past their prime. The thin über-simple palate isn't very expressive, showing mere suggestions of dried sour cherry and an earthy note.
Earthy plum and raspberry aromas are probing and raw. This feels acidic to the point of cutting. Sour, salty, herbal red-fruit flavors are gritty and rough on the finish. This is Salta Cabernet in its most raw, least appealing form.
This wine is woody, showing concentrated toast and vanilla flavors. It seems to be missing its fruit.
This dilute red wine could be anything. It's green, tannic, and generic.
This wine is perfumed with geranium aromas and rhubarb flavors. It is strange and not likely to improve.
Earthy aromas of animal and stewed black fruits set up a hot palate with oaky mint and clove flavors. This is gripping and warm on the finish, with an excess of oak and hard tannins.
Light in color, sketchy on the nose and dilute on the palate, all of which means this has discernible issues. Bland flavors suggest grape skins, while this is flat, wheaty and yeasty tasting on the finish.
Hot rubbery untamed aromas need help. This Syrah-led blend feels clampy and rough. Salty murky black-fruit flavors are herbal and wild, and there's no help coming on the finish, which is grabby.
The intent here seems to be a low-alcohol “pure” expression of Bonarda. But with volatile high-toned cherry and raspberry aromas along with a narrow scouring palate, this comes across as tart and lean. Sour herbal red-plum flavors are raw on the finish.
Oxidized apricot aromas comprise the bulk of the nose on this weird oak-aged Albariño. Flavors of apricot, peach pit and quince quickly turn bitter, while the finish is flabby. Overall this is sketchy, with few attributes.
There's virtually no bouquet to this wine, and the palate follows suit with a flat feel and hollow, faded flavors of balsamic-doused cherry and herb. It seems aged and dried out.
Fruity, ripe and round, this is simple Chardonnay that gives pleasure from its warm texture and softness. The apple flavor leads to a gentle finish.
Hints of chalk dust and savory stem and leaf notes detract from the bright peach, grapefruit and flower notes on both the nose and palate. Dry in style, but its a shade sugary on the attack.
A dirty nose spoils this otherwise attractive, easy, crisp Chablis. The palate has some notes of yeast and bright white fruit, with a citrusy finish.
This is a lean, acid-driven wine, without much in the way of generous fruit. It has a green strawberry note, with a light sense of structure and a minerally finish.
Stewy yet flush, with shearing acids, this has a meaty, leafy aroma that sets up the angular palate. Flavors of stewed berry, spiced tomato and burnt leaves turn slightly bitter on what amounts to a short finish.
This has a reedy red-berry aroma and a citrus note. Confirmation of the bouquet comes on the palate, which is lean and scouring, with red plum, pomegranate and herb flavors. The finish is cleansing, but it doesn't show much substance.
A jammy raspberry aroma comes with milk chocolate and plastic scents. It feels pulpy yet spunky, with red plum and strawberry flavors. The mild finish doesn't evolve or expand, but it registers as being fresh.
This blend of 75% Pinot Grigio and 15% Vermentino is a light, simple quaff with some snap to it and not much on the finish.
This weighty Vermentino has splashes of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. It tastes as though it spent a great amount of time in barrel, however the aging vessel is listed as 100% stainless steel.
This is a combination of tropical fruits and tight acidity, making for an unbalanced wine that seems not to know its way.
This is very soft and lacking in definition, with a light texture. However, it does have a crisp apple flavor and a line of acidity that gives freshness.
Meaty plum and Band-Aid aromas are less than exact but not bad or false for Pinot Noir. This feels a bit thick and gummy, while dense, spicy plum flavors finish mildly bitter as this winds its way down.
Grass, herb and passion-fruit aromas are followed by citrus and tropical flavors. It's pleasant but the concentration seems lacking.
Hot and fiery, this red is meaty, spicy and herbal on the nose. The disjointed palate shows baked, spicy plum and herbal flavors. A smoky, meaty flavor and forced, creamy-oak tone carry the finish.
Honey is the dominant star in this bottling, drizzled all over yellow apples on the nose. The golden liquid also shows strong on the palate, with flavors of pears and apples soaked in honey water.
Grassy in style, this ripe, viscous white provides good value, bright and bittersweet in passionfruit and pineapple. Viscous, it ends full-figured.
Spry lemon and white grapefruit flavors are stark and steely in this dry-style Riesling. It's not deeply concentrated on the palate, but refreshingly quaffable.
Violet, tilled earth and red currant tones mark the nose and palate. The crisp acidity races down the midpalate, leading the fleeting flavors and mild tannins to a short finish.
Tarry, rubbery cherry and chocolate aromas turn towards olive as this breathes. Raw, rubbery and mildly astringent in feel, this tastes like plum and tomato with herbs and salt.
Extremely showy white tuberose flowers and tropical candied guava fruit combine into a bubblegum-like nose on this wine. The palate is overwhelmingly tropical, bordering on treacly in presentation.
Lean and sheen, this light-footed dry Riesling is a showcase of minerality over fruit. It's demure in concentration but refreshing, finishing brisk and clean.
Fruit-bowl aromas, fresh but neutral flavors and a fairly soft texture make this light-bodied wine pleasant and easy to drink.
This Viognier from the outlands region of Elqui is minerally but low on fruit aromas. A fresh, linear palate offers lettuce, lime and other limited green-leaning flavors, while the finish is lasting and firm, with zesty acidity.
Earthy, scratchy berry, plum and spice aromas are inviting on the nose. This is bold, acidic and a touch sharp in feel, with generic black-fruit flavors as well as toasty oak and spice. A fresh finish with leftover notes of blackberry winds things down.
This Malbec opens with a blast of raw woodgrain, a lactic smell, leather and finally some black fruit. The palate is racy and potent, with resiny oak leading herbal berry flavors. A fiery, hot finish brings this to a scouring close.
With saucy, herbal, briny aromas and a short, limited but fresh palate, this qualifies as a light, cool-climate Pinot Noir. Salty, briny red-plum flavors finish with citric tang and a note of sea foam.
Latex and spice aromas accent raw red-fruit scents of plum and currant. This feels citric, tangy and lean, with dry, spicy, lightly oaked red-plum and cherry pie flavors. Medicinal notes, racy red-fruit flavors and a hint of woodspice pace the finish.
Cherry aromas and flavors and a velvety texture make this light-bodied wine easy to drink. It has black peppery, woodsy notes in the tart cherry flavors and a sense of being aged and ready to drink.
A pink-meets-tan color is the greeting on this peachy Pinot Grigio that smells like fresh applesauce. A spunky palate of stone fruit and moderate acidity deals additional notes of waxy melon.
Fresh, leafy herbs and lemon zest perfume this slightly grapey, somewhat “foxy” if you will, wine. It's crisp and cutting in mouthfeel, finishing on a juicy white grapefruit note.
Savory, dusty notes of bramble wood, earth and mineral lend an unusually rustic shadow to this Gewürztraminer. It's quite lean on the palate but brisk lemon and tangerine flavors are refreshing.
Green apple with a squeeze of fresh lemon makes for a basic and easy unoaked Chardonnay. While standard and simple, this is a perfectly enjoyable wine to pair with lighter fare.
Wiry, scratchy blueberry and black-currant aromas come with an odd soapy perfume. This feels choppy, with outsized acidity and oak making their presence felt. Salty, briny plum flavors are cutting, while the finish feels raw and astringent.
This fortified wine made from Blanc du Bois brings aromas of orange rind, caramel and sultana all under a blanket of a crushed-pill tone. The sweet, luscious palate brings notes of toasted almonds and hazelnuts drizzled in butter.
Aromas of freshly laid asphalt and char-grilled hamburger shroud herbal berry aromas. This Tannat is chunky on the palate, but low on structure. Modest plum flavors come with stewed, spicy accents, while toasty oak is draped over a chewy, meaty finish.
This lightweight wine combines herbal notes reminiscent of tomato and celery leaves with hints of white grapefruit. Finishes just a bit short, with vaguely peppery notes.
Dark berries and sweet baking-spice tones carry the nose. The medium-bodied palate brings juicy blackberry flavors showing mild concentration, supported by soft tannins.
Bell pepper and citrus aromas are limited in scope. The palate feels acidic, with quick-hitting flavors of green herbs, bell pepper and tropical fruits. Pyrazine-based flavors of bell pepper and bitter herbs push the finish.
This is powerful, typical of Les Preuses. White and yellow fruits are important to the palate, but so are rich, honeyed toast, minerality and an opulent, intense concentration. This is impressive, elegance with power, and worth aging for several years.
This is a rare venture by Olivier Leflaive outside his home territory around Puligny, Chassagne and Meursault. The wine is classic Corton-Charlemagne, big and bold, a broad-shouldered wine that brings together toastiness, ripe pineapple and mango and balancing, lively acidity. It is already giving great pleasure, but should last well over the next decade.
Sumptuous and rich, a fully gorgeous Chardonnay, with butter and citrus flavors combining with panache. The wine just fill the mouth, a succession of pineapple, soft toast, spice and mango flavors, finished with acidity. To drink now, but it is worth keeping for 2–3 years.
A rich, mouthfilling,  sophisticated wine. The secret is in the balance, with the concentrated fruit flavors—dried apricot, mango and lemon—in just the right proportion. It tastes delicious now, but will certainly age over five years or more.
Bold and forward, this estate-grown Syrah fairly explodes with scents of game, cured meat and smoke. The black cherry and cassis fruit forms a dense and sappy core; as the wine skips across the tongue nuances of tobacco, sweet leather, chocolate and spices come into play. It just keeps on going, adding caramel and peppery chocolate through an evolving and satisfying finish.
This exuberant Tokaji starts with an enticing nose of orange peel, honey, flowers and toast, and explodes in the mouth with intense, delicious waves of lemon, orange and honey flavors. A perfect balance of acid and fruit keeps the wine fresh without losing its luscious appeal. A memorable wine loaded with personality and excitement.
A beautiful, ripe wine that shows the richness of 2006 in Chablis. The wine revels in its yellow fruit flavors, apricots, peaches even pineapple, underscored by new wood flavors. Then acidity comes through, a fresh lift that leaves the wine with a clean, smooth finish. And once these initial fruits soften, the secondary flavors promise some good aging. Screwcap.
A superb wine. It opens slowly in the mouth, revealing layers of toast followed by intense white and green fruits. Spice and nutmeg accent the kiwi, pepper and pineapple notes, all concentrated around a core of minerality. Age for at least four years.
More powerful and potent than the '04, this simply has more juice, more depth, more power and more detail than any previous Sheridan wine. The fruit is exceptional—dense black cherry and cassis, with a sense of compact layering that promises great aging potential. This was 30 months in oak but does not seem oaky in any way. It already has the balance, the polish and the length to justify long-term cellaring. Tannins are ripe and supple, bringing in hints of dried herb and black olive.
This is a mix of 56% Sagemoor and 41% Champoux Cabernet, with a 3% splash of estate Petit Verdot. It's detailed in the manner of a Pauillac, thick cassis fruit with deep veins of iron, cedar, licorice and a just a hint of silage. The fruit is dark and dense, but with breathing you'll find it begins to open into a splendid blend of black cherry, cassis and mountain berry flavor. Woodward Canyon's red wines age beautifully, but if drunk young give them a lot of breathing time.
This steely, mineral, structured wine speaks of the chalk soil of Puligny. It is firm and crisp, even though the fruit is rich. The wine layers the white fruits and mandarin orange zest with some judicious toast from the wood, leaving spice and ripe acidity on the finish.
This wine has a rustic but appealing air about it, with its cedary pepper and luscious jam nose and elegant balance of berry, smoke and spice. The wine is approachable and will pair with smoked meats and spicy dishes well.
A wine that's all about grapefruit and white currant fruits. This is very fresh, very crisp, tightened by minerality, with a lively, juicy lemon finish.
Oaky and a little spotty, with aromas of cheese, cinnamon and wood resin sitting heavily on herbal, traditional fruit. The acidity is bracing, so there's a lemony bite to the palate along with flavors of raisin, raspberry and cherry. A fairly good blend of Merlot, Carmenère and Cabernet, but one that's missing a few parts.
Light peach aromas mix with a hint of sea breeze to give this wine a subtle approach. The palate is more alive, with mild citrus and lemon-lime flavors. Almost seems like a refreshing sip of lemonade by the time it fades away.
On the leaner side, with mineral overtones to the grapefruit and cut-grass aromas and flavors. Comes out of the bottle with some smelly reductive notes that take some aeration to eliminate, so decant before serving.
A crisp, delicious wine, with all the right fresh acidity, tensely green fruits and very refreshing lightness. The wine will sit delicately and satisfyingly alongside any fish dish.
No question this is a taut, crisp, mineral, smoky Sauvignon Blanc from the grape's heartland. It has plenty of herbaceous edges, but the core is ripe, tropical and juicy.
Robertson has managed to create a solid, appealing Chardonnay at an excellent price. This one has a big nose of fresh fruit and orange citrus, and on the palate, assertive fruit and toast. Not terribly complex but definitely robust and flavorful, this is an ideal everyday white.
Pungent grassy aromas vie with passion fruit on the nose, while the flavors lean more toward the tropical fruit side of things. This is a medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc that plays it safe, offering a comfortable drink at a reasonable price.
This overall good, refreshing Chard is a go-to white for everyday sipping. On the nose, citrus, apples, and fresh Chardonnay fruit leads, and on the palate, straightforward fruit is both elegant and approachable. The finish is substantial. Pair with poultry, seafood, or sip alone.
A rich and fruity wine with dense cherry and strawberry fruits and a dry, tannic structure. It has a tough edge that suggests aging potential while also bringing out a ripe character from this southernmost appellation in the Côte d'Or.
All from Windrige Vineyard, this is an aromatic, appealing dessert-style wine with notes of dried pink grapefruit and honey. At 18.6% residual sugar, it's rich and concentrated, with good depth and intensity.
This blend of Antão Vaz and Verdelho is rich and creamy with spice and green plum flavors given a boost by vanilla and ginger flavors. There's a fine perfumed aftertaste from the Verdelho.
The aromas are light for a Viognier, with notes of flowers, herbs and peach. Still, it brings a lot of appeal, with broad fruit flavors accented by residual sugar (0.4%), showing a bit of heat on the finish.
This extremely dark-colored Malbec offers mellow blueberry and blackberry aromas. The palate is big, jammy feeling and features only pokes of acidic cut. Inky black-fruit flavors come with licorice, peppercorn notes and heat. The finish is solid but limited in scope. Drink now through 2016.
Jammy aromas of baked blackberry and plum are fiery at first and then flatten out with airing. A choppy palate offers a bumpy ride with ripe plum and berry flavors in front of a full-force, toasty finish that shows a strong grip courtesy of big tannins. This is two-thirds Garnacha with Syrah and Carignan.
A light, lemony and crisp Chardonnay with a long, lemony finish begging for fresh seafood and spice—think fish tacos—Husch's Vine One has a hint of just-ripe pear layered in, too. Refreshing and aromatic, this is an all-around great value that'll pair well with a wide range of foods.
While this is fiery on the nose, you also get attractive, complex aromas of baked cherry, brandied plum, leather, coffee and chocolate. The flavor profile consists of red berry, chocolaty oak and spice, and things conclude with savory, roasted flavors cut by lasting acidity. This is a powerful, tannic yet sophisticated Nebbiolo that should improve with more time in the bottle.
A classically sweet Welschriesling, not too heavy or cloying, but ripe with juicy peaches and dried apricots enriched with honey. There is a hint of drier botrytis to give the wine a fine texture. Drink now, not for aging. Screwcap.
Lush and mouthfilling, this tropical-fruited Chard offers a ton of flavors at a surprisingly small price. Smoky toasted-almond notes accent star fruit and guava flavors. Drink now–2011.
Remarkably consistent in quality year after year, Peg Bay's 2007 Chardonnay opens with some slightly funky aromas that moderate with aeration to reveal a toasty, smoky wine with a core of melon fruit. It starts off seeming a touch narrow, but broadens and deepens on the palate, ending with impressive length.
All of Viu Manent's single-vineyard wines have the right stuff. This one starts out staunch and concentrated before it unfolds with inky, black-fruit aromas, warm earth and saturated blackberry and spice flavors. Ripe, rich and meaty. A prime New World Syrah with teeth and character. Drink now through 2012.
Beautifully perfumed wine, with fresh red fruits and some fine tannins. The wood element is perhaps too dominant for the weight of the wine. Hopefully this will subside. Give it 3–4 years.
The wine has a dark, crusty top to the nose, with solid berry aromas under that. The palate is bright, zesty and features familiar plum and black cherry flavors. And the finish is straightforward but smooth. Stylish, with a little snap, crackle and pop.
A big, full-bodied Malbec with charm. The nose is toasty, with black fruit, chocolate and other stocky, earthy aromas. Saturated in the mouth, with concentrated black fruit flavors. Shows touches of mint and spice on the finish along with coffee, licorice and chocolate. Drink now through 2012.
Consumers are reaping the benefit of Australia's Chardonnay grape glut. This elegant, refined, cool-climate Chardonnay comes at a bargain price for its flavors of lightly grilled pineapple, melon, citrus and hazelnut. Drink now–2012.
Showing plenty of toasty oak, Te Awa's 2007 Chardonnay is at the same time surprisingly medium-bodied, with refined citrusy aromas and flavors at its core, cosseted by layers of vanilla and coconut. Try it with scallops or lobster, and let the long, citrusy finish play off the buttery sweetness of the shellfish. Drink now–2012.
A fine, fruity but structured wine. It brings together many attractive elements of crisp fruits, ripe peaches, toast and a definite tight structure for aging. Keep for 2–3 years.
Produced for Force Majeure by Syncline's James Mantone, this riveting wine is a blend of 47% Mourvèdre, 42% Syrah and 11% Grenache. Lush and redolent with wild berry and wet rock aromatics, it carries a thread of sweet grain along with bright, detailed berry fruit and balancing acidity. Delicious already, it can be enjoyed now through 2020.
An attention-grabbing sense of umami introduces this wine, with darkly colored mushrooms, plum sauce, miso soup and black sage tickling the nose. There is dark chocolate with bits of espresso on the palate, which is leveled by plum skins and berry flesh, with bitter tar and black pepper on the finish.
This is the most dynamic 2011 entry in Matthias Pippig's Loner series, starting with aromas of lemon juice, lime sorbet, wet chalk, white pepper and crushed herbs. The tight, mineral-driven flavors dance across diced peaches and baked apples, with lime spritzer and baking soda thrown on top.
A whirlwind of aromas—peppered black cherries, elderberry, caramel, toast, barrel smoke—rise off this appellation blend from German-born winemaker Matthias Pippig, who handcrafts small batches on Santa Barbara's Eastside. It's very soft on the palate, with medium-dark flavors of butter-crusted plum pie and an herbal note of pine pitch keeping it serious.
The sister wine to Ruby Leigh, this Cabernet-based blend is sourced principally from Red Mountain vineyards. It opens with scents of violets and moves into a firm palate mixing cassis, herb and iron shavings. Excellent structure cellaring through 2025.
The nose carries notes of cassis, blackberry and bell pepper. An approachable, yet complex wine, the palate shows flavors of black cherry, bacon, black pepper, vanilla and espresso bean. Rich tannins linger without burdening the taste buds. Pleasant notes of smoke and salt linger on the finish.
Founded by a well-heeled group of wine afficionadoes, Barons has seen a change of ownership and a change in winemaking direction. For the first time, French oak has begun to supplant American oak as the barrels of choice. The wine is aromatic, detailed and inviting, with the lower alcohol prevalent in 2011. A rich mix of berry and cassis dives deeply into the palate, with dark chocolate highlights. The tannins are silky and polished, and the wine seems a sure bet to cellar well until the mid-2020's.
This pure varietal wine showcases rich, ripe cherry pie fruit backed up against a mineral-soaked base. Baking spice highlights and a streak of caramel reflect aging in 100% new French oak. Acids and tannins are proportionate and substantial.
Somewhat light in color, this is an aromatically appealing wine that shows a complex assortment of coffee, vanilla, pencil lead, cherry, blueberry and high-toned herbal notes. It's exquisitely polished in its styling, with plush tannins and a long, lingering finish. A pretty expression of the variety that shows a great degree of elegance and deftness, it drinks well out of the gate but continues to improve with additional time to breathe.
A big, ripe and spicy wine, this is packed with woody notes as well as powerful fruit. It has solid tannins and dark flavors of bitter chocolate and black cherries. It's rich and concentrated, with good aging potential. Drink from 2018.
The Ehrhart style is for rich wines and this impressive Grand Cru is no exception. It has intense flavors of white fruits, lemon, spice and a hint of thyme. Its acidity balances that richness, cutting a path that gives a great lift and leaves the wine fresh at the end. Drink from 2017.
Surprisingly bright for the vintage and displaying Gaja's trademark elegance, this offers aromas of blue flower, perfumed berry, cake spices and a whiff of leather. The ripe palate delivers mature black cherry layered with white pepper and cinnamon alongside supple tannins. Drink 2016–2026.
For the 2011 vintage, Winemaker Charles Thomas blended Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from the winery's 280-acre biodynamic and organically farmed estate in the heart of Rutherford. The effect is memorable, the wine pungent in red plum and cherry. Light, layered and elegantly smooth on the palate, it has a backdrop of black pepper and clove. Cellar through 2025.
Elegant and attractive aromas of dark violet, red rose, cedar and a touch of vanilla serve as a promising entry point to this Cabernet. A bit of char kicks in on the palate alongside dark chocolate, espresso and ripe plum skin, with roasted beet in the background.
The best Still Waters release right now, this presents a sophisticated nose of cherry chutney, black pepper, blueberry and burning sagebrush. On the palate, blueberry fruit gets dashed with more black sage and tobacco, and the acidity and tannins are just right.
Balsamic aromas of menthol and eucalyptus unfold in the glass and mingle with scents of leather, licorice and dark berry. The concentrated palate delivers dried black cherry, crushed raspberry, black pepper and grilled herb alongside velvety tannins. Drink 2015–2022.
This dry-farmed vineyard reliably delivers memorable wines, including this Syrah, redolent with notes of oregano, thyme, charred beef and tar. The herbs, fruit and smoke integrate smoothly on the palate, with boysenberry fruit in the background and crushed bouquet garni on the front.
Beautifully balanced, this conveys both rich fruit and a tense, intense minerality. Combining the two strands impeccably, it brings out tangy apple and pink grapefruit flavors and a steely, tight acidity. It's a structured wine that needs to age. Drink from 2018.
Smoky in dark clove and black pepper, this is a smooth, bright Zinfandel from head-trained, dry-farmed vines planted in the 19th century. After skipping the 2011 vintage, the winery returns with this stunner, brambly in succulent blackberry with plenty of intriguing spice.
Pure Petit Verdot from Red Mountain's quintessential Bordeaux varietal vineyard—does it get any better? Big, deep and tannic, with lovely purity, this features ultraripe fig and plum fruit with a pleasing salinity. The finish is persistent and shows a streak of iron. Note the alcohol is pushing 16% however it is beautifully integrated.
From a seven-acre section of the vineyard, this offers plenty of saddle leather and cedar amidst spicy cardamom layers, a soft, juicy core and tingling acidity. The structure and weight suggest the ability to cellar comfortably through 2020.
This opens with a classic Nebbiolo fragrance of red rose, leather, perfumed wild berries, forest floor and a hint of menthol. On the palate, white pepper, mint, thyme and eucalyptus notes add depth to the mouthwatering wild cherry and ripe raspberry flavors. It's still young, with a firm, tannic backbone balanced with just enough fresh acidity. Drink 2018–2026.
A case study in cool-climate, estate-grown Syrah, the white pepper on the nose and palate is playful and exuberant, the acidity buoyant and lingering. The fruit takes on hushed tones of wild berry and bramble, with a soft texture inviting one in for more.
Clos Saint Landelin is a portion of the Vorbourg Grand Cru vineyard wholly owned by Muré. This rich wine is comfortably excessive, very full of spice and lychee flavors. Medium dry in character with a dry core, it is still young and could age. Drink from 2017.
Blue flower, ripe berry, baking spice and mint aromas lead the nose on this full-bodied, elegant wine. The palate delivers juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon, licorice and mineral alongside firm, ripe tannins. It's young but already displays a great combination of structure and finesse.
The winery's proprietary block of Zin grapes (planted in 1999) from the coveted Stagecoach Vineyards contributes to an intense wine. Juicy and oaky, it's dense in cherry and plum, a note of lavender and sage complementing the whole. A thick liqueur sense characterizes the texture, but the palate stays alive through the site's rocky minerality. This one'll age.
Ripe and delicious, this starts off with aromas of fresh violet, rose, perfumed berry, exotic spice and tilled earth. It's still young but the palate already delivers a great depth of flavors including juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, clove and black pepper alongside chewy tannins. Drink 2016 to 2021.
As the wine ages, it shows a soft, toasty and nutty side that adds complexity to the tight fruitiness that remains. It's a wine in transition, still fresh while adding some concentration, broadening the steely texture and giving hints of the serious wine it will be. Drink from 2018.
Aromas of mature black fruit, tobacco, allspice and mocha unfold in the glass along with a note of tilled earth. The opulent palate offers blackberry extract, dried plum, licorice and chocolate while velvety tannins provide support and give it a smooth texture. Drink through 2019.
This is an impressive wine at the price and production level, a great go-to for multiple occasions. It delivers earthy, candied strawberry around a light, bright core, remaining soft and smooth in texture and intensity, finishing with a tease of milk chocolate.
Aromas of black cherry, cassis and alfalfa are ripe and appealing. This is 95% Monastrell with 5% Garnacha; the palate feels ripe, fresh and free-flowing, while flavors of blackberry and chocolate are moderate but appealing. A long, toasty, blackened finish is in excellent shape; drink through 2020.
This vineyard-designate opens with intoxicating aromas of violet and rose before expanding on the palate into seamless, sturdy waves of juicy pomegranate and red cherry. Earthy and somewhat feral, it ends with a note of black tea.
Crisp green apple flavors are immediately apparent—lactic inflections and floral notes appear too, alongside wood sorrel and moist brioche. The palate has electric English acidity and a very creamy, fine mousse that gives shapely curves to its slenderness.
From high-elevation vineyards, this is a lean, dusty wine driven by dried herb, blueberry and savory tobacco, with a floral flirtation on the bouquet. Integrated tannins are still sizable and structured, the midpalate touched by a gamy, meaty suggestion akin to charcuterie.
The fruit for this 100% varietal wine comes from Cold Creek, Klipsun and Anna Marie vineyards. Herb, dark fruit, toast and raspberry aromas lead to tightly wound fruit flavors with a buttery top note. Its best days await. Enjoy after 2018.
Jammy aromas and concentrated grape and blackberry flavors pack a lot of fruitiness into this full-bodied and velvet-textured wine. The ripe and almost sweet berry and plum notes gush forth with gusto while the firm, grippy texture keeps the mouthfeel nicely dry and helps clear the palate for the next bite or sip.
Crushed bricks, rose petals, red currants and grape syrup are sprinkled with elegant black spices in this blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot by Steve and Chrystal Clifton. The palate is silky, redolent with mulberry and tart plums skins, amped up by sagebrush and thyme. It's perfect for a variety of foods.
This magenta-hued Monastrell opens with concentrated aromas of jammy wild berries, herbs and rubber. The palate feels fleshy and chunky, while herbal, earthy blackberry and plum flavors precede a full-force finish of herbal, briny and salty accents. Drink through 2022.
Dwelley Vineyard provides most of the fruit for this Merlot. Toasty barrel aromas are at the fore followed by exotic spices, milk chocolate and cherry. The flavors are plush and jammy, lingering on the finish.
This is just a gorgeous wine, so easy to enjoy, juicy in watermelon, grapefruit and dark, baked strawberry tart, a taste of summer evoked from every sip. Textured and complex, it gives a squeeze of blood orange that lingers and remains fresh through the finish. It's from the owner's estate vineyard, sought after by many other producers and made by Siduri's Adam Lee.
Aromas of mixed black fruits, spice and earth are deep, thorough and integrated. This blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenère, 20% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc is tight and taught, with austerity and tannic grip. Flavors of toast, coffee and plum finish peppery, dry, tight and herbal, with a chocolaty note added in for good measure; drink through 2022.
Another terrific value from the Costières de Nîmes, this features exquisite scents of grilled herbs—think thyme, rosemary, lavender—with ripe blueberries and roasted meat. It's open-knit and velvety on the palate already, so drink it now through 2018.
Parcels of vines on the Phélan-Ségur estate are used for this second label. The wine, with its firm tannins, is developing well. It has structure and a dense texture along with ripe blackberry fruits and acidity. As it develops, it will be generous and ripe. Drink from 2018.
This brooding wine provides aromas of flowers, moist soil, raspberry and herbs. It's velvety in feel with abundant cherry and chocolate flavors that linger on the finish.
Intense mint, menthol, ripe berry and dark spice aromas lead the nose. The palate offers dried black cherry mature raspberry, mint, thyme and clove alongside bracing tannins. Give this a few more years to reach its full potential. Drink after 2018.
This wine offers a complex, intoxicating bouquet: espresso, charred meat and black olive notes meld seamlessly together, adding notes of blueberries and pastry crust on the palate. It's not overly weighty, remaining fresh through the long, silky finish.
Granite and schist soil planted with old vines has produced this impressive wine. It is softer than it probably was when younger, although it has not lost one bit of its fresh crisp fruitiness and perfumes. The wine is concentrated, rich and is ready to drink.
A blend of bio-dynamically grown Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this opens with aromas of ripe black fruit, blue flowers, espresso, grilled herbs and baking spice. The bright palate delivers blackberry extract, spiced blueberry, tobacco, coffee, sage and licorice. Firm tannins provide the framework. Drink 2016–2022.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Intricate aromas of vanilla, cedar, powdered chocolate, pipe tobacco and black cherry lead to focused, layered fruit and barrel flavors that show persistence.
Intense aromas of summer blackberries and cherry preserves waft from the nose of this rich, fruity, yet elegantly structured red. The palate is classic in style marked by ruffles of peppery spice and fine-grained tannins. A streak of menthol lingers through a long, black cherry finish.
Exhibiting cooler-climate characteristics, the fruit sourced primarily from the Stag's Leap District, this wine shows dried herb and cedar on the nose, evolving deeper layers of red cherry and cranberry on the midpalate. It takes on weight and structure on the finish.
No, that vintage is not a typo. This winery holds back its wines for an extended time prior to release. It's in full bloom with aromas of coffee, dried cherry, flowers, leather and black tea. The black fruit flavors are still fresh and lively, showing concentration and detail. Drink now.
Intensely aromatic, this is a spicy, sublime and soft wine, elegant and unexpected, bright and alive and fresh instead of overbearing. Its rustic roots endear rather than distract, with an exuberance of blueberry at its core.
Floral and accented in papaya, this is a crisp, balanced and easy-to-love wine, from a vineyard farmed organically and biodynamically planted to three different clones. Fig, pear and vanilla all make an appearance amidst a medium-bodied texture and crisp, appealing finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) makes up the majority of this wine along with Merlot (23%), Malbec (5%) and Petit Verdot. It's aromatically brooding, with notes of black fruit, toffee, moist soil and a floral top note. The palate pulls few punches with its rich, high-octane flavors and firm tannins but manages to keep it all in balance.
Earth and rocks power the nose of this wine by veteran Dan Lee, with chipped slate, cinnamon, bramble berries and smoked meat aromas. The palate blends black cherries with black rocks, black sage, licorice and herb-crusted beef roast flavors.
Concentrated aromas of blackberry marmalade, wood grain, pepper and turned earth are rich and smooth. This is a dense, chewy, maximum-ripeness Monastrell, with flavors of baked blackberry, baking spices and chocolate. Toast and additional chocolate flavors drive the finish. Drink through 2019.
A ripe, red berry-fruit flavored wine, highlighted with sweet cherries. At this young stage, it shows more fruit than structure. Tannins are here, likely to flesh out the wine as it develops. For the moment, enjoy the great swathes of sweet fruit.
This is beautifully aromatic and assertively tannic, with monster fruit that overtakes the 100% new oak and shows no hint of heat from the 15.5% alcohol. It's big, yet graceful, with veins of smoke and rock wrapped around the dense cassis and berry fruit. Young as it is, this has immense concentration and depth.
Dark and structured, powered by smoky tannins and plum skin texture. The wine is just beginning, its weight an indication of good aging potential. It is firm and dense, the acidity providing an attractive final freshness.
With its fine tannic structure, plum juice sweetness and beautifully ripe fruits, this is a wine that combines structure with a rich velvet coat. The acidity gives a fine lift, bringing out strawberries and a final piercing freshness.
The Knoll Grüner style is for a hint of steel, doses of minerality and not too much ornateness despite the wonderfully elaborate traditional bottle labels. The intense fruit, spice and peach character is balanced by acidity, a taut, nervy edge. It will certainly age for 5–6 years.
Fresh and firm, with juicy primary fruits that meld together flavors of tropical and stone fruits—a riot of papaya, peach, pineapple, candied lemon and more. The butterscotch barrel notes glide into the mid-palate and coat the back of the throat, resonating long after the wine is swallowed. Based on previous vintages, this is a surefire six to eight year wine for cellaring.
This has the great aromatic complexity you expect from Rugiens. Generous and full textured, this is a full-bodied, rounded wine. Sweet red fruits, touched by spice, are well balanced with a streak of acidity. Wait for four years, at least.
This is a GSM blend from a single vineyard, Lonesome Springs. Tobacco and vanilla scents merge into a midpalate with light red fruits. The acidity and smooth tannins keep it clean and tasty through the finish.
A young, structured Pinot Noir exuding tart red cherry and pomegranate, clearly grown in a cool climate in a cool year with an undertone of brushy herbes de Provence. The finish continues the theme of tartness and acidity, a willing partner for something unexpected like oysters or bacon-wrapped dates.
This insanely sippable wine is ready for spring oyster gatherings or gulping down on its own. Low in alcohol with just 6 g/L residual sugar, it's crisp, deliciously light and yet mouth-filling in tropical fruit and peach. Another masterful Chenin from Dry Creek Vineyard.
This wine offers aromas of underbrush, meat juices and farmyard together with notes of overripe red berries. The palate delivers wild cherry accented with almost-sugary sweet vanilla extract sensations, mocha and cinnamon-spice alongside assertive tannins that carry through to the drying finish. Drink 2015–2019.
Spicy, briary berry and leather aromas are full and firm. On the palate, this feels fresh, with good body and depth. Flavors of black plum, blackberry and black currant are spicy but not pushy, while the finish is not overly oaky or heavy.
A charming blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, it leads with aromas of wet soil, blue flower, black berries and a whiff of exotic spices. The juicy palate delivers a core of black cherry and raspberry accented with notes of white pepper alongside ripe, smooth tannins. Soft and delicious, it's made for easy-drinking enjoyment. Drink now. Lyra Wine, The Shepherd Company.
Ripe plum and red berry aromas accented with hints of oak and white pepper lead the nose on this wine. The round, ripe palate delivers fleshy black cherry spiced up with hot cinnamon and a hint of licorice alongside tight tannins. Drink 2015–2021.
Sweet but not too sweet for some entrées, such as spicy Thai food, this brings a fruity mix of pear, pineapple and orange-creamsickle flavors. It's smooth and soft, not at all sugary, and framed with fresh acids.
Earthy aromas quickly transition to ripe marasca cherry and cake spices. The palate delivers juicy red berry, mint and white pepper alongside polished but not very persistent tannins. It's already accessible so drink now through 2019.
Spicy notes of angelica and an inviting, earhty warmth characterize this wine which is more slender and textured on the palate than the nose might have suggested. There is a nervy, slender core with fine acidity.
With just a hint of ripe yellow pear on the nose, this proves to be a plump, rounded white with an incredible realm of food pairing options, if you need to please many and have varied dishes, this is an ideal offering as well as a very good example of the indigenous Austrian Zierfandler.
Deeply saturated with blackberry and plum flavors, this powerful, boldly structured Merlot balances rich fruit with complex shades of earth and mineral. Umami-rich whiffs of soy sauce and hay linger from nose to finish, hinting towards its development. It's pleasant now, but should meld considerably through 2019.
Lactic aromas of creamy oak, latex and plastic come with a hint of mocha. Resilient on the palate, it has oaky, lactic flavors of black plum and cassis. A candied tasting, creamy finish is fresh and firm. The blend is 78% Malbec and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon.
This aged Cabernet is mild, mellow and earthy on the nose, with aromas of tobacco and baked berry fruits. Acidity is pronounced on the palate; after that there's a mix of spice, cherry and cassis flavors. Loud acidity on the finish freshens things up while creating citric scour. Drink now.
With proper doses of orange rind, vanilla, minerality and melon on the nose, this opens in very good form. The palate is round, pithy and citric in feel, while flavors of white grapefruit, orange and melon finish with a mild oily mouthfeel and a touch of bitterness.
Aromas of ripe black fruit, underbrush, mushroom and forest floor come with a whiff of leather. The palate opens with ripe—almost sugary tasting—black cherry accented with white pepper, cinnamon and Mediterranean herbs alongside firm but fleeting tannins and soft acidity.
Red berry, spice and floral notes of rose and blue flower lead the nose on this wine. The palate delivers ripe red cherry and raspberry accented with thyme, sage and mint with hints of espresso and toast. Well balanced, it conveys just enough freshness and firm but fleeting tannins.
This is a dark, young-colored wine, its purple shade reflecting the dense wood and tannin-laden flavors. It has spice and some bitter extract but these are balanced by ripe blackberry fruits and a rich texture. Drink from 2017.
Rich, full, this is a great mouthful of ripe red apple and grapefruit. It is big, vivacious and densely mouthfilling. The acidity is certainly not aggressive, but offers freshness and crispness.
A beautiful nose greets you immediately, laden with allspice, plum and evocations of cola and cherry. This is a complex, varietal, nuanced Pinot Noir that brings together the classic Oregon mix of fruit, herb and earth flavors. The finish tires just a bit, leaving a residual impression of green tea tannins.
An enticing and savory nose of clove, spice, pepper and a touch of smoke lead on this classy Pinotage. Though the wine has a refreshing edge, it's complex and sultry, with an elegant balance of red fruit, plum and smoke and a round but vibrant character. Pair with heartier beef dishes or sip alone.
A little herbal and funky, which is probably due to the 30% Carmenère that has been mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon. But once it breathes there's plenty of raw wood, shoe polish and campfire to ponder. Cola, cassis and black cherry are the lead flavors, while the finish has ample wood and vanilla along with some lasting leafiness. Good texture and not too tannic.
Power is the best word to describe this solidly structured wine. Its tannins are dominant at this stage, giving a dense, dry core to the rich black fruits and bitter chocolate. The final adds on appealing black currant perfumes.
A clean, crisp nose of spice, red fruit and minerals on the nose leads into bright, fresh flavors of oak and spiced fruit on the palate. Appealing acidity, firm but smooth tannins and an elegant, subtle character give the wine poise and aging potential. A great food wine.
Hamilton Russell continues to lead the pack in producing consistent, elegant wines. Though pretty, the wine has a South African edge, but it adds character to the soft spice and red and black cherry flavors. Minerality and acidity add balance. Overall, a classic, collectible Pinot.
Made from Chenin Blanc, harvested at night, and with a delicate botrytis edge, this is a fresh wine, reveling in honeyed acidity, with quince and honey-and-lemon flavors. It's fresh to drink now, but will certainly age.
Youthful and bouncy right from the get-go. The nose is bright and fruity, with no boundaries to its verve. Lively in the mouth as well, with fresh, forward berry and cherry flavors. A little racy and juvenile, but with lots of high-quality fruit and some aging potential. Drink now through 2011.
Rich Cushman made this wine; it nicely expresses the minerality and tight fruit that characterizes this excellent vineyard. This is at first a rather austere, compact wine, but it is dense with layers of flavor and representative of one of the most unique terroirs in the Pacific Northwest.
It was wise to wait to release this wine, because even now, its tannins are powerfully in evidence. But it also shows great fruit, solid black plums giving density. There's a smokiness from the wood that also brings spice and vanilla.
Subtle smoke, mocha and cassis on the nose lead into an elegant balance of berry, vanilla oak and mineral. An assertive wine with tannins that can use aging, the wine has a masculine, complex character and a savory finish, but is not overpowering. Overall, a choice with finesse.
A wine launched to celebrate the foundation of Krems (Chremisa) in 995, this full-bodied, rich wine is packed with tropical fruits, just a touch of spice and a rounded texture. Flavors are of pineapple, mango, apricots and melon. The ripe acidity gives a great finishing lift.
A gorgeous nose of plums, chocolate and red fruit leads on this affordable Shiraz from the Cape. In the mouth, the wine is a combination of savory spice and tobacco, plum and chocolate. Mouthfilling and full of dimension, the wine has enough structure to age, and will pair well with smoked meats, stews and heartier fare.
A nose of minerals, black fruit and dried lavender is the start of this stylish wine from Black Rock. On the palate, assertive flavors of blueberry, cherry and spice are lifted by fresh minerality. The finish is clean but lingering. An intriguing wine that offers elegance with an exotic touch.
Unlike the regular Clavidor, this old-vines wine glistens and slides across the nose and palate with nary a whiff of wood. It smells of apples and melon, and the flavors go straight to lemon curd, green apple and kiwi. Fairly long and cleansing on the finish, with a nice mouthfeel. Drink now.
The nose on this wine is condensed and tight, with snappy berry aromas that come across fresh. The palate feel is lively and juicy, while flavors of plum, berry and tobacco are honest and appealing. Straightforward and convincing as a whole, with a solid structure. Drink now through 2017.
A rich, concentrated Livermore Valley Bordeaux blend, comprised of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and lesser percentages of Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This vintage of Supremacy has a big presence, smelling of earth and cinnamon, a layering of blackberry and chocolate lingering in the background. A wine with great texture and mellowing tannins ready to drink now or in 5–7 years.
There is great fruit on this ripe, full-bodied wine. The fruit is already well integrated with the tannins, giving a juicy feel and a black currant fragrance. Rich, open and soft, finishing with an elegant structure.
This Livermore Valley Merlot has a smooth, seductive aroma of cinnamon spice and clove upon opening, followed by rich notes of dark velvety plum. Long on the finish, it's a classically mannered California Merlot ready for the dinner table or to sip on its own.
This is a decadent and plush wine, with ripe-fruit notes of brambly raspberry and blueberry accented by hints of pepper, vanilla and sweet spice. A streak of juicy acidity lifts the palate, and soft tannins allow for easy drinking now.
Full berry aromas are fresh but come with a lot of oak and spice. In the mouth, this Syrah (with 3% Viognier) is chewy and a bit syrupy, with minty, spicy flavors derived from loud oak. On the finish, it dries out and turns warm-to-hot as it fades away. A joint-venture wine between Trapiche and Joey Tensley of California.
Reserve is rarely a word found in front of rosé, but here it seems meaningful. The 82% Merlot and 18% Grenache complement each other nicely. Cherry-pie tartness with a bit of sweet blueberry flavor make for a full-bodied, round and bone dry rosé that's substantial and delicious.
Roasted, toasty aromas are the greeting on this Tempranillo-based blend (20% Cabernet). It's a fresh yet oaky type of Rioja, with resiny creaminess cut by lively acidity. Flavors of vanilla, plum, raspberry and tobacco are traditional, while the finish is mild, crisp and snappy. Hold until 2014 and drink through 2019.
In the small, mountainous region of Somontano, Cabernet Sauvignon rules, and this blend of 80% Cab and 20% Tempranillo delivers. Starting out, aromas of blackberry and plum come with earthy leather notes. The palate is plump and chewy in feel, with meaty black-fruit flavors of plum, molasses and toast. The finish is warm and smooth.
Powerful, ripe fruit, now beginning to open up, is the dominant character of this wine. It's full in the mouth, packed with black plums and ripe damsons and finished with soft tannins and a slight warmth.
Dark tannins are sustained by juicy blackberry fruit flavors. While the wine is very dry and firm at this stage, it has a good, if long-term, future.
While it has sufficient tannin, the wine also has a feeling of generous black currant and berry fruits. It's dry with considerable concentration, but it's future looks good, so keep for 5–6 years.
A firmly structured wine, dry to the core. The tannins feel extracted, giving some bitterness, yet the fruit shows potential juiciness. While it's always going to be a severe wine, it should be a great food partner.
Lushly fruited with blueberry, black cherry and plum, this Idaho-sourced red blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of seven other grapes. Smooth and flavorful, it finishes with a dash of cocoa.
Still a very young wine, Londer's Paraboll is leathery and herbal, marked by swirls of bright cranberry and rhubarb flavor. With a full, silky mouthfeel and long finish, it's one of the best of their 2010s to seek out. This should gain complexity with a few years more of age.
For a crianza with eight years of age, this is still fresh and tight as a drum. The bouquet deals earthy, roasted berry aromas while the palate is earthy and toasty, with chocolate and loads of berry flavor. The finish is woody, smoky, firm and focused; drink now through 2016.
This is a high-quality Malbec with fleshy berry aromas that veer towards raisiny reduction but don't quite get there. It's plump and buttery on the palate, with baked berry, plum and herb flavors that lead to a smooth finish with a licorice accent. Drink now through 2017.
This barrel-aged Godello is about as elegant and elevated as they come. The nose of dusty apple with light spice and vanilla notes defines elegance, while flavors of apple, lemon, woodspice and vanilla interact seamlessly. Everything is composed and connected; the wine is well balanced, lightly oaked and classy. 400 cases produced.
From the Zamora region, this Tempranillo is dark, well oaked and dense. The nose is full of black cherry and charred oak that gives off a shoe polish scent. The palate is round and smooth, with oak-dominated black fruit and minty, spicy flavors. A modern, meaty wine by any measure. Drink now through 2020.
This is a bone-dry Champagne, with a crispness and mineral texture that promises long aging to a wine that also demands food. Its green apple and citrus flavors are powerfully dominant. Allied to the acidity, this is a young, taut, nervy wine ready for many years' aging.
This Shiraz-based blend, with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, is bold and layered, taking time to unfold and develop in the glass. Blackberry, currant and wild raspberry notes lead the bouquet, but additional accents of game and herbs unfold and mount in intensity. Flavors of red cherry and currant fill the palate, with hints of fynbos, cocoa and licorice stick staying well into the long finish. Firmly structured, with gripping tannins and concentrated flavors.
Full-bodied and rich, this is full of pineapple fruit flavors and woody spice. The ripeness is allied to an herbaceous character, with almonds giving spice. It will develop quickly into a delicious wine.
Aromas of freshly-sawn wood set the scene on a wine that is full of new-wood toast and vanilla flavors. The fruit is also present, resulting in a wine that has balanced potential in maybe 4–5 years. A fine effort.
Penetrating notes of melon, stone fruit and white florals set apart this lavish Riesling from Anthony Road. Semisweet in style with honeyed fruit flavors, it's balanced by bracing lime acidity and crushed-stone minerality that extends the finish.
Once again, this Malbec-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Norton excels. The nose is a bit grapy and candied, but there's depth and a level of intensity that bodes well for the future. The palate is deep and concentrated, with blackberry, prune, stewed plum, graphite and coffee flavors in front of a mellow, smooth finish.  Drink now through 2016.
A very structured, firm wine with excellent acidity and dark, dry tannins. The alcohol does show through, but the wine is firm and very dense, a big success from this Lurton family owned property.
A big, ripe and juicy wine packed with black fruit notes and laced with acidity. The tannins offer a contrast to the fruitiness, bringing balance and structure. This is an impressive wine, the smoky aftertaste bringing out the wood aging.
Aromas of white flower, crushed rock and pear lift out of the glass. Dry and refreshing, the palate offers yellow apple, acacia and a hint of citrus alongside crisp acidity.
Spicy, slightly green aromas of plum and currant open this Cabernet Franc. The tight, solid palate is light in feel and not overextracted. Saucy, oaky flavors of berry fruits, spice and cocoa finish with a distinct flavor of oak. Drink through 2019.
A dark, roasted, smoky opening is the greeting on this burly Tempranillo from Zamora. Grabbing tannins pinch like squeaky rubbery, while this tastes of savory, roasted black fruits. A meaty, chewy, tannic finish is confirmation of overall toughness. Drink through 2021.
Cab Franc makes a strong case for being top gun among this region's reds. This estate-grown example has been vinified for aromatics, elegance, balance and detail, and succeeds beautifully. Juicy boysenberry and blueberry fruit is buoyed with ample acidity. The flavors penetrate through a clean, crisp, lingering finish. Just 60 cases were exported to the U.S.
This savory, spicy wine is relatively light but offers a tasty combination of non-fruit flavors such as black pepper, beef broth and wood smoke. It's medium bodied, lightly tannic and quite complex for its moderate concentration.
Candle wax and pollen notes lend a slightly earthy tone to fresh lemon and lime in this off-dry Riesling. Crisp and citrusy, it finishes briskly with bracing darts of lime zest and cocktail bitters.
Coffee, beef stock, blackberry and graphite aromas require patience to process. A lively, ringing palate is jammy at its essence. Dark, toasty flavors of blackberry and blueberry are mildly green and herbal. It feels rubbery on a tannic finish.
This naturally cloudy pét nat smells both of yeast and freshly cut russet-pear peel, giving an impression of full, ripe fruit. The palate has the same fresh pear notes as well as that textural element of peel. Bone dry, it comes with finest fizz and is utterly refreshing, if rustic. It would shine as a full-flavored picnic wine, with a lastingly dry finish.
Lovely and fresh, this wine opens with heady scents of beeswax, wild flower and apple. The bright palate offers ripe pear, creamy peach and citrus alongside bright acidity and light mineral note.
Dark berry aromas are calm and oaky. This blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon feels full and blocky, although bold acidity helps. Minty, oaky flavors of plum, cassis and tomato are salty and spicy, while this runs long on a finish that boasts a ripe-fruit base.
One-quarter of this wine was fermented in neutral oak, the rest in stainless steel. At 12.5% alcohol, the light, almost airy wine brings immaculate fruit flavors of apple and pear, with a pleasing, minerally mouthfeel. It offers the faintest suggestion of caramel as it winds down.
Soft yet perky strawberry aromas meet licorice, fennel bulb and cinnamon on the nose of this well balanced Zinfandel from a historic vineyard. There is a strong garrigue edge to the palate and a touch of roasted meat, giving depth to the bright and candied red fruit. Great with barbecue.
White flower, orchard fruit and citrus aromas emerge on this lively white. The bright, crisp palate delivers crunchy rennet apple and lime zest alongside racy acidity that leaves a clean finish.
Delicate aromas of white flower and orchard fruit rise from the glass while the fresh, light-bodied palate offers yellow apple, beeswax and lime zest. It's vibrant, with racy acidity and verve.
Aromas of pineapple, peach and a touch of vanilla lead the way. The nervy palate offers grapefruit, nectarine and a mineral note further brightened by racy acidity.
This straightforward white opens offers aromas of tomato vine, exotic fruit and a whiff of elderflower. The tangy, slender palate shows grapefruit, sage and a hint of green melon lifted by crisp acidity. It finishes clean and refreshing.
Charred and rugged on the nose, with gamy cherry and plum aromas, this feels narrow and clampy. Short, herbal, gamy berry flavors end with a lot of wood and related spice. This is a particular and individual wine with both good and challenging components.
While the nose is subdued, the palate of this off-dry Riesling is unexpectedly fruity, brimming with juicy peach and nectarine flavors. It's simple and straightforward but a refreshing, satisfying sip. Drink now through 2017.
Thick and tannic, this wine, among all the single-varietal offerings from Griffin Creek, shows a bit more ripeness to the black, muscular fruits. It's dense in the mouth, with cassis, cocoa and coffee, bolstered with sharp, piercing acidity.
Tangy blackberry and briary boysenberry drive this bus. Accented with an herbal note, the wine finishes with streaks of licorice, espresso and chalk.
Fresh and delicately scented, this offers aromas of white spring flower, orchard fruit and citrus. The vibrant palate shows crisp apple, white peach and lemon zest balanced by firm acidity.
Varietal aromas of tomato vine, elderflower, gooseberry and citrus lead the nose and follow through to the palate along with grapefruit, sage and mineral. Racy acidity leaves a crisp finish.
Aromas of white flower, crushed herb, fennel and cut grass emerge on this vibrant white. The bright palate shows citrus zest, mint and mineral alongside crisp acidity.
Beeswax, acacia honey and toasted nut aromas carry over to palate along with yellow apple and mineral. It closes on a note of bitter almond.
Opening aromas blend earthy red fruits with a whiff of leather. It's a nicely sculpted wine, tight and stiff, with pleasant berry and cherry flavors that stop abruptly as the finish turns a bit sour.
Delicate aromas of yellow flower, beeswax and orchard fruit lead the way. The palate is bright and straightforward while offering tastes of yellow apple skin, citrus and a hint of mineral carried by bright acidity.
Gooseneck is based in Rhode Island but sources wines from around the world. This Pinot was produced at River's Edge, in the Elkton Oregon AVA. It sends out aromas of caramel and graham cracker, and enters the palate with a soft, silky mouthfeel and plum fruit. Though the vintage is recent, it drinks like a more mature wine, with granular tannins and flavors of coffee grounds running through the finish.
A strong oak character drives the nose, which also shows aromas of mint, tobacco and prune. This is extracted to the point of being chunky, while flavors of spiced plum and berry fruits have an herbal undertone. Staunch tannins and soupy, minty flavors are prominent on the finish.
Pronounced aromas of citrus and yellow stone fruit take center stage. The palate offers nectarine zest, unripe apricot and a hint of chopped herb alongside crisp acidity.
This opens with delicate aromas of white peach, vanilla and toasted oak that carry over to the palate along with candied lemon drop and apple. Zesty acidity gives it a tangy finish.
Heady aromas of yellow stone fruit, grapefruit and a touch of light baking spice lead the way. The full-bodied palate shows apricot, yellow peach, mineral and a hint of nutmeg alongside lively acidity that leaves a tangy finish.
The winemaker aged a majority of this wine on the lees in new French oak, and the rest in stainless steel. This combination is easygoing and very fruity in aroma and flavor. The body is medium while the texture is soft and agreeable.
Boisterous black plum and blackberry aromas properly announce an extra grabby palate with rock-hard tannins. This tastes like roasted plum, cassis and blackened spices. Tannic and dry as a bone on the finish, with a savory note.
This eponymous label of winemaker Nathaniel Rose is one of his many endeavors in the Michigan wine scene. While the name “Left Bank” evokes Bordeaux, this is clearly a New World-style red, boasting bouncy fruit aromas of dark cherry and spiced raspberry, with cola and cough-syrup notes in the background. The medium-bodied palate is supported by grainy tannins, yet there's a good balance of juicy, red fruit and streaks of granite.
Delicate aromas of tomato vine, freshly cut grass and a whiff of tropical fruit emerge on this straightforward white. The vibrant, rather lean palate shows grapefruit, citrus zest and a hint of green melon alongside racy acidity.
Pretty green floral, apple and pear notes scent this fresh, easy-drinking Riesling. Brisk and semidry in style, it seems sweetened by a lacy haze of sugar that lingers on the finish. Drinking now.
Grown on granite soil that is shot through with quartz, this is the epitome of a mineral, structured wine. On top of that texture, the wine has ripe lemon and green plum fruits that are full of juicy flavor. The wine is so fresh it could do with a few months aging. Drink from late 2016.
Oily citrus aromas are pungent on the nose. This is chunky but braced by firm acidity. Waxy, warm, oaky flavors of caramel and baked apple finish with punchy citric acidity and an oak-based touch of butterscotch.
Vibrant and crisp, this offers delicate aromas of acacia flower and citrus. The bright, linear palate shows crunchy green apple, tangerine zest and a hint of white almond alongside racy acidity.
Smoky, roasted aromas of blackberry, cassis and graphite introduce a thick, layered, meaty palate that's well balanced despite being overtly ripe and generous. Flavors of toasty, blackened spice, lush blackberry and cassis finish rich, smoky and warming. Drink this benchmark Chilean Malbec through 2020.
Named after the barn owl (Tyto alba) that nests in the woods of the Lezirias estate, this has great tannins that give shape to the dense black fruits. With a powerful structure and so much of the Touriga Nacional perfumes, this is a wine for aging. Drink from 2018.
Four clones, aged in 50% new French oak, constitute the heart and soul of this outstanding reserve. Redolent with a fertile mix of moist earth, compost, tobacco and floral highlights, it fills the mouth with a rich and seamless mix of plums, baked cherries and barrel notes. It leaves a tantalizing trail of mocha, toasted hazelnuts and caramel as it winds dreamily through a lingering finish.
While the wine is rich and seriously textured, it has a pure fruitiness that is beguiling, ripe and full of green and citrus flavors. Spice and minerality give a strong sense of structure and ageability. Drink this firm wine from 2016.
Restrained in alcohol, this extreme Sonoma Coast Pinot delivers plenty of flavor, along the lines of funky, earthy licorice and whole-cluster cardamom spice, supported along the way by a pomegranate note. Zingy acidity is present, along with a low imprint of oak.
This village-designated Priorat is dry, spicy and fresh on the nose, with notes of mountain herbs as well as lively raspberry, plum and currant. It feels wide and packed with power and purity. Roasted berry, oak spice, earth notes and rooty sweetness define the flavor profile on this long-finishing wine with hard tannins and strong aging potential. Best from 2017 through 2024; only 100 cases made.
Year in year out, this wine is always one of the best Soaves and the 2013 is no exception. Elegant and impeccably balanced with vibrant acidity, it delivers crisp yellow apple, Bartlett pear, creamy white peach, almond and lemon zest sensations. Notes of saline and energizing mineral close the lingering finish. Drink through 2020.
Minute quantities of these rare Viogniers are produced, which is a shame, because they are distinctive and enlightening. Deep gold and intensely aromatic with brilliant floral notes, this is a beautifully balanced wine, with the acidity and skin flavors to put a crisp frame around the ripe peach and apricot fruit.
Ripe raspberry jam scents gain intrigue thanks to hints of eucalyptus oil, orange rinds and iron on this Jim Clendenen-made wine. The palate is driven by dried herbs, from oregano to thyme, with cooked pork rind meatiness in the middle and a vanilla-flecked finish.
A fascinating blend of the local grape Maria Gomes and Chardonnay, this spicy, fragrant wine is full of ripe fruit notes and vibrant acidity. It remains light at heart despite all the complexity. It could be drunk now, but will be better from 2016.
This esteemed winery's younger Chardonnays are all about tension and the future. This begins with slightly sour aromas of yogurt and goat cheese along with shave fennel, radish, daikon and lemongrass. The palate is power by citrusy pith, brine and nectarine peels, with just the tiniest touch of green apple ripeness. Drink 2018–2024.
This is a rich, dense Pinot, with blackberries, sweet cloves, allspice, gingerbread and nutmeg aromas. The palate carries the tune, with dark raspberry, dried strawberry, cranberry sauce and black cherry notes all heavily seasoned by cardamom, pine sap, eucalyptus and sea salt.
Beautiful aromas of rose and lavender open this wine, followed by intense mushroom, truffle and earth. Bright in acidity, a wild strawberry flavor sharpens the focus as soft, well-integrated tannins and subtle oak intermingle. The entire package finishes with a bang of crisp red-cherry fruit.
A study of umami, this wine shows shiitake mushrooms, decomposing wood, soy and hibiscus on the nose. The palate is silky smooth yet with immediate verve, unfolding with flavors of loam, beef char, teriyaki-laced berries, smashed plums and graphite. It's focused yet expansive.
A special bottling made by the producer to honor her late son, this wine is dark and brooding, offering a depth and warmth of baked plum and blackberry seasoned in cardamom, with a satisfying finish of coffee. With sizable tannin and oak, it suggests cellaring through 2022–2025 to enjoy further its complexity and concentration.
From a warm vineyard site in a cool year, this Cab intrigues in sage and chewy black cherry, possessed of a powerful, buoyant minerality. Dark chocolate, tobacco and black tea frame the generous ripeness and velvety nature of the wine, which can withstand time in the cellar to commingle more, through 2021.
From the coastal plain of the Beiras, this cool and structured blend of Baga and Touriga Nacional has a fine poise between acidity and sweet berry fruits. It's a complex, textured wine. Fresh and fruity on the one hand and dark and brooding on the other, it needs time, so drink from 2017.
With 12 months wood aging, this powerful wine has managed to keep a great sense of balance. Solid tannins are tempered by a more dusty texture, smooth black plum fruits, rich, concentrated acidity and juicy final fruitiness. Drink from 2018.
Deep, dense black cherry signals immediately that this is pure, classic Dundee Hills fruit, much of it from Abbey Ridge. Average vine age is 30 years—giving it great penetration and complexity. At first tight and unyielding, it opens with scents of coffee and chocolate, and displays the thick minerality of all the winery's 2012s. Nuanced herbs add a peppery kick to the finish.
Hints of bramble and mint meld into fresh black cherries and violets in this very pretty, profoundly aromatic Pinot Noir. It's elegantly composed yet richly concentrated, finishing amidst a lingering spray of lavender blossoms and herbs.
French oak aging has given this still-young wine a firmly structured character, with dark tannins and a firm texture. It's still very dry, structured and dark and needs a good few years to age and round out. For now, the ripe fruit and acidity are both showing great promise. Drink from 2018.
Quinta Nova has produced two Grand Reservas in 2012. This is leaner than the other, a more structured wine with dry tannins and great concentration. It will need several years to soften and bring out its natural mineral richness. Drink from 2018.
Juicy in cassis and black cherry before taking on beguiling layers of peppercorn, chicory, tobacco and black tea, this Cab has a lot going on from the get-go, and yet there's no doubt about its ability to take on further nuance and complexity with time. Bittersweet chocolate accents the finish. Enjoy through 2027–2030.
Gavin Chanin's take on this vineyard shows lots of dark but never heavy spice on the nose, with bergamot, white sage and damp eucalyptus forest complementing the raspberry fruit. The palate clings to a line of graphite minerality, with cooked raspberry torte and loamy earth flavors leading into a black-tea finish.
Classic Sauvignon aromas of cut grass, straw, tropical fruit and crushed tomato vine mingle in the glass. The vibrant, elegant palate shows finesse and balance, delivering juicy white peach, grapefruit and green melon alongside crisp acidity.
Softly seductive, this structured, juicy Pinot hails from two Occidental-based vineyards, Hillcrest and Tanuda, each equally cool and close to the Pacific Ocean. Wild berry, cherry and anise shine brightly around earthy undertones and a finish of cardamom. This is a delicious, restrained and elegant wine.
This is the second wine from the Pintas vineyard in the heart of the Pinhão valley. It's powered by mint, dark plums and new wood flavors to give a richly concentrated, juicy wine. It's still young, showing all its initial fruitiness, and those tannins and acidity will need several years. Drink from 2017.
Winemaker Sabrine Rodems lays on exciting aromas of light pomegranate juice decorated by toasted sagebrush, charred fennel, pan-toasted peppercorns, graphite and pine ash. The herb-driven, very fragrant chaparral-like flavors show pine needles, rosemary, chemise and bay leaf against a cranberry juice background.
Alicante Bouschet, a grape that has red juice as well as skins, produces rich and darkly colored wines. This wood-aged Reserva is a concentrated and tannic example. It's also ripe and full-bodied, a bold wine that packs a big punch. The wood aging shows well, reinforcing the fresher black juiciness of the wine. Drink from 2017.
Petrol and citrus aromas and flavors merge seamlessly in this medium-bodied dry Riesling. It seems atypically round for such a young Eden Valley Riesling, so maybe not a long-term proposition, but it goes down easily now, with a long, slightly oily finish.
This is a structured, balanced white with aromas of gooseberry, flint and spice on the nose, and flavors of fresh citrus and fruit on the palate. Clean and crisp but offering complexity, this wine marries rich fruit and cracking acid very successfully. Pair with spicy Indian cuisine, grilled seafood.
This is the first vintage under its new owner, the American Stephen Adams. It's relatively soft, with black currant fruits, given a delicious lift by some tight tannins. The acidity gives freshness, a zap to the dry, firm finish.
Not quite as impressive as some other vintages, the 2002 Print Shiraz boasts plenty of color but lacks some nuance and freshness. Aromas of baking spices are tinged with coffee, anise and dates, while the flavors of dried fruit and chocolate dominate the palate. It's big and mouthfilling, with 15% alcohol.
Shows green fruit and slightly herbal nuances on the nose, then delivers crystalline structure and purity of lime fruit and liquid minerals in the mouth. Although only light to medium in body, this is a powerhouse, with a long finish.
This wine shows tremendous minerality for a wine from a mix of parcels. Almost smoky, saline mineral aromas combine with crisp, citrusy fruit to typify the Pfalz dry Riesling style. Picks up hints of orange and clove on the finish, with a suggestion of citrus pith.
Fans of this sometimes kinky grape variety will probably feel this rating is too low. This wine starts of with hints of Scheurebe's wild side, offering up hints of something resembling Sauvignon Blanc, then adding almost tropical fruit and currant and pink grapefruit flavors tinged with just enough residual sugar for balance. A wild ride, but an enjoyable one.
Coffee, cigarbox and mocha aromas and flavors characterize this Rietvallei red. Complex and assertive, the wine unfolds with a chewy but poised intensity. The lingering finish has a tobacco-like touch. Pair with smoked meats, rich stews.
Fragrant, smoky, oaky and seductive, this toasty wine is immediately appealing, and has been given the all-star treatment. The young vineyard offers promising fruit; its flavors light and clean, tasting of raspberries and pie cherries. Lots of oak gives it a very chocolaty finish.
At first, this Riesling looks sort of bland and troubled—the aromas are nondescript, the mouthfeel broad. But this wine really improves given time—the melon and peach fruit comes alive and crisp, citrusy notes assert themselves on the finish.
Young and fresh, this 100% Malbec has tight, spicy, peppery fruit that leads into a surprisingly long finish. It's not tricked up with oak, but the sharp young berry flavors evolve in the mouth and bring on clove, wintergreen and mint, which resonate through a lingering finish. Though the fruit lacks flesh, it doesn't hold back on pure flavor, and promises good things ahead for this new vineyard.
This is a somewhat soft and friendly wine, filled with ripe peaches and pears, and with a backbone of lime-like citrus. It even boasts a subtle dose of minerality. Yet it lacks the power and precision of some of the other Rebholz wines, instead settling for being soft and cuddly rather than profound.
This “great growth” is richly concentrated, even a bit syrupy in texture, although almost totally dry in style. Pear, peach and pineapple aromas and flavors give the impression of fruit nectar, then pick up enough salty minerality on the finish to add interest and provide balance.
Ripe peaches are glazed with honey and dusted with crushed stone in this sweet wine that's lush and honeyed yet manages to retain some measure of restraint. A hint of citrus pith on the finish provides balance.
Dark colored wine, with ripe black plum flavors that lie over solidly textured tannins. Structured to bring out the fruit, the wine also has a core of wood, spice, dark cocoa and black currant acidity to finish. An attractive wine that is worth aging for another two years.
A new wood aged selection of vines from Château Haut Beyzac, a property being restored by Pennsylvanian Daren Miller and his French in-laws. It is delicious, elegant, offering classic black currant flavors of Bordeaux, but with an extra depth and richness. Fine, elegant acidity to finish.
This six-year-old blend of 46% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot is showing its age, with aromas of reduced cherry sauce, tar and cocoa dust. The rustic palate is full of leather, tobacco, dried cherries and dusty earth flavors. Still interesting, but drink up soon.
Aromas of black plum, vanilla and a whiff underbrush lead the nose. Made with 80% Corvina, 10% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella, the light-bodied palate shows blackberry jam, clove and a hint of cocoa alongside loose-knit tannins. Drink soon.
This is a medium-bodied gently balanced wine with very ripe fruit flavors and a smooth soft texture. Scotto ferments it in stainless steel and ages it for 18 months in pre-used French oak barrels.
This crisp tightly woven white is showy in fresh-cut grass and gooseberry flavors, with an underlying grasp of grapefruit and lemon. The texture is gritty.
Tarry grit and char are the lead aromas on this Tannat that contains 15% Ruby Cabernet, which is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan. This is rough in feel, with shearing tomato-like acidity. Tomato, red plum and herbal flavors finish dry.
Gentle in texture and generous in flavor, this wine is medium bodied, rather soft in mouthfeel and has ripe strawberry and red-cherry notes that are direct and delicious, leaving a fruity, almost sweet finish.
Tart, firm and simple, this wine lacks complexity and structure somewhat, providing quiet flavors of leather saddle and cedar amongst a soft rounded tannin profile.
While the familiar white version of this wine is from Vinho Verde, the producers have gone a little further south to the Douro for the red. That gives a soft wine but with weight and attractive layers of red-berry fruits and a touch of warmth. Drink now.
This wine is dry and likely to remain so. That's because the black currant flavors are too light for the structure, resulting in high acidity, firm tannins and a hole in the middle.
Charred oak aromas settle on creamy, with a note of plastic to go with heavy spice and secondary berry scents. This feels raw, tannic and grabby. Flavors of plum and clove are woody, while this has the texture of grape-skin extract on the finish, meaning it's rough and grabby.
Ripe and almost sweet, this medium-bodied wine has lots of butter and vanilla in the aromas, a flavor almost as rich as a vanilla milkshake, and a buttery texture.
Nutty, woody and tannic, this is a broadly etched wine. It is ripe and extracted, with simple layers of black cherry, cinnamon and cola.
Cigar box and very ripe strawberry dominate the aromatic profile, though a bit of bell pepper lingers in the background. It's light and racy on the palate, with cherry cola, cedar and mellow tannins, making for a very fresh and fun wine, best served after mild chilling.
This blend of Merlot and Tempranillo, with touches of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, opens with notes of warm cherry pie, black tobacco and cedar. Fresh boysenberry starts the palate, with mouthwatering spice in the midpalate and mocha on the finish.
A Syrah-esque bit of smoke and cured meat wafts from this wine aromatically, which follows through on the palate. Bright cherry and currant fruit then intermix with a restrained sense of clove spice, the Stagecoach Cab blended with Malbec and Petit Verdot, aged in 60% new French oak.
This bright, medium-bodied red opens with aromas of underbrush, rose, violet and ripe berry. The lively palate offers juicy dark cherry, black raspberry, orange peel and a hint of baking spice alongside fresh acidity and lithe tannins.
Broad, ripe berry aromas are dark and full on the nose. The palate is lively, with a shot of bracing acidity. Flavors of dark fruit, grilled meat, herb and salt finish briny, with a final wave of hard tannins. Drink through 2016.
This bold, dry, firmly tannic wine will taste good now with rich foods, but could easily improve with aging through 2017. It is deeply colored, full bodied and a bit sandy in texture, yet that grip seems O.K. in this wine, balanced by the ripe fruit flavors.
This amber colored, orange-style wine has aromas of canned peaches and apricots on the nose, while fresh stone fruits seem to dominate the full bodied palate. The finish is creamy and lingers on.
This wine is garnet in color, with aromas of cherry, vanilla, red plum and cassis. Flavors of tart cherry, red raspberry and blackberry drive the palate and lead to a lingering finish.
Straightforward and easy-drinking, this starts off with aromas of red rose, violet and red berry. The bright palate offers up wild cherry layered with notes of cinnamon and white pepper balanced with zesty acidity and chewy tannins.
Pretty aromas suggest violet, rose, strawberry and mint. The vibrant palate offers red cherry, crushed raspberry and cinnamon alongside supple tannins and bright acidity. Enjoy through 2017.
Firm and solidly structured, this is a dense wine. It has plenty of tannins and a touch of bitter chocolate, but they are supported by the ripe fruit and fresh black currant flavors. It's a wine for aging, drink from 2017.
From a Merlot-dominated, 24-acre vineyard this is a strongly mineral wine, with young, dark tannins and a powerful structure. A more juicy, fruity side brings out black currants and berries. Together the structure and the fruit promise good aging. Drink from 2017.
Ripe and full, it offers great spice, yellow fruits and hints of tropical fruits. It has acidity and is dry, but it's delicious because of its rounded texture and generous body. Drink from 2015.
Intense aromas recall forest floor, tobacco, dark berry and grilled herb. The structured palate offers dried black cherry, licorice, black pepper and balsamic notes alongside big, brooding tannins. The warmth of alcohol shows on the midpalate.
This well-balanced red made from a variety used in Port wines grows on you with each sip. It has bright cherry and raspberry aromas, exotic floral flavors, good acidity, a smooth texture and medium body. It should be versatile with food.
Ripe strawberry pie and cigar box aromas frame the nose on this top-end offering from Broken Earth. It's surprisingly light on the palate, with cherry pie and cranberry tartness leading the way alongside bright acidity and dainty tannins.
Layered with toasty wood, this rich wine delivers blackberry fruits, a strong sense of tannins that enrich the fruit, and a concentrated aftertaste. From one of several small properties tended by owners Christophe and Marie Jo Lavau, it will age well. Drink from 2017.
Aromas suggest violet, black plum, crushed black cherry and wild strawberry. The intense fruit sensations carry over to the palate with a note of white pepper, while robust but fine tannins lend structure.
This opens with a blast of resiny oak, but airing calms things down, and ultimately the bouquet is round and full, with a mix of wood, vanilla and tropical fruit aromas. This is chalky, minerally and full in feel, accented by apple, pear, melon and spice flavors. Leftover oak and savory spice flavors dominate the finish.
A dark and richly dense wine, this is packed with black fruit notes and concentrated tannins. Aged in French and American oak, it has a strongly spicy character, with bright acid and a solid tannic structure. Drink after 2015.
One of a pair of wines from Palayson blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This, with its 80% Syrah and 20% Cabernet, is perfumed and spicy. With great violet aromas and firm spice and tannin, it does show power and alcohol. At the same time, it has the potential to round out into a smooth and full-bodied wine. Drink from 2017.
Here's a solid wine full of both tannins and dark fruits. New oak barrels give a spicy character while supporting the fruitiness. A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from only 10 acres, it is developing into a rich wine that still needs time. Drink this impressive wine from 2018.
This wine is electric pink in color, with notes of strawberry bubblegum and cranberry. It drinks off dry, with watermelon and red fruit flavors that linger on the finish.
This 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache blend, named as an ode to the winemaker's butcher-ancestors, begins with scents of blueberry crème brûlée with a spearmint glaze. The flavors are comparably light, with tarter blueberry, some licorice on the midpalate and a tannic finish.
The pretty but powerful nose is like striking a gusher of black gold in a field of lavender, full of tar, violet and blueberry. Leather and deep purple fruit lead the palate, with charred meat savoriness, black pepper spice and plum skin tannins making a good case for this seven-acre vineyard that was planted in 1998.
A blend of 57% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Syrah, this opens with a sweetly spiced bouquet of red and purple fruits. The medium weight midpalate brings tart plum and cherry flavors, plentiful acidity and moderate, balanced tannins. Drink now through 2020.
This ripe, sweet-fruited wine is soft and quite mature. Red fruits have developed into a smooth and round texture with a delicate mushroom character. Drink now.
My favorite of Grant Taylor's 2008s, the Bannockburn bottling displays elegant lacings of vanilla and cinnamon over black cherries, then adds subtle meaty and herbal nuances. It's medium bodied and supple in texture, with a long, silky finish. Drink now–2015.
The bulkiness that characterized earlier vintages of this Merlot-based blend has been tamed in this vintage, and the 2007 is a remarkably harmonious, elegant blend of ripe cherries, dried spices, chocolate and cedar. Supple tannins fade gracefully on the finish. Drink now–2018.
The private project of veteran winemaker Robert Brittan, the limited-production wines under his own label are treasures. This is his inaugural release. Both fruit ripeness and meaty depth are here in abundance, with a complex mix of tree fruits and stone fruits, streaks of earth and a fine layering of chocolate. This is a wine you excavate as much as drink; it's full of surprises.
Teso la Monja is the new Toro winery from the Eguren family of Rioja fame (former owners of Numanthia-Termes in Toro), and it's proof that no beat has been missed since they sold out to Moët Hennessy. Expect dark, intense black fruit aromas and flavors mixed with heat, tannin, cola and spice. Some oak creeps out on the finish, but overall this is a lovely, bullish Toro. Drink now through 2014.
Still quite young, but showing real depth and layering, the McCrone vineyard designate offers pomegranate and raspberry fruit, dusted with baking spices, and finished with a tasty vein of mocha. This is a wine to enjoy in the full bloom of its youth.
This soft, tank-aged wine has attractive apple fruits, a touch of citrus and crisp acidity. Light and fruity, it is ready to drink.
With a light prickle on the tongue, this is a fresh and fruity wine that has sweetness balanced by a citric edge. It's crisp and ready to drink.
Made to be drunk young, this is a fruity red berry flavored wine. It has a bright crisp edge to its fruit as well as light tannins and acidity. It is quite ready to drink.
Closed aromas of red fruits, wet cement and green herbs precede a flat fairly tannic palate. Grinding cherry and plum flavors finish with hard tannins and midland rubbery red-fruit flavors.
Earthy stalky leathery aromas suggest modest ripeness. This feels medium in weight, while short salty flavors of plum and raspberry are herbal and arguably a touch weedy. This feels a little hot on the finish.
This wine is somewhat diluted and one-dimensional. It makes a straightforward attempt at bringing a richness of apple and anise to the fore around neutral oak dynamics before finishing ripe and full.
A sweet rosé that is light and fresh from the crisp raspberry acidity. It is bright and fruity, ready to drink.
Fleshy, unfocused aromas of apple and peach are a touch oxidized. This Chardonnay feels bland. Flavors of melon and peach lack tension and character, while there's not much flavor to the finish other than mild apple and some bitterness.
Reduced in a weight of oak and tight tannins, this wine takes time to come around and develop any juiciness to the palate, offering a mix of red cherry and cranberry laced in forest and spice. It finishes quick and lean.
Somewhat disjointed, this watery effort hints at berry flavors, with a bit of road tar and cola.
Grassy, herbal aromas rest on top of basic red-fruit notes. This feels choppy and hollow, with flavors of buttery oak, chemical and red currant. The raw hot finish doesn't have a lot of body or padding.
Baked bread and brown sugar make this a comforting wine in some sense. Similarly, the fruit follows a baked quality that makes it taste bigger than it is. Meanwhile, herbal leanings betray the wine's low level of alcohol.
Fleshy aromas of melon and peach are leesy and soft. This is more angular and acidic on the palate, which fails to fan out. Nectarine and salty briny flavors finish with papaya and peach notes.
Leesy, creamy aromas of vanilla are simple, with a note of apple offering some crispness. The palate is regular in feel, with adequate acidity. Flavors of green apple, lettuce and herbs culminate with mild bitterness and green notes.
Made in a relatively light-bodied, soft style, this wine has a weedy, herbal element at its heart, and could use more fruit to balance out. It ends in a taste of bittersweet chocolate and espresso.
Made from Syrah, this pink-colored rosé is ripe and full. Full-on strawberry flavors have a bitter edge as well as acidity. It needs to be drunk now.
A tropical fruit flavored wine with yellow fruits, pineapple and mango. It is soft and very ripe although still showing some of the fresher acidity that should be in an Alvarinho wine. It's a long way from the cool north of Portugal.
Orange peel aromas are a bit stony. In the mouth, this feels like it's past its prime, with little to no intensity or acidity. Mild apple flavors are sweet, mealy and honeyed, while the ending is leesy and mushy.
An oily bouquet lacks freshness while smelling a bit oxidized and like mushrooms. This has a chunky palate with oxidized, somewhat bitter flavors of papaya and citrus fruits. A pithy mildly bitter finish struggles to show its virtues.
This wine shows the tropical fruit side of Sauvignon Blanc with pineapple and mango flavors. The acidity is there, floral and ripe. The wine is ready to drink now.
Light apple and floral aromas lead to rich flavors like apple, honey and grapefruit and a definite sweetness. This wine is fresh and easy to enjoy.
Stalky aromas of corn, apple and white flowers lack focus. This feels blocky, while salty flavors of cured ham blend with leesy flavors of papaya and peach. A moderate basic finish is par for the course.
Ripe and fruity, this is a rich style of rosé. A blend of Touriga Nacional and Aragonez, it is full of ripe raspberry and red plum flavors that are soft and generous, although lacking acidity. Drink now.
This fresh, vibrant wine is light and fruity. A classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, it has an herbal character along with bright green and citrus fruits. The wine is ready to drink.
Offering a flat opening with no kick, it is akin to sniffing apple juice. This is plump and wan in feel, with melon and banana flavors, while a soft, no-edge finish doesn't leave much of a lasting impression.
Aromas of scorched earth, game, burned rubber and a funky whiff of barnyard waft out of the glass and carry over to the dense palate along with raisin, fig, licorice and a gamy note. It's rustic and extremely evolved with an abrupt, bitter finish.
This wine, aged in stainless steel barrels, offers muted berry fruit, somewhat masked by aromas of rubber tire and plastic. The finish is short and slightly bitter.
With some earthy, rustic flavors the wine seems to have missed out on some of its fruit. It is more about structure and firm tannins with only hints of juicy fruit behind.
There's 10% Zinfandel blended into this wine, but looking at my notes, I never would've thought so. The pale color is all Pinot Noir, as are the aromas of earth and tomato (the vanilla comes from the French oak barrels). It's light and crisp, with a tart finish.
From La Rioja, this Torrontés is quiet and neutral. It offers a little tangerine on the nose, and then acceptable but unexciting banana and pear flavors. Overall it's decent but bland.
Few wineries in Argentina make more individual wines than Achaval-Ferrer. And while some are great, others leave you scratching your head or wanting something different. This one has a deep hue but a strange mix of herbal, floral aromas that hint at air freshener. The palate is quite acid-driven and downright sharp, with pounding blueberry and kirsch flavors. More austere and tangy than we prefer.
De Bortoli's 2006 Estate Grown Pinot Noir lacks the bright fruit and user-friendliness of its Gulf Station or Windy Peak bottlings. Maybe it's too serious for its own good? This medium-bodied wine features leather, mushroom and molasses, and rather crisp acids as well.
Aromas of sour cherry and cooked strawberries lead the way in this tart, herbal Pinot Noir. It's lean and crisp, failing to deliver much in the way of pleasure, although there's nothing technically wrong with it.
This is light and seems a little sparkly, as if there is a hint of secondary fermentation going on. For Cab Franc it's light and generic, without the spice or substance of the grape.
Edgy, nervy and funky, with unfamiliar aromas and flavors. The nose is pickled and the palate is tart, linear and green. Loses itself as it opens, turning more herbal, sweaty and strange. Imported by Ecovalley Quality Wine Group and National Refrescos Import Company, LLC.
Chunky, dark and muddled, with flavors of cooked rhubarb and hard spice. Seems thick on the palate and pickled on the finish. Imported by Ecovalley Quality Wine Group and National Refrescos Import Company, LLC.
Neither overpowering nor impressive. In fact, this is a flat, underdeveloped Torrontés with aromas of air freshener and flavors of banana, papaya and sugared doughnuts. It's not awful but it's the kind of wine that does nothing but fall apart once the cork is pulled.
The only thing that makes this a gran reserva is the label and the winery's commitment to a big, extracted, heavily oaked wine. It's black as ink but clumsy as can be. Smells and tastes like shoe polish, resin and oily fruit. Not what we're looking for from Argentina, or anywhere for that matter. Barely acceptable. Imported by Carolina Wine Brands USA.
This is the first Torrontés from Pascual Toso that we've rated, and if it's any indication of what's going on there, then we say stick to the reds. This is a borderline dud, with chunky, hollow flavors and a mealy finish. Not a total mess but not a good, vivacious Argentine Torrontes by any stretch.
Having liked the 2007 rosé from Los Vascos, this pickled, citric burner just doesn't cut it. It shows Sauvignon Blanc-like flavors and acidity, while the finish is sour and briney. Devoid of the charm and pleasantries that rosé should deliver.
Fresh and perfumed, this wine has fine acidity along with bright berry flavors. The freshness suggests it is still young and needs to broaden out with its juicy, black currant aftertaste. In style it is dry, balance by a bright final acidity.
Grapefruit and stony aromas grace the nose in front of a lightly spritzy palate. Flavors of mixed tropical fruits show notes of bell pepper and white pepper dust, while nectarine and grapefruit flavors drive the finish.
Aromas of spring flowers and fresh orchard fruit lead the nose on this bright, fun sparkler. The palate doles out green apple, pear and citrus alongside zesty acidity and invigorating bubbles.
Frothy fizz carries fresh lemon and lime scents to the surface. The palate has the same citric flavor profile and is diffuse with lots of bubbles—which exaggerates the lightness of the dry palate even more. While there is not a lot of substance there certainly is lots of refreshment.
A rare grape in Oregon, this is a bright garnet shade and scented with cranberry and raspberry fruit. Acidity brings significant snap to the flavors, so much so that for many tasters it will show best with some greasy/smoky grilled meats. A hint of Band-Aid comes up in the finish, but does not distract.
Hints of oak smooth out the inherent herbal character of the grape, yielding ripe tones of apricot and pineapple. This wine is ripe and fruity and ready to drink.
Given time to ferment and age in a majority of neutral oak, this wine still offers thickness and viscosity. It's rich and lush in tropical pineapple, mango and sliced peach, buoyed by acidity and a focused approach.
Pale in color, this wine offers appealing, very varietal aromas of strawberry, cherry, sarsaparilla and coffee. It's quite elegant in style with strawberry and cinnamon flavors that show persistence.
This one-barrel bottling is quite intriguing, offering unexpected aromas and flavors. An element of crunched grapeseeds and unfermented wine grapes mixes with licorice, olive and pepper on the nose. A similar sense pervades the palate, along with light coffee and brown tea flavors. It's slightly odd, but also an interesting change of pace.
Reserved aromatically, this wine from the longtime Santa Barbara producer shows bits of plum, hibiscus and graphite on the nose. The palate is surprisingly lush and punchy, with plum and other dark purple-fruit flavors as well as licorice.
A 100% varietal Pinot, this wine has a faint bouquet of ripe black cherry and blackberry, exuding full flavor and body. Smooth, the oak is low impact, providing extra weight and sustenance while remaining balanced with the fruit.
Clean, attractive aromas of fynbos and orange blossom add character to the fresh citrus and white melon core. The palate is light and vibrant, with pleasantly refreshing acidity and a subtly spiced pear-flavored finish. Enjoy now.
A light, refreshing version of the variety from the heart of the Russian River, this traffics in medium-bodied peach and lime, ending with a sweetness of acidity.
A grapy, meaty, feral nose is wild, floral and herbal as a whole. This blend of Tempranillo and other Rioja varieties is tannic along its walls. Saucy, grapy, salty flavors are powerful, while the finish is tannic, voluminous and once again grapy like the nose and palate.
Tannins form a dark barrier to start this wine. It is still young, dense with chocolate as well as fruit flavors, showing the bitter, tough flavors that come from too much extraction. The fruit will hopefully come through and soften the tannins and bring out the richness. Drink from 2018.
One of the more reliable, affordably priced Rhône blends in the state, this mix of 43% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 8% Counoise offers slightly shy aromas of black and red licorice, red currant and cinnamon candy, tucked behind a layer of slate. The palate is more simplistic, with purple fruits most prevalent.
Mild applesauce aromas are reticent but clean. This feels fresh, stony, acidic and narrow on the palate. Briny, citrusy flavors are more generic than particular, while the finish tastes like briny citrus, with an aftertaste of salty tang.
This wine plays out broadly across the palate, showing tart berries and espresso components, along with a whiff of asparagus. The fruit is somewhat thin and front-loaded, with barrel flavors of toast and cigar box masking some—not all—of the herbaceousness.
Peach, pear, melon and vanilla aromas come with an aromatic sensation of wet rocks. Light and lifted on the palate, with honeydew, pear, lemon and stony flavors, this finishes fresh, clean and lightly powdery, with echoes of apple and pear.
Lemon custard, ripe Gala apples and a seemingly sweet candy element show on the nose of this wine from a family-owned producer. Bright energy and ripe apple characterize the palate, along with green pear skins and stonefruit.
Strawberry fruit is mixed in with fresh, pungent herbs—a mix that nicely expresses the Chehalem Mountains terroir. Fruity, full and forward, this ripe and pleasing wine is balanced just right for near-term enjoyment.
A light style, but still stylish, with finesse and good structure. The pretty plum fruit is lightly dusted with cocoa, softening the tannins and adding spice to the finish. A gentle and beguiling wine, ready for near-term enjoyment.
A blend of typical Alentejo grapes, this is a firm effort, with the fruit laced inbetween the complex tannic structure. The acidity gives the wine a final lift.
Neutral up front except for green apple and mineral aromas. Feels quite good and healthy, with juicy acids pushing fresh bell pepper, lime and white peach flavors. Short but fresh and citrusy on the finish.
Bright and jammy red cherry, strawberry and raspberry aromas flood the nose of this Syrah-dominated blend, and carry onto the palate. Medium tannins add a bit of structure, while the finish is clean, with a mouthwatering sensation.
Minearally and fresh on the nose, with hints of grass, lime and apple. Good and round in the mouth, with ample acidic punch and lively flavors of nopal, citrus and tarragon. Mellow and just zesty enough on the finish.
Rich, ripe and tropical, this calls to mind bananas soaked in cream. Round and lightly spicy, it's a forward, fruit-driven wine with a veneer of spice and toast, but enough acid to keep it lively.
A blend of fruit from three different sites, united by their green farming practices, this is clean, fruity and forward. A mouth-pleasing Pinot with generously juicy and pretty cherry flavors.
From the Canadian Okanagan, this stylish, well-balanced wine offers a focused mix of flavors—cola, cherry, tobacco and wet stone in particular. It's a fresh and lively palate, with the sort of crisp elegance found in some European Pinots.
Dominated by green-fruit aromas and also green veggies, for example bell pepper and asparagus. The body is pretty good and the acid level keeps it kicking, while the flavors run toward vegetal, just like the bouquet. Finishes with a final dose of green beans and capsicum. Seems to be fading.
An appealing nose of blackberry, plum and cinnamon gives this Lebanese red a sturdy start. Flavors of berry, spicebox and pepper follow, and balanced acids give it food friendly appeal. Not terribly complex, but definitely likeable.
Green and vegetal in aromas and flavors. The nose deals pea, green bean and asparagus tempered by lime and melon. The palate has weight and a mix of green, grassy flavors as well as apple, lime and pineapple. A jalapeño-like burn is prominent on the finish. Definitely a cool-climate SB.
Thin and tart, sharp citrus rind scents and flavors; then an unexpectedly sugary note in the finish.
A ripe, opulent wine, it's full of red berry and plum fruits layered with vanilla and spice. It is full in the mouth and generous. At the end, a fresher element shows through.
Tightly wound aromas of rubber and black fruits preview a rubbery, fruity palate that's generous in its delivery of vanilla, creamy berry, black plum and cassis flavors. A comfortable finish with mocha and smooth tannins confirms that this is a cleanly made, modern red wine.
Made with Fiano, one of Campania's most noble white grapes, this bright, balanced wine is loaded with citrus, exotic fruit, grapefruit, pastry cream, smoky mineral, almond and spice sensations. The lively acidity gives a clean, refreshing finish.
Made with southern Italy's most noble white grape, this structured wine conveys subtle aromas of white and yellow spring flowers accented by whiffs of beeswax and slate. The juicy palate delivers white peach, cantaloupe, pink grapefruit and mineral alongside fresh acidity.
Winemaker Alana McGettigan is an associate of Matt Thomson (Saint Clair, Delta), so it's no surprise this Sauvignon Blanc overdelivers. Hints of tomato leaf garnish passion fruit and citrus flavors in this wine, which reveals a certain amount of austerity and restraint on the palate, a silky texture and a long, grapefruit-driven finish.
Made from 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Syrah, 8% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc, this blend has a rich nose of black cherry with strong touches of minerality. Flavors of black cherry, menthol, rose petal, violet and a whisper of clove are enmeshed in velvety tannins. The smooth finish is enhanced by a last-second dose of intense acidity.
Fragrances of peach and grapefruit set the scene for flavors of white peach and lemon peel with soft touches of menthol and a tangerine rind finish. This wine is smooth on the palate with a nice combination of creaminess and lemon-fresh acidity.
Fresh apple and lime aromas are pure as can be. This is chiseled, crisp and crystalline in the mouth, with lime, grapefruit and other citrus flavors. A long, firm, flavorful finish brings a slight hint of citrus  pith the longer it runs out.
Luscious blackberry and cherry notes are marked with hints of bramble and spice in this bold yet elegantly framed wine. The palate feels lush and warm with judicious oak, yet bright, with a shower of cranberry acidity and fine-grain tannins that penetrate through the finish.
Made entirely of Fiano, this full-bodied white is loaded with white peach, lemon drop, sage, rosemary and mineral sensations. It's round and juicy and will continue to develop complexity over the next few years. Drink through 2017.
Yellow peaches, waxy white florals and honeysuckle perfume this intensely aromatic wine. Floral notes persist on the palate as well, but are elegantly balanced with soft mineral tones and an invigorating lime acidity. Distinctly elegant, it finishes with a lingering hint of tea leaves.
This Cabernet-basred blend, with 13% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec, opens with intense aromas of tobacco, leather, sweet smoke, cured meat, dried fig and fruit cake. Flavors of black berry, cherry and cassis unfold on the medium-weight palate, alongside firm, muscular tannins that hold on through the lingering finish. Drink now–2016.
Beautiful aromas lead the bouquet of this wine, a bright and fruity mix of tropical fruit, ripe pear, white melon, sweet orange and a touch of honeycomb. The well-balanced, medium-weight palate offers clean notes of melon, Anjou pear and clementine, followed by a clean, lightly spiced finish. Drink now–2016.
Floral notes of crushed violet and iris are partnered with fruity scents of boysenberry, black berry and cherry on the nose of this blend, made from 49% Merlot, 30% Malbec and 21% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit continues on to the medium-weight palate, alongside spicy accents of pepper and licorice. The texture is full and the tannins mouthcoating yet fleeting on the finish. Drink now–2018.
This Catalonian blend is a concentrated number with a narrow, fruit-forward nose and cheesy leather on the side. The palate is full, grabby and ripe; flavors of blackberry and cassis are jammy and dark. It finishes sweet in flavor and ultraripe in feel, with a syrupy aftertaste. Another year or two in bottle will help this settle down; drink through 2020.
From a 100-acre estate formerly the home of the Counts of Provence, this wine has a great fruity character allied to a more mineral texture. With richness and vanilla flavors it is both packed with raspberry fruits and showing structure. Keep until the end of 2014.
A full-bodied, deliciously ripe blend of Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois and Pinot Noir, this is spiced with apples and crisp grapefruit acidity. Rich and creamy yet fresh, it is ready to drink.
This southern Rhone-style blend consists of 35% Mourvèdre, 40% Grenache and 25% Syrah. Steely minerality underscores pretty cherry fruit, with a light and peppery streak of herb running through the tannins.
The winery's most-available Syrah is co-fermented with a splash of Viognier. The fruit is tight and compact, clean with red and black berry flavors, framed by firm, polished tannins.
Ripe cherry and luscious watermelon aromas waft from this summery, fresh wine. It's dry on the palate but concentrated, with bright cherry and berry flavors. Round and lush yet briskly balanced, it's a great summer quaffer at a fantastic price.
Long-time Cloudy Bay winemaker Kevin Judd has been out on his own for several vintages, and this is a fine effort. The characteristic herbal, grassy elements of Marlborough are present, but toned-down, making this wine an easier fit with a variety of foodstuffs. A pleasant plumpness to the mouthfeel turns dry and chalky on the long finish.
Plum and especially blueberry fruit compels your interest immediately. It's cloaked in precisely focused tannins that frame an extended, lightly chocolaty finish.
This wine may be on the fleshy, supple side of the spectrum, but it remains grounded in savory spice and earth. Cola and baking spices end on a mouthwatering note.
This wine has acidity and juicy black-currant fruits. It is relatively light in structure, giving a delicious wine with attractive fruits that's ready to drink from 2024.
This is the entry-level wine from this fine producer. It is soft, laced with acidity and grapefruit. Sliced apples add a further texture and bring out the steely edge of the wine. It has ripe fruit and a tangy aftertaste. It's ready to drink now.
While Alicante Bouschet is probably more at home in the Alentejo, this wine from the coastal Lisboa region still has much of the dark color, solid, dry tannins and intensely juicy wild-berry fruits. It is ready to drink.
From selected parcels on this estate, this wine is rich and with great intensity. It has a flinty character that will allow it to age. Its apple and citrus fruits are balanced by the concentrated taut texture and finished with acidity. Drink this wine from 2018.
This is a fine wine with its balanced red-cherry and berry flavors and finely textured tannins. The wine is light, poised and very stylish with its fruit and acidity just right. The wine will age another few months, so drink from 2018.
This blends estate-grown Wädenswil and Dijon 115 clones into a briary, open and forward expression that accents its core of cherry fruit with a dash of cola. It lightens up as it finishes but remains nicely balanced and layered, with subtle hints of chicken stock.
Stewy, savory aromas of prune, coffee grinds and turned earth lack freshness and liveliness. A full, dense, rubbery palate deals earthy, roasted berry, plum and currant flavors. This is big and grabby on a savory tasting finish.
Demure lemon and lime on the nose turn fleshy and ripe on the palate of this delicately sweet Kabinett. Lush peach and tangerine flavors are offset by laser darts of acidity and earthy mineral complexities. The finish lingers on a pleasantly bitter lime-pith note.
A whiff of pine needle runs through this wine, accenting its tight and trim red berry fruit. It's a mix of three clones that were aged in one quarter new French oak, which brings notes of vanilla and toast to its smooth finish.
Smooth, light and quite tasty, this is ready to drink. Its cocoa and pretty cherry flavors combine gracefully. Despite including one third whole clusters in the fermentation, there's none of the aggressive stemminess that sometimes can occur. Drink soon while the freshness remains.
This wood-aged blend of seven grape varieties is sourced from biodynamic vineyards. It's richly structured and dense, with fine tannins and bold red plum fruit. Balanced, with a crisp aftertaste, it's ready to drink.
Big but poised, this full-bodied, 100% varietal wine has plenty of dark berry and spice flavors and a generous broad texture that's well supported by tannins. It's nicely dry, mouthfilling and needs a rich protein dish to pair with.
This Nero d'Avola suggests mature black-skinned berry, carob and toast on the nose. Concentrated and chewy on the palate, it offers ripe black cherry, raspberry jam, clove and cocoa flavors framed by velvety, polished tannins. Thanks to its fruit richness, it's not overwhelmed by the warmth of evident alcohol. Enjoy through 2021.
Crushed dill, forest floor and moist earth aromas lead this wine's nose. Its racy palate shows red cherry, strawberry compote, licorice and clove flavors framed by youthful, fine-grained tannins and brisk acidity. A hint of tobacco marks the close. Give this a few more years to mellow before drinking.
This opens with balsamic aromas of camphor, new leather, menthol and exotic spice. The tightly wound palate offers Morello cherry, cranberry, white pepper and grilled sage while assertive, close-grained tannins provide firm support.
The wine has a jammy character that gives it concentration. It is sweet although with enough acidity. The blackberry jelly flavors are firmed out with some fine tannins, certainly plenty to promise good aging. Drink from 2025.
Delicate in aromas of honeysuckle, Asian pear, Gravenstein apple and a smoky butter element, this shows that quality Chardonnay can indeed succeed in this warmer region of Southern California. The wine is also soft and restrained on the sip, with fresh nectarine and white-flower flavors, finishing with a familiar kiss of oak.
This tightly wound wine offers firm purple fruit flavors, along with a touch of sweet berries. There's ample acidity and a slightly chalky finish.
This savory red boasts star anise, blue flower, new leather, red berry and eucalyptus aromas. On the palate, expect Marasca cherry, cranberry, cinnamon and clove flavors set against firm tannins and racy acidity.
This blend of 60% Gamay, 28% Cabernet Franc and 12% Pinot Noir, sourced from widely separate vineyards throughout Oregon, is a surprising success. The flavors are ripe, recalling sweet mulberry and blackberry, and the polished tannins wrap it up nicely. Drink up.
This well known vineyard captures the light, elegant and downright pretty nature of the Pinot Noir grape. Plum, raspberry and Bing cherry flavors combine, with fresh acidity adding some citrus highlights.
Bright and generously oaked, this wine is ripe and softly layered, an explosion of strawberry and raspberry that takes on a jammy consistency of power and big flavor.
This is a sophisticated Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, Bordeaux-style blend, with 9% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. It carries a note of leather and drying tannins, suggesting that you should drink it fairly soon. It should be delicious with a grilled steak.
This is an exotic wine with aromas of graham cracker, blueberry, violet petal and pastry. It feels lush, grabby, chewy and tannic, with heavy flavors of clove, black licorice, savory berry and baked plum. The finish is dominated by oak, with clove and resiny barrel notes that compete with the wine's fresher dark-fruit component.
Fresh and fairly perky smelling, this has aromas of lettuce, white flower and peach. It feels smooth but not soft, with pear, melon and apple flavors that feed nicely into the healthy finish that seems to bear some residual sweetness. Very nice for simple sipping.
Notes of red apple, pear and a touch of sweet spice lead on the nose. It's balanced and refreshing, with apple skin and orange flavors on the palate that linger well onto the finish.
This is clean, fruity and appealing, with no aromas or flavors of heavy oak or weedy, roasted fruit. It offers cherry and berry flavors, with a healthy, quick finish that ends on a vanilla and mild spice note.
Notes of ripe, fleshy red fruit on the nose and palate are grazed with hints of smoked meat, nuts and dried sage—an appetizing mélange of sweet and savory elements. While it's full bodied, the zesty acidity makes for a refreshing yet satisfying sip.
From Tramier's own vineyards, this is a soft, fleshy wine with a light touch. The tannins are already gentle and the red berry fruits are highlighted by crisp acidity. For short-term aging only.
Delicate aromas of apple blossoms and fresh pears belie a surprisingly textured, mouthfilling Gewürztraminer, with concentrated stone-fruit flavors and a bristling minerality. Drink now.
Ripe notes of pineapple and firm guava are framed by bracing acidity that lends a slight prickle to the palate. Flavors of sweet grass and Key lime develop and carry onto the clean finish. Drink now.
Delicate accents of green apple flesh, juicy orange and peach pit fill out the nose and mouth of this attractive sparkler. The slightly aggressive carbonation keeps the palate fresh and mouthwatering, and a hint of baking spice graces the brisk finish.
Peach and pear flavors give a rich feel to this warm wine. It has vanilla and cream flavors, with a citrus character that cuts through the ripeness on the finish. Ready to drink.
This shows good crispness, with an apple flavor and zesty acidity. The fruitiness is balanced by a mineral edge and a touch of caramel.
Round and rich, this has delicious acidity and touches of tropical fruits. It's ripe and full bodied, with an attractive hint of wood.
The riary aromas have a floral accent as well as a leathery side. It feels bouncy and composed, with a good mouthfeel and solid flavors of spiced raspberry and red plum. Oaky but vibrant on the finish.
This smells like horseradish and beets at first, but with time it softens up to reveal cleaner black fruit and maple aromas. It feels grabby and gritty, with strong tannic bite and black fruit flavors. It retains a ruggedness on the finish, along with molasses and chocolate flavors.
Fragrant and perfumed, this has a smoky character and crisp fruit, while remaining attractively ripe. The tannins are soft, and the acidity on the finish is fruity.
Whiffs of cured meat and dark plum compote entice on the nose of this richly fruity Cabernet Franc. The palate is medium bodied and luscious, with flavors of sweet red plums and cherries. Green, leafy notes and nervy acidity add refreshment and verve.
Extremely dense blackberry, black peppercorns, asphalt, grape candy and violets show on the nose of this wine from a vineyard on a hillside north of the Santa Maria Valley. The palate packs in-your-face tannins and density, with flavors of black cherry, blueberry and blackberry. Give it time, then serve with the heartiest fare.
With just a handful of Malbec, this wine takes time to open before becoming juicy, herbal and elegant, expressive in tobacco and black tea. The tannins fine and dry.
Deep purple in color, this Itata Valley blend of Carignan, Syrah and Garnacha is concentrated, cool and rubbery smelling, with underlying cassis and blackberry aromas. High acidity yields a scratchy mouthfeel, while flavors of lactic oak and saucy black plum finish short and choppy, with unabsorbed tartaric acidity. Drink through 2018.
A blend of 40% Bourboulenc, 30% Roussanne, 20% Vermentino and 10% Viognier, this boasts a highly aromatic bouquet, with forward aromas of fresh rosemary, thyme, lemon verbena, pressed yellow flowers, pear and white melon that continue through to the lush, round palate. Hints of toasted oak and sweet spice add depth, lingering on the finish alongside touches of straw and orange peel. Complex and layered, it's approachable now but should evolve well through 2018.
Blue-fruit and spice aromas are vibrant and expressive. The palate is plush and flavorful with a supple feel, while the oak seems dialed back and the balance spot on.
Vanilla, baking spice, cranberry and cherry aromas lead to soft, medium-bodied fruit flavors with an elegant styling. It's a very pretty representation of the vintage with good balance.
A strong forest-floor character of juniper and damp pine needles blends with slate minerality, light cranberry, rose petals and violets on the nose of this bottling. The palate is complex and intriguingly funky, with composting rose petals, Earl Grey tea and stewed-fruit flavors.
A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot, this wine has a bouquet of black cherry, black plum and saddle leather. It is fruit forward on the palate, with flavors of cherry and cherry cola joined by notes of baking spice that continue into the soft but persistent finish.
This wine has bright aromas of cherry, tart plum, and cherry vanilla. Flavors of cherry, pomegranate and strawberry with notes of Madagascar vanilla and aniseed are wrapped in soft tannins, and the bright finish is its own reward.
Peppery berry aromas show a balsamic nature. This feels fully oaked and resiny, while bold, fruity flavors of ripe black grapes, plum and peppercorn finish with a wave of heavy oak and mint.
This wine is immediate in its appeal with aromas of lime leaf, flowers and peach. It drinks off dry with a zing of acidity that beautifully frames the full-fruit flavors.
Ripe in style, this offers aromas of blueberry pie and spice that lead to rich, full-bodied blue- and black-fruit flavors. There's quite a bit of warmth but the wine's appeal is hard to ignore.
There's plenty of nuance and detail on this concrete-aged wine, with its baked apple and spice aromas and flavors. It shows a fine sense of elegance and balance.
This indigenous Romanian variety is made into a dark ruby colored wine with aromas cigar box and farm stand that are only slightly reinforced by cherry notes. However, the flavor of cherry is prominent in the mouth, alongside a pleasing essence of pipe tobacco that lingers beyond the smooth finish.
An exuberant boysenberry jam aroma and richly layered berry and dark chocolate flavors give lots of taste pleasure to this full-bodied and impressively textured wine. It's a monster in terms of tannin and impact on the taste buds, but not over the top in alcohol. Best to drink from 2018 to 2025.
Well balanced, lively and delicious, this medium-bodied wine pulls together spicy oak and raspberry aromas, compelling and bright fruit flavors and a lip-smacking texture due to fine-grained tannins and good acidity.
While the nose is shy at first, the palate reveals abundant red and green apples, with some juicy yellow pear around the edges. Texture and structure strike a balance with the lovely, clean fruit. It's a delicious, textured, earthy Riesling made for food.
Toasted bramble berry aromas come with hints of tree bark and mixed spices. This feels chewy, dense and round, while flavors of roasted plum and berry are well spiced. The chewy, round, tannic finish is rooty and spicy.
Condensed blackberries, cassis and a kirsch-like heat hit the nose on this blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah. More blackberry fruits meet with smoked beef and concentrated violets on the palate.
This red blend has a nose of fresh cherry, red plum and clove. In the mouth, it offers a combination of fruit and spice flavors featuring anise, black plum, Chinese five spice, and black cherry. There is a burst of still-youthful acidity on the finish, but this should be drunk within the next year or two.
Bold and brawny, this voluptuous red floods the palate with ruddy, ripe flavors of black cherries and plums. It's plush and fleshy in mouthfeel, but its juicy, rich demeanor is intoxicating. A dusty mineral tone lends elegance to the finish.
Made to pair with halibut on the winemaker's annual trip to Alaska, this blend of 68% Viognier, 16% Marsanne and 16% Grenache Blanc shows beeswax, seared pears, caramel corn, apple syrup and peach crème brûlée on the nose. It's light and playful on the palate, with ripe lemons, rounded stone fruit, honeysuckle and citrus zest.
Meaty, spicy accents enliven this full-bodied and ripe-tasting wine, adding a layer of interest and depth. The aromas and flavors show blackberries and black pepper, while the texture is smooth and a sense of richness on the lingering the finish.
This dry wine from one of Anderson Valley's storied vineyard properties is full bodied, with a wonderfully rich texture and subtly fruity and layered flavors. Try this in place of a Chardonnay with cheese or seafood for a change of pace.
This wine offers a bouquet of canned peaches and tangerine zest. It is creamy on the palate, with a strong white peach flavor offset by nice vanilla notes.
Notes of peach and ripe, yellow plum join a mix of citrus flavors that range from spiky lime to fruity clementine, making for a friendly, refreshing and dry Riesling. Its freshness brightens the palate and shows highlights of pineapple
Coming from the Chumash tribe-owned Camp 4 Vineyard, this blend of 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 25% Mourvèdre offers concentrated violets, blackberry, leather, cedar and interesting tomato leaf on the nose. The palate is not as dense as the nose suggests, but packs in tandoori spice, pipe smoke and vanilla, making it a wine that could handle a cigar.
Ground pepper, Alpine herbs and spiced blueberry unfold in the glass. The evolved palate offers ripe red currant, dried blackberry, white pepper, anise and tobacco alongside polished, fine-grained tannins. It closes on a note of grilled herbs. The fruit is drying up so drink sooner rather than later.
A swathe of violet and jolt of pomegranate acidity lend freshness to this voluptuously ripe, rich Petit Verdot. It's an unabashedly forward, full bodied wine chock full of fleshy, plump black-cherry and plum flavors. Despite its brawn, however, it's not at all overbearing, finishing with remarkable balance.
Green herb, barrel spice, clove and cherry aromas intermingle and lead to a highly structured palate, with supple fruit flavors. It might be a touch green for some tastes.
Heavily toasted oak aromas precede spicy, black fruit flavors in this full-bodied, tannic wine. It fires on all cylinders, from its intense smoky, charred aromas to its concentrated blackberry flavors to its mouth-coating, fine-grained tannins that grip the palate and help the finish linger.
Tropical vanilla and pineapple notes provide this full-bodied wine with voluptuous fruit and texture. That ripeness finds its equilibrium on the midpalate, settling down into lemon peel and quince highlights that finish bright.
This Merlot-dominated wine includes 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. Its personality has bright and brooding sides, edged with subtle sage perfume, juicy dark cherry flavors and sizable oak.
This 100% varietal wine delivers blackberry and black cherry fruit and richer, bolder coffee and meat flavors. Powerful and high-toned, it also shows chocolate and leather notes within a firm yet light structure.
A distinctive smoky, peppery aroma and equally interesting savory flavors complement plenty of ripe fruit in this full-bodied, dry and balanced wine. Co-fermented with Petite Sirah and Barbera, it shows plenty of fine-grained tannins, giving good grip to the palate and more than just fruitiness. Best after 2020.
Forest, cola and grilled mushroom flavors punctuate the experience of this light-bodied wine that's subdued in structure and soft on the palate. Blueberry and white pepper notes close out the finish.
Intriguing aromas of smoke, beeswax, ripe orchard fruit and a whiff of acacia honey lift out of the glass. The smoky flinty note carries over to the rounded reserved palate, underscoring ripe apple, citrus zest and honey. A hint of hazelnut graces the finish.
Ethereally light in body and texture, this dry Riesling offers loads of juicy tangerine and grapefruit flavors. It's refreshingly tart, with a lean, steely finish. Drink now through 2020.
Exuberant and fresh, this vivacious dry Riesling is anchored in cutting citrus tones of lime, lemon and tangerine. Medium bodied on the palate, it's racy, crystalline style is endlessly quaffable.
A lovely ethereal lift of lemon balm hovers over ripe peach notes on the nose. The dry palate brings in lots of lemon freshness as well as tangy grapefruit. The finish is spicy, clean and utterly refreshing.
This blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 5% Counoise shows blackberry, rose petal, hibiscus and Dr. Pepper spice touches on the nose. There's decent structure to the palate, where blueberry notes meet tarry elements and a touch of charred meat.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (14%) and Petit Verdot all coming from Quintessence Vineyard. Aromas of black tea, smoke, cassis and barrel spice are followed by saturated black-fruit flavors. The tannins bring a bit of grip and the midpalate dips a touch, but overall the wine delivers a lot of enjoyment.
The blend is 55% Grenache, 25% Shiraz and 20% Mourvèdre, but while this is a full-bodied wine, it's not overdone or bombastic. The masses of dark fruit are reined in by crisp acids and a layer of supple tannins, adding depth to the cassis, vanilla and mint flavors. Drink now through 2020.
From a lovely site in the Sebastopol Hills, this wine is tart and tangy with pomegranate and dark cherry flavors, deepened with spicy earth and cardamom accents. It offers length, breadth and a full-bodied expression of the grape and place.
The nose of this bottling remains tight long after opening, which suggests a decent cellar potential. A hearty swirl coaxes out thyme, bay leaf, graphite and elderberry aromas before the palate delivers salt and pepper spice and dark blackberry fruit, wrapped in solid tannins.
One of Friuli Venezia Giulia's little known denominations, the Carso growing zone, with its rocky soil, is turning out some fine whites like this elegant Pinot Grigio. Round, creamy but also loaded with finesse, it delivers aromas and flavors of ripe pear, creamy apple and juicy lemon while a stony mineral note graces the finish.
This is a fine ripe wine. Ripe tannins and attractive red-berry fruits are right up front. A firm dry core suggests it will age although this wine is up for drinking now with its fine balance between acidity, structure and fruit.
Canoe Ridge Vineyard is the warmer of the winery's two single-vineyard Chardonnay sites. Straw, spice and stone-fruit aromas lead to a full-bodied palate, loaded with ripe peach and tropical-fruit flavors. It provides lots of appeal, along with exquisite balance.
Despite coming from the warmest vintage on record for the state, this wine displays a very pleasing sense of restraint. Aromas of straw, clarified butter and peach are followed by well-balanced, textured fruit flavors. An elegant styling only heightens the appeal.
The nose is a little subdued. The palate comes in with a creamy poised richness that holds ripe peach, rose petal and grapefruit zest. There is a pleasant streak of bitterness that channels the richness of the concentrated fruit. The finish is just off dry, clean and zesty.
Somewhat lean, this has a tart, grapefruit character that sits awkwardly with the otherwise fresh, green fruit character. Hard-edged.
Waxy and burning on the nose, and then very heavy and sugary on the palate. The orange marmalade and honey flavors are over the top and sticky, while the wine leaves an unctuous, resinous finish. Too much of this 15% Moscatel could cause a headache.
This is a creative if not entirely successful wine; its intense, lavish aromas are followed by a surprisingly rustic wave of fruit that has a spin of austerity to it. One-dimensional and rough around the edges.
Though found in some Chardonnays, there's a heaviness to this wine, with its orange Muscat nose and syrupy flavors, that seems out of sync here. The wine seems to flop onto the palate and sit there, without much progression. Needs more acid and a lighter touch.
Thin and light. Solid flavors of red cherry and berry jam lead into a short but lively finish. With virtually no tannins, this is a suitable choice for lighter chicken or fish dishes.
Lacking intensity, the nose exhibits mild notes of ripe red apple while the palate adds a touch of canteloupe. Fat and round with a fleeting finish, the wine never really makes a strong impression.
Though a touch green on the nose, that's countered by plenty of wood and vanilla. Hints of plum, faded cherry and licorice appear in the mouth, with a sweet, cedary finish. Drink now.
Green, lemony and murky on the nose, this young wine shows that a good vintage in a renowned region doesn't always amount to a good wine. This is a funky, earthy specimen with burnt notes and a grassy aftertaste.
Subtle aromas of cherry and cinnamon spice are followed by an overly tart, acidic character on this wine from historic Brotherhood. Light and somewhat one dimensional, it does have a clean finish and its minerality will recommend it to food pairing.
There's a lack of balance, with thin, slightly bitter fruit overriding any complexity that may have been achieved with more oak. This is not offensive, it just lacks character.
Dry, dull papaya and apricot aromas surely don't overwhelm, but they don't foretell the complete lack of fruit on the palate. A faded, insipid white wine. It has no pulse and tastes mealy.
This is a muscular Merlot, exotic in cinnamon/cardamom spice that's otherwise soft, structured and complex. The tannins are most pronounced on the finish and need time to further integrate, but make the wine long-lasting in leathery cassis and tobacco flavor.
From a high-elevation vineyard on the eastern edge of Lake County, this Cabernet offers sensuously juicy, brambly fruit and a dusty backbone. Rich and chewy, it conveys intense cranberry, black cherry and woodsy cedar.
Pear-scented, this supple white delivers straight down the line without any annoying frills. The wine is balanced, clean and comes with poised acidity.
Melon, peach, leesy vanilla and mineral aromas are what you want from this type of wine. The palate is juicy and fresh, with nectarine, orange and pineapple flavors. A racy finish is confirmation of this Albariño's zesty character.
The excellent Olsen vineyards provided the fruit for this pure Malbec. It's still quite young, showing clean and tightly-wound flavors. Berry and cherry fruit highlights the palate, with a light hint of chocolate woven through the finish.
Fragrances recall wet leaves, underbrush, forest berries and baking spices with a touch of espresso. The palate reveals black cherry accented with black pepper and espresso alongside bracing, tongue-drying tannins. This is a big wine, but the fruit isn't quite rich enough to support the evident alcohol.
A solid effort, in the mainstream style that you'll find on many restaurant-chain wine lists. Apricot jelly—not jam—flavors carry through all the way, with a clean, crisp, well-balanced finish. The residual sugar is just under 30 g/L.
A brawny wine, it leads with ripe berry, underbrush, toast and leather aromas. The juicy palate offers sweet wild cherry and black raspberry accented with notes of mint, thyme, black pepper and hint of coffee alongside bracing tannins. Drink 2015–2021.
Robust black-fruit aromas suggest plum and blackberry. This everyday red is concentrated, generous and packed with power. Flavors of dark berry fruits, chocolate and espresso finish with verve and clarity.
A quirky blend of six wildly-different white grapes, this has some sweet fruit, some bitter phenolics, and a noticeable honeyed character, suggesting that there was some botrytis in the mix. Rich and loaded with flavors of lemon curd, apricot and ripe peaches, it's a creative, interesting wine, worth exploring at this price.
This forward wine opens with aromas that recall mature black plum, grilled herbs and meat juices with whiffs of farmyard and leather. The palate delivers ripe black cherry, sweet vanilla extract and round tannins. Even though it lacks complexity, it's enjoyable drinking for the near term. Drink through 2019.
It shows earthy aromas of wet soil and leafy underbrush, as well as leather, dark berry and spice. The palate offers restrained black plum, sour cherry, espresso and licorice alongside firm yet drying tannins. The fruit richness is starting to fade so enjoy soon rather than later.
An aromatic wine with notes of ripe nectarine, honey and jasmine. It's medium sweet with an assortment of dried apricot flavors that display a pleasing sense of balance that continues through the lingering finish.
Balsam, menthol, spice and black and red berry aromas with hints of mint lead the nose on this wine. The palate offers subtle red cherry, prune, tea and tobacco alongside velvety but rather fleeting tannins. It closes on a drying, astringent note.
One of the few varietal bottlings produced in the state, this concrete-fermented wine brings notes of straw, wet stone, herbs and citrus zest. It's tart and mouthwatering with lemony acidity and a textured feel, screaming out for shellfish to be served alongside it.
Dusty dark-fruit aromas are lusty and full of oaky notes including sawdust and chocolate. This value-priced winner is full, round, saturated and generous on the palate, where savory, resiny black-fruit flavors finish woody in flavor and firm in feel.
A year's wood aging has left its mark on this wine in the form of burnt smokiness. However, the fruit is rich and full-bodied giving the promise that the wine will smooth out its rough edges. There already is a fine juiciness at the end that comes with great acidity.
A wood-laden wine, it still manages to bring out its inherent fruitiness. It's a ripe wine, showing spice from the wood and juicy blackberry flavors, well packaged and finished off with acidity. Drink this attractive wine from 2016.
This Syrah emphasizes herb and spice, keeping the peppery fruit in the background. Nice grip and a pleasing texture contribute to the enjoyment, though the light, grapy flavors make you wonder how well the wine will age.
Honey and almond notes lend a nutty earthiness to lifted citrus aromas. It's concentrated with sweet tangerine flavor, and has a sharp, zesty acidity that drives a moderately long finish.
This plump Brunello offers layered aromas of black plum, mature berry, vanilla, and balsamic notes with a hint of leather. The ripe, one-dimensional palate first reveals rich, sweet black cherry, black pepper and cocoa but concludes rather abruptly with a drying finish.
This shows stalky, corny notes on the nose along with mineral and white-fruit scents. There's a lemony quality to an otherwise neutral palate, while saline, lemon and mild but increasing bitterness control the flavor profile and finish.
Sourced entirely from the Artz vineyard, this Sauvignon Blanc is quite fruity, concentrated, slightly sweet, and drinking optimally. Flavors of melon and citrus carry on through a lush, well-rounded finish.
This Bordeaux-style blend is a mix of Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot, tart and falling on the thin side. Wild raspberry fruit is accented with scents and flavors of earth and hay. It's aromatic, astringent, and well-suited for grilled meats.
This seemingly forward Hermitage boasts bold notes of lime, pineapple and melon, wrapped in a soft blanket of toastiness and restrained oak. It's round in the mouth and ample in body, with a long finish faintly suggestive of coffee. Drink now.
Lush, composed and fresh on the bouquet, with blackberry and perfect prune aromas. This is mouthfilling and smooth, with a firm, flush tannic structure and flavors of coconut, lemon rind, herbal black fruit and red berry. It's long and supple late, and it's arguably one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons you'll find from Spain and Navarra.
This Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend is firm, powerful and polished. The fruit runs the gamut from citrus to melon to white peach, finishing with some youthful bite. Already a succulent, mouthfilling gem, but should improve for another five years.
This oaked Chenin shows great structure and power now, with the potential to cellar nicely for another three years or beyond. Toasted brioche, wood-grilled peaches and quince aromas open up immediately on the bouquet and carry through to the palate alongside seductive accents of sweet spice, almond skin and orange oil. The texture is round and full, and the spice-driven finish is long and satisfying.
Delicious and full bodied, this has both weight and delicacy. It is rich and dry, with swathes of ripe apricot and pineapple that cut through the tense acidity. A wine for aging over 5–6 years. Screwcap.
A stunning and inviting dessert wine that exhibits the superb balance that Chenin Blanc can lend to the style. Honeyed peach and apricot notes abound, with spicy accents of ginger, clove-spiked orange and toast. The mouth is lush and slightly viscous, but the racy acidity provides good cut. This ends with a long, spice-driven finish. Delicious now, but it should age for another five years.
Bold as always, with a ton of cedar, graphite, blackberry, vanilla and coconut notes on the nose. This is huge, tough and ripe, with massive blackberry, café mocha and vanilla flavors. It finishes hard but with a cascade of sweet fruit, marshmallow, coconut cake, herb and vanilla. Needs a few more years to settle. Drink after 2013.
This cool-climate Riesling, technically off-dry with 2% residual sugar, has very tart, highly extracted flavors, with flavors including tangy citrus, peach, apricot and papaya. The length, acidity, texture, mouthfeel, depth and surpassing freshness are exceptional.
With its Mourvèdre content, this is a big-hearted wine. It is finely balanced between its rich yellow and red fruits and spice and acidity. This is a great food rosé, textured and ripe.
The 2008 Brookman Syrah is a rich, plush, luxurious wine. Aromas of cedar, vanilla and black cherry set the stage, while the palate features intense dark fruit layered with hints of olive and coffee. It's full bodied and creamy in texture, showing just a touch of warmth on the supple finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a top-notch effort—a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. It starts off with intriguing floral and herbal notes, then delivers deep black-cherry flavors on the palate, tinged with savory nuances of roasted meat and black olive. It's full bodied and round, richly but finely textured and very drinkable now yet with the substance to age up to 10 years or more.
This is a tight, black-fruited wine, with generous flavors that include espresso and licorice. At first it's quite firm and a bit unyielding, it slowly peels open layer after layer, tossing out hints of dried herb, tobacco and mocha.
A winner given its quality-to-price quotient. This smells earthy, dark and harmonious, with black plum and berry aromas leading the charge. It feels racy, juicy and full, with giant raspberry, plum, vanilla, tobacco and licorice flavors. It's textured on the finish, with bright, lasting flavors. Drink now.
Here's a light, spicy, pretty red wine, mixing juicy and sweet plum and purple grape flavors with plenty of acid. You might pick up hints of tobacco, a little white pepper; the acids keep the wine fresh and the fruit is youthful and vibrant.
This inexpensive Pinot Gris has pear fruit with spicy highlights that somehow conjure up caraway. It's wrapped in yeasty flavors of fresh-baked bread and plenty of lemony acid.
For a wine at this price, this is an impressive performance. It is rich, finely structured, the juicy blackberry flavors filling the mouth. It may lack complexity, but the spice, tobacco and berry flavors are enjoyably drinkable.
The Macari No 1 offers an aromatic nose of grapefruit and tropical fruit, followed by crisp citrus and mineral flavors. The wine is balanced and refreshing, but has complexity. Pair with Thai or Indian dishes.
Bramble and brine are present on the nose, and while 2005 was a very good vintage in Rioja, this wine brings a little less than expected. It's endowed with snappy red-fruit flavors of strawberry and raspberry, and there's also vanilla and herbal notes. The feel is dry, medium-bodied and grabby, with a hint of stemmy snap.
A touch of volatility accompanies opening black fruit and plum aromas, while the palate brings both a raisiny essence and austere acidity that causes tartness. For basic Priorat, this is fine. But if you're looking for greatness, there isn't much to speak of. Overall, it's a good but regular wine, nothing more or less.
Soft berry and pepper spice aromas give this elegant red a mellow start. On the palate, savory meat and cherry flavors are touched with an herbal lift. Smooth and delicate in nature, and a pretty sipping wine.
A tart, flinty and apple-y rendition of Riesling, one that's lean and light, one that leaves your mouth feeling clean and fresh after swallowing or spitting. One that would make a particularly pleasant aperitif.
Rustic and funky, with a curious nose sending up scents of fruit, musk, soy, pepper and espresso. Flavors are vivid and grapey, and there is a penetrating spicy note running throughout. The finish is tannic and rough.
While this wine is labeled "dry," it's technically not. There's some sugar left in it, it just seems dry if you compare it to the winery's regular, semi-dry version. Aromas of spiced pears and musky, evening flowers blend with flavors of pears, peaches and dried spices.
Pine needle, lilac and some musk on the nose. Citrus is the driving force from then on. There's tangerine and some melon for flavor, and plenty or orange and passion fruit on the finish. A drink-now citrus ball that's full and flavorful.
This Riesling has refinement, elegance and freshness without huge complexity. It is a wine to drink now and over the next four or five years.
An eccentric version of Marlborough Riesling that tastes reminiscent of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, with a green, underripe quality and some goosberry aromas on the nose. There's also a hint of riper, cinnamon-scented fruit and a clean, crisp finish.
Sometimes concept exceeds the wine itself, and this may be a case in point. The blend is odd, and the fact that each grape comes from a different part of Spain is potentially more odd. As for the wine, it has a nice perfume to it, courtesy of the Rhone varieties in the mix. And while the cherry/berry fruit is forward, it's maybe too sweet and basic in terms of length, structure and mouthfeel. Still, it's worth a try for the experimental tasters out there.
Aromas of match stick and green herbs don't deliver much fruit. This feels round and regular, with grassy flavors along with hints of green bean and canned pea. Unresolved pyrazines on the finish result in an herbal, green flavor.
This leads with subtle black plum and cooking spice scents. The simple palate shows clove, tobacco and blackberry flavors. Drink soon.
Aromas suggesting cellar floor, camphor and paraffin lead the nose of this wine. The camphor note follows through to the lean palate, along with red berry, ground clove and powdered sage flavors. Bracing tannins leave an astringent, drying finish.
Cherry and raspberry aromas are also stalky and gamy, a likely reflection of the 75% Syrah in this blend with Garnacha. A hard, grabby palate holds flavors of herbal plum and grape skins, while an obtuse finish tastes a little green.
Leathery red-fruit aromas turn more gritty and earthy with airing. This feels chunky and full, without much elegance. Plum and rubbery berry flavors finish with a chocolaty oak note.
This wine's oak, toasted nut and menthol aromas carry over to its evolved palate, along with a coffee note and bracing tannins. It's shy on fruit richness and intensity.
Heavy aromas of herbal berry fruits and wood smoke are rustic. This wine feels resiny and edgy, while saucy, oaky flavors of pancetta and tomato finish with notes of sausage, fennel and bacon.
This offers bright raspberry jam, herb, pepper and spice aromas. It's full of vanilla flavors, seeming somewhat disjointed.
This spritzy, 100% Viognier wine delivers melon, citrus zest and floral flavors. It drinks dry, fresh, clean and tart—an unusual interpretation of the variety.
This wine's oak, weedy underbrush, celery and vegetable broth aromas carry over to the lean palate, along with a roasted coffee bean note. Raspy tannins clench the finish.
This 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon shows cocoa, green herb and cherry notes, with a hint of volatility. It's medium bodied on the palate, with scratchy tannins.
This wine's smoke, seaweed, black pepper, orange peel and purple fruit aromas pop. The palate features easy-drinking fruit flavors, with gritty tannins to back them up.
This wine's nose suggests game, forest floor, truffle and leather. It's tight and raw, offering roasted coffee bean, powdered sage, licorice and unripe cherry notes set against a backdrop of raspy tannins and firm acidity.
This wine's subdued baking spice, clove and mature black-skinned fruit aromas follow through to the lively, simple palate. Round tannins provide easygoing support. Drink soon.
This thin, light effort carries flavors of baby aspirin, or orange candy. It's one dimensional, bearing little varietal character.
Kalbarri's Cab boasts plenty of red-berry flavors and a soft, easygoing, maybe even slightly sweet, finish.
Rhubarb and tomato leaf are strongly present on the nose, followed by grassy flavors and a hollow, thin mouthfeel. Septima is Spanish-owned, and this 800-case bottling seems like a nod to the homeland. But it tastes anything but Spanish.
There is not much going on here. As with most California Pinots in this price range, the Erath is a stripped-down, pale and insubstantial take on the grape. Pinots may be light and still profound, but this is simply light and watery.
This is an odd duck for Gewürz; lacking any of the floral character generally associated with that grape. It's lemony and slightly sweet, with good acid. It makes a pleasant, if generic white wine to accompany spicy noodles or light seafood.
Earthy, spicy aromas lead, rolling into smoky layers of typical Cab flavors. Berry, tobacco and touches of sweet oak give it okay complexity.
A good balance of berry, spice and fruit recommend this; it has balance and structure and a degree of complexity that will lend it to pairing with heartier dishes. An interesting and fun wine.
This smells of burnt match and soap, with flavors of very tart citrus and hints of pear and orange. There's plenty of acid but not much weight to the mid-palate.
Heavily stewed and raisiny, almost to the point of no return. And while the wine is definitely cooked and starchy, it rallies on the palate and finish to show some decent Priorat-style richness and flavor. But let's face it, the wine is 80% baked and won't last for much longer.
The nose on this Merlot is earthy, with savory scents of mushroom, soft fruit and spice, but on the palate, the wine could use a bit more structure and presence. Overall though, it's balanced and friendly, and will pair well with myriad mild-flavored dishes.
Lightly tropical, with peach, citrus and pineapple aromas. The palate offers mostly sharp citrus flavors of lime and orange, and the finish holds onto that theme.
Aromas of sweet melon and honey suggest an innocuous quality that's confirmed on the palate, where basic apple and pear flavors come across a bit sweet. Finishes with some scour and a little harshness.
The entrance of violets and black cherry is offset by volatility and lingering scents and flavors of nail polish through the wine's mid-palate. It finishes with earthy, rough tannins
Both a study of clone and stainless-steel processing, this wine offers fresh-cut pineapple, ripe Gala apple, honeydew and even peach, with a citrus-skin sharpness to the nose. The flavors are delicate and familiar but complex and deep, with Anjou pears, lemon-lime soda and apple flesh. It's a lively stainless expression.
Rich, satisfying and full bodied, this wine is packed with delicious fruit and spice flavors while structured by good acidity and fine tannins that keep the texture lively. Layers of cherry, currant, cedar and cinnamon fill the flavor profile, and a long finish completes the package.
This wine, made by Native American descendent Tara Gomez from the Chumash tribe, is dynamic on the nose. It shows both ripeness and minerality, with aromas of crystallized white peach, dewy herbs, green apples and a hint of guava. It's tight, steely and chalky once sipped, opening toward ripe pome fruit and cut grass, ever-evolving in the glass without going overripe.
This irresistible, lightly frizzante and utterly refreshing wine is a gem. Orange flesh and rind has a slightly candied potency, with outstanding purity, focus and length. In spite of the sweetness, it retains offsetting minerality and acidity, making it a perfect apéritif or brunch wine.
This blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Petite Sirah offers suave aromas of cherry, vanilla and white chocolate. The palate is dense with fudge flavors as well as black-cherry sauce, dark chocolate, slight bits of chopped mint and decent acidity to clean it all up.
This full-bodied but far from heavy wine has wonderful aromatic complexity, evoking Bing cherries, black tea, clove and pine forest, while the flavors gush with red cherry and rhubarb. The slightly lean and crisp balance combines with bright and layered flavors in an appealing way. Best through 2020.
Firm, concentrated and dense, this is a solid wine with a good future. Rich black fruits, red cherries and expressive acidity are all coming together alongside the dry core of tannins. Age this fine wine and drink from 2017.
Cool, earthy, rooty aromas of licorice, Graham cracker, cassis and blackberry are dark and brooding. This Malbec is loosely structured, with heavy extraction and blackened, gritty flavors of blackberry and toast. A dark, rubbery, blocky finish is giant like the rest of the wine. Drink through 2022.
A blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Nero, this elegant wine opens with an alluring fragrance of white flowers and stone fruit. Made with no dosage, the linear palate offers juicy yellow apple, citrus, toasted almond and a hint of spice. A refined perlage accentuates the mineral finish.
Lemony oak sits atop a heady bouquet supported by woody, baked-berry aromas. This is fresh and fast-moving across the palate, with rooty, toasty flavors of baked black fruits. A peppery, toasty, chocolaty finish is solid, dense and layered. Drink through 2021.
This elegant sparkler opens with alluring aromas of fragrant jasmine, wisteria and white peach. Thanks to 80-year old vines, the linear palate has both finesse and concentration, offering ripe yellow apple, Bartlett pear, energizing mineral tones and a saline note alongside a creamy mousse.
Produced from the estate vineyard's oldest vines, this CSV bottling is a dry, leesy, textural wine, with dominant flavors of citrus flesh and rind along with green apples. There's a strong streak of mineral also, and a well-balanced finish of medium length.
Dense and intense, with loads of fine-grained tannin, this is a deep, dark-colored wine with oodles of flavor and a very thick texture. As massive as it is in texture though, delicious flavors like blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate come through and then linger on the finish. Drink from 2016 to 2026.
This big-boy, 100% varietal Cab is reflective of both its vintage and provenance, a celebration of black pepper, blackberry and tar around an intensely full-bodied, bittersweet palate. Tobacco leaf and leather saddle interweave themselves through the wine's middle and end. Drink now through 2020.
This is a rich, inviting wine with characteristics of dried cranberry and red currant, replete with dusty, spicy tannins and spicy, spiked vanilla. Lush, the tannins are soft and supple, a tad smoky, and the secondary elements darker in smoke, black licorice and espresso. Burly, it's balanced and refined.
Phil Sexton's wines under the Giant Steps label are becoming more consistent, and the 2014s may be his best yet. This is a medium- to full-bodied wine, with a supple, creamy texture and lingering notes of spring flowers and black cherries. Subtle oaking adds brown sugar and mocha shadings to the crisp finish. Drink now–2022.
Already showing maturity, this is a rich wine, despite its low dosage. It shows layers of Pinot Noir from premier cru vineyards on the Montagne de Reims. With ripe fruit flavors that are generous in texture, the wine is ready to drink.
This is an initially smooth wood-aged wine that is intense, concentrated and packed with power and tannins. It is rich and full of brooding dark plum and dense with structure. Dominated by Touriga Nacional, it has that variety's perfumed character which is balanced by the smoother Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. It is obviously a wine to age, so drink from 2018.
This young wine is fruity and fresh, perfumed with spice and lemon blossom. The tight texture will soften as the wine ages to bring out the warmth and richness of the vintage. Keep this long-term wine and drink from 2018.
Young, tight and compact, this is all about red fruits and red licorice. There's a dash of peppermint as well, on the way to a smooth, milk-chocolate finish. This seems sure to continue to improve through 2020 or more.
Silky and fragrant, this opens with aromas of Spanish broom, pressed white flowers, baked apple and citrus. The firm, vibrant palate delivers ripe Bartlett pear, nectarine zest, lime and a note of crystallized ginger alongside tangy acidity and firm, refined perlage.
An excellent medium-bodied wine from an estate better known for its olives, this is dark in color but with a lighter, tawny rim. The complex aromas combine sweet baking spices with ample cherry and berry notes. Flavors kick in with juicy strawberry, dark cherry and subtle shadings of nutmeg and wood smoke. The texture is plush and almost soft, and the taste is warmly luxurious.
This 100% varietal wine makes the case for Viognier in this appellation, expressing Golden Delicious apple and pear around a fresh, medium build of viscous texture, lemon and wild honey. Pretty and aromatic, it's a classically fine-formed white, made in small quantities.
The last vintage that the Melvilles are pulling from this Los Alamos Valley vineyard, this wine shows a complex nose of lemon candy, dill and fresh oregano. There is plenty of tension and grip on the palate, thanks to the lime-pith flavors, but a show of white flowers like tuberose keeps it properly ripe.
This is proving to be a great vintage for this emerging producer in an increasingly exciting region of mid-Monterey County. Graphite, crushed rocks, rose petals and cranberry show on the nose, followed by a palate of black peppercorns, eucalyptus, snappy black raspberry and lots of black clove.
Rustic earth gives way to bright, crisp red fruit and a hit of citrus providing freshness and life. Soft and full bodied, this wine has years to go in the cellar—through 2022—to let the tannins soften and integrate further with the fruit.
Extremely intriguing on the nose, this shows aromas of Meyer lemon, green banana and tangerines. Generous yellow fruits like melon and Gala apples show on the palate, which is soft with lemon-bar elements at first but then tightens around green apple skins and a peppery, herbal character.
The quality here has been consistent over the past few vintages, offering solid value in an easy-drinking style. It leads with herbal aromas, but the flavors are less green, more melon and fig carried by a sense of creamy lushness. Drink now.
Earthy, meaty and leathery, with an herbal quality to the bouquet. The palate is chunky and soupy, with stewed berry, latent sweetness, and a mild herbal aftertaste. Seems syrupy at points and then fresher and better at other times. Has its good qualities but finishes short.
A big, dark, heavily oaked wine with caramel, resin and baked berry aromas. The palate has a thick, meaty feel, slightly abrasive tannins, and then sweet, sticky, woody black fruit flavors. Finishes with brown sugar and more wood flavor; strives for a higher level but gets bogged down with barrel influence.
Big, chunky, rubbery and loud, but also poised and fruity. The palate is fierce and full, with some scratch but also very lush and ripe flavors of jammy blackberry. Fruity to the max, with a chocolaty finish. A massive wine for $12.
Zippy and fresh with a gentle prickle on the tongue, this dry Riesling smells of sweet, fresh apples laced with just a hint of petrol. On the palate, soft apple and pear flavors are edged with slate and stones, and a shower of fresh lime on the finish.
Rich, smooth, with great wafts of creaminess to go with a judicious amount of toast. White plum and pear flavors precede a finish with impressive concentration and delicious acidity.
Super smooth and complete on the nose, with black fruit, toasty oak and earth notes rolled into a nice whole. It's lush, plump and balanced, with full blackberry, raisin, chocolate and spice flavors resting in front of a mellow, spicy finish. A pretty, balanced blend of 75% Tempranillo and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon that shows Jumilla at its best.
From the far north of the Vinho Verde region, the rich and creamy wine balances acidity, green plum and crisp minerality. Aromatic, elegant, fresh.
Roasted and baked on first blush, but then the wine's complexity and use of unusual Mallorcan grape varieties take over. Along the way there's flavors and aromas of prune, earth, leather, spice and Mediterranean terroir. It's also bringing tobacco and leaf notes to the table. A fun, different wine that goes nicely with tapas. Drink now through 2011–12.
An impressively structured wine, full of concentrated fruit and tannins. It shows ripe plums, layered with chocolate, spice and a hint of pepper, finished with wood. It needs aging 3–4 years.
Saint-Croix-du-Mont is on the slopes across the Garonne river from Sauternes. In years like 2005, it can produce some fine sweet botrytis wines. This has honey, a bite of botrytis and a great lemon edge. Worth aging, but ready to drink now.
The wine is King Estate's superpremium offering, made exclusively with organically grown grapes from the estate vineyard. Lush and earthy, it's got a lot of forward, tart berry fruit power, turns a bit soft in the middle, and sails away with a hint of heat and a lick of chocolate.
An intriguing nose of tobacco, mint, cherry and spice leads this earthy red. Flavors of spice, tobacco, red berry and tea are supported by ageable tannins and good complexity.
An alluring nose of apples, flowers and citrus lead this delicate white from Cyprus. Pretty, unfolding flavors of apple, flowers and citrus are backed by good acidity and a touch of spice.
An aromatic, fruity nose and balanced fruity/floral flavors recommend this elegant Chardonnay from Recas. Good minerality and acid and a lingering finish add to the appeal. Pair with poultry, pork.
Opens with honest green notes of gooseberry, lime and sea foam, and while the palate is a touch soft in texture, it has true Chilean SB flavors of bell pepper, fresh lettuce and melon. Sturdy on the finish, with a forward attitude.
This totally fresh wine has benefited from the quality of whites in 2007 Bordeaux. It is lemony with pink grapefruit flavors giving an intense lift. There is some herbaceousness, with green herbs and juicy fruits. To drink now.
Mildly baked plum and berry aromas are big and solid, while the big-boned palate revolves around plum and rhubarb flavors. Straightforward and a touch herbal, with sticky, chewy fruit to ponder on the finish.
Elements of this thick, ripe, almost late-harvest SB succeed. The palate is creamy and layered, and it works that angle to its advantage. By the same token, it's flat and won't last for much longer, and the finish is pithy and borderline cloying. Drink right away.
A heavy dose of Sauvignon Blanc brings herbaceous, grassy, white currants and gooseberry flavors. It's young, and needs more time to coalesce. It is certainly fresh, fruity, right up front.
This sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc sets itself apart with its rich nose of nuts, vanilla and flowers, followed by pretty flavors of spice and white flowers and fruit. Acidity balances the fruit. A fuller-bodied style that can handle richer seafood dishes.
This poised white offers aromas of honeysuckle, pear and flowers, and on the palate, curvy flavors of spice, apples and pear. Charming—serve chilled with cheese, dessert.
Dark and baked, with hickory, leather and prune/black plum aromas that are slightly herbal and roasted. The palate has a tight, solid feel but presents savory, baked flavors of plum and soy sauce. Salty liked cured meat on the roasted finish.
The initial impression is of a jammy, almost sweet wine. Later bright berry fruits, some wood and a dense tannin core kick in. With its sweet chocolate and juicy edge, this is a wine ready to drink now. Screwcap.
This slightly sweet white starts with a lush nose of flowers, orange marmalade and spice, followed by floral flavors edged with spice and minerals. Not overly complex, but paired with grilled fish or squid, a unique and tasty sip.
Lean and spicy in the nose, with a hint of pepper and some green vegetables. The palate is a continuation of the nose: there's mild red fruit but also some strong green-bean and bell-pepper flavors. The finish is dry and tannic, as it should be.
Light and lean pear fruit, with subtle lime notes and a hint of sweetness appearing on the finish.
The nose is like citrus candy and applesauce, but it doesn't sing or pop like it could. The mouth is easygoing, with melon and grapefruit, but there's also a bit of unwelcome green bean. This wine fails to excite. —M.S. .
Mushroom and charcoal dot the nose, but with that comes just a modicum of fruit. The palate is a bit bland even if it's far from offensive, and so is the finish. Some wines don't offend while they fail to impress. This is an example of that type of wine.
Tight and oaky in the nose, with some funky green notes. The palate is a bit herbal and mildly vegetal, but there's also some cherry fruit and spice. The texture on the finish is the high point, but the vegetal flavor at the wine's core is a sore point.
A surprisingly poor showing from this normally reliable winery, the 2000 Classico, a blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, shows some lemony aromas, a plump, custardy mouthfeel and a tangy finish.
Shows the ill effects of age on this style of wine already. The vibrant, fresh fruit is fading, being replaced by some dusty spice notes.
Lightly fruity in the nose, yet sharp on the palate. For a reserve wine, it's noticeably thinner and more linear than the regular Sauvignon Blanc. The flavors are of green apple and underripe citrus, while the finish, as the palate suggests, is lean and fresh, but lightweight.
Pineapple and other tropical fruits comprise the simple, straightforward nose. Pear and tangerine flavors come across sharp, as does the finish. The wine is a bit edgy and lean on its own.
Briar patch, some green pepper and a little sweet baking spice carry the nose. The plum and berry flavors are accented by brown sugar and caramel, but also some green characteristics. The finish is smooth, but too green.
Anise and mineral add character to the aggressive, starchy nose. Flavors of ripe apple and mustard create a heavier-than-usual palate, although there's ample acidity to keep it more or less balanced. The finish is dry, with just a touch of citrus flavor. And at the very end it turns thin and rough.
Dusty, peppery aromas carry little richness, but in the mouth things turn more fruity. You get cherry and plum, but also a salty edge. The texture is smooth and solid enough, but the finish is disproportionately buttery, salty and mildly vegetal.
Light and simple, with green apple and citrus aromas and flavors. Use it to wash down steamed shellfish at the beach.
A deep gold color sends up warning flags, and the flavors bear that out. Has simple apple flavors with a touch of shellac and no depth. Kosher.
Pungent, grassy aromas seem off center for Chardonnay, while the mouthfeel is heavy and the flavors seem derived from overripe fruit. The finish is woody and has plenty of texture, but there's also a piercing bolt of acidity running through the middle.
Early aromas of sea water, mushroom and rubber integrate into a more pleasant whole. The flavors are sweet and candied, while on the finish a mild vegetal hint comes on. That said, the wine is decent in the mouth, where the texture is pleasant.
Deeply gold-colored, this opens with aromas of oak, bread crust and toasted nut. The scents carry over to the lean palate along with hints of overripe orange peel, a suggestion of dried apricot and a dollop of vanilla. Drink now to capture the remaining fruit and freshness.
This well-balanced, flavorful and medium-bodied wine will pair nicely with many different meat, poultry and pasta dishes without distracting from the food. It smells lightly spicy, tastes like raspberries and red cherries and has light tannins that add some needed grip.
This is quite light, with berry fruit running into tongue-scraping tannins. Flavors of earth and stem add still more grip and herbaceous character, outstripping the mild fruit.
This new offering combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from the mountain site. The wine is intensely ripe and tart, with rounded edges and an oaky underbelly. Cedar and black currant are the dominant characteristics.
This Merlot-driven blend also includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, the grapes grown on upper bench blocks of the producer's estate. It's simple, offering red cherry, currant and cedar flavors, with firm, persistent tannins and a ripe, round mouthfeel.
Bright fruit flavors light up this tart, medium-bodied wine. It smells like raspberries and red cherries, tastes crisp and bright and has a light nip of cranberry-like astringency.
This has a noticeable scent of tackroom leather that carries into the flavors, somewhat muting the black-cherry fruit. For such a young wine it is already on the way to drying out. Some interesting accents of pipe tobacco, smoke and coffee run through the finish. It's now at its best, so drink up.
Raw, scratchy cherry and plum aromas are dusty and lightly herbaceous. A full, blocky, chewy palate deals roasted plum and currant flavors. On the finish, this wine tastes smoky, with a note of grilled meat.
Light to medium in body, with simple off-dry apple and citrus flavors and a hint of peppery spice on the finish. Drink now.
Henry Fessy's can-can dancer is with us again on this bottle of red cherry fruity wine. There is a texture of acidity, the fruit attractively integrated. Soft tannins complete this fresh, fruity wine.
Bouncy, jumpy, candied aromas come with scratchiness and minty green. Feels tangy and bordering on sheer, with zesty flavors of red berry fruits, citrus and herbs. Mild and not too deep on the finish.
Minerally on the bouquet, with apple and oceanic notes. Turns citric and acidic on the palate, with pineapple, orange and tangy flavors. Shows astringency on the finish, but at least it's juicy and driving.
A sweet-and-sour wine that mixes sour lemon candy with honey cough-drop elements. There is also an underlying streak of baby aspirin flavor, and the different aspects of the wine are not quite pulled together.
Yes, a certain amount of acidity is desirable in Australian Riesling, but this one is exceedingly lean and crisp. Perhaps it will blossom with age, but for now it is simply intensely citrusy and rather skinny. Pair it with oysters, or put it in a cool dark place and hope for the best.
Light on the nose, with a hint of apple and lime. Feels scouring, with sour-apple acidity and juicy but narrow flavors of white citrus and pineapple. Tangy but limited in flavor. Will work best as a palate-prepping or cleansing wash.
A rounded wine that is soft and fruity, the flavors edged with toast. There is an attractive citrus flavor that gives some crispness to what feels a fat wine. Drink now.
Shows dark fruit aromas and raisin on the nose, feels fresh, zesty and edgy, with a bright mix of cherry, berry and mild spice flavors. Feels pretty good and offers a reasonably solid and long finish for a $6 red.
There's a hint of caramelized sugar on the nose of this off-dry Gewürztraminer that gives an edge to all the succulent sweet pear nectar and apple blossoms notes that permeate the palate. Elegantly floral, it finishes with a touch of characteristic orange and clove spice.
The family-owned, Santa Lucia Highlands-focused Wrath Winery produces their Ex Anima line to show off wines from their estate San Saba Vineyard made with very little intervention and no new oak. This wine is nearly as clear as water, and yet offers aromas or freshly cut grass, honeydew melon, kiwi and fresh rain on rocks. On the palate, minerality lingers alongside poached pear and peach. Refreshing and light, yet full of flavor.
Aged in 100% new French oak, this dark and muscular wine has lush scents of cut tobacco and dense cassis fruit. Black olive highlights bring a nice herbal element to the mix. The tannins, though quite astringent, are ripe and balanced.
This is actually Wahluke Slope fruit, though labeled simply Columbia Valley. Tart pomegranate fruit, a seam of clay and well-integrated highlights of herb and earth mark this extremely limited-production wine as special. Dolcetto does not have much of a track record in Washington, but what's here is quite promising.
Sea salt and lemon rind start this refreshing white. Flavors of citrus, mineral and brine on the finish are balanced and bright. A lovely wine and a great pairing for grilled octopus, sushi or poultry.
Toasty aromas include popcorn, scrambled egg and briny white fruits. There's smoothness to the ripe palate, while apple, peach and citrus flavors—the Big Three of cava—finish fruity and with stuffing. This is a ripe winner that's richer and more flavorful than your average brut nature.
Vanilla-soaked French toast and caramelized apples promise a butter bomb in this Testarossa take on the historic Sierra Madre Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. Once sipped, there is a surprising level of soda-like acidity, and a steadily emerging flavor profile that ranges from cream soda to squeezed lime.
Raspberry, spicebox and cinnamon aromas start this modern-style Xinomavro. Lively acidity and a good tannic structure balance the cherry fruit. A great introduction to the variety.
Sourced entirely from the Chelle den Millie vineyard, the grapes were picked and processed specifically for rosé. A deep, delicious and rather potent summer wine, it captures the brisk cherry fruit without entangling it in too much tannin or herb. It's all about the fruit, and bravo for that.
In this powerful, full-bodied wine, soft fruit accompanies the firm tannins. The wine is already well integrated, showing dense red fruits as well as structure. A touch of wood will soften soon. Drink from 2016.
It's almost absurd how good this $9 Tempranillo is. Full, clean, deep aromas of black fruits and licorice feed into an energetic yet generous palate with moderate richness. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry and pepper finish spicy but not pushy. What a deal!
From a dark bottle, this salmon-colored rosé is medium-bodied and made in a bigger style than many others. Fully textured, it discloses flavorful touches of crunchy pear and cranberry. It would go well with a goat cheese salad adorned in dried cranberries and cherries.
Aromas of cherry, raspberry and buttered toast set the scene for a wine whose flavors of Bing cherry, custard, clove and fennel are bright on entry before pleasantly washing across the side palate. Unified fruit and spice flavors endure on the taste buds into the smooth, drawn out finish.
This structured blend of 50% Nero d'Avola, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot opens with earthy aromas of underbrush, tobacco leaf, mature black fruit and exotic spice. The palate boasts polished tannins as well as flavors of ripe blackberry, red currant, grilled pepper and a hint of cocoa.
Smoothly seductive in bright red-berry and pomegranate fruit, this young Zinfandel comes from mostly Dry Creek Valley vineyards. Rippling in baking spice and subtle vanilla oak, it's a complete wine, with balanced acidity and mellowed tannins. Clean and long on the finish, it will complement rather than overpower a meal.
From 100% estate-grown fruit, it spent more than a year in 100% French oak and is dense in baked strawberry, black cherry and a richness of herb. The grip of fruit is balanced by moderate acidity. The grapes are organically certified.
Full of bright yellow fruits, this is ripe, rounded and already delicious. Rich mango and peach flavors contribute an exotic edge to the more mineral texture. Drink now.
Loamy, earthy blackberry and plum aromas are woody and attractive. This is loud and lively on the palate, with acidity and tannins making their presence felt. Blackberry and baked plum are the key flavors, and this finishes loamy and smooth. Drink through 2018.
Made from a blend of 60% Alicante, 30% Nocera and 10% Calabrese, this wine has aromas of violet, tilled earth, mature plum, prune and black cooking spice. The soft, savory palate delivers ripe black cherry and black berry, accented by black pepper and nutmeg. It's balanced, with velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Made for early drinking pleasure, so enjoy soon.
Notes of grass, green pepper and citrus on the nose are followed by a combination of steely minerality and plump grapefruit on the palate in this sophisticated wine. Zippy but substantial, it will pair well with foods like oysters or grilled fish.
Full, rounded and creamy, this is a fine, green plum- and white berry-flavored wine that has some good depth as well as fine floral aromas. It is lively and fresh, but with some richness.
Flavors of bright, ripe black currant fruit and a nose of cinnamon, anise and blackberry recommend this energetic wine from the Wellington region. Slightly rustic but still restrained and elegant, the wine will pair well with grilled meat and a myriad of cheeses.
For a basic Tempranillo from Rueda, there's nothing not to like about this wine. It's snappy and fresh, maybe a bit sharp, but not spiky. The flavors are of berry and cherry, and the feel is tight but solid, with some juicy depth. Drink it like you might Beaujolais.
A perfect summer wine, this Sauvignon Blanc offers a combination of cheerful citrus and fruit and a flinty minerality that keep it dry and clean on the palate. Paired with seafood, it's even better.
At first the aromas of hard cheese and blatant oak veil the black fruit quotient in this blend. However, in the mouth the wine is more expressive and ripe, with plum, berry and ample oak-driven vanilla. It doesn't appear to have much depth or complexity, but overall it is smooth and pleasant.
Fairly ripe and deep smelling, yet it's more racy and lean in the mouth. There's good berry fruit to this Tempranillo-led wine, but it turns kind of sharp and sheering on the back palate. Freshness and snappy zest are the wine's main characteristics. Probably best with tapas.
A rich, stately nose announces the elegance of this Merlot from the consistently poised Vergelegen. Balanced flavors of berry and spice and smooth, subtle tannins give the wine additional class. Drinkable now, but the wine could easily age.
This blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon is light and leafy but not dirty or harsh. It's a thin-sided, tangy sort of wine with as much citrus as there is berry fruit. For something aged and mild, it's pretty good but not what you'd call substantial. Imported by Luneau USA Inc.
This is overpowering, almost too much. The fruit is so rich it feels overextracted, superjuicy and then hit with tannins and new wood. For those who like superconcentrated wines, this will be a big hit, but not with food.
This Sauvignon Blanc offers more weight and earthiness for fans of whites that steer away from lean, grassy flavors. Simply elegant and food-friendly, the wine has a balanced character and while still refreshing, has soul.
This medium-bodied Chardonnay boasts a fair degree of complexity for its modest tariff: slightly toasty, nutty aromas lead into flavors of hazelnut, ripe peach and citrus. A solid effort.
Plump and sweet, this corpulent kabinett features aromas and flavors of honey, tangerine and melon, with just the vaguest hints of slatey minerality. A hint of bitterness on the finish helps balanace some of the weight and sugar. Imported by Chapin Cellars, LLC.
You can't beat the price of this simple, quaffable red from Oak Lane, and certainly this is a wine that could make for very nice everyday sipping. A nose of wood spice and berry unfolds into flavors of toasted oak, bright berry and pepper. Though a bit one-dimensional, the wine offers structure and style.
A solid combination of Chenin's curvy, honeyed flavors and the clean crispness of Sauvignon Blanc. An affordable, dependable wine with a go-to personality for everyday enjoyment.
Pretty nice for a lean, more traditional Rioja crianza. The palate is clean and tangy, with strawberry, raspberry and citrusy flavors. Freshness is this wine's middle name. It's old-school, so don't look for a lot of color, body or sweetness.
The nose blends overtly floral, fruity lead aromas with secondary notes of shoe polish and leather, but in the end it's a little mute. The mouth offers standard plum and berry flavors, while the mouthfeel is chunky and generally quite pure. This is not a thoroughbred, but it's more than a good plow horse.
This is an attractive, crisp and fruity wine. It has layers of wood that are already integrating well with the black-currant fruitiness. Tannins and a firm core are signs that the wine will age well. Drink this attractive wine from 2018.
Relatively light for the variety, this wine has lots of tasty, almost jammy fruit flavors, medium tannins and a smooth but gripping texture. It's very good to drink now.
A barrel-fermented wine, this is richly perfumed both from the wood and from the nature of the Cercial grape. The wine has strong minerality, lime and lemon flavors, and layers of spice. Already mature, the wine is ready to drink.
Well-aged, light gold, and bottled in a Burgundy bottle for reasons unknown, this off dry high-acid effort should be consumed within the next year or two. The apple fruit has moved into secondary (baked) flavors, with a tart kick to the finish suggesting that the acids may soon outstrip the fruit.
This wine opens with just a touch of reduction followed by quite pure aromas of red and blue fruit. The flavors are sweet and fresh, with the tannins bringing a light grip.
From vines on the plain of Saint-Émilion, close to the Dordogne river, this is a ripe fruity wine. The tannins are already well integrated into the berry fruits, leaving just a dry core that is typical of the year. Drink the wine from 2018.
On the slopes above the eastern Bordeaux town of Sainte-Foy, this vineyard produces some fine wines. Aged in new wood, the wine is rich in tannins, complex and serious. Bright red fruits and a firm structure both promise aging. Drink from 2018.
A light wood-aging flavor gives this wine its richness along with its fine ripe yellow fruits. Ripe and fruity from an excellent year for white Bordeaux, the wine is smooth and ready to drink.
The second wine of Château le Prieuré, made from 100% pure juicy Merlot, is ripe and concentrated. It still has plenty of firm tannins although the rich fruits will balance out shortly. It is then going to be a generous wine with great final fruitiness. Drink from 2018.
A dense wine that is showing signs of heavy extraction, with dark chocolate and bitter flavors. In a vintage with crisp fruitiness being the defining factor, it is a bit of a shame. The dark edge needs to mellow before the wine can balance out.
The wine is firm and structured, showing more structure than fruit. It is solid, tight and with vanilla and blackberry fruits that are still behind the tannins. Probably this wine will remain firm, although the tannins should soften. Drink from 2018.
Tons of candied grape and lilac aromas show on the nose of this rather aged blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, with root beer and blueberry-sorbet notes. The palate offers a similar array of sweet dark fruit, but the tannic structure and acidity clean it up nicely.
Organically grown grapes went into this perfumed wine. It is fruity, crisp with bright cherry flavors and lifted with acidity. The wine is still developing, still bringing its tannins to the fore. Drink from 2018.
This wine is ripe with acidity and red-berry fruits, with firm tannins that will soften. Drink this attractive, fruity wine from 2019.
While this wine is dry, it offers good fruit weight that will fill out as it matures. It has a smoky character with juicy red-berry fruits in the background. Drink from 2020.
Light aromas of red cherry and cranberry meet with thyme and wild herbs on the reserved nose of this appellation blend. It's energetic and light on the palate, where thyme, marjoram and cedar flavors dominate the red fruit.
Off dry, fresh and lightly spritzy, this appealing wine brings flavors of lemon tea front and center. The aromatics hint at honeysuckle and orange blossom, and the finish is pleasantly granular, with a sweet, sugary edge.
Coming from a site best known for its Syrah, this wine offers aromas of berry compote, funk and potpourri. The palate shows a pleasing sense of purity, with lightly astringent tannins providing a bit of distraction.
Wisps of smoke and honeycomb thread enticingly amidst fresh lemon and lime in this nimble-footed dry Riesling. Lean and rather linear in style, its penetrating citrus flavors are bolstered by an invigorating streak of acidity. The finish is zesty and bold.
This is an earthy, stemmy wine, hugely concentrated and ripe in strawberry and rhubarb. Subtle in texture and bite, it shows a streak of cardamom on the finish.
The 2015 Estate Chardonnay is a fruit-foward wine, offering bright pineapple and citrus flavors that reverberate on the refreshing finish. On the whole, it is straightforward, with an approachable texture.
The vines around Chiroubles are some of the highest in Beaujolais. That gives wines with a structure, although here, this structure has been lost in the heavy fruit. It is very full, rich and with black-cherry flavors. Drink from 2017.
The Laurelwood offers sharp flavors of pine tar, threaded through fresh fruit. Apple and orange are there in abundance, and the piny accents will be an interesting highlight for some tasters, but a distraction for others.
Produced with organically grown grapes, the wine is firm, still tight and with ripe black fruits. It is full, structured with enough fruitiness to balance the tannins. As it ages, this wine will come together into a rich while fruity wine. Drink from late 2017.
Aromas of oak, coconut, blue flower and a whiff of exotic spice lead the nose. The linear palate is on the lean side, offering tart red cherry, raspberry, anise and oak-driven spice alongside fine-grained tannins and firm acidity.
This is a solidly tannic wine. A dry edge comes from the Baga grape in the blend. At the same time, the wine has plenty of ripe black fruits that give a rounder character. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from late 2017.
Vibrant aromas of lychee, white flowers and spice give way to off-dry fruit flavors, with the concentration seeming a bit light. Still, it delivers a lot of appeal.
Extremely rocky and dusty aromas of turned earth and tobacco meet with snapped dark chocolate on the nose of this bottling from a little-known region 30 miles inland from the Monterey Bay. Espresso bean and black plums show on the impressively dark palate that is well structured, finishing on slight hints of roasted pepper and peppercorns.
Juicy in smoked cherry and a thick, velvety texture, this luxuriously pretty wine blends several estate blocks and clones. Forest floor, cola, clove, pine and black cherry highlight an integrated approach. It stays balanced and complex through a lengthy finish that further accentuates the spice.
Almost confected, candied notions of red berry appear on the nose. The palate tones these down and comes in with a smooth, rounded and ripe body. Alcoholic power becomes evident on the finish, as does a fine-meshed tannic structure. This is a plush but elegant Pinot Noir with just a little spice.
Super earthy, this wine shows pomegranate, rhubarb and a touch of smoke, the aromas perfumed in rose petal. Medium bodied, it's balanced and elegant, with a streak of natural, lifted acidity.
Caramel-laced buttercream, marshmallow, cotton candy and sweet almond milk show on the nose of this bottling, named after one of Bill Foley's daughters. It's fairly light in body on the sprightly palate, where burnt marshmallow and vanilla flavors reign over the citrus elements.
This mouthfilling wine is generously ripe and rich, with hints of herb and mountain brush dancing around soft, rounded layers of plum and cinnamon. The finish is lush and lingering.
Cabernet Sauvignon (54%) takes the lead on this blend, followed by Merlot (23%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot. Aromas of fresh herb, flower, pencil lead, cherry jam and spice lead to light tart, fresh fruit flavors. The tannins bring a bit of grip and dryness that hopefully smooths out with some additional time in the bottle but it has the stuffing to go the distance.
Brawny in tannin weight and grip, this tight-knit wine is impressively built and in tune with the vintage and its embrace of strength and complexity. Chalky texture is highlighted in tart mountain cherry, graphite and vanilla laced in clove. Enjoy best 2023–2033.
One of three Chardonnays named after the winemaker's daughters, the aromas draw you into the glass, with notes of lees, almond, melted butter, cream, peach and spice. All Clone 95, the tropical-fruit flavors are sweet, rich and layered. A touch of heat on the finish is the only thing that holds it back.
Exotic spice, vanilla, dark-skinned fruit and French oak aromas lift out of the glass. The palate shows toasted oak, coconut, espresso raspberry and cherry alongside tight close-grained tannins that grip the austere finish. It's still on its oak so give it time to come around. Drink after 2023.
This wine is sourced from multiple sites across the appellation, including Rochioli, Mill Station and Laughlin Road, all of the vineyards relatively cool. Light and mineral-driven, the wine presents as crisp and subtle in oak, allowing for exotic fruit and floral elements to show and a richness to develop slowly toward the finish.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), Merlot (26%) and Cabernet Franc. It's aromatically expressive, with notes of raspberry, cigar box, mint, café au lait, blackberry, dried herb, anise and wet gravel. The palate displays a sense of elegance and refinement that captures the attention, with red-fruit flavors lingering on the long (slightly warm) finish.
This is a single vineyard, 100% varietal wine, aged in 70% new French oak. It draws you into the glass, with notes of char, fig, blackberry, spice and coffee. The dark-roasted coffee and dark-fruit flavors show precision and detail, lingering on the finish. The wood is primary at present but should integrate with time.
Light and spicy, this wine surprises and delights. It shows a tannic underbrush of firmness and grit that's seasoned in tart acidity and flavors of rhubarb, currant and black tea. It's well balanced and enjoyable now.
Floral and fleshy, this is a big-boned, concentrated wine. A ripe rendering of apple, pear and peach is spiked in intriguing seasonings of lemongrass and nutmeg.
This wine is a blend of fruit from Boushey, Bacchus, The Benches and Candy Mountain vineyards. Very primary aromas of smoke, toast, char and cherry are followed by sumptuous fruit and barrel flavors. The oak seems a little heavy handed at times but it still brings a lot of appeal.
High-toned aromas of blackberry, aniseed, macerated cranberry, motor oil and flower lead to rich full-bodied cranberry and blackberry flavors that bring a sense of hedonism.
Fruity hints of blueberry pie on the nose are juicy, ripe and enticing. The palate has the same generous fruit, joined by forest elements. It's a fruit-driven, juicy and ripe wine with a fresh counterpoint, a slight grip and a spicy finish.
This blend of 45% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Freisa is very approachable and food-friendly, showing baked black-cherry pie, star anise and pine resin on the nose. The palate dries up with red plum and flashes of strawberry set against shaved clove spices. It's layered in flavor but softly textured.
This is rich, honeyed and ripe on the nose and full-bodied and round in the mouth, with just enough acidity to provide backbone and length. The peach, melon and citrus notes linger on the mouthwatering finish.
A blend of 74% Syrah, 10% Carignan, 6% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre and 4% Cinsault, this is an elegant and harmonious wine. It showcases a masterful balance between lush, ripe black berry fruits and earthy, toasty spice. With its crushed-velvet texture, bold fruit flavors and lingering spice accents, the wine is easy to appreciate and enjoy now, yet structured enough to age well for another 6–10 years.
Earthy aromas of olive, tobacco, prune and oak set up a palate with drawing tannins. This tastes of coffee, mocha and earthy mixed berries. The finish is meaty in texture, with compatible oak spice and berry-fruit notes.
Smooth, silky and ready to drink, this medium- to full-bodied wine is a fine choice to go with nearly any red-meat dish. Hints of smoke and herb dress up the dark berry flavors, finishing with mouthwatering acidity.
This is the third of three Chardonnays named after the winemaker's daughters. The aromas bring notes of clarified butter, lees, spice, pear, pineapple and other tropical fruit. The flavors are rich but still show restraint, with a lightly creamy feel and a long finish.
This Willow Creek district winery delivers a powerful blend of 71% Grenache, 19% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre and 1% Viognier. It offers aromas of black licorice, black cherry and elderberry, with roasted meat in the background. It's very rich, bursting with flavors of blackberry and balsamic vinegar that evolve toward creosote and tar, all wrapped up in silky tannins.
Essentially a Bordeaux-style blend (just 4% Syrah breaks the mold), this smooth, silky wine is seductive. The blueberry, black cherry and plum fruit has compelling complexity, further enhanced with flavors of coffee and toast from 14 months in French oak.
Grassy hints mingle with riper yellow pear notions. The palate turns out to be tenderly pear-fruited, with a core of warm ripeness and a slender, soft footprint of pear fruit salad. Incredibly elegant and fine-boned, notwithstanding its definition.
Smooth and delicious, this opens with aromas of violet, mature dark fruit, leather and a touch of menthol. The palate delivers dried black cherry, raspberry, white pepper and licorice alongside polished tannins. It's already accessible but will also age well for another five or six years. Drink through 2020.
Very soft notions of ripe, yellow pear with floral overtones create a softer, luscious but completely dry palate. An ideal wine for those who like structure but mellow flavors. The savory edge of Grüner makes itself felt around the edges but never dominates and provides spicy length.
Michael Gill goes for broke booze-wise on this hot number, but the rewards are worth the risk. Aromas of blueberry, mint, graphite, dried cherry, lilac and graphite get a sagebrush lift. On the palate, distinct black licorice accompany blackberry syrup and white pepper. There's a slight bit of alcoholic burn on the finish, but it doesn't drink as hot as you'd guess.
Aromas suggest ripe blackberry, baking spice, mocha and a balsamic note of menthol. The brooding palate opens with mature black cherry, savory herb and black pepper alongside tightly knit but velvety tannins that still need to unwind. Drink 2016–2021.
This wine starts off a bit tarry at first, with scents of asphalt and roasted meat that then give way to brighter notes of blackberry and vanilla. On the palate, it's full, supple and rich, with a finish marked by hints of campfire and cherry.
This perfumey white dances in intense and creamy layers of stone fruit and vanilla, remaining vibrant and balanced from start to finish. The generous fruit is grown in the relatively cooler Oak Knoll section of the Napa Valley. This should develop further over time and in the glass.
Inviting notes of ripe yellow plum and a mossy creaminess on nose and palate combine to great effect. Peppery watercress notes provide extra interest. The spiciness persists for a long time in this beautifully balanced wine.
Produced only in good years, this wine comes from selected parcels in the Haute-Serre vineyard. With eucalyptus perfumes, it is a smooth and wood-aged wine. The smoothness masks the powerful tannins that are beginning to balance with the rich black fruits. This dense wine needs to age. Drink from 2019.
Light golden brown in color, this richly aromatic wine offers notes of brown sugar, dried pineapple, papaya and lychee. A whopping 270.8g/L residual sugar, it's thick, honeyed and sugary sweet with cinnamon, honey and granulated brown sugar flavors that linger on the finish.
Alluring aromas of blue flower, leather, menthol, dark berry, baking spice and a balsamic note lead the way on this full-bodied, elegant red. The palate doles out ripe black cherry, while notes of clove, white pepper, tobacco, sage and licorice add depth. It's nicely balanced with firm, ripe tannins. Drink through 2023.
Despite being barrel fermented, this attractive white manages to maintain a vivid vibrancy and freshness, with notes of fresh red apple, firm peach, pineapple core, green mango and clementine that are all infused with delicate hints of toasted oak and baking spice. Ample acidity lifts the medium-weight palate and rich melon, apple and toasted brioche flavors, leading into the long, lingering wood-spiced finish.
Lightly hued and luminous, this offers aromas of dried rose petal, red berry and a whiff of baking spice. The elegant palate delivers wild strawberry, red raspberry, wild cherry, licorice and white pepper alongside silky tannins. It shows a more subtle and delicate side to Barolo. Drink through 2024.
This is still closed tightly and barely wants to give away more than punchy grapefruit zest, but the balanced palate that cushions the fresh but ripe acidity suggests that this will open up gradually. Drink as of 2017.
Subtle but unmistakable white pepper flashes through this slender, lemony but oh-so-savory wine. Notions of ripe pear enter on the midpalate which comes across as complete, harmonious and long.
Savory hints of bay and an inviting, lively pepperiness lend verve to this cherry-laden red. Somehow the fruit willingly shares the limelight with spicy, herbal notes and is all the more charming for it. This is ripe and rounded but not heavy and thus quite irresistible, with a moreish, lingering aftertaste.
Pepper rules this cool-climate, low-alcohol take on the grape by Doug Margerum, with both white and black pepper giving spice to blackened beef and blackberry fruits. The rich yet tart flavors trend toward boysenberry, with dried oregano and basil apparent alongside the very prominent cracked peppercorns.
Coming from one of the state's top Syrah sites, this wine dazzles the senses with notes of freshly roasted coffee, char, dark plum and sweet spices. It's medium bodied with thoroughly delicious coffee flavors backed by a soft feel.
Yeasty, almost umami-like spice slowly yields to ripe, delicious apricot flavors. The generosity is toned by bright lemon freshness that runs right through this concentrated wine and provides satisfying length. There is a delicious aftertaste of crunchy apple.
Soft, delicate pear and gentle citrus coalesce into a more citrus-focused, super-fresh palate with verve and elegance. Light-footed but concentrated, this is graceful, with wonderful minerality.
This bottling is consistently among the best Margaret River Chardonnays, and the 2013 doesn't disappoint. Subtle notes of grilled peach and pineapple slices are carried by ample weight and richness on the midpalate, then gain focus and fold in citrus flavors on the long finish.
This unique, port-style dessert wine fortifies its Marechal Foch, Cabernet Franc and Merlot base with walnut brandy. Smooth as silk, it has clearly benefitted from extra bottle age, and drinks like a dream. It's loaded with lush and generous flavors of crème de cassis, toffee, coffee, maple syrup and caramel.
This is an exclamation point of a wine. The fruit pops with pure notes of black and red plum along with herbs and milk chocolate. It's fresh and fruit-filled, with an elegant, palate-coating texture that simply dazzles the senses.
Blended with 12% Grenache and 8% Roussanne, this direct and appealing wine suggests violets, raspberries and plum, with a vanilla top note (21% new American oak). The coffee and blue fruit flavors are rich and full, with vanilla notes lingering on the finish. It's a complete knockout for this price.
A delicious citric-dominated wine, very fresh, with a great apple skin texture, bright aciidty and crisp white fruits. It dances easily, lightly, ready to drink now.
Soft and easy-drinking, this plum and cherry Merlot drinks like an older wine, as if it's been gently oxidized. It's probably at its peak, the fruit generous and round, the finish tailing off gently into a Milky Way sort of confection.
The best of Glen Fiona's current releases, this displays cool-climate varietal character, with mountain berry fruit, herb, spice, tar and a streak of licorice.
Sourced largely from Red Mountain fruit, this includes 18% Merlot in the blend. It's toasty and ripe, with the barrel flavors most evident in both nose and palate. The Cabernet fruit is mild and lightly peppery, berry and cranberry mostly. There is plenty of chocolate, toast, coffee and smoke as well, presumably from aging 20 months in oak.
For a value-priced wine this scores well. The nose offers a nice mix of earth, warmth and berry fruit, while the palate is juicy, fresh and tastes of zesty berry. Composed on the finish, which is also fresh and lively. Perfect for by-the-glass or casual consumption.
A mature, more traditional Spanish wine that's ready to drink. The nose mixes tomato leaf, mint and maturing berry aromas, while the starchy, grabby palate shows aging raspberry and strawberry fruit with ample leather and dryness. Caramel, vanilla and toast notes grace the finish.
There aren't many white wines coming out of Langhorne Creek, but this Verdelho is a good one, offering crisp, citrusy notes of pear and pineapple, medium body and a clean, refreshing finish. Drink now.
Very soft, ripe grapefruit and kumquat flavors, lifted by acidity. The wine is broad, full in the mouth, crispness well integrated. Great final fruit.
Pure Cabernet Sauvignon, young and fruity, with tart berry and bitter herb. The light but slightly green tannins add some useful counterpoint to the cherry pop fruit, giving the wine a more substantial palate impression and length in the finish.
This budget wine has sweet fruit and soft tannins, along with surprising concentration and length. Offsetting a hint of stemminess are generous, varietally true flavors, and a rich, meaty nose that suggests beef and coffee. Best Buy. —P.G.
Nice black cherry fruit powers the nose, with just the barest hints of stem and root. Firm fruit is buttressed by tart acids, and the middle opens up sweetly, adding flavors of cocoa and coffee. —P.G.
The winery's penchant for delicate, lightly balanced wines is again evident here. This has some pleasant herb flavors, gentle nuances of grass and citrus. Cleanly made and finished with a touch of spice. —P.G.
Smells like Pinot, combining leather, smoke and tart cherry aromas. In the mouth, this light-to-medium-weight wine doesn't show a lot of fruity flavors, but rather leather, dried spices and dusty notes. Juicy cherries gradually emerge on the finish.
This full-bodied effort goes down surprisingly easy. Aromas of shoe polish, black plums and a dash of black pepper presage flavors of blackberry, plum and brandied spice cake. Finishes with warm notes of chocolate and spice. —J.C.
It seems as if the emphasis is more on the oak than on the fruit. But the oak is darn tasty—toasty, vanillin and bringing all sorts of dried-spice complexities to the table. The wine is creamy and full enough to support the oak, even if the cherry-berry flavors do take a back seat. —J.C.
At 93% Shiraz, many wineries would have just labeled it as Shiraz, but not Hollick. The wine itself has lots of tart, almost sour, cherry fruit that marries well with the earthy, bitter undercurrents. Very smooth and supple in the mouth. Only light tannins make this a wine to drink now. —J.C.
Add this new winery to the growing list of Walla Walla-based boutiques. The Syrah is plump and juicy, a round, fruity red wine that is perfectly enjoyable. —P.G.
This kitchen-sink blend boasts a high percentage of Petit Verdot (38%), which may account for its dramatic floral aromatics. Aside from roses, cherries also play a role. In the mouth, complex floral-herbal elements have a solid underpinning of cherries and raspberries, finishing with just enough tannins to stand up to rare beef. —J.C.
The oak jumps out a bit, with plenty of vanilla and a bit of dill, too. A medium-bodied Merlot, still young and tannic and not yet unwrapped. Additional cellar time will help. —P.G.
This is one of Columbia's strengths, turning out perfectly crafted white wines at budget prices. The Gewürz is off-dry, rich and roundly fruity, loaded with mouthfilling, lipsmacking flavors. Chill it to cut the sweetness and you have the perfect wine for spicy noodle dishes.
A popular style, fruity and forward, with the emphasis on citrus, grapefruit and apricot, rather than floral qualities. Sweet fruit set against tangy acid makes it a versatile food wine too.
The style is rich and ripe fruit, with the fruit pushing through into tropical. Nice handling of the oak adds just enough butter and light spice. A hint of bitterness mars the finish.
There is just a hint of volatile acidity, enough to brighten the nose, which has Bing cherry and chocolate as well. In the mouth, the fruit has some herb and dill to it, an indication of a cooler vintage, and some fairly stiff tannins. —P.G.
A wonderfully fragrant nose mixes scents of fresh fruits and  blossoms, with a sweet and tart flavor profile. These are very user friendly flavors, ripe and round, with more fatness than most Washington Rieslings, especially at this price. Best Buy.
A soft, round wine that almost seems designed for glugging. Dusty earth and dried grass aromas give way to a sweet, alcoholic attack filled with red berries and cherries. The warm, spirity finish leaves you glowing and reaching for another sip. —J.C.
Black cherry, clove and smoked meat aromas are rolled up into one wondrously savory scent in this 50-50 blend of Mourvèdre and Syrah. Flavors of beef roasted in blackberry and Sherry sauce sprinkled with oregano and marjoram entertain the complex palate.
Right away this pitch-dark Malbec displays max ripeness through a dynamic mix of prune, blackberry, coconut, violet petal and leathery aromas. A hugely concentrated palate is hardly a shock, while firm acidity cuts a viscous palate with ripe cassis, plum, blackberry and black cherry flavors. Drink this voluptuous wine through 2022.
Pure blackberry, cassis and charcoal aromas come with a sweet oak-based scent of maple. This is a beast of a wine with lushness and padding to the palate along with huge tannins and fine oak framework. Toasty, chocolaty oak flavors caress a black-fruit explosion prior to a saturated finish that spreads out like a slow-moving lava flow. Drink through 2022.
Coming from a vineyard west of Paso Robles that peeks at the ocean surrounding Morro Rock, this is a dense expression of the grape, with dried strawberries, blackberries, smoked pork butt, star anise and lots of smoke on the nose. The palate is rich and lively, with decent mineral-driven restraint, showing a mouth-watering flavor array of dense blackberries and spicy Sichuan peppercorns.
Made by Kirk Venge from a Dutton Ranch vineyard site, this wine immediately offers a lot to like, from its earthy sassafras and compelling layers of crisp raspberry and cherry, to its soft layers of oaky density accented in rose. Requiring more time to open, with an ideal cellaring through 2023, it finishes with a flair of cedar and vanilla, lasting long on the palate.
Billecart-Salmon's style is dry, so an Extra Brut will be almost bone-dry. This wine is crisp and tight, bringing out grapefruit and citrus flavors and a steely, mineral character. It is still young, with freshness dominant, and needs to mature to blossom into a very fine Champagne. Drink from 2018.
A beautifully balanced wine that abounds in elegance and restrained richness, this wine offers enticing floral, almond and citrus aromas. The crisp, creamy palate brings nectarine zest, yellow apple, mineral notes and bread crust. Tight acidity and an intense, elegant perlage provide the framework. Drink now or hold for complexity.
A proprietary blend of 57% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot, all homegrown, this is dense and powerful, rich in red fruit but also savory in tobacco, black tea and leather. Reflective of the appellation's ability to combine power with elegance, it fully represents and should continue to meld beautifully together in the cellar. Drink now through 2022.
This top wine from Joseph Perrier is rich, full in the mouth and well balanced. It is at the midway point of Brut, neither too sweet nor dry, giving ripe, creamy apple flavors and refreshing, concentrated acidity. There is no sign yet of maturity, the wine still so fresh. Drink now for the liveliness or wait until 2018 for maturity.
From a great Champagne vintage, this rich, full-bodied wine is just beginning to develop secondary flavors, toast and walnuts. The red fruits are fading into the background, while keeping the acidity in place. It is ripe, well balanced and has a delicious, long aftertaste. It is ready to drink.
This reserve-level wine is down to just three barrels in this vintage. It's creamy and yet precisely defined, with generous layers of pineapple, lime, golden apple and lemon tea. A bracing minerality underscores gently oaked, finishing notes of melba toast and almond butter.
Linear and intense, this elegant blend of 70% Pinot Nero and 30% Chardonnay opens with aromas of fragrant flowers, yeast and a whiff of orchard fruit. The firm, focused palate delivers ripe apple, citrus zest, almond and energizing mineral notes alongside an ultrafine, persistent perlage that carries through to the quenching, bone dry finish. It's overflowing with finesse.
Seared yellow grapefruit, white flowers and a hint of almonds make for a fresh but simultaneously nutty nose on this classic bottling from the historic producer, whose grapes come from the top of the high-elevation appellation. The extremely energized palate is enlivened by flavors of salted lemons, a buttery warmth and racy yet rich minerality, from chalk and slate to graphite and flint.
Planted in 1999 specifically for the producer, this vineyard block provides power and structure, revealing shocks of blackberry jam, mocha and gunpowder amidst a streak of wild anise and black pepper. Robust and bold, it begs for another 10 to 15 years in the cellar before finding its complete composure.
Subtle notes of candied apricot mingle with barley sugar and light caramel in this splendid Eiswein. The palate reveals more intrigue, with pure lemon zest and aromatic inflections of crushed citrus foliage. While there is ample sweetness, this is cut by razor-sharp freshness and held in perfect poise. With time, ever more flavors join in: baked apple, candied orange peel and passion fruit. In its character, this would suit desserts that major on tropical, exotic fruit.
The lively mousse carries this sophisticated wine, which is the perfect partner to the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs. Everything is in its place, well integrated and with great precision. This trends to the sweeter side of Brut but with bottle age this has brought fine secondary flavors that are ripe and rich. The wine will age further, drink until 2020.
Toasty woodsmoke aromas are matched by wild berry, cassis, cherry and marshmallow scents on the nose of this huge Malbec. Creamy feeling but also inky and fully concentrated, this tastes like black cherry and cough drops. Candied ripeness carries onto the finish along with chocolate and dry spice flavors. Drink through 2022.
Blackened and charred on the nose, there are also blueberry, herb and earth notes to get this balanced yet huge Malbec going. Blackberry, black plum and pie crust flavors finish cedary, with pastry notes and lasting black fruit. If you want power but also elegance and purity from your red wine, this is it. Drink through 2022.
From a three-acre vineyard, this wine accented in 2% Petit Verdot offers a sense of gravel underneath the dark, syrupy plum and leathery tannin structure. Midway through, it exhibits cherry, raspberry and vanilla, showing a juicy underbelly that should develop further over time. Drink now through 2022.
This world-class blend of 52% Cabernet Franc, 20% Malbec, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot is concentrated, structured and powerful, with the promise of a long life ahead. Earthy, herbal streaks of cigar box, licorice root, char and minty fynbos frame the lush fruit core of muddled boysenberry, black raspberry, plum and currant. The palate is bold and assertively flavored, with good evolution from jammy black fruit to earthy spice and finally leather and toast on the finish. Drink 2018–2024.
From the producer's oldest hillside vineyard, planted in 1967, comes this gem of a wine, a taste of cinnamon toast and black currant. Layered acidity forms a backbone against which concentrated flavors of graham cracker and dark chocolate lie, the finish long and deep. It's built to age, enjoy now through 2025.
A blend of 28% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 18% Petit Verdot and 10% Merlot, this is a big, bold and powerful wine, with superb balance and a firm, concentrated structure that promises great long-term aging. Dense aromas and flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, cherry and fig are layered with notes of cocoa powder, roasted espresso bean and cigar tobacco. Ripe, rich and lush, but not overdone, hints of charred oak and black pepper linger on the finish. Drink 2018–2025.
Voluptuously tropical in shaved coconut and silky layers of peach and pear, this is a complex, age-worthy white from a stellar vineyard site, a knockout version of the variety. Smooth and round, it maintains a core of acidity that buoys the experience, finishing with a flourish. Drink now through 2022.
Exotic fruit aromas and concentrated fruit flavors make this full-bodied wine an attention grabber at first sip. They hold the attention through a fine-grained mouthfeel and lingering finish. A focused core of black-currant flavor runs from first whiff to last impression. It needs time, so drink after 2017.
Creamy brie rind aromas mesh with scratched yellow grapefruit skin and a steely minerality on the nose of this small-batch bottling from a winery atop the appellation's ridgeline. Light and focused flavors of kumquat juice, iodine and lime skin satisfy the palate, and would be a perfect match for shellfish.
Crisply fresh, this full-bodied wine has citrus fruitiness that is followed by hints of toast and honey that are just developing. Well balanced, it's very textured while also fruity, and will develop well in bottle. Drink from 2017 for the more mature flavors to bring their own character to the wine.
One of the appellation's more famous wines, this opens in black licorice and blackberry, alongside a streak of malted chocolate, soft and sinewy, with a tension of acidity that adds age-worthy structure. Dense and interesting now, it'll get better over time, cellaring well through 2027.
Delivering elegance and structure, this stunning wine opens with delicate aromas of bread crust, toast, dried fruit, pastry cream and nectarine zest that all carry over to the silky palate. It boasts a lovely depth of flavors that are exalted by tangy acidity and an ultrafine perlage. It's already enjoyable but will continue to develop complexity over the next decade. Drink 2016–2026.
Smooth as silk and deeply concentrated, this outstanding icewine offers pressed apple, peach, pear, apricot and papaya fruit in a seamless, dense and immensely flavorful core. A streak of butter and honey carries it into a long, splendid finish.
This collaboration between American winemakers Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton and Japanese entrepreneur Takahide Sugimoto is stunningly high-toned and buttoned-up at first, with sour cream, yogurt, crushed ant, gunmetal, flint and quinine elements on the nose. The palate is complex and fascinating, with chalk and cement minerality bolstered by lime blossom, kumquat and tonic that opens graciously with time. Drink 2016–2026.
Saucy berry, sweaty leather and soupy aromas control the bouquet on this wine that's not holding up well. In the mouth, it searches for balance, while flavors of rubber, stewed plum and mealy berry finish with jolt of lingering acidity.
This basic SB blends aromas of coastal snap with tropical sweetness. In the mouth, it shows basic flavors of grapefruit and spiced citrus. On the finish, peppery bitterness comes up.
Soft and gently fruity, it's fairly basic but does provide a Pinot Noir character. The wine has red cherries, light acidity and a jammy aftertaste. Drink now.
The Fusion in question is the blend—an unusual combination of 61% Pinot Noir, 21% Syrah and 18% Merlot. Some tasters will find it works well as an everyday, all-purpose red. The jumble of red fruits is matched to a strong streak of vanilla, with some stemmy flavors coming up in the tannins.
This one-dimensional wine has muted aromas that recall tropical fruit. The palate doesn't give much away either, revealing subtle citrus and pear notes alongside racy acidity.
The wine tastes full of ripe fruits as well as acidity. A touch of bitter almond gives a hard edge to the otherwise fruity, apple and pear flavored wine. Drink from 2015 to give the wine some bottle age.
Muddled aromas of yellow flower and beeswax come along with sensations that recall Band-Aids and antiseptic. The bitter medicinal notes carry over to the palate along with minerality and a hint of rock candy, and the wine lacks fruit richness.
The wine has some of the typical freshness of 2011 but it seems on the thin side. Black currant flavors run alongside high acidity, and the tannins show strongly. The aftertaste brings out more tight, mineral acidity.
Offers a glimpse of a fully mature wine from Bergerac. It has retained strong and dense tannins that are showing signs of drying the wine. The tough core is not likely to go away. Drink now.
Largely neutral aromas touch on melon, peach and toast. This is smooth and melony on the palate, with flavors of bitter nut skins, melon, banana and papaya. A touch of bitterness rises up on the finish.
A soft, perfumed wine, it shows attractive light black currant flavors as well as some tannins, acidity and a young fruity character. It is ready to drink now.
This wine seems to be a casualty of the cold vintage, with thin fruit and overall earthy flavors. A whiff of barnyard is evident as well.
A sweet Vinho Verde, it is light, fruity and perfect for the summer. With crisp acidity, a lively, frothy texture and a clean apple aftertaste, it can be drunk now.
This smoky Zinfandel is aromatically closed off and still tight in tannic formation. Give it time to open and it'll share meaty black-fruit and tar.
This medium-bodied wine has a vivid, fresh raspberry aroma and deep blackberry flavors supported by firm tannins. It tastes like a cool-climate example because of the vivid fruit, layered tannins and good acidity, which make it well balanced in the style of classic dry reds.
A majority varietal, a dying breed in the Napa Valley, this also has 5% Petite Sirah. The combination is dense and syrupy in strawberry and a tightness of oak. Time will soften its edges, and there's already a softness to the tannins that delights, the finish light and lean. Cellar through 2017.
Made with 65% Nebbiolo, 20% Vespolina and 15% Uva Rara, this polished red from Piedmont offers aromas and flavors of dried red cherry, clove, baking spice and rust. It's well balanced, with silky tannins and fresh acidity while a graphite note closes the finish.
Dark berry, grilled herb and underbrush aromas float out of the glass along with a whiff of rose. The firm palate offers juicy dark cherry, raspberry, clove, anise and tobacco framed in velvety tannins.
Representative of the solid values that may be found from Australia for about $20, this medium- to full-bodied Shiraz offers a blend of cherry and plum flavors, with savory elements of mocha and roasted meat. It's slightly dusty on the finish, making it food-friendly, ending with hints of cocoa and coffee. Drink now–2018.
A crisp wine, this is packed with acidity and fruitiness. It is tangy, tight, full of attractive acidity as well as lively citrus and white fruits. It is ready to drink.
The Angove family is crafting some increasingly interesting wines in recent years. This blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Shiraz and 20% Mourvèdre features intriguing notes of cola, brown sugar and cinnamon layered over a plush base of ripe black cherries. It's mouthfilling and round, with a soft, licorice-tinged finish. Drink now–2018.
This delicate wine, a medley of rose petals, cherries and a streak of cola, is labeled simply Oregon due to TTB regulations, but in fact is a single-vineyard effort from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. It's pale and pretty, and seems to be on a fast track for aging. Drink now through 2017 and you're in for an elegant and complex Pinot.
Spicy, structured and fruity, this savory wine opens with aromas of ripe berry and dark cooking spice. The full-bodied palate doles out crushed blackberry, plum, black cherry, ground black pepper and star anise alongside firm, velvety tannins.
Dense and concentrated, this smoothly rounded wine is well integrated and robust in oak and black cherry, a nice representation of estate grapes. With a strong presence of tannins, it needs to breathe before being enjoyed with earthy fare.
Faint aromatics hide an effusiveness on the palate of thick, dense blackberry jam and brown sugar, the ripe power of the wine kept in check by a balance of acidity. Fuller bodied in style, it remains dry and vibrant on the finish.
Made from a selection of premium parcels, this wood-aged wine still shows evidence of its toast and firm extract. So although there is plenty of fruit there, it's the dry core that is evident. It could still soften, so wait until 2017 to drink.
A dark, almost black color is a reminder of Petit Verdot's traditional use to give color in the Bordeaux blend. The wine also has a stylish, aromatic character that brings out black fruits and generous tannins. It's rich and still young. Drink from 2017.
This offers aromas of ripe dark fruit, crushed rose, and a warm whiff of toast. On the palate, notes of clove and grilled sage accent a core of wild cherry. It's still young, with nervous acidity and assertive but refined tannins. Drink after 2018.
Cassis and blackberry aromas are bold and show a feral side as this breathes. Fresh and charged up on the palate, this hits with cassis and blackberry flavors in front of a fruity, not oaky finish. Drink this pleasurable, well-made Malbec now through 2017.
Earthy, mulchy, balsamic aromas blend with meaty blackberry scents to create a vintage Dávalos-Salta bouquet. The palate on this Malbec-Cabernet blend is inky, jammy and rich, with soft tannins. Earthy, roasted flavors of blackberry and balsamic vinegar finish with notes of mushroom and tree bark along with carob and fig. Drink through 2019.
Made in a delicious, dry style, this has a vivid yellow-gold color, lemon and butter aromas, a touch of honey in the Bosc pear flavors and a creamy texture that leads to a long finish. Not much of this variety is made in California and the acreage is dwindling in Livermore Valley, so this bottling is a rare treat.
Yellow skinned and Asian pears, jasmine flowers, lemon slices and a slight petrol note entertain the nose on this single-vineyard bottling from a part of the Parker family's estate that was planted in 1989. The palate is quite balanced between flavors of lemon-lime soda, tangerine juice and limestone minerality.
This ripe and structured wine is poised between rich berry fruits and a solid, dark tannic core. It has great fruitiness that envelops the dry center, showing wood and spice flavors that are coming together well. Drink this fine wine from 2018.
Despite a reported alcohol level that's moderate for its genre, this feels nicely full and rounded on the palate. Hints of vanilla and sarsaparilla accent flavors of cherries, plums and chocolate, while the tannins are supple and creamy in texture. Drink now–2018.
Dark garnet to the eye, this wine has aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, coffee and freshly ground black pepper. Flavors of height-of-summer cherry, raspberry and baking spice persist on the palate through a finish that is awash in silky tannins.
Concentrated black and red berries show depth and meet tobacco, vanilla and sweet cake spice on the nose. The medium- to full-bodied palate brings cocoa-dusted dark bramble berries into the mix, with streaks of graphite adding levity. The tannins offer grip but are not completely overpowering, with tart red currant lightly lingering on the finish.
Baked black fruit, scorched earth, eucalyptus and a toasted note come together on the nose. The palate brings black cherry, with intense licorice and mint supported by tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. It ends on a coffee note. Drink 2018–2028.
This mineral, structured wine is full of lemon, crisp green apple and fragrant acidity. It's ripe while also fresh and taut. A tangy texture shoots through the wine, giving a refreshing aftertaste.
A clean nose of lemon curd sets the scene for flavors of kumquat, green apple, ripe mango and lemon zest. Medium bodied on the palate, this wine offers a bright, crisp finish.
A wine with great fruit and balance, this is totally ready to drink. Harmony between the juicy acidity and yellow fruits gives the wine richness, intensity and an intensely fresh aftertaste.
This inexpensive Shiraz (60%) and Cab (40%) blend represents a solid value, blending cassis and dark coffee flavors with hints of mint and bell pepper. The green notes are adequately balanced by ripe fruit, and the tannins are extremely supple, finshing on a velvety note.
This affordable blend of all five Bordeaux grapes is a solid second wine, produced from barrels cut from the winery's other bottlings. It hits 14.5% alcohol but remains reasonably well balanced, with just a touch of heat. It's dark and smoky, with plenty of barrel flavors. Cherry liqueur, smoke, caramel and espresso—it gives you a lot of power for the price.
Very grassy, herbaceous aromas lead to a wine that is dominated by minerality and pink grapefruit. It is intense, ripe and concentrated, but there is an element of tension in its crisp aftertaste.
This is Bacchus vineyard fruit, as per normal – these vines are something like 35 years old. It's all stainless-steel fermented, aged on the lees and finished at 13% alcohol. Fruit flavors of peach and pineapple fill the mouth with round, lightly spicy flavors. It's ripe but not sweet, tart but not too citrusy. Good balance and texture through the finish.
This is a pretty, pale purple/rose; bright, peppery and rather delicate. It shows excellent floral aspects, like a good Beaujolais - it's somewhere between Pinot Noir and Gamay, with big fat grapes and heavy clusters that somehow produce a real finesse wine. The acids keep it lively, the peppery notes add a lot of spice and the floral qualities turn the tart cranberry fruit into something special.
Features some superb elements that come off as a bit disjointed—perhaps it just needs some time? High-toned cherry fruit picks up some herbal notes and peppery cinnamon flavors, then finishes crisp, with hints of orange pekoe tea.
Minty and dusty at first, with secondary floral aromas that make you take notice. The palate is juicy and jumpy, with sizable coconut and black raspberry flavors that indicate ripeness but also some heavy oak aging. Shows grip and a touch of fire on the medium-long finish. Only 250 cases produced.
For all of this wine's 14.5% alcohol, it's not that rich, instead presenting a medium-bodied, elegant palate feel. Hints of violets and cracked pepper are attractive on the nose, easily marrying with the wine's flavors of black olive, meat, sour plum and slightly pruny notes. Tasted twice, with consistent results.
The glass gives off a great waft of delicate citrus and pear-flavored fruits, lightly perfumed and with a layer of minerality that sits easily underneath the freshness.
While exuberantly floral, this wine feels weightless and breezy on the palate. It's a bit lacking in concentration, but tart grapefruit and pineapple flavors make it refreshing and quaffable.
This blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Syrah and 17% Petit Verdot retains a reductive quality on the nose even after being opened for quite a while, with slightly funky blackberry and burnt cedar aromas. Dried blackberries and black cherries show on the palate, but the tarry sensation permeates throughout.
Pink grapefruit and lemon rind notes are elevated on the nose, with wet stone and candied watermelon lingering in the background. The palate on this 100% Merlot rosé is citrus-driven, yet an impression of roundness comes from tart peach and melon tones.
Actor Sam Neill's Central Otago wine estate is sometimes billed as the southernmost in the world. The 2011 is a tart, medium-bodied wine blanketed in caramel- and mocha-scented oak. Enough modest cherry fruit pokes through, and there's an attractive, mouthwatering finish. Drink now–2018.
Crisp and savory, this lively white delivers aromas and flavors of mature yellow apple, nectarine zest and a hint of nut. Bright acidity gives it refreshing support.
Heady aromas of honeysuckle and orange blossom waft from the glass. The easygoing palate offers green apple and citrus alongside bright acidity. It closes on a note of bitter almond.
This 100% varietal wine has aromas of vanilla, milk chocolate and dark fruit along with light oxidative notes. It's fully flavored with coffee and dark cherry notes backed by gritty tannins.
Full of vanilla and nougat aromas, this has a creamy texture, almost-sweet flavors and soft texture. Fermented in stainless steel and only 15% aged in oak, it's practically a pastry in a glass.
Ripe notes of yellow pear pop up on nose and palate. The body is light and easy.
This wine is brightly aromatic with notes of tangerine, lychee, ripe peach and white flowers. It drinks medium sweet with a very light spritz and a full feel.
Strawberry and raspberry aromas are slightly brambly and peppery on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is driven by mulberry and stone-fruit flavors, yet balanced by just enough citrus verve.
The nose on this wine is very peachy, boosted in the ripe department by banana, honeysuckle and tuberose. The palate is also rich and forward, with dried apricots and buttered peaches. It's well made, just quite tropical, and would complement roasted chicken.
Tropical fruit and peach aromas take center stage on this bright wine. The round, friendly palate doles out white peach, green apple and passion fruit alongside lively acidity.
From one of a group of chateaus owned by the Sumeire family, Coussin's second wine is tangy, textured and with lively acidity. The texture is as important as the fruit, giving a mineral edge to the acidity. The red fruits finish with an attractive lift.
Bosc pear and tangy peach are brought to life with a squirt of lemon juice. Enjoy this unoaked Chardonnay with citrus-marinated grilled chicken.
This wine is a fresh, herbaceous and fruity blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache Blanc. Touches of tropical fruits round out the crisp lemon and grapefruit flavors, with an attractive, fragrant tang at the end.
This opens with a lightly fruity aroma that carries a hint of fresh bread, butter and vanilla. These lead to fresh, straightforward fruit flavors like canteloupe and apple, again with a bit of vanilla kicking in on the finish. The texture is smooth, rather lush and the wine is light to medium bodied.
A soft, simple and attractively fresh wine, this is ready to drink. It has all the crisp acidity you could want alongside riper yellow fruits and a soft, gentle texture. Drink now.
Rich, tannic and brambly, a juiciness of blackberry jam forms the substantive core of this wine, made in larger quantities for larger distribution. The finish is leathery and well integrated in oak.
While a bit shy in both bouquet and concentration, this cherry-kissed rosé is a refreshing summer sip. A blend of Pinot Noir and Dornfelder, it's a touch tart with a brisk, zippy finish.
This is textbook Marlborough Pinot Noir, featuring aromas that hint at mushroom, beetroot and ripe cherries. The palate is on the light side, with silky tannins and crisp acids that bend the fruit toward pie cherry and cranberry on the tart finish. Drink now.
Strawberry jam accented in black cherry form the essence of this medium-bodied wine with high-strung acidity. It seems to speak to a fair amount of winemaking more than to a specific site, showing oak and earth on the finish.
Very ripe fruit aromas and flavors in this wine resemble dried plums and cherries. The texture feels broad and smooth, with enough firm tannins to give it some grip on the palate. It tastes full bodied and a bit exotic, with some anise and black pepper to enhance the dried-fruit notes.
Tight in oak barrel and tar-licked tannin, this red is a tad on the hollow side midpalate, but shows promise in its cinnamon spice and blackberry fruit flavor. It finishes lean.
This straightforward wine has notes of fresh apple and pear. The flavors are light in style, seeming a bit dilute.
This opens with aromas of oak, tire rubber, fennel and underbrush. The palate is dominated by oak and oak-driven spices alongside a confectionary note and green, astringent tannins. It lacks fruit richness.
Lean, tart and slightly astringent, this is a tough Pinot to warm up to. Yet it does show decently complex notes of leather, mushroom, pie cherry and citrus. Try holding it until 2017 to see if it becomes more generous.
A particularly fresh and refreshing wine, with the cleanest acidity, attractive red fruits and grapefruit juice. A great apéritif style. Screwcap.
This second wine from Dão Sul's Douro quinta shows the bright fruity side of the region. It's a lively, fresh, red fruit flavored wine, with soft tannins and a ready to drink feel.
Clean, very fresh, very crisp. There is some body to it, with green herbal flavors and red plum juice. The finish is packed with acidity.
Fresh, layered aromas of black fruits and licorice are appealing. The palate is full and offers kick, while flavors of berry and plum are fairly rich, spicy and honest for $9 Cabernet. A bit sticky and it falls off on the finish, but overall it's a nice value red.
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.
A blend of Antão Vaz and Arinto, this is a deliciously fresh wine, lighted by acidity and with a tight texture. Drink now for summer pleasure.
Michael David's big, juicy, crowd-pleasing red blend, with minority amounts of Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Tannat, Souzou, Cab Franc, Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah, was aged in French oak for over three years. Soft and ready to drink now, with a touch of sweet cherry cola.
This medium-bodied, cheerful blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah displays likeable peppery notes accenting bright cherry fruit. It's dangerously easy to drink. Best now and over the next year or so.
A very dry, firm wine, with some chocolate extract flavors and signs of wood aging, both balanced by stalky black currant fruits. It is hard at present, so give it until 2014.
A light, fruity wine, dominated by salty, mineral flavors as well as black currant fruit. It is firmly structured, showing some spiciness. Keep this wine, and drink from 2016.
Not very expressive, but this wine's fragrance does reveal delicate aromas of rose and berry, which carry over to the palate. It doesn't have quite enough fruit richness to support the vigorous, almost aggressive, bubbles and drying finish.
Salty and with strong flavors of ripe apple and herbs, this Mendocino-grown Arneis is an unusual find, with high acidity that gives it a crispness mid-palate. Drink cold and soon.
The bouquet of this kabinett is so exuberantly floral and peachy, the delicate palate struggles to keep up. It's firm with minerality, but a bit soft in acidic structure. Finishes moderately long, with a honeyed, floral touch.
Bright and fruity, this is a wine to be enjoyed now. It's crisp acidity, but concentrated with creamed-apple flavors and broadened by a touch of wood.
Here's a ripe, earthy wine that is softly tannic and richly fruity. It has a fine balance between the warm blackberry fruits and solid structure. Made to be drunk young, it is already delicious. Screwcap.
Fresh and creamy, this is a smooth, rich wine. It has citrus and baked apple flavors that meld easily and fully into a fruity texture. With some weight, it also has a bright, crisp aftertaste.
Juicy in blackberry and dark plum, this is a fruity Primitivo with a backbone of leather, coffee and spice. The finish veers into overripe flavors.
This is a spicy wine that is full of juicy red-berry fruit notes. It is soft and gentle, with a core of dry tannins that gives the wine structure. Young and fruity, it is ready to drink, but will also age. Drink until 2018.
Pear and tangerine notes give this wine an immediately fruity character. It has bright acidity, with a fresh and crisp palate. The fruit is right up front, with a soft aftertaste.
This sparkling wine opens with oak aromas. It has a frothy palate that reveals tropical fruit, citrus and oak notes, sprinkled with Mediterranean herbs. Despite the creamy texture, the flavors are lean and close on a bitter walnut note.
This fruit-driven Pinot Gris blends green apple, melon and pear, with a hint of celery suggesting some less-than-ripe fruit in the mix also. The finish turns a little bitter.
Here is a tasty, light-bodied Zin with its own style and a great price. It has a minty, eucalyptus aroma and vivid raspberry flavors, almost sweet in balance. Medium-bodied, it delivers a lingering fruity finish.
Sourced from the Dineen vineyard, this is unusually tart, almost sour, and feels thin on the palate. Some citrus flavors combine with a light touch of body powder, but overall it comes through as a very racy, light white wine.
Sensations of mature black plum are layered with notes of chocolate and roasted coffee bean. It's ripe, dense and evolved, with a markedly sweet finish. Drink now.
Sharp, pungent grass scents and a bit of rough citrus form the nose. Once sipped, thin and brisk apple cider flavors get help from slight kiwi and fresh acidity. Serve with bay scallop salad.
Scratchy, moderately woody aromas of berry fruits are lightly herbal yet direct. This is chunky and wide in feel. Flavors of dark fruits blend with green-herb and rosemary notes, while the finish tastes foresty and lightly herbal. The “five” in the name applies to months in oak.
Oak extract, spearmint, espresso and mature plum aromas lead the nose on this simple, medium-bodied wine. The forward palate delivers overripe black berry fruit, vanilla and oak that finish on an almost sugary-sweet note. It's already evolved so drink soon.
Dry spice and plum flavors are lean but fair. This feels snappy, crisp and high in acidity, while flavors of plum and berry are loamy and finish mild except for a touch of residual zesty acid.
A strong whiff of tomato leaf and herbs leads a stewy bouquet. This is tight in feel, with tomatoey acidity. Herbal red-berry flavors are matched by cherry tomato and oregano, while the finish is wiry in feel, with a green note. This is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Carmenère and 20% Syrah.
This Bordeaux-style white blend is 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon. It carries a hint of sweetness, possibly some residual sugar above threshhold level. Flavors of butter cookie accompany simple, light yellow fruits.
A showy, exuberant wine, from the hot pink color to the fresh, jammy aromas to the just-sweet finish. However, it feels soft in texture and body, with mild cherry-candy and peach flavors.
This Syrah is done in a surprisingly soft style, with light, peppery, rather pale fruit flavors. It's pleasant, but not a typical representative of the grape's usual power.
The wine has weight and richness while also showing considerable acidity and dry tannic structure. It's firm, the fruitiness showing slowly through the mineral texture. It will be better in 2015.
Red-fruit aromas are spicy and fresh, as is the palate, which offers some weight and body along with strawberry, pepper and sweet oak flavors. On the finish, it's peppery but a bit hot.
The wine is round, soft and ripe with attractive lightweight tannins. Plum fruit flavors are right up front. It's rich while remaining easy and drinkable now.
Crushed flower and bright berry aromas waft from the glass. The fresh palate offers crunchy red cherry, orange zest and a hint of clove. It's simple and made to be drunk young so enjoy soon.
This blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 15% Clairette and 15% Viognier features notes of melon, banana and pineapple backed by a hint of wet stone. It's medium to full in body, with a silky texture, then thins out a bit on the tart finish. Drink up.
Aromas of toast, scorched earth, espresso, game, and spice lead the nose. The forward palate offers roasted coffee bean, black pepper, vanilla and overripe plum. It's evolving fast so drink now.
A boisterous, easy-drinking red wine that gushes ripe fruit and sweet oak aromas. It tastes almost sweet, like blackberry jam, and seems soft-textured in spite of its full body.
This unoaked Chardonnay is awash in green apple, tart lemon and tropical pineapple, light and lifted on the palate. It goes down easily, and will track well at the table. Salads, seafood and brunch-type fare are all good bets.
Intensely fruity, this delicious, ripe wine explodes with fresh acidity and fragrant fruitiness. Apricots, lemon and juicy apples give a fruit salad of flavors. Drink through 2015.
The wine is so young, it almost has a prickle on the tongue. It is very fresh and still rather tight with acidity and crisp berry fruits. Wait until 2015 for this fruity wine to settle down and open up.
The year's bottle aging has rounded this wine out and has softened the fresh red fruits into a more generous, full-bodied texture. The acidity, always present shows as a counterpoint to the ripe fruits. Drink now.
Bold and fruity, this is packed with cherries as well as acidity. A plum skin texture gives structure to this still closed-up wine. Wait until 2015.
There are distinct and pleasant aromas of chalk and pear on the nose of this Grenache Blanc, one of the many Rhône-style wines made by this winery run by the family of the late actor-turned-vintner Fess Parker. It's a very straightforward sipper, not hugely complex, but refreshing and bright with slight nectarine flavors and lush pear.
Subdued aromas recall leafy undebrush, red berries and grilled herbs. The brisk palate offers red berry, espresso, mocha and clove alongside fresh acidity. It's simple but well made and will pair well with everything from grilled vegetables to mildly seasoned cheeses.
Aromas suggest underbrush, coffee and a hint of meat juices. The palate delivers dense black raspberry accented with grilled herbs, vanilla and light toasted notes alongside the heat of evident alcohol. It's monolithic and ready so drink soon.
Dusty mineral tones accent bright peach and apricot flavors on this slightly off-dry Riesling. Tart lemon-lime acidity lends brightness to the palate, extending a finish flecked with dried, savory herbs.
Smooth and easy-drinking, this soft and buttery Chardonnay may call to mind bananas dipped in caramel. What's not to like about that? Drink soon for optimum enjoyment.
It's listed on the back label as off dry, and in fact has 11 g/L of residual sugar, but it boasts a certain roundness and fruit persistence. Though labeled Columbia Valley, in fact it's 100% estate (Red Mountain) fruit, and old vine—30+ years—to boot. It's well-crafted, with a mix of citrus—flesh and rind—plenty of backing acidity and a thoroughly refreshing finish.
Crisp citrus aromas and fresh lemon and grapefruit flavors define this medium-bodied, appetizing and unapologetic wine. With lots of personality, a tingly texture and tangy finish, it's just the thing for appetizers and first courses.
Sonoma's Roessler brothers deliver a great Grenache, with cinnamon spice, rose petals, squeezed strawberries and pie crust on the nose. Bright acidity shines on the palate, with red berries and strawberry spritzer flavors. Good tension between tannins and bitterness leads to a mouthwatering finish.
Herbal and earthy up front, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenère and Malbec brings notes of green tobacco and black olive to the front along with toasty oak. The palate is tight and crisp, with choppy tannins. Flavors of toasty oak and berry fruit compote finish resiny, with juicy, zesty acidity. Drink through 2021.
Honey and lemon accent the nose and palate of this stately flagship wine from Sparkling Pointe. Extended lees aging lends remarkable depth and complexity—shades of brioche and almond add a richness on the palate. Revitalizing acidity and a train of tiny bubbles lead to a soft, pillowy foam.
Brown calls this wine its Cab lover's Zin, blending 60% Zinfandel with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. It is a stunner, sultry in juicy red plum, cassis, currant and earthy tobacco. Tannins are soft and leathery, and all the varieties are well represented.
Despite showing hickory and barbecued aromas of wood spice, smoked meat and stewed dark fruit, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend is firm and tight in the mouth, with smacking acidity. Herbal, lightly woody flavors of spice and earthy berry fruits finish bold, with olive and green tobacco notes. Drink through 2022.
From vines now a dozen years old, this unusual Walla Walla AVA Sauvignon Blanc is a brilliant straw color—aromatic with light scents of ripe grain and tangy fruits, and fills the mouth with delicious flavors of melon, white peach, lemon verbena and a dash of pepper. Complex and engaging, it finishes dry but leaves an impression of slight sweetness. Drink it slightly chilled.
Rounded and smooth, this generous blend of Touriga Nacional and Syrah, is rich and perfumed. It has an immediately appealing ripe and fruity character, with plenty of black fruit and dark cherry tones supported by juicy acidity. Solid and chunky, this wine needs to age and would be best after 2016.
This rich, concentrated wine is velvet smooth, with tannins enveloped by ripe berry and plum fruits. Wood aging has added to the the rounded character. Despite its approachability, it will age well, so the wine is best drunk from 2018.
Berry aromas are a touch dusty and floral on the nose, with hints of earth and cedar. On the palate, this wine is bright and balanced, with fresh acidity. Rich berry, cassis and spice flavors finish agile and long. Drink through 2016.
Dark, concentrated and powerful, this Carmenère-heavy blend pumps out huge cassis, blackberry and cola aromas in front of a racy, tannic, jet-powered palate. Baked, lemon-blackberry and cola flavors are earthy and forceful. Tobacco and cedar notes along with hard tannins push the finish. Drink through 2018.
The wine has serious tannins and firm fruit that give an austere character at this stage. But it will develop and round out into a rich wine with ripe black fruits, always with a solid tannic structure. Owner Juliette Bécot manages the technical side here with consultant Jean-Philippe Fort from the Michel Rolland lab, and manages marketing at classed-growth Château Beauséjour-Bécot in nearby Saint-Émilion.
Big and juicy, this is an attractive blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec with a promising future. It has ripe berry fruits, touches of spice and ginger. The tannins are firm, dusty and dry while allowing plenty of room for the fruit. It will develop well; drink from 2018.
From 100% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown in the heart of the Stags Leap District, this earthy red offers black tea and coffee aromas and flavors, suggestions of wild sage and black pepper enveloping the nose. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and well-composed, the tannins are soft and structured, the wine able to age, drinking well now through 2020.
The blend is 50% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new French oak. The only wine from this producer that is a blend, it currently shows an abundance of barrel flavors. The baking spices overpower some of the signature elements that this distinguished vineyard imparts—the mineral, saline, iron and steel notes often found in Ciel's red wines. The fruit remains gorgeously ripe, and with a bit more bottle age those subtle flavors may reappear.
Zesty in black pepper and luscious in blackberry, blueberry and raspberry, the grapes are from 90-plus-year-old hillside vines. Complex and structured, it offers a balanced point of view and plenty of intrigue, simultaneously fresh and brooding.
Warm, slightly sweet aromas of smoked applewood and hickory waft from this rich and decadent Syrah sourced from the Fess Parker estate. On the dark fruit-laced palate are black currant and cherry cola flavors, bolstered by black licorice and followed by a long finish of vanilla cream.
This is a smooth and generous wine. It is rich, full-bodied and packed with dark plum flavor, but it's the ripe, velvet character that is so appealing. It's almost ready to drink, although the firm tannins and minerality at the end suggest it will be better from 2016.
This is firm and solid wine is a blend dominated by tannic Touriga Nacional. Ripe berry fruits on the palate offer juicy acidity for balance, and a perfumed hue gives character and nuance. This impressive wine needs to age, so wait until 2016.
The grapes are Demeter-certified Biodynamic in this 100% Zin, grown on a ridge-top vineyard overlooking the Dry Creek Valley. A fully realized, satisfying wine, it offers cherry vanilla, tar and toasty bacon among warm tones of complementary spicy cinnamon.
Searingly crisp and yet generous and intense, this Chardonnay from one of grower Ulises Valdez's prime properties is muscular and expansive, rich in apple and honey and a seasoning of mouth-tingling spice. It exemplifies California exuberance. Let it breathe for a while, or age 2020–2025.
Deep ruby in color, with aromas of black cherry, chocolate and sage, this blend has enticing flavors of blackberry, cherry, salted caramel and menthol. Fruit and savory tones are well integrated alongside smooth tannins, and the bright finish shows a lasting note of menthol. Fine Terroir Selections, Misa Imports.
From a blend of grapes that includes Touriga Nacional, this wine is serious and dense. It has a solid texture along with concentrated dark-plum flavors. It's a powerhouse of firm tannins, juicy fruits and a fine layer of spice from wood aging. Drink after 2015.
Crafted from Wente clone grapes from Charles Ranch, this label is the passion project of longtime wine industry player Tony Lombardi, who manages the much larger Kosta Browne brand. Barrel-fermented in neutral oak this wine offers heady Tahitian vanilla and lemon curd around green apple skin and lemon. The palate is both creamy and crisp, the finish reasonably powerful.
Still tight and young, this tastes like a keeper that will improve with time. Aged in all new American barrels, it shows aromas of coriander, cumin and smoke, with flavors like black cherry and black pepper. It balances well between firm tannins, good acidity and full flavors, and everything sails through the finish. Best after 2018.
Merlot and Syrah join Tinta Roriz in this impressive wine. A fermentation in open lagars as well as time in oak give this blend richness and a deliciously juicy. Ripe and full bodied, it is ready to drink.
Fully creamy and generous in crème brûlée and lemon curd, this dances in acidity and is balanced, the texture silky smooth. Highlights center on fresh-cut Anjou pear, a slice of which would go well with the wine, accompanied by Stilton.
This is a remarkably affordable find, so good in its red-fruited, tangy acidity and spiciness on the palate. Dried herb and pencil lie beneath bigger, bolder swathes of blackberry and cherry. This wine has a large presence but shows structure and balance.
Directly appealing, this wine is bursting with aromas of plum, red currant, herb and spice–all showing freshness and purity. The palate is packed to the brim with supple fruit flavors, full of density and weight, while never getting bogged down. It hits the delicious gong hard.
Concentrated boysenberry notes meet with intense aromas of purple flowers, especially lavender, on the nose of this blend of 78% Syrah and 22% Mourvèdre. A zesty acidity and silky tannins present a wide range of flavors on the complex palate, from blackberry and pepper to tarragon, mint and anise.
This property excels in some vintages,and the 2015 is a huge success. It's certainly complex, effortlessly combining hints of pungency with soothing notes of grapefruit. In the mouth, it's fairly full and creamy in texture, then punctuates that richness with a long, vibrant finish.
The wine comes from what many consider to be the Grand Cru of Nuits Saint-Georges. It is firm and structured with solid tannins over black-cherry fruits. There is a tight streak of acidity that cuts through the wine giving a crisp center to the fine fruit. Drink this wine from 2019.
The Belland family has an acre of vines in this prestigious Premier Cru. Ripe while shot through with intense acidity, the wine is finely balanced. Touches of wood aging give the wine a creamy toasty texture. That contrasts with the more mineral fruity character that leaves the wine crisp at the end. Drink from 2018.
Thick, unctuous and impressive, this is one seriously sweet Sauvignon Blanc. Honey and bergamot notes mark the nose, while the palate features more citrus and folds in hints of pineapple as well. Long and sticky on the finish.
An impressive blend of different vineyard sites, given a touch less oak than many of the producer's single-vineyard selections, this wine doesn't skimp on flavor nor complexity. It weaves steely minerality into warmer layers of nutmeg, apple and preserved lemon.
The aptly named vineyard is good at producing wines that are deceptively approachable when young and which age so well. This Meursault follows that model: a generous wine with its ripe spice and yellow fruits. They are balanced by the more citrus and green-plum flavors. Full of fruit while also structured for aging, the wine will be best from 2019.
From vines in the heart of this large appellation, this is a warmhearted and ripe wine. With wood and spice in equal balance with the white fruits, this is a juicy crisp wine full of great acidity and also with a ripe hint of yellow fruits. This fine wine will be best from 2020.
This vineyard, at 900 feet, gives a cool take on Chardonnay. It is tight, structured and mineral in character. Vanilla from the wood aging mingles with the taut citrus fruit. The richness will develop as the apricot flavors develop. Drink this fine wine from 2019.
Fresh, light and zesty on the nose, this bottling by South African winemaker Ernst Storm shows crushed raspberries, wild thyme and a touch of smoke on the nose. A tantalizingly vibrant energy excites the tongue once sipped, with flavors of tangy red fruit, smoked oregano and shaved pork roast showing on the palate.
Crushed slate, plush rose petals, red cherry, smoked beef, vanilla and a slightly feral quality arise on the nose of this bottling from the region's most iconic vineyard. There is great tension on the sip, with tart plum skin, bright raspberry and dark cranberry fruit meeting with black spice, sandalwood and incense flavors. Acidity binds it all together.
This bold red opens with aromas of resin, stewed plum, leather, cake spice and a balsamic note. The chewy palate doles out dried black cherry, blackberry jam, candied nectarine zest and licorice while big velvety tannins provide enveloping support. A pipe tobacco sensation closes the finish. Drink 2018–2028.
Vivacious on the nose, with hibiscus flowers, pomegranate, strawberry, rose petal and cola aromas, this bottling from a historic vineyard is both juicy and delicate at the same time. Vibrant flavors of cranberry, pomegranate, hibiscus and even red melon show on the palate, enhanced by dried fennel, sage and purple flowers.
Wild berry, leather, tobacco, tilled earth, aromatic herb and floral aromas meld together on this impressive red. The full-bodied structured palate delivers black cherry marinated in spirits, dried plum, chocolate and licorice alongside a backbone of firm velvety tannins. Drink 2018–2026.
Rich aromas of raisin, cassis and blackberry are supported by notes of vanilla, smoke and sweet almond paste. While this is dense and ripe, it's also a touch edgy and raw on the palate. Flavors of blackberry, cassis, dark spices and chocolate finish with a primary wave of residual fruit then a final dose of peppery spice. Drink through 2025.
Made from equal proportions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this vintage sparkler is dry and doughy, with an inviting brightness of acidity. It sizzles in a lovely display of peach, nectarine and strawberry, with a slight nuance of vanilla and hazelnut, remaining dry and balanced through the lengthy finish.
This 100% varietal wine opens in crayon wax, pencil lead and black pepper. Brooding acidity complements the big, ripe fruit and sizable tannins, accented by hints of dried tobacco and cinnamon. This wine could stand a decant, vigorous swirl or cellaring, through 2028.
Alluring aromas of exotic spice, purple flower, dark-skinned berry and a balsamic note lead the nose. The concentrated palate delivers dried cherry, ripe plum, mint, licorice and a hint of game alongside velvety tannins that wrap around the finish. It nicely balances weight and finesse.
What a bold and powerful selection this is. It opens with intense aromas of blackberry, black plum and boysenberry that are hit with spicy notes of black pepper, cured meat, leather and Thin Mint. The plush and concentrated palate is like crushed velvet in texture, with gripping yet balanced tannins to support the rich, dense black-fruit flavors. The finish transitions from black cherry and boysenberry fruit to menthol, followed by lingering cocoa nib and charred oak tones. Drink 2019–2024.
Blended with 10% Merlot, this wine sources grapes both from its famous estate, as well as from nearby Pickberry and Murray vineyards. It delights in luxuriously bright acidity and a jammy explosion of blackberry, chocolate, clove and tobacco, the texture roundly approachable.
This wine is a blend of Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland, Serra Pedace and Leonetti Old Block. Aromatically brooding at present, it shows intricate notes of barrel spice, thyme, coffee, cranberry, black tea and red and black fruit. The palate is tightly wound, with bright acid and lightly chewy tannins that need some time in the cellar to stretch their legs. Best from 2021 to 2030.
This bottling combines all the intriguing facets of this grape, from freshness to rusticity. The nose begins with strawberry, plum and mulberry wrapped in dust, leather and tan tobacco. Cinnamon and allspice kick off the palate, with light, refreshing cranberry fruit in the midpalate, dried leather and earth on the edges, and a thyme-oregano finale.
There's lovely vibrancy to the nose of this bottling, with tangy cranberry, hibiscus and strawberry aromas, yet those are deftly cut by peppercorns, brown spice and turned earth. The mouthfeel is engagingly peppery, with spicy bay leaf and thyme herbs, a touch of cured Kalamata olives and an underlying, underripe raspberry and cranberry fruit base.
Always one of New Zealand's top Syrahs, Le Sol delivers again in 2014. On this occasion it was surprisingly reticent on the nose, yet the class on the palate is undeniable. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety in texture, with pristine flavors of vanilla and black cherries that ease gently through a long, creamy finish. The most elegant Le Sol to date. Drink now–2025.
This Premier Cru is situated in the southern half of Savigny, close to Beaune proper. Here it has produced a ripe generous wine full of spicy smoky red fruits and balanced acidity. The wine is still showing its baby fruit and needs time. Drink from 2019.
This is a rounded full-bodied wine that has red-fruit fleshiness as well as fine tannins for the future. It comes from 70-year-old vines on the southeast facing slopes that make up Volnay's Premier Cru vineyards. Rich in black fruits and dark smoky tannins, the wine also has intense young acidity. Drink this impressive wine from 2020.
Plummy yet cool, with a greenish, floral note that adds lift and interest to the dark-fruit aromas and flavors. This is a bit austere and dusty, but long on the finish, so drink 2018–2030.
Brooding aromas of huckleberry, orange peel and flowers are followed by seamless full-bodied palate-coating blue-fruit flavors. It's far from shy but delivers the goods.
Ripe black cherry, roasted meat, wet stone and caramel notes show on the nose of this bottling of a grape rarely seen in this region. It's slightly sweet on the palate, with ripe blueberry and cocoa flavors, but compelling for its novelty.
Darker in color than many other versions of the variety, this bottling shows hearty charred meat, blackberry, gravel and condensed rose petal aromas. There's a leathery structure to the palate, where peppercorn, tobacco and red fruit notes lead into a mocha-laced finish.While it lacks the typical Cabernet Franc freshness, it has plenty of depth.
Barrel influences takes over aromatically, with notes of wood, toast and dark chocolate in front of golden raisins, with the fruit seeming somewhat dried out. The palate brings tart cranberry and cherry flavors that show a sense of liveliness. Good things are going on but the aromas and palate seem a bit disconnected at present.
Coming from the winery's estate vineyard high up in Upper Mill Creek, this wine is starting to show a bit of age, offering aromas of anise, dried cherry, green pepper and cigar ash. Equal parts dark and green, the flavors come off a bit disjointed, with bell-pepper notes on the finish.
Deep-amber colored, this orange wine has aromas of sunbaked earth, brimstone, overripe orange zest and pressed wild flower. The lean but lively palate offers dried nectarine slices, toasted almond and a hint of dried apricot alongside bright acidity. A salty note closes the finish. While lovers of orange wine might embrace this, it's definitely not for everyone.
Boldly etched with milk chocolate and baked plum notes, this wine is ripe, robust and jammy in spirit. Leather, black pepper and cinnamon accents season it nicely.
Berry aromas with subtle spice accents are damp and soothing. In the mouth, this is the opposite: All dry tannins and rawness. Hard-driving black-fruit flavors pull up short on a peppery finish. It's an honest but rough wine.
This wine's oaky entry derives from 10 months aging in French and American oak. It's creamy and voluptuous in style, with simple flavors of apple and a moderately long finish.
This offers clean, clear blackberry fruit, along with pretty baking spices. No details of barrel aging were provided, but some toasty flavors are there and well integrated. The acids, however, leave a chalky aftertaste.
This snappy blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Sémillon and Muscat brings a pungent, somewhat grassy profile front and center. Stone fruits with a touch of lime fill in the core, with some bite to the finish.
This small-production wine is lightly spiced, robust and herbal. Dense and powerful wild strawberry and earth notes give it a sense of place.
Rose and turned earth notes mark the entry of this concentrated, tannic wine. Robust strawberry and black cherry flavors fill it out, wrapped in toasted oak.
Earthy spicy aromas of tea and leather frame herbal berry and cherry notes. This has a fresh jumpy palate and snappy flavors of spiced pie cherry, plum and oak-based vanilla. A bit of saltiness rises up on a juicy, racy finish.
Oregon's recent overproduction of young Pinot Noir has opened the door for this easygoing, forward and fruity style. Clean and simple red fruits offer no subtle flavors—just a little boost to the finish from the supporting tannins.
Berry and plum aromas smell a bit burnt, sort of like a burning field. A healthy lively medium-bodied palate delivers smoky oaky roasted berry and plum flavors in front of a lightly spiced finish.
Herbal berry aromas are earthy and leafy. This is 50% Syrah, 30% Carmenère and the rest Petit Verdot and Cab Franc. In the mouth, this feels pulpy but dry. Leafy herbal plum and olive flavors finish firm but with continuous herbal flavors.
With 5% Viognier, this is a dense and layered wine sourced from a cool, coastal site off the Sonoma Coast and from the warmer Alexander Valley. It offers a strong taste of grilled meat and baked plum, finishing on violet and black pepper notes.
Vivid herb and mineral aromas and equally vibrant citrus and herb flavors give this wine a bright personality. It has enough body and near-sweetness to match all that energy and find balance.
Merlot (32%), Sangiovese (31%) and Malbec (30%) make up the majority of this blend, with the balance Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of currant, plum and herb are followed by plump cherry flavors backed by lightly grainy tannins. It provides appeal and value.
Medium straw in the glass, this wine has a nose of pineapple and white melon. Soft on the palate, it offers flavors of grapefruit, papaya and rose. Lingering brightness on the finish is bolstered by a hint of pear.
Medium to full in weight and opulent in texture, this is a buttery creamy wine that reflects its South Australian origin. Broad and rich, it's a throwback to a previous generation's style of Chardonnay.
An earthy, leathery aromatic character carries over to the palate of this wine, joined by ripe plum flavors. The blend here is 53% Mourvèdre and 47% Syrah, feeling full-bodied, firmly tannic and ready for cassoulet.
Straw-colored in the glass, this wine has aromas of white and yellow peach, with flavors of passion fruit and pineapple. It's amazing that it is more than 10 years old. The wine has good mouthfeel and is well balanced with a crisp, clean finish. Drink now or hold for a few years.
This Tempranillo's oaky berry aromas are solid but standard. It shows moderate buttery oak and plum flavors, tasting mostly of creamy oak on a finish propped up by acidity.
Slightly smoky grilled-toast aromas lead into a plump medium-bodied wine filled with flavors of yellow plum, tangerine and lime. It's not particularly zesty or linear in a true cool-climate fashion, but steers clear of ripe tropical fruit, ending on a gentle note of citrus pith. Drink now.
Aromas of lemon-lime, jasmine and honeysuckle prepare the palate for crisp, clean flavors of lemon zest and lemon curd.
This ruby-colored wine offers aromas of black cherry and notes of green pepper and summer farmstand. It has flavors of black cherry, cherry cola and cassis, with soft tannins and a bright burst of acidity in the finish.
Perfumed oak and funky earthiness permeate the nose and palate of this wine, with punchy cedar and bay notes. It lingers long on forest floor, pine and other woodsy components through its medium-bodied ripeness and structure.
This wine is 80% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache. It brings unusual aromas of sawdust, mushroom, Band Aid, dark fruit and spice. The palate is lush and full, showing warmth on the finish.
Petit Verdot (38%) takes the lead on this blend, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (26%), Merlot (12%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Malbec. The aromas come off as leafy and green, with notes of dates, flowers and spice. The palate is quite light and elegant, not having the heft to stand on its own. The extraction seems dialed way back.
Aromas are light, with notes of matchstick, herb and cherry. The cherry and plum flavors are sweet and generous, providing easy-drinking appeal.
Opens with a sublime bouquet of tobacco, perfume and baked cherry that conveys a sense of elegance. The palate is saturated and full, with integrated tannins and flavors of molasses, licorice and prime black fruits. This is probably a denser, slightly more ripe version of “M” than in past years, evidenced by the licorice, sweetness and coffee on the chewy finish. Drink now and over the next couple of years.
You can feel the richness of this wine as it rolls opulently around the mouth. The Grüner spice character is dominant, giving intense concentration to go with the yellow fruits. Acidity is a balanced addition to the mix on this impressive wine.
Pretty deep and sweet-smelling, with aromas of marzipan and dense fruit that hint at raisin but don't fully go there. The mouthfeel is sensuous and smooth, yet lively enough to push the cassis, raspberry and plum flavors in the right direction. Tobacco, herb and dry fruit flavors work the finish, and overall this is one balanced, pleasing wine. Drink now through 2011.
The price on this high-end Chilean Shiraz keeps climbing, but on the plus side so does the quality. This is the best La Cumbre Errazuriz has made; it's sweet on the nose, with marzipan, earth, sautéed mushroom and big black-fruit aromas. The palate is round and rewarding, with huge blackberry and raspberry flavors. Deep, leathery, meaty and impressive. Drink now through 2011.
One of Brancott's best Sauvignons in recent memory, the 2008 B is intensely herbal on the nose, featuring green tomatoes and bell pepper, but only mildly vegetal on the palate--well within the bounds of acceptable varietal character. It's on the full-bodied side of the spectrum, with a long, mouth-tingling finish. Try with sole Basquaise.
Thieuley's vineyard is on a ridge in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers. This top white cuvée, with its light wood aging, shows the wonderful freshness of the vintage while also giving some rich, full white fruits, spice and a smooth, creamy texture.
Soft and perfumed, the flavors are elegant but intense at the same time. The acidity gives a great freshness to what is in fact a rich wine, the apple and pear flavors going deep down to the steely core. It would be worth aging this wine—maybe 3–5 years.
There's power in this concentrated wine. The texture is rich, velvet, touched by pepper, ripe acidity and pear skins. Along with its creamy, rounded character, the wine has the bite of tight spice and a dry, firm core.
Owned by the Cathiard family of Château Smith Haut-Lafitte since 1994, the vineyard of Cantelys neighbors both Smith Haut-Lafitte and the Lurton-owned Rochemorin. The wine is rich, smooth, the wood well integrated, allowing fine wafts of herbaceous citrus and currant flavors to come out of the glass. It's ready to drink now, but could age over 2–3 years.
In its youth, this is intensely grassy, the grapefruit and green pepper flavors adding to the general crispness of the wine. It will be an attractive wine, full of pep, with a fine edge of minerality, spice and vivid white fruits.
One of the best sparkling Vouvrays, this 2005 vintage has an extra richness from the year. It has the mineral, chalky edge of Chenin Blanc, but this is rounded out with pear, white peach and sweet almond flavors. Good to drink now, but also worth aging for 2–3 years.
This is a big, ripe and fruity wine. It is now maturing well into a rich, solid, complex wine. This second wine from the Mouchão estate in Alentejo is gorgeous, opulent and rich. The black fruit character is powerful, with delicious acidity and a darkly tannic character. It is still very young, so drink from 2017.
This is a new cuvée for Trisaetum, from a vineyard in the Red Hills of Dundee. It shows some old vine character in its brambly, Burgundian elegance. Light flavors of raspberry and cherry float above a bed of clay, yet there is enough muscle for the wine to extend gracefully through a lingering finish, with a lick of chocolate. Enjoy it over the next decade or more.
Yellow freesia and sweet peach abound in this deeply floral, fruity auslese. Feather light in texture, yet deeply concentrated in flavor, it's penetratingly sweet yet finishes with a flurry of crushed minerals and lime-pith astringency.
Smoke and crushed-stone notes lend dramatic minerality to this dry, full-bodied Riesling. The palate is juicy with grapefruit flavor, but elegantly balanced with dried savory herbs and fine, focused acidity that reverberates from start to finish.
This delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot has an inviting fragrance of cedar wood, black currant and a whiff of toasted oak. The palate delivers a solid core of black cherry, raspberry, white pepper and a tobacco note along with firm but refined tannins and just enough fresh acidity. Drink 2015–2020.
This is the medium-dry Riesling from this estate vineyard, a notch lower in alcohol than the Dry bottling, and overall a bit rounder. It carries the same excellent texture, length and mix of ripe fruits, with pears and nectarines taking center stage.
DFJ Vinhos manages this 16th century property which has produced a now mature wine. It has great balance, the berry fruits moving to secondary flavors of spice, smokiness, sweet tannins and hints of toast. It's ready to drink, but will continue to develop through 2017.
Made from organically grown grapes, this impressive sparkler is made with no sugar or liqueur added. It has an expressive fragrance of white flowers and stone fruit, while the palate offers apple, citrus and roasted almond notes along with hints of spice. It's a perfect apéritif but will also pair beauitfully with shellfish.
From the legendary 1996 vintage, this is a bottling that only received its dosage in 2012. It is very dry, intensely crisp and packed with acidity and minerality. Still young and fruity, it's an impressive wine that will certainly improve with age. Drink through 2022.
This wine is the vinous equivalent of biting into a ripe, juicy mango that has been drizzled with honey. It's viscous and full in feel, loaded with tropical flavors that linger on the finish. Perhaps a bit one note but represents it well.
A fine effort in a cool year, this reserve combines the best barrels from the winery's three estate vineyards, which occupy three different sub-AVAs. Hence the Willamette Valley appellation. With excellent depth and power, it showcases a core of cherry, berry and chocolate, accented with sweet spices and a hint of fresh herb.
This blend of Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is stellar given that 2011 was a cool year. Earthy aromas of wet clay, violet, blackberry and fresh herbs set up a balanced, ripe palate with flavors of plum, berry, mocha and vanilla. On the finish, tobacco, herbs, spice and vanilla flavors are textbook for the Alto Maipo, where this wine comes from. Drink through 2018.
Harvested at 40.16 Brix and retaining a whopping 255 g/L residual sugar, this wine shows a complex medley of notes ranging from fresh baked apple pie to apricot and cinnamon. It's thick and rich in feel with stone fruit and dried orange rind flavors persisting through the long-drawn-out finish.
This delicious Amarone has both structure and finesse. It offers a fragrance of pressed iris petals along with dark, ripe fruit and spice. The silky smooth palate delivers black cherry layered with cocoa, nutmeg and black pepper along with a hint of dried fig.
Olive, spice and black-plum aromas come with some grit and savory accents. This is well packed and voluminous; flavors of olive, plum and wild berry finish sturdy and smooth, with minty accents. For a good introduction to the positives of Carmenère, try this.
This is a remarkably well-composed wine full of ripe blackberry and cassis flavor accented by tart cranberry acidity and a rustic, brambly note. Complex, concentrated and elegant, it finishes with layers of granite and wet-stone minerality.
This Cabernet Franc-dominant blend, with additional splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec, leads with earthy tones of menthol, black-currant leaf and tobacco. There's ample black-fruit flavors to support the herbal core—think blackberry, plum and cassis—all framed by medium tannins and a clean, peppery finish. Drink now–2016.
Here's a dense and concentrated selection at an attractive price point, with direct aromas and flavors of black plum, boysenberry, bramble and violet. The palate is slightly lush and creamy, but texturized by medium tannins and spicy accents of licorice and toast on the close.
Lamoreaux's standard-label Cabernet Franc spends 18 months in American oak, adopting layers of sweet spice, vanilla and smoke that penetrate deeply into its black cherry core. It's taut and unyielding on the palate, with bold acidity and big, brawny tannins, but should meld beautifully with 3–5 years in the cellar.
This attractive, bright white opens with aromas of orange, green apple flesh and barely-ripe white peach. The light-weight mouth offers more of the same, alongside notes of melon rind and soft brioche. A slight creaminess is countered by brisk acidity, ending clean and refreshing. Drink now.
Brick red in color, this toasty, oaky Zin is grippy and satisfying. Thick on the palate with sweet, ripe tannins and a dusty texture, it's nicely balanced with a long finish that's inviting with meaty foods.
Though labeled Columbia Valley, this is in fact 100% Merlot from the estate vineyards on Red Mountain. It's chewy and tannic, as is often the case with Red Mountain reds, with black cherry and cassis fruit wrapped by astringent tannins hinting at dark chocolate. In short, a fine steak wine, that needs some fat to cut the tannins.
This is a sweet Pinot Gris that is honeyed and very rich. Light spice notes are buoyed by explosive apricot and pineapple flavors, yielding a wine that's great for capping off a meal.
This wine introduces itself with intense acidity and freshness, opening the palate to red berry flavors and tannins that are integrating well. It's a wine for medium-term aging. Drink from 2015.
Here's a Verdicchio that shows off the grape's quintessential aromas of yellow spring flowers and whiffs of stone fruit. It offers creamy peach and lemon flavors alongside hints of sea salt and almond. Crisp, refreshing acidity leaves the palate feeling cleansed.
Grace Lane, from Terlato Wines, makes a grand entry into Washington Riesling with this stylish, medium dry effort from the excellent 2012 vintage. Lemon tea, hibiscus, blood orange and apricot notes swirl up from the glass, round, fruity and delicious. Drink now through the next few years.
This smooth, medium-bodied red combines Cabernet Sauvignon with Carignane, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah to satisfying effect. The Merlot and Malbec hail from the Russian River Valley's renowned Dakine Vineyard. It's soft in red cherry and blackberry fruit, but a structured wine with depth from leather and spice notes.
This wine spent more than two years in barrel, yielding some grainy, textural tannins. The plummy fruit is backed with licorice, vanilla and black tea flavors, all nicely integrated.
Here's a classic rendition of Central Italy's premier white wine. It has a lovely fragrance of yellow spring flowers and spice, along with tropical fruit notes. The palate shows nice depth, offering juicy peach, pineapple and tangerine notes alongside spice and dried herb sensations.
This opens with an alluring fragrance of Spanish broom, wild flowers and a whiff of sea breeze. The palate delivers creamy white peach, juicy pineapple and lemon accented by hints of saline and mineral. It's still fresh and should develop more complexity. Drink now through 2015.
Raw-cut wood, vanilla, herbs and hard spice scents define the nose on this quality Carmenère. In the mouth, tomatoey acidity is offset by weighty berry fruit and creamy oak. Flavorwise, this is saucy, meaty, a touch stewy and herbal, just like the variety is known to be.
This exceptionally pretty Blaufränkisch is sultry on the nose, offering notes of preserved blackberry and blueberry. The palate is rich and ripe, with crème de cassis flavor, brightened by tart acidity and a flourish of violet on the finish.
Ebullient on the nose with scents of fresh white peach and tart Meyer-lemon. This dry Riesling is deliciously peachy on the palate, as well. Juicy and brisk with soft citrus acidity, it finishes with a hint of waxy lime-skin on the finish.
Pure, ripe red cherries immediately and openly charm the nose, followed by waves of rose petals before complete immersion in ripe cherry-fruit flavor on the supple palate. This presents immense charm, with savory depth somewhere between white pepper and dried bay leaf.
More than just rich and sweet, this wine shows intense, complex flavors. It is full of ripe lychee and spice flavors, and boasts a rich, creamy texture with a finish that hints of dryness. It is maturing well and already ready to drink, but it will also hold for several more years.
This is a full, luscious and fruity wine, where the tannins linger behind the fruit profile. It has good weight, concentration, and delicate of wood aging. It should be aged longer before drinking, so wait until 2016.
Bright and savory, this floral scented Pecorino offers juicy tropical fruit and lemon drop sensations accented by notes of mint and thyme. The ripe fruit is balanced by brisk acidity that leaves the palate feeling cleansed and refreshed.
A rare white wine from Morey Saint-Denis, with great acidity and freshness. The wine is bright, with lemon crispness, and light hints of wood.
A very good value Carmenère with oak and charred aromas in front of berry, herbs and olive. The body is full and the wine has a nice feel; flavors of blackberry bring herbs, pepper and black olive accents. Toasty and a bit hot on the finsh, but bold and done well.
Finely perfumed, with berry fruits that freshen the more severe tannins. The wine has concentrated structure, smokiness as well as fresh acidity. The finish is dry and firm.
Waxy and floral on the nose with hints of zesty orange peel, this dry, full bodied white is richly concentrated with tangerine, lime and fresh apple flavors. It's bold at 13.6% abv, but maintains a crisp, citrus pith astringency and orange blossom elegance to the finish.
Crisp aromas bring both tropical shadings and mild grassy scents. The palate offers the right meshing of acidity and pulp. Tastes right, with lime and passion fruit leading the charge. A dry, clean style of SB with only a touch of green.
Open and charming as its name suggests, the wine is ripe and soft. The acidity is somewhat lost in the sweet, almost tropical fruit.
A nose of lemon, slate and rich, ripe fruit leads into balanced, fuller-bodied flavors of citrus and tropical fruit. Fresh acidity balances out the curvier side of the wine. Easygoing and a good everyday sip.
Dolan continues to produce stellar whites and reds from organically grown grapes in Mendocino County. This Chardonnay is ripe and full of minerality, a liquid form of crisp apple with vanilla on the finish.
A nicely balanced Pinot Noir from an unlikely spot––Portola Valley, on the western side of Highway 280 across from Stanford University––and a newish small producer. It's on the bigger side of the Pinot spectrum but has admirable texture and cherry and earth aromas. Only 130 cases made. Worth trying to see what unconventional areas can do with the variety.
Dark gold in color, this estate wine from hillside vines aged 11 months in one-third new French oak. Salty brine takes center stage before an unctuous pillow of caramel and honey rides along a full-bodied richness of flavor. A bright spark of lemony acidity marks the finish.
From Clare Ranch Vineyard in the Templeton Gap, this bottling by Ryan Render shows rounded notes of boysenberry and cooked blackberry on the nose alongside strong licorice and mocha aromas. Blackberry and boysenberry also arise on the sip, with olive, pepper and pretty violet floral flavors, all framed by a solidly dry structure.
Bigger, richer, oaken and more structured than T-L's regular Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this cuvée flirts with being just too much. Vanilla, cedar and plum cake aromas, licorice, plum, and cocoa on the palate have a lot to recommend them, while the muscular midpalate and firmness of the tannins on the finish suggest agreeability but not much charm. Try after 2020?
At almost half Cabernet Franc (49%), this is slightly leafier than what most producers are pulling out of the Gimblett Gravels. The balance is Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), with small amounts of Merlot (9%) and Malbec (3%). The tobacco, chocolate and cassis notes are carried by medium body and a firm, dry texture. Drink 2019–2030.
The nose burgeons with so much ripeness of fruit, there is almost a hint of dried pear with a big dollop of spice. The palate shows the same generosity but is masterfully balanced by a lovely phenolic edge and zesty grapefruit freshness. White pepper shimmers in the background and makes for a very well-rounded, balanced, juicy and refreshing wine.
In marginal climates, what a difference a vintage can make. The 2015s from proprietor Sam Neill (yes, the actor) are a big step up from the 2014s. This bottling, from the Bannockburn subregion, offers bold notes of black cherries, plum and cola. It's a rich, ripe and powerful wine, with a long, intense finish that bodes well for cellaring. Drink now–2025.
Beet and dark cranberry juice make for a very deep red-fruit entry to this bottling that is lifted by bay leaf, thyme and anise on the nose. It's easy, clean and refreshing in a lighter style on the sip, with dried strawberry and red plum spiced up by star anise and fennel.
This red blend relies mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon, adding smaller amounts of Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Soft, spicy and impressively lengthy, it's highlighted in blackberry, currant and toasty oak, concentrated and complex.
Very ripe, almost candied notions of orange and mandarin peel determine the aromatic direction of this streamlined yet ripe Riesling. The flavors play along the entire ripe citrus spectrum: clementine and tangerine are there as well as pink grapefruit. The purity and subtlety, with hints of fragrant citrus leaves, make for a lasting impression and long finish.
Peppery, brambly, integrated and balanced, this impressively layered and complex 100% varietal wine highlights the grape's ability to be fruity, spicy and soft all at the same time.
“Wow” is the first word that comes to mind when tasting this superconcentrated and immensely fruity wine. It practically overwhelms the nose and the palate with ripe, jammy boysenberry and blackberry, sprinkled with licorice and black-pepper nuances that add attractive complexity. It's a big wine all the way, but not extreme in alcohol.
This blends 38% Merlot with 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc. Together these find a healthy companionship of wood, cedar, currant and dried herb, allowing the two Cabernets to speak loudest. Lightly spicy nutmeg and clove linger around well-defined layers of cherry and vanilla.
An almost honeyed nose tells of the 2015 ripeness, but instead leads to a concentrated palate that intriguingly combines peppery spice, savory herbs and rich mellow yeast. All this richness is tempered by a streamlined lemony acidity. This is savory, so make sure to pair it with subtle, expressive food. What a joy.
Something tender and fresh rises from the glass: Fresh moss and green pear peel and a hint of citrus. The palate is light and bright, luminous almost, in its aromatics. This draws you in with a seductive refreshing pull that promises unfettered joyful refreshment, though not without concentration.
After three years in tirage, this 78% Pinot Noir-22% Chardonnay sparkling blend reveals complex golden apple crisp and honeycomb notes. An homage to diversity, vanilla and peach purée tones add to the flavor of this richly rewarding, lively wine.
Right from the start there is a supreme and appetizing tanginess to the fruit. The nose shows orange flesh and zest, the palate counters this with intense grapefruit zestiness. Between these poles there is ample, ripe and juicy citrus—think tangerine and orange. The finish is long, lip-smacking, totally refreshing and fruitful.
The rather closed nose gives little away. The palate, however, is full of juicy stone fruit. Think ripe mirabelle and apricot, think juicy tangerine and orange. This is full of fruit and tension, highlighted with lemon freshness and a lovely streamlined taut palate. The long finish has something of fresh apples about it.
The 2015s Tavels are almost uniformly excellent, so it's no surprise that this bottling, from a large estate excels. Crushed stone and strawberry notes mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate folds in hints of savory, olive-like complexity. Drink now.
Aromas of dark-skinned berry, leather and truffle take shape in the glass. The full-bodied palate doles out fleshy wild cherry, orange zest, licorice, clove and coffee bean while notes of chopped mint lift the finish. Firm fine-grained tannins give it structure and finesse. Drink 2018–2028.
From a dry-farmed vineyard planted more than 50 years ago, this 100% varietal wine is highlighted in compost, leather and graphite. Well structured, with firm, strong tannins, it offers a tartness of pomegranate and black cherry along with a complexity of savory tobacco leaf.
Alluring aromas of blackberry and barrel spice lead to ripe, full-bodied black-fruit flavors, showing beautiful depth and a long finish. It packs a hefty punch while never losing its sense of balance.
Flint and yeast vie with each other to give the first impression of this rich wine. The palate backs this up with concentration and a fluid, soft but defined texture. There is a streamline of lemon freshness at the core. This is like a powerful beast that has barely flexed its muscle. Let it come towards you.
Luscious and sleek in mouthfeel, and drenched with wonderful fruit flavors, this wine is a beauty. It has ample ripe fruit flavors like boysenberry and cherry pie without being literally sweet, while a sense of quiet concentration lasts on the lingering finish. It is structured with enough fine-grained tannin to age gracefully, so it's best to drink after 2019.
An almost tropical touch of pineapple and passion fruit hovers over the glass. This is testament to the ripe 2015 vintage. The palate, however, reins in this fruity generosity with fresh, zesty notes of citrus, adding also a counterweight of textured phenolics. There is structure despite all the ripeness and ample refreshment, almost some grippiness. The zesty finish is very moreish.
This perennial head-turner lives up to its pedigree in this vintage, offering a full-bodied, lush and plush experience characterized by soft layers of dark cherry, blackberry, vanilla and a seasoning of cinnamon. The vines are head-trained within a block planted to many other varieties, 15% of which make their way into this wine.
Generously ripe notions of yellow plum and juicy pear fill the nose. The palate benefits from the same fruitfulness but adds a touch of pepper and herbal savor at its concentrated core. There is something joyful about this. Despite the generous fruit this stays streamlined and supercrisp. The finish focuses on that wonderfully spicy pepperiness.
Coconut, black currant, toasted oak and grilled bell pepper lead the nose on this blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The polished, full-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, raspberry, licorice and espresso framed in silky tannins.
This impressive white was fermented in equal parts concrete and stainless steel, retaining a lush texture and vibrant minerality. Night-blooming jasmine exudes from the glass before revealing well-defined layers of spiced lemon, peach and white pepper.
This wine is 100% varietal, aged entirely in French oak. Shy at first, it allows room for an earthy element of compost and is dark and brooding all around, with sizable, tamed, chalky tannin. Leather, black pepper, licorice and cinnamon all make an appearance, adding to the wine's complexity and likability.
This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend, with 25% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. Generously oaky and ripe, it offers textured layers of graphite, cigar and cedar. An exciting sideshow of spicy Mexican chocolate accents deeper, darker shocks of black cherry.
Barrel fermented in French and eastern European oak, this is lightly aromatic with notees of butter, vanilla and cardamom with a creamy feel, showing some heat on the finish.
Aromatically reserved for a dessert wine, with apricot and pear. It's lusciously sweet, with abundant stone fruit flavors but could use a bit more concentration and acidity to hold it together.
Forward fruit flavors of blackberry and plum slide quickly through the mid-palate and on into a soft finish. A faint wash of leather and earth wraps it up.
The mirror image of the winery's Love-Struck Viognier, this broad and fruity blend is forward and open, with flavors of yellow and orange fruits. It is slightly toasty, moving into some citrus skin flavors that frame the finish.
A nice companion to the Boomtown Merlot, this shows similar balance and depth, albeit with an accent on tart berry fruit flavors dusted with dried herbs. There are citrusy acids and a hint of moist earth.
This Merlot includes 13% Syrah, along with smaller amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet. Vanilla and tobacco scents open the door to a sharp, peppery wine, with flavors cloaked in bark and scorched earth. It's rustic, big and flavorful, with a fat, meaty finish. This is the wine to go with your tri-tip.
This is an off-dry Riesling with concentrated acidity softened by a light touch of honey and a delicate floral character. The wine is perfumed, fruity and ready to drink.
Dusty, smooth aromas of spiced apple are easy to like. This is sticky, with just enough acidity to maintain freshness. Flavors of peach, honey and nutmeg are sweet and spicy, while the finish is upright and feels lively.
Juicy and plummy, this is a wine with generous amounts of purple fruit scents and flavors up front. The tannins turn a bit green and show some bitterness in the finish.
This wine opens with aromas of oak, butterscotch and dill that carry over to the palate alongside flavors of vanilla, lemon zest and apricot. This would be a nice alternative for fans of oaked Chardonnay.
Grassy aromas blend with tropical fruit notes to create a good but regular Casablanca bouquet. This feels lively and easy to take, while flavors of green herbs, grass and citrus finish a touch bitter, evidence of a cool vintage.
This is an open, soft, warm wine. It has some spice, although never excessive, along with gentle acidity and touches of hazelnuts. There are apricot and dried banana flavors and a fine, lifted aftertaste.
This is an attractive wine that maintains the steely texture of Riesling while also bringing out fragrant white flowers and refreshing fruitiness. It has a light touch of acidity, making it exceptionally adept with food.
Hints of reduction and gamy characteristics need time to blow off, but slowly reveal elegant black fruit. The texture and structure are solid, so enjoy this wine until 2016.
This Verdicchio opens with floral aromas of Spanish broom and acacia, along with a hint of petroleum that recalls Riesling. The linear palate is a bit lean but offers up lemon, bitter almond and mineral notes alongside bright acidity.
This wine is at just the right moment of maturity. It's on the dry side, but with just a touch of rich honey flavor. It is ripe, full in the mouth, finely perfumed and ready to drink now.
A delicately fruity, fresh wine, this is very refreshing with its crisp acidity and citrus flavors. It's linear in focus with a lively, light aftertaste. It's ready to drink.
A dusty, brambly Zinfandel nuanced in blueberries and plums, this is smooth and soft on the palate with an earthy quality throughout. On the finish this medium-bodied wine offers leathery tobacco and smoke.
Floral aromas of blue flower and bright berry take center stage in this pretty blend of 85% Montepulciano and 15% Syrah. The palate delivers juicy raspberry and cherry flavors, alongside soft, supple tannins. This is round and extremely accessible now so enjoy soon.
Mondeuse is a specialty at Plaisance Ranch, but this new vintage seems a bit dilute. The anticipated flavors of huckleberry and elderberry come through, with less concentration than previously. There are hints of cedar bark, and some spice to the finish.
Inky purple, this has aromas of prune, toast and mocha that carry over to the firm palate along with a touch of clove. Assertive close-grained tannins provide the framework. Drink through 2019.
This wine hails from the family's Eastside Road vineyard, planted to old Wente Chardonnay in 1982. It boldly opens in a robust, full-bodied explosion of ripe tropical mango and dried apricot, with an oaky underbelly that gives the texture grip and additional density.
Honeyed and a bit creamy on the palate, this is an approachable, easy-drinking Riesling. Fresh apple, lemon and pear flavors are accented by smoky minerality. The finish is brisk, accompanied by a hint of astringency. Drink now.
Aromas of candied red apple and spice are followed by a lightly astringent palate backed by gritty tannins.
Ripe yellow stone fruit and a floral whiff of pressed Spanish broom lead the nose while the bright round palate offers mature yellow pear and orange zest. It closes on a note of bitter almond.
Principally Grenache (55%) and Mourvèdre (43%) topped off with a pinch of Viognier, this wine brings barrel-forward aromas of vanilla, toast and char along with red fruit. The cherry and plum flavors are lush, full and creamy but they struggle to get beyond the oak treatment.
Lees, peach and cream aromas are followed by dry stone-fruit flavors. It runs a little hot.
Aromas of barrel spice, dried green herb, dried fruit and game lead to quite sweet black-cherry flavors, with gamy notes on the finish. It seems a bit dried out.
Somewhat reserved on the nose, this shows raspberry, squeezed tangerine and orange blossom aromas with some swirling. The sip is quite high-toned at first, with wet slate flavors, then come slightly sweeter touches of wild berry and red cherry.
Made with 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot, this opens with subtle aromas of red berry and underbrush. The straightforward palate delivers black plum, clove and tobacco alongside smooth tannins. Enjoy through 2018.
This is an open, soft, ripe and fruity wine. With a finely integrated tannic structure and plenty of red fruits and acidity, it is a generous full wine that is ready to drink.
Aromas evoking tropical fruit, cut grass and a whiff of tomato vine lead the nose. On the straightforward palate, notes of medicinal herb underscore pineapple and ripe peach.
Decisions on the viticulture and winemaking for this wine were all crowdsourced by the winery. Light aromas of herb and barrel spice lead to plush, easy-drinking blue-fruit flavors that linger on the finish.
Aged in American oak, this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot offers a straightforward enjoyment of blackberry, tar and tobacco leaf with a side of bacon. Thick and bittersweet in tannin, it's an affordable red that will please many palates.
Overt oak and black-fruit aromas are spicy, with an emphasis on clove. This feels wide and blocky, with abrasive tannins. Generic berry flavors are good but oaky, while the finish offers more of the same.
This offers light red fruits and a dusting of spices. It's modest and balanced, with proportionate tannins and a chocolate note from aging in French oak barrels. It's a light, pleasant, but nondescript wine.
Plush and plump, this is an easygoing off-dry Riesling with wide appeal. Fresh white grapefruit, apple and lemon flavors are cushioned by soft acidity. The finish is brisk and clean. Drink now through 2018.
This ripe and fruity wine is as reliable as always. With soft tannins and generous red-berry flavors, it is an attractive blend of Touriga Nacional and Syrah which have been infused with Alentejo warmth. Drink now.
Mature apricot, Spanish broom and a hint of candied citrus aromas lead to the extremely ripe dense palate along with honey and a confectionery note. A taste of almond backs up the rather bitter finish.
Lazy raisiny aromas reflect a very warm vintage. In the mouth, this Graciano is fat, with dense, plodding tannins. Raisin and prune flavors are chewy and exceedingly ripe, while this is obtuse on the finish.
This wine is ripe yet still crisp, with a touch of honey flavor and apricot fruit lending ripeness, pulled taut by a tang of orange zest-like acidity. It's delicious and ready to drink, finishing on mineral texture.
Here's a bright wine that opens with aromas of white field flowers, pears and a hint of nut. The straightforward palate offers yellow apple and a hint of bitter almond alongside fresh acidity.
Attractive, smoky, peppery aromas are followed by rich plum and red cherry flavors in this medium-bodied, lightly tannic wine. It has good balance overall, a hint of sweetness and just enough grip to keep it fresh on the palate.
Subtle aromas suggesting toasted oak, acacia and grapefruit take shape in the glass. On the racy palate, yellow apple, bitter almond and a hint of lemon zest are set against vibrant acidity.
This opens with aromas of yellow flower, hay and beeswax. The crisp straightforward palate delivers apple, white peach and lemon. Enjoy soon.
A very soft but distinctly pure nose of ripe, yellow-pear flesh perfumes everything. The palate enters with far more texture than expected and girdles the fruit with phenolic grip, brightened by fresh acidity. The faintest slick of residual sugar boosts the fruit notes towards the dry finish. The pear notes linger beautifully.
This is a ripe, round and full-bodied wine. It has a touch of nutmeg as well as bright acidity and sliced-apple flavors. It is immediately attractive, richly packed with fruit and finishing with spice and toast.
Always an impressive vineyard, it has produced a dense wine in this vintage. It's full of both intense, perfumed red fruits and smoky, dusty tannins that give an elegant structure. Drink from 2020.
This wine is a blend of several vineyard designates for the producer, including Campbell Ranch and Baranoff. It's pretty and floral, its aromatics an inviting mix of cinnamon-clove and cherry-plum. Exotically spiced in cardamom, it offers a tangy texture and lingering bite of oak on the finish.
Smoky leather and burly tannins combine for a generously powerful wine, soft in black and red fruit and chocolate. It has a full-bodied ripeness that veers on becoming caricature but never does, dialing things back to find beauty and balance on the finish.
Tasty, balanced and substantial in body, this wine accents bold berry and black cherry flavors with hints of vanilla and nutmeg. The fruit flavors go deep, while fine-grained tannins frame them perfectly for excellent overall structure and harmony.
A blend of 65% Grillo and 35% Carricante, this offers subtle aromas of ripe orchard fruit, wild flower and a whiff of almond. The vibrant, savory palate boasts green apple, creamy white peach, citrus and aromatic herb alongside an energizing mineral vein. It finishes crisp and clean.
With a bit of air, ripe and mellow apple notes appear. These seem to be burgeoning and rich, ready to spill and splash along with notes of peach and dried pear. A phenolic, rich texture and fresh acidity keep them all in check. There is lots of interesting conflict in this glass. Let the drama play out on your tongue.
Aromas of crushed raspberries, adorned with a whiff of chocolate and moist earth, invite you in. Young and tightly wound, this gradually opens into an elegant wine with a bright core of raspberry fruit. Threads of licorice, coffee, chocolate and iron add welcome texture and depth.
Ripe and sweet, this wine is full of generous red plums and berries. It is immediately attractive with its spice, structure and tannins playing a supporting role to the almost jammy fruit. Acidity at the end adds some attractive freshness to this ripe wine. Drink from 2020
This is an elegant, even delicate vintage for this cuvée, with immediate impressions of wet stone, and fresh flavors of green melon, apple, celery and cucumber. The flavors are perfectly ripe and show good concentration, with lightly herbal highlights. Give this plenty of aeration as decanting would be helpful.
Made with 100% dried Zibibbo grapes, this complex dessert wine offers aromas of fresh apricot, tangerine jam and a hint of sage. The rich palate doles out mature yellow peach, candied fig and a touch of lemon peel while bright acidity lends freshness and balance.
This single-clone, estate-grown wine shows exemplary concentration. Deeply sculpted fruit flavors roll from peach to papaya, with streaks of buttery caramel. Everything is in proportion, with a most pleasing finish.
Inky dark in the glass, this blend of 48% Syrah, 39% Grenache and 13% Mourvèdre offers up dense and potent blackberry and blueberry fruit aromas, enhanced by black pepper and bacon-fat richness. Blackberry fruit starts the sip and then it deepens into earth, tobacco and smoke. It's a fine study of darkness.
Toasty, warm, lusty dark-berry aromas are laced with a subtle animal accent. This is a big wine, with a fleshy, tannic, muscular feel. Flavors of blackberry, mocha and chocolate finish in fine form, with moderate tannic grip and all sorts of length. Drink this excellent Toro through 2022.
Tasted alongside the 2013, this is bigger, bolder, fruitier and more powerful, yet a touch less refined. The strawberry and cherry fruit is underscored with a pleasing minerality. The tannins are substantial and in proportion. A hint of chicken stock runs through the finish.
Earthy black-olive and foresty herbal scents accent core blackberry and moss aromas. Intense, juicy acidity gives this Cabernet blend vitality across the palate. Herbal berry, olive, pepper and tobacco flavors are spicy on a finish bolstered by brisk, powerful acidity. Drink through 2025.
Aromas of raisin and cassis lean in the direction of overripe. This is less elegant and more blocky than most bottlings of Unico, but with ripe, loamy blackberry and plum flavors, it tastes great. A slightly hollow but round finish with mild residual tannins suggests that this be drunk now through 2024.
Cherry tomatoes, black olives, Kalamata olives, green olives, black pepper and dried herbs show on the nose of this zesty wine, done in a lavish not sparse manner. A rainbow of peppercorns pop on the palate, touching on the grape's herbaceous tendencies and showing tagine and tapenade flavors, but with tons of vibrancy and freshness. A well-done version of this flavor profile.
Made by brothers Scott and Gib Pagter, this rich wine is scented with sandalwood, strawberry, incense and chaparral shrub. There is a core of red cherry and ripe cranberry on the palate, where touches of sagebrush, eucalyptus and a strong minty freshness provide lots of energetic verve.
While low in alcohol and austere in dryness, there's a remarkable richness of texture that lends an impression of volume and density on the palate. Brisk notes of lemon and tart tangerine shine brightly, but are juxtaposed by an intensely stony, mineral finish. Drink now through 2020.
Sourced from vines almost 40-years-old, this is tight and spicy, with a potpourri of herbs from mint to tarragon to chive. The core of wild berry fruit is substantial. Don't miss the trailing finish. There's lots to taste in the tail of this comet.
Hay yellow in color, with a wispy shade of pink in the core, this bubbly shows aromas of lemon chiffon, sourdough toast, white peach and a touch of quinine on the nose. Lemon peel and curd show strongly on the palate, laid across a salted cracker flavor—quite delicious and refreshing at once.
A clean and crisp style of Viognier, which comes in all forms these days, this bottling is light yet expressive on the nose with yellow grapefruit, lemon ice and a touch of chamomile tea. The palate is very grippy with crushed rocks, and also rich with buttered pear in the creamy, almost buttery midpalate, yet somehow remains lean and laser-focused.
A 100% varietal wine aged in entirely new French oak, this is a big-bodied, grippy wine. It's slightly syrupy with ripe red fruit and a complexity of dried herb and cedar which makes it a fine representative of the relatively cooler appellation from which it comes.
Light black cherry, turned black loam and dried rose petals show on the nose of this straightforward and earthy bottling. Black raspberry and dark cranberry fruit consume the tart, edgy palate, with shaved licorice, sagebrush and a touch of pine needle completing the savory picture. A good lesson in fresh Mourvèdre.
Classic flavors, great structure and impressive depth make this wine tempting to drink now, but it will certainly improve with age. Hints of light nutmeg and coriander mingle with stronger blackberry and black pepper in the aromas and flavors. It has that slightly wild, gamey character of the Rhône, along with ripe but slightly restrained fruit and spices. Best from 2018 to 2023.
Covila produces mostly good-quality affordable Rioja wines, but with this bottling the winery has stepped it up a notch. Aromas of raisin, graphite, prune, vanilla and coconut are ripe and oaky. A chunky, blocky, ripe palate holds blackberry and cassis flavors that come with notes of dried herbs. Chewy tannins and peppery spice push a bold finish. Drink through 2022.
Whiffs of wood smoke, black pepper and clove bring an exotic touch to this dry, medium-bodied and tautly balanced wine. It stops just short of full ripeness, but has ample enough blackberry and black olive flavors to taste complete and to reverberate on the finish. It has great varietal character, and will be interesting to age through 2019.
Old vines dating back to 1904 produce this unusually brawny late-harvest wine. It's deeply fruity, almost tropical in profile, bursting with sun-kissed mango and guava flavors. High-toned tangerine and grapefruit acidity lend balance, highlighting a delicately astringent, tea-toned finish. Drink now through 2025.
Dried black fruits, cedar, tobacco and just a few dried purple flowers show on this wine's slightly sour nose. The palate is a bit flat, with purple berries, tar and tobacco flavors that come and go quickly.
This low-alcohol offering exhibits less weight and richness as a result. Still, it's a pleasant, lean white that relies on lemony flavors to provide crisp refreshment.
This 76% Cabernet Franc and 24% Malbec blend pushes the coolness of the vintage and the appellation in its extremely herbal, woody nose, a taste of bell pepper rising midway through its lean palate. It finishes round and soft.
A respectable effort, this offers attractive aromas of fig, melon and nectarine, but doesn't follow through with much intensity on the palate. It's light to medium in body, with hints of citrus pith and a bit of bitterness on the finish.
This Bordeaux-style red blend from Northern Michigan sees 14 months in a mélange of oak: American, Hungarian and French. Charred red berries and cherries meet toasted savory herb notes on the nose. The medium-bodied palate brings fresher fruit tones, lightly supported by gossamer tannins and sharp acidity.
Vanilla candle wax, pollen and peaches-and-cream aromas are inviting and warm. The luscious body of juicy stone fruit is overcome by soapy floral notes on the midpalate, yet the persistent acid manages to clean up the flavors on the finish.
Combine a cool year with cool-climate, single-vineyard origins and the result is this: olive, bell pepper and saucy tomato aromas, followed by a pointy, high-acid palate that's jagged in feel. Snappy red-plum and red-cherry flavors end with acid-driven crispness.
Whiffs of balsamic vinegar and dusty minerals lend a savory, rustic tone to ripe black cherry and berry flavors in this full-bodied Syrah. The palate is concentrated, but it's a bit sharp and unrefined. The finish is modest.
This is a light, clear and straightforward wine, reduced somewhat on the nose, and exhibiting a tight, tannic structure and backbone of oak. Black cherry and blackberry dominate in flavor, with a full-bodied feel.
There's a chalky tartness to this young wine, a single-vineyard designate from a consistent source. Gravenstein apple and a suggestion of honey star on the nose and palate around a medium body and finish.
This fruity wine has soft and tannins and a jammy backdrop. It is ripe and full in the mouth with strawberry and red plum jelly flavors. Drink now. This is one of the first vintages since Labouré-Roi, which was hit by scandal in 2012, passed into new ownership.
An earthy rusticity marks this wine, soft in black cherry, with a rich, smooth texture and grippy, tongue-coating finish of leathery tannin.
Aromas of tire rubber and plum lead to soft, sweet cherry and mocha flavors. It's a solid, easy drinker.
Tart cherry, tobacco and leather present themselves on the nose, leading the way to fruit forward flavors of red plum and cherry pie backed by pleasant hints of vanilla.
Full bodied and quite ripe, this wine has a taste of Good & Plenty licorice around a core of vanilla custard and toasty oak. It is 100% varietal.
Easy-going in spite of full body, this warm and generous wine is full of ripe fruit flavors and has a smooth texture. The fresh cherry and raspberry flavors are tasty and satisfying, while very light tannins keep the mouth-feel soft.
Quinteto is a Cabernet Franc-led blend of five grapes, including Syrah, Merlot, Malbec and Pinot Noir. It opens with scratchy raspberry and herbal aromas that turn murkier with time. Briny flavors of olive and herbal plum carry onto the finish.
This wine has a deep-gold color, attractive baking-spice and buttered popcorn aromas, appealing apple and pear flavors and medium body. The texture is soft and easy and the acidity tastes low.
Murky, mulchy aromas of baked black fruits and coffee grinds set up a gritty, hard palate of barrel char and roasted berry fruits. The finish is more of the same—lots of oak, burnt coffee and baked black-fruit flavors.
Scattered aromas of black olive and stewed berry fruits lead to a heavy, awkward palate. This tastes strained, with burnt, leafy black-fruit flavors and a soft, low-acid finish.
There are lots of dried tones to the nose: herbs, meat and hay. The palate shows more fruit, with tart cherry and raspberry flavors giving a snappy resistance to the grippy, sandy tannins.
This Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère blend is a green machine with a pyrazine-led explosion of green bean and bell pepper aromas. Robust and grabby on the palate, this tastes heavily of herbal plum and canned green bean, while a minty finish includes flavors of olive and bitterness. This feels right but smells and tastes extremely green.
The lemony freshness that the nose promises is slightly unbalanced on the bright palate but the flavors are clean and invigorating. This easydrinking wine would make a perfect party apéritif.
This is an overtly oaky Cabernet with resiny, balsamic aromas that share space with baked black-fruit scents. The palate feels flabby and fat, with modest tannic grip. Jammy blueberry and cassis flavors end oaky, resiny and jammy.
Whiffs of nuts, dusty mineral and lemon are demure on the nose, but become more concentrated on the palate of this dry white. A blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Grüner Veltliner, it's more minerally than fruity, but refreshing and brisk.
This is the current release from Guigal, which makes it one of the few Hermitages on store shelves that's ready to drink. It's medium to full in weight, chunky and assertive, but not overly concentrated or tannic. Instead, it delivers beefy notes of coffee, black olive and spice, backed by hints of raspberries and cedar.
Smooth and polished, this bears cola, earth, blackberry and floral aromas. It shows power and precision, with silky tannins, integrated acidity and deep flavors of berry, leather and herb. This is slightly minty, smoky and spicy on the back end, where fine oak takes charge. Drink now–2015.
Earthy aromas are a hallmark of the Baga grape, a component of this full-bodied, tannic blend. With weight and richness, a mint note and new wood flavors, it is a serious wine that still should develop over three years.
This opens with persuasive aromas of wild berry and cassis before cola and leather notes enter. It's a powerfully built Malbec with bright acidity, strong bones and pure, bold flavors of blackberry and black cherry. This is youthful and more fruit focused than the oakier DJN 2006 Reserva Malbec.
Fresh, floral and not overbearing on the nose, this has red berry and cassis aromas, with no interference from oak or too much extraction. It feels pure and elegant, with wild berry and cherry flavors that end on a ripe, slightly sweet-tasting finish. Good for near-term drinking.
This smells like orange marmalade. It feels smooth and creamy, but not terribly thick due to fine acidity, with flavors of orange, honey, peach and spice. Long and creamy on the finish, this is a fresh, delicious wine that should impress anyone with a sweet tooth.
Despite this wine's thick veneer of toasty, vanilla-scented oak, it has plenty of underlying fruit, powerful enough to handle the wood. It's full bodied, dense and richly textured, with a long, velvety finish redolent of blackberries and cedar. Approachable now, but should easily age through 2025.
Fragrant with floral notes, lemony fruit and hints of apricot, this is a tangy, textural take on Pinot Gris. Fermented in stainless steel and released young, it retains a bright and stylish profile right through a lingering finish, with a touch of sweetness.
This has a pretty light color, with dry raspberry and citrus scents. The palate is pure and elegant, with tangerine, grapefruit and nectarine flavors. This finishes longer than most, with poise and grace.
This full-bodied, creamy Crozes-Hermitage far outpaces expectations for the appellation, combining cherry-berry fruit with cracked pepper, mocha and licorice. Then it finishes long, anchored by a marriage of fruit and spice. It's ready to drink now, but should evolve positively through at least 2017.
Crisp green aromas suggest lime and then passion fruit. It's lively and spritzy in the mouth, with high acidity yielding green flavors that transition to pithy and heavy. Lemon-lime mixed with celery notes come up on the finish.
Toasty, minty and sweet smelling. The palate is dark, full and choppy feeling, with cola, coconut, mint, blackberry and cassis flavors. There's good power and depth to this Malbec; a bit rough and herbal at the finish line.
Aromas of cedar and damp soil lend a clean, foresty air to this beautifully ripe yet restrained Bordeaux blend. Black fruit flavors are intensely concentrated yet brisk with acidity, strident grape tannins and a lingering granite finish.
This medium-bodied Riesling shows some already-evolving notes of honey, truffle and petrol wrapped around its core of apple and citrus. Seems a little on the sweeter side of the trocken spectrum.
Earthy, warm and generously oaked, with berry aromas that bring leather and smoke. The palate is healthy and tight, with spiky tannins and herbal black fruit flavors. Grippy on the finish, with olive and spice. Very much a good-quality, typically styled Chilean Cabernet.
Shines with a nice purple lustre then opens with big blackberry and spiced plum flavors that are earthy and wild. The palate is round, ripe and feels good, and the flavors are centered on herbal blackberry and toast. Very good for the price range.
A largely unfruity wine, defined by mineral notes of struck flint and crushed stone. Yet at the same time, it's ripe in weight and mouthcoating in its intensity, hinting at orange oil on the long finish.
A lightly golden Viognier very floral in jasmine and white peach. It's sweet at first but minerally in the finish and subtle for what can be an overbearing variety at times.
An intensely rich wine from vines planted on chalk soil. There is a spicy, smooth texture, with a bitter almond and cinnamon edge. The alcohol does leave a burning sensation, which detracts from the overall feel.
Certainly rich, but this wine is also about purity of spicy fruit, bringing out the fresher side of the variety as well as the intensity.
It's labeled dry, but this wine comes across as just slightly off dry, with ripe melons and pears taking the lead and never looking back. It's plump on the palate, finishing with a teasing sense of sugar. Drink now.
Leather and woody/smoky aromas blend well with core cassis and berry scents. The palate feels fresh and healthy, with cassis, raspberry, herb and olive flavors. Tones it down on the finish, which is dry and tastes of carob and minty green herbs.
If there's any quibble with this wine, it's that the aromas and flavors remain in a very narrow range, from struck flint to citrus. Otherwise, it's a lovely dry Riesling, slightly plump and custardy on the palate yet crisp and sharply focused on the finish. Drink it over the next several years.
Comes across as rather round and lush on the palate, with tropical fruit flavors of guava and pineapple. It's easy to drink and enjoy for its fruity immediacy and mouthwatering finish.
This wine requires decanting, as it seems to have entered a dumb phase. But there is clearly a good core of blackberry and black cherry fruit, lightly dusted with fresh herb.
A delicate but complex nose of peony, bergamot, Anjou pear and hard melon transition to a somewhat surprisingly lean mouth flooded with citrus flavors. The nuances of the bouquet are mostly missing on the palate, but this remains a clean and refreshing white.
Delicious fresh citrus flavored wine, bright as a button, lively and crisp. Made from Alvarinho, there is a creamy texture with a mineral element, finishing with green plums and banana flavors.
A wine that suffers from high toast and not enough fruit weight. In time, it should settle down, but it is always going to be a wine that is on the lean side.
Pure black berry juice, ripe and solid, this is a chunky, fresh wine. The wood edge is a major factor; there is a final stalky, mineral element. Drink now.
The balance between the firm tannins and ripe fruit works well here. The texture is dense, rough at the edges but with good layers of wood, acidity and dry tannins. The aftertaste has welcome freshness.
After the scent of char blows off a bit, this first harvest Merlot opens sweetly to aromas of vanilla, cinnamon spice and plush, red plums. There's a hint of green stalks and leaves detectable on the palate amidst underripe black cherry and plum flavors, but bright acidity gives this wine a fresh character and the spiced plum finish is pleasant.
The nose offers plenty of cooked plum preserves, warm spice and toasted, nutty oak. There's a nice, lush texture and body, and bright red cherry and plums flavors on the palate. The fruit flavors may be slightly lacking in concentration, but supple tannins make for smooth, easy sipping.
There's a maturity that shines through from the honeyed applesauce and steel aromas in this off-dry Riesling. Rich and full bodied on the palate, bright, fresh apple and lemon flavors linger elegantly on the tongue with a hint of bitter lime pith.
Opens somewhat clipped and choppy, with citrusy aromas mixed with red fruits. The palate is healthy, lean and acidic, with bright plum and berry flavors softened by some creamy vanilla. A solid wine with punch, acidity and a good finish.
Spy Valley's 2007 Envoy Pinot Noir is an attractive wine, featuring an exterior of brown sugar, dry leaves and coffee and a fruit-filled cherry center. The only concern is the slightly drying finish and some slightly coarse, rustic tannins. If those resolve gracefully, this rating may look stingy in 3 years' time.
Layers of char, black pepper and briar patch help to build complexity in this dense, concentrated black plum Merlot. There's a touch of green leaf and tomato throughout, but overall, it's a fruit-driven, luscious wine accented with spice and smooth, supple tannins. Aged 24 months in new French oak.
Light and only gently structured, this is a cru wine that is more about juicy red fruits. It has attractive acidity and a touch of spice. It is likely to be ready to drink in the next few months, certainly by mid-2017.
This is a ripe, soft and rich cru wine. With its attractive cherries and gentle tannic structure, it is fruity and easy. The acidity that comes through at the end gives the wine a crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This wine is 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. Vanilla aromas are prominent along with prune and other dried fruit. Fruit and barrel flavors intermingle on the palate, with the fruit seeming dried out.
An intriguing, distinctive nose combines hickory smoke, baked raspberry and a touch of sage. Dark-red cherry and cranberry meet with thyme on the sip, where swirling flavors strive to find a centerline.
Barrel aromas are out front with notes of wood spice, vanilla and cocoa followed by dark cherries and herb, starting to show a bit of age. The palate is fruit filled but shows the restraint of the vintage. The oak seems a bit overweighted.
This variety is an extreme rarity in this appellation. This one offers aromas of wet penny, spice and red fruit. The palate is medium bodied, with the tannins bringing some grit.
This is a dark, intensely astringent wine with so much grape and oak tannin that it's challenging to enjoy now. Since PV is known as a grape that provides color and tannin in Bordeaux wines, it's no wonder that it's so stiff today. It will drink best after 2020.
Made entirely with Trebbiano and vinified in oak, this opens with aromas of mature orchard fruit, citrus, chopped herb and a whiff of toast. The linear, rather lean palate offers toasted almond, coffee, oak and green pear.
Made with Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Foglia Tonda and Pugnitello, this offers delicate aromas of black cherry and cinnamon. The aromas cross over to the easygoing palate together with a hint of thyme and smooth, pliant tannins. Enjoy soon.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, the shy nose eventually reveals red berry and a hint of thyme. The straightforward easygoing palate delivers red cherry and clove alongside smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.
This softly layered wine has a tannic bite that undergirds its lighter stylistic approach. Currant, cedar and vanilla play on the palate in pleasant, straightforward ways.
This grand estate was once a hunting ground for an even grander nearby chateau. The cru wine that's now produced here is crisp and fruity, streaked through with acidity and red currants. It has a touch of tannin as well as minerality. Drink from late 2017.
This is a family-owned estate whose wines is made by Georges Duboeuf. It is structured and firmly concentrated, more tannin than fruit. That gives the wine a lean character that seems to miss out on fleshy and fruit. Give it a little time and drink from late 2017.
Blackberry and boysenberry flavors so ripe they seem sweet fill out this smooth, full-bodied wine. The texture is soft and not at all tannic, letting the potent fruit flavors flow easily through the finish.
Waxy citrus skins and pressed apple notes are accented by a whiff of pine in this racy light-footed Riesling. It's just a shade off dry, with an invigoratingly brisk texture. Drink now through 2019.
Aromas of red fruit and herb are followed by light but pure cherry flavors. It provides a lot of easy-drinking appeal.
A mix of unidentified red varieties, this wine opens slowly, without much in the way of aromatics. Weedy sage, tobacco and a grip of tannin give it weight and richness alongside its full body, as a bramble of blackberry and currant weave within.
Cutting lemon, lime and tangerine flavors lend puckering refreshment to this light-bodied dry Riesling. It's lean in style but invigorating and fresh. A hint of zest adds bite to a lingering finish. Drink now through 2020.
Intensely fruity, almost tropical, on the nose, this juicy Chardonnay is chock full of fresh pineapple, melon and mango flavors. While not complex, it's a fun, widely appealing wine marked by bright acidity and luscious mouthfeel. Enjoy now through 2019.
A blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah, 17% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot, this has aromas of French oak and black-skinned fruit. The dense palate delivers plum, toast and a hint of chocolate alongside rather abrasive tannins.
Made with 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, this shows subdued aromas of dark berry and cooking spice. The straightforward palate doles out crushed plum and clove alongside assertive tannins.
This blend of Sangiovese and 10% Merlot opens with delicate aromas of violet, berry and baking spices. The palate delivers black cherry, toast and clove alongside close-grained tannins that grip the finish.
Sugary peach and a taste of stone surround a lifted, floral undercurrent in this wine that takes on a richer, creamier midpalate and hearty oak as it finishes.
While ripe nectarine and grapefruit notes are bold on the nose, the palate of this medium-bodied Gewürztraminer is a bit demure. It's a refreshing easy-drinking white, however, offering delicate hints of lychee, citrus and guava flavor. Drink now through 2019.
This 100% varietal wine offers a simplicity of blueberry, black licorice and chocolate wrapped in integrated tannin and oak. Full bodied and ripe, it softens in the glass to a rounded finish.
This varietal Sauvignon Gris isn't as aromatic as the more pungent Sauvignon Blanc. In the mouth, this is medium in body, with good overall texture. Dry racy flavors of scallion and bitter melon are not exuberant but turn fruitier on the finish.
Aromas of fragrant blue flower and wild berry waft out of the glass. The easygoing no-frills palate offers juicy wild cherry and a hint of baking spice alongside supple tannins. It's enjoyable but already accessible and extremely straightforward by Brunello standards. Drink through 2019.
Woodland berry, blue flower, dried mint and a whiff of sunbaked soil take center stage on this easy-drinking red. The straightforward palate offers ripe red cherry and ground pepper alongside round, supple tannins.
The Chermette family has produced a rich generous cru wine. It is structured and dense with some firm tannins from maturing in wood. It also has a generous black plum and cherry fruits that are developing well. Drink this wine from late 2017.
The merest touch of passion fruit enriches the ripe pear fruit apparent on the nose with a hint of the tropics. The palate is wonderfully zesty and the gorgeous grapefruit freshness harnesses all the ripe fruit into a driven force of joy. This is concentrated, juicy and utterly moreish.
Dark gold in color, this appellation wine is tropical and salty, medium bodied with a strong taste of lemon preserves. Its fuller, richer nature is complemented by fresher streaks of grapefruit and mandarin, with a mineral component of wet stone.
Golden Delicious apple, stone fruit and honey star in this vineyard-designate, a showcase for baked apple seasoned in nutmeg. Gravelly texture supports full-bodied flavor and a strength of toasted oak lightly suggestive in vanilla.
A whiff of passion fruit on the nose immediately hints at ripeness. The palate fulfils that promise not only with generosity but counters it with gorgeous grapefruit freshness and a lovely zesty texture that makes this very appetizing. The flavors are zingy, clean, ripe and very, very long. It is the grapefruit spice that gets you in the end.
Though this is their appellation blend, Mikey Giugni and Michael Brughelli don't hold back, offering elegant aromas of rose petals, purple flowers, rich pomegranate fruit, rusty strawberries and light vanilla on the nose. The palate begins with a light cranberry-raspberry flavor that deepens into tart mulberry before showing dried rose petals, uncrushed clove and a lava-rock minerality.
Light, bright and citrusy, this lovely wine is integrated in terms of oak and ripeness, letting its crispness of lemon and tangerine speak loudest. A complex, structured wine, it becomes more interesting as it opens, allowing room for specks of stone and nutmeg to peek through.
Produced from old vines in the Côte du Py on the slopes of an extinct volcano, this cru wine is structured with generous black fruits and a series of ripe tannins and balanced acidity. It has the structure and density to age while also having a light touch of black cherry fruit. Drink from 2019.
The nose merely reveals the slightest shimmer of ripe lemon zest. The palate comes in with beautifully spicy mirabelle flavors, tempered by tangy citrus. There is lovely citrus concentration that has a zesty textural element in the streamlined body. This is wonderfully bracing, ripe and refreshing. A total joy.
Warm tones of marzipan, roasted almond, yellow peach, pineapple and a touch of coconut are reminiscent of a piña colada on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard just behind the coastal town of Cambria. Gala apples and poached pears show on the sip along with lemon curd, chalk and meringue flavors, all tightly woven into a fresh expression of the grape.
Bright and ready-to-burst flavors of raspberry and just-ripe cranberry show on the nose of this bottling that also features tartness and graphite minerality alongside vanilla and baking spice. More of an underripe character shows on the forest-floor palate, where thyme and marjoram mix with tangy red fruit, pine needle and juniper.
Although he is based in the Terres Dorées (golden earth) region of southern Beaujolais, this producer has an enviable palate of vineyards in the crus to the north. This wine comes from one. It has structure, density and a a solid core of both tannins and rich fruit. Drink from 2018.
A very slight citrus lift, edged with ripe pineapple, on the nose announces a precise palate of lusciously ripe flavors: sun-ripened yellow mirabelle plums nestle alongside ripe oranges and clementimes. A straight, linear but ripe acidity at the very core keeps all of this fruit in check and provides direction and precision. Delicious and long.
Deep aromas of hibiscus, rose buds, dark red berries and sugar plums are spiced up by cola, crushed pencils and lots of garrigue on this bottling. The palate is clean and crisp, with snappy raspberry, light cranberry and lots more chaparral-like herbs, including wild thyme, bay laurel, lavender and fennel pollen.
Gorgeously lifted rich notes of orange zest fill the nose of this beautiful “orange” wine. Fermented on skins, it has all the elegance of white wine, combined with the tannic structure and backbone of red. Made from pink Pinot Gris grapes, this lends itself beautifully to this treatment and leaves us with an intriguing, concentrated, fresh and whistle-clean wine of great expression. Savor its salty orange-scented length.
Plump tangerine, pink grapefruit and warmer tones of Gala apples show on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard that's slightly northwest of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Rounder nectarine and apple flavors show on the sip that fattens up in the midpalate with poached Asian pear and popcorn, deftly leveled throughout with a zesty lemon-wedge touch.
Decadent yet finessed, this intensely ripe, concentrated wine brims with fleshy flavors of black plum and cassis. Tart cranberry acidity and complexities of olive, savory spice and granite push the palate into greater depths. The finish is long, marked by fine firm tannins. It's lovely already, but should meld beautifully from 2020–2030 and further.
Rich notes of yeast on the nose promise a rounded wine, while on the palate they become even more pronounced and deliver a big hit of lasting umami flavors. Here and there white pepper pokes through with its freshness supported by leavening citrus notes. This is powerful stuff: Handle with care and pair with food that is both subtle and robust—just like the wine.
Made entirely with organically farmed Sangiovese, this opens with aromas mature black-skinned fruit, French oak, exotic spice and a whiff of blue flower. The vibrant palate is both elegant and structured, delivering juicy black cherry, pomegranate, mocha, licorice and a potpourri of cooking spice. It's well balanced, with bright acidity and fine-grained tannins. It already dazzles, but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2018–2028.
Violets, bacon fat and caramel sauce are drizzled across blueberry and olallieberry fruits on the nose of this bottling from Billy Wathen and Dick Dore. The palate is expertly integrated and deep with flavors of blackberry, pepper dust, tart black-plum skins, cocoa powder and roasted pork. It conveys classic Syrah flavors, done with grace.
Dark boysenberry, dried lilac and the slightest touch of tar show on the nose of this bottling, one of the first that Foxen has labeled with the new Los Olivos District appellation. Tart plum skins and elderberry show on the sip that is structured by solidly dry tannins accented by flavors of lavender and thyme.
This small-production, single-vineyard white hails from a site at the southern end of the appellation, close to Carneros. It shines in golden apple, honey graham cracker and a rich texture that impresses from start to finish. A floral element persists and intrigues, a mix of wildflower and fennel.
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot, this polished linear red has aromas of black-skinned fruit, bell pepper, coconut and toasted oak. The vibrant, elegantly structured palate offers black currant, chopped herb, clove and licorice alongside fine-grained tannins.
The nose just gives a gentle hint of ripe apricot. The palate, on the other hand, speaks freely of zesty citrus: ripe lemon and fresh Seville orange, full of tart zestiness and refreshing zing. This is slender and linear, taut but chock-full of fruit. There is drive and energy and total refreshment.
There is something that makes me think about a summer forest: Is it the fresh moss, the fresh green foliage, the implied ease and freshness of light green foliage on a warm day? The palate stuns with white pepper and purity and combines fruit ripeness with ballerina-like poise. Wonderful texture. Prepare to be moved.
Meant to showcase the producer's classic style, this is made from 74% Pinot Noir and 26% Chardonnay, the lots chosen for their fruit forwardness. Succulent peach speaks quietly around bright floral aromas, while a richer undertone of hazelnut biscotti comes into play on the smooth palate.
This new project from the heights of Atlas Peak involves Steve Matthiasson as both viticulturist and winemaker, having had to take over the reins from the late Denis Malbec. It shines in bristling acidity, dusty tannin and a beautiful floral aroma of violet. Notes of chocolate, fig and cigar sit atop a pillowy, complex structure, while vanilla lingers on the finish.
Great fruit concentration and depth give power to this full-bodied wine from Cakebread, better known for its Napa-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Not tricked up with too much oak, it tastes energized, deep and layered. Black cherry, rhubarb and cedar fan out across the palate, lingering a long time on the finish. Best from 2018.
Dense, baked and mulled blackberry and cassis aromas include bold but classy oak notes. This feels seamless except for raring tough tannins, while flavors of toast, graphite and spiced blackberry finish smooth and chewy, with a sense of lushness despite lasting residual tannins. Drink through 2025.
This bottling of the classic Italian variety hits the right notes, with cherry, rose and tar on the nose, along with hints of sandalwood and incense. It's smooth on the palate, with dried cherry flavor and touches of chocolate, dried mint and caramel on the finish. It's still young and the firm tannins ensure a long life. Drink 2018–2029.
There's a lot of good about this small-production blend. The nose and color are nice, with asphalt and charcoal mixing with black-fruit sweetness. The palate has a nice, healthy texture housing slightly herbal plum and berry flavors. Finishing notes of burnt toast, coconut and mint announce a serious barrel regimen. Drink now–2009.
Very dark in color, this is an impressive wine with power and dense tannins. The fruit is solid, packed with blackberry and dark plum flavors, and wild, almost savage, ripeness.
Fresh, despite the dense tannin, this is a ripe, juicy wine, full of black currant flavors and vibrant acidity. Wood treatment shows more cassis just at the end to round the wine out.
The minerality that seems to come from this quinta makes for a wine that needs time, and this wine is defiantly young. However, its chocolate flavors, bitter toast and dense structure all promise well.
This doesn't have the sheer breadth of many Australian Viogniers, but it offers more structure and length on the palate. Vibrant lemon-lime and pineapple aromas set the stage for flavors of tropical fruit and lemon custard. There's a slightly creamy texture and a lingering finish. Imported by Tom Eddy Wines.
A great value in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Hunter's 2007 marries ripe nectarine aromas and flavors with just enough acidity and a touch of grassiness to retain focus and varietal character. The lack of overt herbal notes makes it easy to pair with food, or drink on its own.
Nearly a Best Buy, this Riesling offers early drinkability relative to many of its Clare cousins. Mixed citrus and crushed-stone aromas mark the nose, while the medium-bodied palate finishes long, with what seems to be a touch of sweetness. Drink now–2010.
Dark cola, black fruit and marzipan aromas give this a sweet bouquet. The palate is solid, with medium-strength tannins supporting cherry, blackberry and mocha flavors. Oak is no stranger to this wine, so expect ample vanilla and chocolate throughout. A bit herbal, which is common for Chilean Cabernet.
On the side, with a hint of warmth on the finish, this is nevertheless a very good wine. The aromas are powerfully mineral, accented by bold lime notes, while the flavors are intense and concentrated. Drink now.
A layered nose with aromas of grapefruit, lemon and flowers is the start of this poised and pretty white. Crisp acidity, great balance and fresh, approachable fruit come together to offer an elegant, reliable sip. Pair with spicy foods, grilled fish or salads.
From a reliable Clare Valley producer, Pikes 2006 Dry Riesling appears to be an ageworthy effort, boasting plenty of crisp intensity. Lime, grapefruit and green apple notes are classic Riesling markers, ending long and mouthwatering. Drink now–2016, possibly beyond. Imported by USA Wine West.
A soft, elegant nose evokes darker berries and spice on this subtle Pinotage. On the palate, pronounced spice and smoke is softened by luscious fruit and smooth tannins. A very pretty wine and an accessible version of a tough variety.
This is a big, broad-shouldered Sauvignon Blanc, slightly oily in texture, with pungent scents of crushed tomato leaf and plenty of gooseberry fruit. The high alcohol, moderate acidity and richly concentrated fruit give the impression of sweetness on the long finish.
Backsberg's wines have style, and this Chenin is another in a line of successes. An assertive nose of pear, apple, honey and flowers leads a wine offering lovely citrus and floral flavors, cut slightly with a dancing acidity. The wine has dimension but a fresh edge.
More oak and color than the regular Calina Merlot, but that means more coconut, resin and char as well. Black raspberry and currant-like flavors are plump and medium-long, while the finish has some tannic grab and girth along with woody touches like vanilla and spice. With 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Good structured fruit, with ripe sweet cherry flavors, appears alongside hints of raspberries. Fresh, but with some weight and solidity.
This new range of wines from Lagoalva features typical Portuguese tiles (azulejos) on the label. Inside the bottle, this wine is fruity with soft tannins, spice and red-berry flavors. It has a juicy aftertaste that blends with the fruitiness. Drink now.
This is a full-bodied big-shouldered wine blended with Malbec and Syrah, that's inky and dark. Grippy tenacious oak surrounds a mouthful of black olive, black plum and tobacco.
Cherry and black olive aromas are common for standard Chilean Cabernet, which this is. A fleshy, flush mouthfeel is raw due to prodding acidity and tannins. Herbal berry flavors are spicy and a touch green, while this tastes minty on the finish.
This youthful crisp blend of Chardonnay and Fernão Pires comes from the Lisboa region. With a light texture, plenty of acidity and a fruity aftertaste, it is a great apéritif style.
Tarry berry aromas come with notes of olive, rubber and eucalyptus. A tight, racy palate is driven by acidity, while this tastes of herbal plum and lightly salted tomato sauce. Woody, herbal berry flavors are spicy and a bit green.
This ripe but balanced wine has ripe wood aromas and a solid tannic structure. Its black currant fruitiness is still developing, promising future juiciness. Drink from 2019.
Produced from organic grapes, this lightly structured wine is full of black currant fruitiness. With a touch of spice from wood aging, it's soft and easy to drink now.
This second wine of this estate is aged in tank, making it all bright, ripe berry fruit and juicy acidity. The tannins are still there as it's still aging. Give this attractive, fruity wine until late 2018 before opening.
This wine has a strong herbal component of bay laurel and eucalyptus, girded in fully realized tannin and a juicy underbelly of cherry cola.
Blended with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, wood aromas are at the fore, with notes of baking spice followed by braised green pepper along with jalapeño pepper and blackberry. The flavors are saturated and ripe, bringing a sense of softness that provides intrigue.
Produced from organically grown grapes, this wine is soft, with raspberry flavors and acidity in equal abundance. It's light in color, tastes mature and should be drunk now.
This is a blend of 45% Syrah, 33% Grenache and 22% Mourvèdre. Strong aromas of eucalyptus leaves dominate a thick tannic concentration of dark cherry and cassis with a light simplicity to the finish.
Alvarinho from the northern Vinho Verde region lends itself to bubbles with its naturally crisp character. It gives a wine that has a tight mineral texture that lifts the citrus and green-apple fruits. The wine, packed with acidity, is ready to drink.
The volatiles are amped up here, providing some aromatic distraction. The palate brings high-octane fruit flavors, supported by lightly dry tannins. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
Vanilla and cinnamon notes show some oak influence in this medium-bodied well-made wine that has enough plum and red-cherry flavors to balance out a lightly tannic texture.
This wine is in the “velvet” school of red blends, showing a very supple, rich texture and a definite level of sweetness to soften the overall impact. It has sweet-seeming aromas like maple syrup and blackberry jam, and ripe fruits on the palate too.
This delivers dense and chewy flavors of spirit-soaked raspberry, nutmeg and chocolate-covered orange. Its velvety smoothness is energized by fresh acidity, making this very easy to enjoy. Pair it with mushroom risotto or semi-seasoned cheeses.
Here's a delicious and bright wine that boasts plum, black cherry, white pepper and nutmeg sensations. It combines the freshness of Valpolicella with the ripeness of Amarone, and is very food friendly.
Ripe black cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry notes abound on the nose and in the mouth of this accessible wine. Medium weight, with fine yet spicy tannins and a medium-length finish that's kissed with a hint of mocha. Easy, approachable and food friendly; drink now.
A complex, full-bodied wine that is full of mature fruit flavors with a touch of toast to add to the attractive mix. With apple, quince and almonds well blended together, this is a finely balanced wine, that could age for a couple of years more.
Medium-intense scents of ripe blackberry and raspberry unfold on the nose of this wine, with additional accents of garrigue and softly toasted oak in the background. Dark fruit flavors abound on the palate, with a solid sweet-spice flavor that stays through the lasting finish.
Briny, slightly herbal aromas suggest lifted horse hide and leather notes. This is lively on the palate, with herbal, foxy flavors of plum and cassis that finish with toasty oak, licorice and heat. This is a bright, honest introduction to what Priorat wines are about.
This is a straightforward Amarone, with red fruit and spice aromas. The palate delivers cherry and raspberry flavors and a hint of white pepper. It's not as rich as some Amarones, but the lithe tannins and fresh acidity make it very drinkable.
The Kingpin Cabernet leans into the flavors of savory herb and leaf, with peppery accents to the light strawberry fruit. It's a pleasant, relatively light style that fades into a gentle finish.
This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, sends up toasty aromatics richly imbued with the scents of new oak. John Bookwalter consistently makes wines in this style, which in a cooler year such as 2010, can seem to mask the fruit. Give it plenty of breathing time and the blackberry and black cherry core will begin to emerge from the toast, mocha and coffee.
Medium sweet in style, this is as much about ripe tropical and pineapple fruits as about spice and richness. It's an opulent, full-bodied wine, showing its spice right up front. At the same time, it is well balanced, hinting at acidity at the end. Drink from 2015.
This leads with pretty fragrances of plum and black cherry, with hints of oak and vanilla. The palate is soft and round, offering dark fruit and chocolate flavors layered with cinnamon and nutmeg.
A first for Lauren Ashton, this barrel-fermented Sémillon was sourced from the excellent Dineen Vineyard. It's firm and tightly packed with melon, jicama, pineapple and green banana fruit. Highlights of honeysuckle and lemon verbena are also in the mix. The finish is a little short, but more bottle age might well bump up the score.
This has a fragrance of black fruit, vanilla and oak. On the palate, it shows mature blackberry and plum-cake flavors, along with very evident oak and toasted notes. While this is still alluring, the fruit and freshness are starting to fade, so drink soon.
Complex in Middle Eastern and baking spices, Occasio's Petite Sirah is meant to be a tribute to the Livermore Valley's early days of viticultural promise and it delivers in a modern way. With a juicy mouthfeel of red and black fruit, it retains vibrant acidity and finishes long.
Gold in color, this is a mature wine interesting for its roasted almond and spice flavors, very ripe and rich. Drink this full-bodied wine now.
Made with the Friulano grape—formerly known as Tocai Friulano—this white offers lemon peel and mineral aromas that carry over to the palate. It's long and linear, with a crisp finish.
Decadent in coffee, toffee and caramel tones, the leathery mouthfeel of this wine is met head-to-head by a juiciness of ripe, dense blackberry fruit. An approachable Petite Sirah that will also please lovers of the variety's chewiness and concentration.
This savory selection offers a spicy bouquet of black pepper, nutmeg and clove, along with blackberry and cherry notes. It has a refined and vibrant palate, with black cherry, pepper and spice notes framed by silky tannins and refreshing acidity.
The American oak aging (80%) plays a significant role here but not in a bad way. There are notes of toast and Mounds bar with ripe flavors and a cranberry-filled finish.
All varietal, the aromas juxtapose notes of dark plum and chocolate with generous wood spices. The wood and fruit seem to tussle on the palate, with the wood winning out on the finish.
The aromas offer light notes of vanilla, plum and clove. The palate is full and generously flavored, with the tannins bringing some grit.
Fresh boysenberry aromas and Concord grape scents are lifted by cracked peppercorn on the nose of this bottling. There is a touch of dill to the palate, where black cherry and chocolate flavors also arise on the lighter, simple yet tasty bottling.
The nose on this bottling shows fresh boysenberry and primary grape scents, with lots of sweet rosemary and purple flower nuance. The sip is not overly complicated, with tar at first and then waves of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, lifted by thyme and peppercorns.
Very ripe and sumptuous notes of blueberry pie make for an appetizing proposition. This blueberry fruit plays the major role on this medium-bodied but fresh, easy-drinking red. It is full of joy and provides a dense, balance palate of ripeness and ease.
Aromas of Band-Aid, herb, cranberry and cherry lead to elegantly styled fruit flavors. Chewy tannins and tart acids provide the frame.
This 100% varietal wine is made in a seemingly light-handed style, lean on the palate in graphite and tart cherry, with a diluted edge. It gains succulence in the glass, with a juicy overlay of tobacco and cinnamon-dusted raspberry.
The wine is ripe and soft, with a style that is more towards tropical fruits. So apricots, ripe pears are cut with crisp acidity. The wine is tangy at the end with orange zest flavors. Drink from 2017.
A red-fruit-dominated rosé that is full of bright fruits and a smooth texture. It has acidity to balance the ripe nature of the wine. This style is really for food, ripe and rich in the mouth.
The aromas of gooseberry, lime, herb and passion fruit pop. The flavors are broad and tart. The concentration isn't quite all there but it brings plenty to hold the interest and should do well at the dinner table.
The personal project of longtime Souverain winemaker Ed Killian, this is a rich, round and full-bodied white, offering sizable components of baked pear and apple, the oak toasty and integrated.
This is a brooding, medium-bodied wine made by a Cabernet Sauvignon producer. Strawberry, cassis and a sprinkling of mountain pine play on the palate with enough body and weight to pair well with food.
Fresh, pliable, slightly pear and apple scented and dry—what's not to like? This does not make any demands on you and is a marvel of versatility, also implying lots of fun and freshness. Easy-drinking, dry Grüner with a wonderfully appley finish.
Aromas of pure lemon zest and green pear notes fuse into lime zest on the streamlined palate of this easy and superrefreshing summer Riesling. Drink soon.
Pressed black plum and crushed dill team up for a lively and fresh nose on this bottling that also offers tobacco and coffee aromas. Woody cedar flavors lead the palate that is full of lighter-toned strawberry and red-plum fruit. Black pepper adds spice and pencil lead adds minerality.
Intensely ripe red apple and cherry flavors abound in this fun, slightly funky sparkling wine. Fermented in the bottle but undisgorged, its delicate froth fills the mouth with a fine, soft fizz and a slightly leesy finish.
Rich black cherry, cola, turned earth and smoked meats show strongly in the inviting nose of this bottling from the San Luis Obispo County appellation's namesake winery. A fine-grained tannic structure kicks off the palate, where smoked blueberry and elderberry meet with leather flavors, all carrying a decent weight for such an affordable wine.
Toast, espresso, oak and grilled sage aromas lead the way while the firm palate delivers ripe raspberry, fleshy cherry, powdered sage and star anise. Astringent tannins provide support but also dry out the finish.
Lifted lemony flavors signal a fresh wine. The palate, in contrast, has more rounded, fluid notes and a core of freshness with a distinct hint of alcoholic heat on the finish.
This is the winery's inaugural vintage of this wine, which blends Birch Creek Grenache (57%) and Mourvèdre (14%) with estate Syrah. The aromas pop, with notes of stargazer lilies, dried tobacco, white pepper and red fruit that lead to soft, silky, very pretty fruit flavors.
This blend of 59% Roussanne, 36% Grenache Blanc and 5% Viognier is very lemony on the nicely restrained nose that also offers mango, yellow apple and grapefruit pith. Once sipped, the wine is wide and welcoming with red and yellow apples, Meyer lemon and tangerine flavors, proving quite easy-drinking.
Chunky stone-fruit aromas are ripe, mature and indicative that this Chardonnay is about to start fading. Heavy, honeyed flavors of nectarine and apple finish with a note of oxidation, mild barrel spice and just enough acidity to maintain balance. Drink now.
Jammy blueberry aromas are grapy, with ample char and grit coming from background oak. This feels firm, wiry, grabby and drying. Jammy, herbal flavors of cassis and blueberry finish with big, rubbery, elastic tannins.
The aromas bring appeal, with notes of sour cherry, herbs and spice. The palate is light bodied, tart and elegant, with a coffee-filled finish. It's a pretty expression of the variety.
Fruity, floral and honeylike flavors give a lot of oomph to this wonderfully expressive, medium-bodied wine. It's as if honeysuckle and orange blossoms were soaked in fresh pear juice.
Generously filling and satisfying, this Bordeaux-styled blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It's medium in oak and tannin, with a toasty character underlying red cherry, currant and cassis, the ending marked by cedar and clove.
The nose on this semi-dry Riesling is a touch savory, brimming with green herb, pressed apple and pear aromas. The palate, however, turns fresher, floral and fruity, filling the mouth with sweet-tart grapefruit and peach flavors. Nervy acidity extends a moderately long finish.
A little bulky and maybe just beginning to fade. This is a rounder and chunkier specimen than the 2008 Cipreses SB, and it shows softness at its core and hints of green bean and bell pepper. Fortunately, holdover acids and green-fruit notes bring it back to higher ground. Drink immediatelyor wait for the release of the '08 vintage.
A perfumed, new wood-dominated wine, but one that does have the weight of fruit to support the wood. The tannins edge between fruit and wood, layered over rich black plums and bitter chocolate flavors. Under everything is fresh acidity to give the wine a welcome, vivid final lift.
Chocolate and bitter cherries dominate this full-on wine, packed with spice and toasty wood flavors. In mouthfeel, it is very rich, smooth, dense and velvety at the same time.
Velvety textured and full in weight with moderate tannic presence, this wine is powerful while remaining immediately approachable. Black cherry, blueberry, menthol and iris aromas lead into the palate of stewed red berries, pepper and eucalyptus leaves. A lingering finish of muted thin mint closes beautifully.
Spicy, slightly resinous with notes of leaf, clove and licorice that complement good dark cassis fruit. Some coffee and smoke enter into the middle and finish, though the flavors fall away rather quickly. It's well balanced and a pleasure to drink, but not built for cellaring.
Spicy, earthy, assertive…this wine has character. Toast, fruit, minerality and citrus on the palate gives it a fun feel, but the wine is seriously good. Excellent for seafood or more complex Asian cuisine.
Of the various Huber Pinot Noirs, this is the one most in need of 2–3 years of cellaring. Some pungent cabbage and cedar aromas should be better integrated by then, and the firm tannins now evident on the finish should also be at least partially resolved. Right now, there's a hint of silkiness and some nice plum and sous-bois notes that should only improve over the short term.
Shows the mushroomy, earthier side of New Zealand Pinot Noir, but does it very well, backing up those flavors with plenty of weight and intensity as well as cola-tinged dark fruit. Ends with some slightly coarse tannins, so put it away for a couple of years, or serve with a charred dry-aged steak.
A live-wire wine with baby powder, tropical fruit, citrus and green melon on the nose. Made in the forward, fruit-first style; it radiates with natural acidity such to the point that it's borderline aggressive. But with such power you also get strong green apple and grapefruit flavors. Edgy and citric overall, but at the same time you won't get shorted.
Bang! One sniff of this wine and you are floating in those distinct, semisharp aromas that are Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. There's sea air, nettle and citrus galore, and then flavors of gooseberry, green fruit and grapefruit. It's fresh and forward, with angularity and strong varietal character.
A Cabernet Sauvignon-like version of Petit Verdot, this has tame tannins and is all around soft and mellow, with straightforward berry and cedar notes. It would make a fine food wine.
Full of fig and grapefruit flavor, this was never aged in oak. A small addition of Sémillon adds to its richness and long finish.
Earthy notes of clay and mushroom lend a rugged complexity to aromas of roasted plums and cherries on this lush yet composed wine. The palate is densely concentrated with black cherry flavor, but anchored with bright acidity and a blanket of velvet tannins.
Touches of vanilla, toast and sweet biscuit waft sumptuously from this classically-styled Chardonnay-Pinot Noir sparkler. Delicate and supple in mousse, it finishes vivaciously and fresh with a streak of lemon-lime acidity.
A thin wisp of smoke lends complexity to a bouquet full of sunny peaches and apricots on this perfumed Riesling. Off-dry in style, sweet pink-grapefruit flavor quenches the palate. It's dancingly light in body yet surprisingly powerful in concentration.
100% varietal with the majority of the fruit coming from Weinbau Vineyard, it brings notes of plum, whole green pepper and coffee. The palate lies on the lighter side of medium bodied, fleshing out with some time open, with a lovely texture but with some grit to the tannins. Perhaps some additional time in the bottle with smooth it out.
Savory aromas of bay leaf and fennel pair with mushrooms and freshly turned dirt on this single-vineyard wine. The flavors are also more earthy than fruity, with oregano, thyme, tea, espresso, cola and only a hint of cranberry. The tannins are strong, so this will last for a few years.
Vintage after vintage, there's a smoky, dusty undertone to this intensely mineral Riesling. It's dry on the palate with streaks of fresh lemon, lime and herb that linger long and lean on the finish. Fine and fleeting in texture, yet remarkably powerful in presence.
A blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this savory wine boasts structure and drinkability. Aromas of toast, chocolate and ripe plum carry over to the palate along with dark cherry, white pepper and smooth, velvety tannins. It's made for early drinking so enjoy soon.
A potpourri of violets, sweet baking spices and woodland berries take center stage. The savory palate offers up wild cherry, black raspberry and cinnamon alongside supple tannins and fresh acidity. Drink soon.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this straightforward wine offers aromas of forest floor, violet, red berry and spices. The juicy palate delivers ripe black fruit accented with notes of white pepper, cinnamon, black tea and clove alongside firm but ripe tannins. Enjoy this now through 2018.
This is a heavily wooded wine, with tannins giving a firm and dry character at this stage. It has weight and a powerful structure, but needs time to develop riper fruit and plum flavors. It's always likely to show wood flavors, but certainly wait until 2017.
Fortified Tannat certainly has tannins, but it lends itself well to this sweet style. It's rich, obviously ageworthy with ripe black fruits and concentrated sweetness that's balanced by acidity. It should be aged until 2018.
Even after four years, this wine is showing strong wood flavors. Hopefully this burnt toastiness will calm down, because the fruit has potential. It is rich and packed with blueberry and black currant fruits while still firmly tannic. Drink from 2017.
The blend is 86% Syrah and 14% Mourvèdre. The wine is medium bodied, not very rich or textured, but solid, with some slightly dusty tannins on the finish. Aromas and flavors cover an appealing range, from hints of garrigue, vanilla and cedar to ripe raspberries. Drink it now and over the next few years.
Well built, this feels firm and structured and tastes alive and fruity. Aromas suggest blackberry and dark plum, and it tastes of those fruit too, with a velvety texture. It's medium-bodied, balanced by firm tannins and good acidity, and well-rounded in flavor.
This is the freshest of the sweet wine produced by Henri Ramonteau at Cauhapé. It is a lively, fruity wine, full of refreshing acidity as well as pineapple, apricot and honey flavors. The end shows a touch of spice. Drink now.
This is an effusively fruity white that's full bodied but not over the top. Citrus notes accent melon and pineapple, a reflection of the wines composition: 40% Rolle (better known as Vermentino), 40% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne. Drink it up by early 2015, or look for the next vintage.
Ripe white fruits are cut by a refreshing grapefruit acidity. It's so bright, crisp with a bounce to its texture that's irresistible. The aftertaste is a shower of bright flavors. Drink now.
Zesty lemons and limes are perfumed with whiffs of orange blossom on this brisk, revitalizing dry Riesling. Tart tangerine acidity penetrates deeply on the palate, leading a finish that's crisp and clean.
Tarry, briary, gritty aromas take some getting used to. This blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan and Marsanne conveys sharp, juicy acidity. Flavors of currant, red plum and spice finish on the racy and raw side, with herbal notes and a lasting peppery flavor.
Great freshness and and almost grassy fruitiness join the yeasty autolytic notes. There is frothy liveliness and irrepressible fruit—red and green apple, a hint of pineapple and zesty lemon. This is one for those who prefer their sparklers full of fruit and life. Midpalate concentration makes this robust enough for food.
An aromatically intriguing wine with notes of pepper, cherry cola, chocolate and herbs. It's medium bodied, flavorful with generous cherry notes and a fleshy feel.
This opens with exotic aromas of charcuterie along with blue fruits. The palate is heavy and blocky in feel, with grabbing tannins. Roasted berry, spice and herbal notes finish oaky and toasty.
Tart red cherry and fresh herb lend a crisp, cool tone to this elegantly composed Syrah. The palate is plush and concentrated in red plum and cherry flavors that are balanced by bristling cranberry acidity. Velvet tannins cap the finish.
Fans of Vino Nobile will adore this pretty and accessible Rosso. It opens with a delicate fragrance of violet, perfumed berries and baking spices. The refined palate delivers juicy wild cherry and raspberry lightly accented with cinnamon notes alongside supple tannins and fresh acidity. A hint of licorice marks the close.
Crushed blue flower, succulent black cherry, wild raspberry and baking spices jump from the glass. The juicy fruit palate is balanced by soft, round tannins. It closes on a lively mineral note. Drink through 2015.
Smoky, charred aromas are rugged and center around black fruits. This is a blend of Mazuelo (Carignan), Garnacha and Syrah, and it's decidedly ripe. Loamy flavors of blackberry and plum are earthy, while the finish is toasty and ends with a bitter espresso note.
Made from organically farmed grapes, this savory wine opens with aromas of crushed violet, black cherry, wild raspberry, plum, white pepper and baking spices. The succulent fruit palate is supported by chewy tannins and fresh acidity. A licorice note marks the finish.
This serious, solid wine has all the structure of Morgon with its firm, mineral texture. Rich and full-bodied, it's packed with dark plum and blackberry fruits as well as firm, ageworthy tannins. Drink from 2015.
This medium-bodied, supple wine is laced with notes of hickory smoke, mushroom and ripe cherries. It's pleasantly jammy, with just enough savory and structural elements to keep its fruity side in check. Drink now–2017.
The addition of 9% Traminette lends a blossomy flair to fresh apple and tangerine notes in this bright, unoaked Chardonnay. Brisk and revitalizing, with a zesty lime-toned acidity, it's a satisfying late-summer quaffer at a bargain price.
Made from the native grape Nerello Mascalese grown on Mount Etna, this salmon colored rosato offers bright red cherry, juicy pink grapefruit, nectarine, white pepper and mineral sensations. The savory palate is balanced by vibrant acidity.
Aromas of blue flower, mature black fruit, underbrush and subtle oak lead the nose of this Taurasi. The palate offers solid tannins and flavors of mature plum, stewed prune and plum cake, accented by a hint of allspice.
Powdery, perfumed aromas of raspberry and red plum announce a palate with ringing acidity. Plum, red currant and strawberry flavors come with moderate loamy weight, while the finish takes on an earthy quality that's balanced by shearing, tangy acidity. This is only 60% Tempranillo while the rest is Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink through 2020.
Toasty, oaky aromas of popcorn and modest fruits set up an elegant feeling palate with a mild but present bubble bead. Apple, nectarine and citrus flavors finish long and pure, with a dry, citrusy feel.
This was pressed whole-cluster and fermented in French oak, roughly one-third new. It's a flavorful wine with caramel apple appeal, good definition and medium length. The barrels put a pleasing toasty frame around the finish.
A citrus-inflected, vanilla-leaning nuttiness consumes the aromas of this offering, which makes for a very pleasant sipping experience. There is good acidity, with apple, lemon and a bit of tropically, including nicely rounded fruit in the midpalate. A dazzling zest continues to the finish as well.
Made of Kalecik Karasi, an indigenous Turkish grape, this wine has aromas of strawberry and orange rind that are a pleasant prelude to flavors of tart and ripe summer cherry, pomegranate, vanilla and a whisper of salinity. Tongue-coating tannins fade into the smooth, bright finish.
Light straw in color, this wine offers aromas of pineapple, river rock and toast. Flavors of honeydew, guava, orange blossom and bitter almond are evident on the palate. The symmetry of creamy and tangy sensations continues into the smooth finish.
This Napa-side-of-Carneros Chardonnay is resplendent in crisp yet hearty aromas of apple, pear and flowery jasmine. Well put-together, it offers electric acidity and enough rounded texture to pair magnificently with food. On the finish is a hint of tarte Tatin, a tiny seasoning of cinnamon and nutmeg on top.
A bouquet of blackberry, violet and subtle rose petal is the precursor to rich flavors of cherry, blackberry, strawberry, clove and mint. A blend of Syrah and Merlot, this offers a chewy texture and refreshing astringency that carries through to the velvety finish.
Medium garnet in color, this wine has a bouquet of cranberry and chocolate. It is simultaneously bright and velvety, with an interesting flavor profile of fennel bulb, strawberry, lemon zest and coffee. The mellow finish has a lingering note of toasted coriander seed.
Steel is the medium and the message, meaning it's completely unoaked, with no malolactic fermentation. The flavors are spicy and bright, mixing cucumber, mint and green melon with a dash of white pepper.
A dark tint and ripe aromas of blackberry, black plum and leather are appealing and inviting. This is weighty and full-bodied, with blackberry, boysenberry and cassis flavors. There's not a lot of nuance or complexity, but overall this is clean, tasty and generous.
A blend of Xinomavro and the native grapes Krasato and Stavroto, this is an elegant wine showcasing aromas and flavors of plum, cherry, tobacco and violet. Mineral and coffee notes add to the poised character.
Perfumed and aromatically distinctive wine, it carries notes of juniper, sagebrush, black pepper and cranberry. It's soft and sultry, lighter in feel, narrowing toward the finish.
For the vintage, this is a surprisingly soft wine. It's already juicy, full of fresh strawberries and soft tannins. That makes for a delicious wine, rounded with a touch of wood. It's not likely to age much beyond 2017,  but is certainly attractive now.
The nose is lifted with bright spice and suggestions of pungent herbs. Black fruits carry a touch of mocha and lead into a crisp, moderately tannic finish. Balance and length are excellent.
Layered in ripe red fruit like cassis and currant, it offers smoothness amidst grippy tannins and savory suggestions of toasty oak, black tea and soy. All need air and time to develop more fully. Pair with a classic pepper steak and garlicky mashed potatoes.
An alluring combination of smoked meats and roasted peppers—think chile relleno with chorizo—frame the the aromas of this bottling, alongside espresso, mocha and fresh cigar. Once sipped, there's a smooth mouthfeel with cedar and cherry flavors, a touch of oregano and an oaky vanilla sense on the finish. The 19% Merlot evens things out.
Concentrated, compact aromas of black fruits are generous but also monotonous and low on character. A big, bulky palate is round but offers enough acidic kick to keep everything above water. Baked, flat flavors of black fruits and roasted meat finish smooth but low on pulse. Drink through 2017.
Drink this effusively scented, supple wine over the next few years for its bold notes of garrigue and buoyant berry flavors. It's almost creamy in texture, with a reasonably long finish for the modest tariff.
Direct berry fruit aromas are firm and tight. This feels ripped, honest and authentic, but ultimately approachable and uncomplicated. Black fruit, raw oak and licorice flavors precede a woody and weighty yet fresh and clean finish.
Aged for a year in new oak, this hefty wine opens with aromas of vanilla, chocolate, plum and toast. The dense, juicy palate delivers concentrated blackberry, blueberry extract and vanilla, but you'll also notice an alcoholic warmth.
A perfumed wine, it's rich and full of ripe berry flavors. Solid tannins are integrating well into the fruitiness. It feels dense and with good potential. Drink from 2018.
Big and fruity, this rich wine offers warm tropical fruits as well as crisper lemon acidity. It shows a touch of steeliness, but emphasizes fully ripe fruits that are immediately appealing. Drink now.
A dark-hued wine, it's richly fruity with spice and wood flavors. It is ripe, full in the mouth, offering solid tannins as well as attractive acidity. It's suited for medium-term aging, so drink from 2016.
This wine opens with aromas of leafy underbrush, meat juices and stewed prunes. The palate initially reveals rich black plum combined with extremely sweet sensations of cherry syrup. But the fruit doesn't stand up to the assertive and astringent tannins that generate a hollow midpalate and an abrupt, bitter finish.
Aromas of black fruit, baking spices and meat juices carry over to the palate along with ripe berry, vanilla and hints of mocha. This is very soft and ready with a sweet, almost sugary finish. Drink soon.
Sourced from the Lonesome Spring Ranch vineyard, this pure Barbera offers light cranberry fruit flavors, tart and puckery, retaining a sense of freshness despite being released more than four years after the vintage. Pretty cherry candy flavors come up in the back, leaving a pleasing impression. Drink up soon before the wine starts to fade.
With its pretty, delicate fragrance of white flowers, this Arneis shows that Piedmont can also make interesting whites, especially from native grapes. On the palate it delivers pear, green apple and a hint of mineral along with a smooth texture and crisp acidity. Saranty Imports, Pleasure Elite.
Smooth and soft in the mouth, this has rich cherry flavors and a generous amount of caramel and chocolate from barrel aging. It's a palate-pleasing wine, straightforward and probably at its drinking peak.
Overripe black berries, vanilla, leather and a touch of coconut lead the nose. The palate delvers fleshy black cherry layered with chocolate and a coffee note alongside evolved, rather tired tannins. It's not an ager so enjoy this soon.
This wine offers good value in aromas full of violet perfume and a suggestion of cedar. Taste-wise it offers raspberry liqueur in a soft, understated package, and long, straightforward finish. A great go-to for mid-week meals and larger gatherings, it'll pair with versatility.
Crosè is a hearty rosato made from Nebbiolo, the grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco. It has a bright character with ripe cherry-berry fruit balanced by crisp acidity. While structured, it's also very drinkable.
Aromas of mature black fruit, spearmint and espresso come with the barest whiff of earthy farmyard. The palate offers up black cherry, raspberry and black pepper accented with toast and espresso, all alongside assertive but drying tannins. It's forward and evolved with ideal drinking time 2015–2019.
The wine opens with aromas of oak, toast, coffee, black fruit and spearmint. The palate offers black currants, sour cherry, espresso and mint alongside dusty, drying tannins. Reflecting the vintage, this young Brunello is already accessible, so drink 2015–2019.
This opens with aromas of leather, black fruit, spice and balsamic herbs along with earthy notes. The palate delivers black cherry flavors accented with notes of vanilla, cinnamon. espresso and a hint of grilled herbs. However, it's evolved with a short finish, so enjoy soon.
Aromas include ripe red and black fruit, spice, mint, espresso and oak. The palate is extremely soft and forward, showing mature black plum, toast, coffee and vanilla extract alongside evolved tannins. Reflecting the hot vintage, it lacks energy for the long term so enjoy over the next few years.
Earthy berry aromas come with a touch of compost and rubber. This feels juicy, racy and slick, with red plum and raspberry leading the flavor charge. A fresh, lightly herbal finish is the final act.
Showing the richness and structure of the 2010 vintage, this is an opulent wine, full of black fruits. It has a dark structure, smoky bacon flavors and powerful tannins. Ripe and generous, the fruit can cope with this structure. It does need to age, so drink from 2017.
On the ripe side of herbaceous, this is a full and rounded wine. It has citrus flavors along with richer tropical fruits, a mineral edge and delicious, juicy acidity. The wine can be drunk now, but will be better after 2015.
Rich already, this wine is darkly tannic and powered by solid tannins. The weight of fruit behind the tannins also brings out acidity and black currant flavors. It will remain dry but well structured and with good fruitiness. Drink from 2017.
The herbaceousness comes from both the Sauvignon and Sémillon in the blend. The Sémillon also gives a full texture as well as potential richness. With attractive citrus acidity, this is a very drinkable wine that can age.
The blend includes 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and was aged in 22% new (mostly French) oak. A streak of caraway and pepper suggests less than optimal ripening, though the fruit reaches tart black cherry concentration. Tannins are a bit astringent.
Spicy herbal notes creep into a ripe nose of apricot and red apple. The same savory, earthy touch plays on the softened palate.
A pretty spray of cherry blossom perfume runs from start to finish on this off-dry rosé. It's a bit honeyed on the palate, with ripe, luscious cherry flavor, but it's quaffable and undeniably tasty.
Highly concentrated black-fruit aromas of plum and currant are made more interesting by cola and forest-floor notes. This is a dense, chewy and almost fat Cabernet Sauvignon. Baked berry, fig and savory grilled-meat flavors are massive, backed up by a lush, deep finish. Drink 2018–2025.
Les Collines is one of the most exciting Syrah vineyards in the state and this wine, which all comes from Block 30 and saw only neutral barrels, expresses this site exquisitely. It opens with aromas of violets, rubbed herb, smoked meat and purple fruit. The palate brings a mesmerizing sense of purity, with mouth-coating seamless fruit and savory flavors. It drinks well on its own but is really designed for the dinner table.
This cleanly made wine has potential to live long in the cellar. Intensely focused aromas of black raspberry and black plum combine with crushed asphalt and a touch of purple flowers on the nose. The tightly wound palate slowly reveals tart boysenberry, char and pine resin, flavors that the firm structure will reveal even more deliciously with time. Drink 2018–2029.
Velvety on the palate, this coastal wine from a site three miles from the Pacific Ocean shows cool-climate savory tones of cranberry, rose petal and pine, with streaks of black licorice adding to the complex range of flavor. Integrated and lushly elegant, it finishes in a strong touch of cardamom.
Quite dark in the glass, this meticulous blend of 47.32% Mourvèdre, 42.18% Syrah, 7.5% Petite Sirah and 3% Grenache shows rich, nose-tickling aromas of dried purple flowers, dark blueberry, caramelized blackberry and a touch of vanilla. The palate perfectly pairs dark fruit and bright acidity with touches of caramel and a tar-like structure. It's big, yet balanced.
Red berry, camphor, dried Alpine herb and a whiff of espresso are some of the aromas you'll find on this firmly structured red. On the young, taut palate, assertive fine-grained tannins frame red cherry, star anise and coffee bean. It's still young, with a tight, tongue-drying finish. Drink 2023–2033.
Aromas of menthol, red berry, coffee and blue flower waft from the glass along with whiffs of chopped aromatic herb. The aromas follow through to the velvety palate along with Marasca cherry, raspberry and licorice. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide a structured framework. Drink 2025–2033.
The second wine from the biodynamic estate of Durfort-Vivens, this is a deliciously ripe fruity wine, dominated by 82% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a crisp accessible character that will allow it to age relatively quickly. The wine has juicy acidity, red-berry fruits and final acidity. Drink from 2019.
From the producer's mountain estate, and blended with 7% Malbec, this wine is chalky in blue fruit, with a hearty back-palate of tannin. The grit softens in the glass, revealing nuanced elegance and shades of nutmeg, cherry and blueberry brightness.
Dark in color and deep in heavily ripened fruit flavors, this full-bodied, concentrated wine is a show-stopper. A quiet sense of power comes from the dried plum and raisin aromas and the rich blueberry, clove and dark-chocolate flavors. This is a keeper that will be best to drink after 2020.
Blended with 12% Grenache, aromas of blackberry, caper, fresh herb, cranberry, mineral and spice are followed by full-bodied, lush black-fruit flavors, with white pepper and raw meat notes that persist on the finish. It flat out impresses, bringing a compelling sense of balance.
This medium-weight wine shows a crispness of style and provenance. Caramelized oak is softened and made fruity by the taste of apple skin and pear. Stony mineral is given additional freshness by layers of lemon peel and orange zest, finishing focused and clean.
Red-cherry sauce, sagebrush, bay leaf and peppercorns show on the nose of this bottling that offers an intense density of aromas. The structure is firm and grabs hold of the palate, where flavors of tart red cherry, chaparral and slate combine.
This dark, concentrated number is new from the García family, known for the wines of San Román and Mauro. Like most reds from this clan, this is loaded with blackberry and toasty oak aromas. A massive, raw palate shows abrasive tannins. Oak-forward flavors of blackberry, cassis and coconut finish woody and powerful. Drink from 2018–2028.
This full-bodied wine opens with aromas of crushed berry, tobacco, leather, clove and a balsamic note. The robust enveloping palate offers cherry marinated in spirits, licorice, peppercorn and dried herb framed in firm velvety tannins.
Underbrush, scorched earth, ripe berry, blue flower and leather aromas take shape in the glass. The full-bodied enveloping palate doles out black cherry marinated in spirits, fleshy raspberry, truffle game and dark baking spice alongside firm, velvety tannins. A licorice note marks the finish. It's evolving quickly and won't need years to come around. Drink 2020–2030.
Light cranberry and pomegranate show on the nose of this always-anticipated bottling by Dan Lee, with a pine-needle aroma to provide depth. The slightly sour flavor of Montmorency cherries mixes with snappy cranberry and underripe red currants on the sip, which gains herbal and peppery spice complexity as it breathes.
Intensely fragrant, this opens with stunning aromas of iris, violet, perfumed berry and a whiff of botanical herb. Linear and refined, the focused palate offers red cherry, strawberry, white pepper and a hint of star anise framed in taut refined tannins and bright acidity. It shows great tension and energy. Drink 2023–2035.
Made by Ric Forman from Zin grown on the Nichelini Vineyard in Chiles Valley and Sangiovese from the Antinori family's Antica Vineyard on Atlas Peak, this wine is rich and dense in red fruit that's layered and ripe. Aged for a year in used Burgundy barrels, it retains juicy freshness and elegance, with subtle touches of vanilla and baking spice.
This is the producer's first release from this site. It succeeds wildly with its juicy, tart flavors of cranberry and red cherry that become fleshy and concentrated on the palate. Complex and delicious, it finishes with a thickness of toast and black tea.
This is a big, flamboyant example of white Hermitage. The aromas are exotic and floral, tinged by oak to resemble grilled pear and citrus, while the flavors suggest grilled corn, peach and toast. Drink it now for its exuberance, or keep through 2030. Three cases imported.
This wine is a blend of equal parts Art Den Hoed, Lawrence, Red Heaven and Stoney Vine vineyard fruit, with the latter stealing the show. The aromas pop, with notes of grilled asparagus, black and green olive, ember, wet rock and moist earth. The palate is chock-full of earth, smoked meat and other savory flavors that bring a textured feel and linger on the finish.
The aromas are brooding initially, opening up over time to reveal notes of tar, dried herb, smoked meat, black olive, potpourri , orange peel and white pepper. The palate brings a real sense of freshness and intensity, with notes of flowers and earth. Lemon-twist and orange-peel notes brighten and focus the flavors.
This is a cool-climate expression of Syrah from a biodynamically farmed vineyard west of the Sta. Rita Hills. The nose shows extreme tar, beef char, cracked black pepper and bay leaf, with gamy undertones. The tightly wound palate combines dusty elderberry with charcoal, more pepper and a lavender-rosemary flash on the finish.
Still dry and concentrated and with swathes of rich tannins, the wine is dark and dense. The undertow of ripe black fruit is impressive. It obviously has considerable aging potential, Drink this serious wine from 2025.
This is a full-bodied wine, from one of the leading estates in Margaux. It is ripe with juicy blackberry and black-currant fruits. This fruit contrasts with the dark tannins and powerful structure. It is going to develop slowly and impressively to be ready to drink from 2025.
Red berry, aromatic herb, pressed violet and dark spice aromas meld together in the glass. Firmly structured, the palate boasts intensity and energy, offering dark cherry, licorice and mint set against a backbone of fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. It's well balanced but young so give this time to fully develop. Drink 2020–2032.
Aromas of pomegranate, black fruit, herb and barrel spice lead to rich seamless palate-coating dark-fruit flavors. It's hedonistic but retains a sense of balance along with an unabashed deliciousness.
This full-bodied, concentrated wine shows plenty of power in its bringing together of the variety with smaller percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. With a huge presence on the palate that lingers and stays in one's brain, it shows a reductive quality of toasted oak along with black pepper, bark and leather saddle,. It's a wine to enjoy from a giant leather chaise, if possible. Cellar until 2023.
The estate is owned by the Olazabal family, descendants of Antonia Ferreira who created this and many other estates in the 19th century. This is a major wine, ripe and full of rich tannins and concentrated fruit. It is always one of the longest-lived wines from the Douro and this vintage has the structure and the fruit weight to develop well. An attractive spicy, smoky character adds extra interest. Drink from 2022.
A wine marking the 50th anniversary of Robert Mondavi Winery's founding, this shows the grandeur of the man, the vineyard and the vintage. Full bodied and robust, it's intense in bark, tar and black licorice, with dottings of coconut. Aromatically inviting, it's dusty and soft, with acres of complexity and structure. Enjoy it in 2023 and beyond.
From the beautiful, historic site planted to some of the oldest vines of the variety in Northern California, this delicious white explodes in juicy green apple and an intensity of fresh-squeezed lemon. That succulence lingers atop a lengthy, salty texture wrapped in subtle, supportive oak.
Full-bodied and velvety, this opens with alluring aromas of baking spice, mature plum, violet, Alpine herb and a balsamic note. The concentrated palate is smooth and robust, but it also boasts a weightless quality, delivering dried black cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon, anise, dried date and pipe tobacco alongside firm polished tannins and fresh acidity. A mineral note closes the finish. This is the best Sfursat 5 Stelle I've tried so far. Drink 2018–2028.
Sultry aromas of black plum, violet, lava rocks, smoke, caramelized beef, forest floor and star anise draw the nose into this hearty, well-rounded wine. There is both vibrant energy and tannic grip to the palate, with dense, dark cranberry, tangy fruit skins, a touch of vanilla and a minty fennel element on the finish.
From the Happy Canyon-based team behind the ultra luxury Crown Point project comes this bottling, offering a taste of the high life for a slightly more affordable price. Pressed blueberry, black cherry and sour plum aromas mesh with dried oregano, bay leaf, black pepper and pencil shavings on the nose. There's lots of depth to the palate, with dark olallieberry, eucalyptus oil and pine needle flavors leading into a hazelnut, caramel, coffee and vanilla finish.
From stunningly set vines overlooking the Carmel Valley that in this vintage produced only 1.25 tons an acre (or 1.12 pounds per plant) comes this stellar wine, redolent on the nose with black plum, mulberry, turned earth, wet mud, woody sagebrush, incense and sandalwood. There is great energy on the palate, with mulberry and elderberry flavors enhanced by light coffee, soil and fennel bulbs.
If you love massive Argentine reds with purity of fruit and fine oak, then this blend is up your alley. Toasty blackberry aromas come with plenty of oak grain, vanilla and depth. This is profoundly deep on the palate, while toasty blackberry, chocolate and peppery flavors finish with mocha and bracing tannins that aren't too rocky or hard. Drink through 2025.
This is Robert Mondavi winemaker Genevieve Janssens own micro-project with husband Luc, and she doesn't miss the chance to craft a classic, gorgeous wine. Blending 85% Cabernet Sauvignon from Hendry Ranch and 15% Cabernet Franc from Detert East Vineyard, this wine offers luxurious aromatics and a juicy core of blackberry, black cherry and soft, integrated tannin, a beautiful marriage of sites and vintner.
This wine, with its massive tannins and rich fruit, is obviously set for a long life. It does have the contrast of fresh black-currant acidity to give it a lift. But with the power behind it, the wine will develop slowly. Drink from 2025.
Black in the glass and dense with aromas of cooked blueberry, vanilla, maple syrup, brown sugar, tar, fudge and fresh purple flowers, this wine takes ripeness and concentration to impressive heights. Lavish on the palate with sticky, grippy tannins, the flavors of blueberry fudge, cola, black pepper and lavender are bold and delicious.
This is rich, while also such a stylish wine. It is ripe and full of tannins while masking that firm structure with immensely generous fruit. The two give the wine power, density and elegance. Drink this impressive wine from 2025.
This is a stellar wine. Dusty citrus spiked with clove comes to mind first aromatically and continues through to the palate. Tart acidity supports sublime texture and a lightness that never means lean. Red currant, grapefruit and orange provide additional lift and focus.
Dulcet peach, apricot and citrus sweetness extends languorously from nose to finish in this powerfully ripe, hedonistic wine. It's dancing and delicate in frame, yet unctuously juicy, filling the mouth with a blanket of luminous fruit. Sprightly tangerine acidity and delicate tea-leaf tannins lend structure to a long, penetrating finish. It's irresistible already but should continue to drink well for decades.
Sourced largely from the Martin Stelling Vineyard behind the winery in the western shade of Oakville, this wine opens with charred oak and a smoky, meaty character that intrigues. Seamless on the palate in soft, perceptible tannin, it delves into characteristics of cedar and brushy sage as it goes, unveiling a wildness that's hard to contain. Its bright, fresh finish gives it a roundness that's ready to enjoy now.
Bringing together multiple sites in one wine, this provides a fine example of the sum equalling more than the parts. Well balanced and crafted, it offers aromas of sandalwood and smoked meat that contrast with more exuberant, textured layers of black cherry and citrus peel.
Plump yet bright with fruit, suave yet spicy with herbs and gamy elements, this bottling shows candied cherry and cranberry alongside sage, eucalyptus and slight barnyard notes. The same juicy red fruit immediately elevates the palate, which is then leveled by lively Mediterranean spice and a buoyant acidity.
This winery's bottlings manage to pack bright, fruity energy and a wide array of herbs and seasonings into the same lithe frame. In this case, sagebrush and chaparral meet candied red cherry and dark pomegranate on the nose. The palate shows lots of oregano, thyme and bay leaf against a ripe cranberry base, with touches of black tea and rosehip adding to the complexity.
The mountain appellation speaks loudly in this wine, contributing juicy blackberry, tar and leather, all within a forested context of wild truffle and crunchy leaves. Concentrated and robust in body and ripeness, it unwinds slowly in the glass, imparting jolts of black pepper as it goes.
Always impressive, this wine is structured and powerful, with firm tannins that are still coming together. Packed with black fruits and tannins, it conveys a rich, almost Port-like quality, perhaps because the grapes are foot-trodden as in Port. Drink this wine from 2022.
Site speaks loudly in this beautifully made wine that is allowed to show its naturally inclined power within a constraint of cool-climate terroir. Juicy and explosive on the palate in cherry, raspberry, forest floor and jolts of cardamom, it's both lush and toasty, with a firmness to the tannin structure that suggests plenty of aging potential. It should get pretty interesting between 2024 and 2034, if one can possibly wait.
Combining finesse and structure, this impressive wine opens with fantastic scents of new leather, woodland berry, baking spice and balsamic notes. A blend of Nebbiolo and 15% Vespolina, the enticing palate doles out juicy black cherry, raspberry and white pepper framed in firm refined tannins. An energizing mineral note carries the lingering finish. Despite the warm vintage, it still boasts freshness. Drink through 2026.
Softly layered, this ripe, bold wine shows a wealth of body and complexity. The ripeness will please for its interwoven notions of Dr Pepper, black-cherry jam and black pepper, its tannins leathery and full of bravado.
There is impressive depth to the nose of this bottling, with concentrated black cherry, black plum and blueberry fruit enhanced by white pepper, roasted meat, licorice and hot asphalt. The palate is awash in savory flavors, with soy, charred beef and tobacco followed by waves of blueberry and leather and a wash of vanilla, plum skin and mocha, all atop perfectly polished tannins.
This wine is made to highlight the vintage and best vineyards, relying heavily on the producer's top-end site, Sacrashe. A hugely constructed wine, bold and brawny, it also manages to be soft and velvety, allowing for a greater contribution of savory elements than sweet, from leather to black pepper to Mexican chocolate. It pushes the boundaries on decadence in mysterious ways.
An impressively powerful wine, with packed acidity, sweet fruits and ripe tannins. The wine has great density, a dusty texture, the fruit powering through while preserving the relative austerity of the vintage.
Offering both richness and absolute freshness, the wine layers ripe white and yellow fruits, creamed apple flavors and a great line of mineral texture and citrus flavor. It will age, give this 6 years.
A wine with great weight, density and structure from a well-positioned parcel of vines. The juicy plum flavors affirm the potential for opulence as the wine ages.
Firmly tannic wine, with balancing ripe fruit well under the structured layers. The weight of the wine comes from the rich and generous black plum fruit and acidity. A wine for long-term aging.
All the proper structure of young Gevrey-Chambertin with the addition of rich, generous fruit. The core is of wood and dry fruit tannins, the fruit of rich black plum juice. At this stage, the wine is firm. Give it 5–6 years to open up.
Rich, opulent and spicy, with a great balance between wood and fruit. The generous black plum and black currant fruit is delicious, balanced by taut acidity. Keep for 3-4 years.
Very mineral, textured wine, its acidity and taut green fruit flavors firmly in evidence. It has some of the richness and opulence of the vintage, with great swathes of ripe yellow fruits developing. For long-term aging.
Firmly structured wine, which also boasts delicious jammy fruit, very ripe, very opulent. The tannins are sweet and rich, suggesting aging potential over 7–8 years and more. An impressive wine.
The aromas begin with a pretty violet character, around plum and smoke. Flavors are tightly wound and balanced, with sharp acids. This slowly opens over many hours of breathing time to unveil smooth, soft fruit, light herbs, pretty floral highlights and great texture.
A wine that is very mineral, very structured in its tannins, the black fruits flavors a straight line cut through with acidity.
A rich, creamy, sumptuous wine, with an impressive, decisive shaft of minerality and a stony, dense character. The name of the wine, referring to the granite and schist soil, is one of an extraordinary series reflecting different soil types made by Muscadet's top producer, Guy Bossard.
Puy means a hill, and the steep slopes of the Côte du Puy offer great exposure for the vines. The result is a densely structured, very muscular wine that shows richness as well as dark tannins. The aftertaste is sweet, streaked with acidity.
A big-hearted, fruity wine. With its ripe tannins and red berry fruits, this red is certainly powerful, but it manages to keep its balance, finishing ripe and sweet. This is a wine that could be enjoyed now, but would certainly age over the next 4–5 years.
There's an explosion of rich, intense fruit here: dried prunes, black plums and even some licorice. The wine is attractively edged with wood, giving a fine, ripe finish.
Aged in wood, this cuvée is powerful, ripe and intense. The jellied red fruits are all sweet and rich, touched by acidity but mainly with good depth of flavor and structure. It would even be worth aging this for another year.
Gamay often becomes more like Pinot Noir as it ages. That's true of this wine, which displays strawberry and spice flavors, as well as an element of minerality. The aftertaste has ripe blackberry jelly.
Dark and rich, with aromas of cola and coffee and flavors of plum and cola. This is full-bodied, its 14.5% alcohol balanced by fruit intensity and richly textured tannins and the long finish. Drink 2010–2020.
Although this winery is better known for its Shiraz, I have been a consistent fan of its Riesling as well. The 2006 offers scents of powdered minerals and lime followed by flavors of apple and citrus. It's medium-bodied but muscular, with plenty of intensity that comes through on the long finish. Drink now–2016.
Balsam, lush prune and all sorts of earthy, interesting aromas set this rich, ripe Carmenère off on a wild ride. Chocolate greets you at the front door, with deep plum and berry waiting behind. It's saturated and superripe but it doesn't lose step or steam. Excellent in the ultraripe, modern style.
A dark and hearty McLaren Vale Shiraz, with plenty of weight and tannin and concentrated cola, black olive and leather flavors. Hints of mulberry, cedar and vanilla lighten it just enough, but this wine could use another few years before entering its prime drinking window. Finishes long and richly tannic. Drink 2010–2020.
Better known for its Pinot Noir, Ata Rangi has turned in a fine performance with its 2007 Sauvignon Blanc. It's grassy, but balanced by ripe fig and stone fruit characters that weave an intricately detailed medium-weight palate. Long on the finish. Drink now–2009.
A very structured wine with tannins and dense fruit. Very Pinot Noir-like in its richness, smoothness and plum flavors. Deliciously rich and velvety smooth.
A spicy, dry berry aroma forms a strong opening that's crisp, focused and slightly herbal in character. The palate feels juicy and tight, with crisp tannins that set up racy cassis, plum and mocha flavors. Clean and fresh on the finish.
Half of the wine was fermented with native yeasts, and 30% saw new oak. What shines is the juicy, fresh, delicious fruit—a jumble of raspberries and cherries—plus the finish, which hangs deliciously.
With rich fruit that is balanced by tight acidity, this shows both the structure and the fragrant red berry flavor of the vintage. The acids cut through the wine to shape its freshness, highlighting its dark tannins. It needs to age for 4–5 years.
An attractively fruity wine, this is rich in cherry and light spice flavors and is laden with acidity. It has a dry set of tannins, but it is so densely juicy that it is ready to drink now.
Powerful and concentrated, this has a dark red-plum flavor and solid tannins. It is dense, and it shows the structure of the vintage. This is worth aging, and it certainly needs food to show at its best.
This is the reserve of the Erath lineup and the winery's best effort—along with the Battle Creek bottling—in 2010. Pretty scents and flavors of raspberry and rose water mingle with the ripest cherry fruit in the lineup. Focused, balanced and elegant.
Big and properly dense in texture, this has a great swathe of pure black-plum flavor. It's ripe and filled out with dusty tannins..
Ripe, concentrated and bullish from the start, this has a roasted berry aroma that leads to a saturated, tannic palate. The flavors on this full-bodied Cabernet run from toasted and crusty to blackberry-like and minerally. Toastiness and a sense of darkness remain on the finish.
This is a focused, cool-climate wine, with cherry, raspberry and spice aromas. It's edgy and fresh on the palate, with racy strawberry and cherry flavors that are accented by chocolate and spice notes. The finish is both tangy and zesty as well as spicy and chocolaty. Only 280 cases made.
This is a spicy, lively wine with interesting flavors of black cherry cola. It's not a big wine, but it offers a mouthful of pleasure.
Firm tannins set this wine on a path to aging. At the same time, it has a fine layer of intense fruitiness, and it is crisp and packed with blackberry fruit. It has the typical minerality and structure of Juliénas, so give it 2–3 years.
This is appealing for its flavors of fresh-sliced Bosch pear, plus a pear-like graininess on the palate. It has some residual sugar, just enough to round out the acids, and overall it's a nicely balanced wine drinking very well right now.
This is the best of the new releases from Seven Bridges, a Portland-based winery with a penchant for Washington State fruit. Smooth, balanced and mouth-filling, this offers a truffle highlight that sits over the bright berry and cherry flavors.
The aromatic opening includes a forest-like note, plus mineral and earthy berry scents. The palate feels chunky and wide, with solid tannins that don't bite or dominate. Flavors of herb, olive, spice, molasses and cassis are typical for the Alto Maipo, while the finish is defined by racy acids that should allow this wine to age nicely for another five-plus years.
The Mark V bottling usually gets the most new oak, but in this light vintage the wood has been kept in check. Tasted prerelease, it blossomed over several hours, similar in style and flavor to the winery's Reserve, possessing fine balance and a pretty red-fruit flavor.
This shows a somewhat more concentrated midpalate than the regular bottling, though all of the Anam Cara Pinots share common ground. This is a balanced, elegant wine, offering a mix of strawberry, earth and pepper flavors all done with a delicate hand.
This is an aromatic wine, with smooth tannins that make this ready to drink. With age it will gain complex spicy flavors, with richness and juicy acidity on the finish.
Dark gold in color, this decadent wine is robust in toasted chestnut and hazelnut layers which are rich and powerful on the seamless palate. The oak shows prominently on the nose and palate but finds its balance on the finish, allowing the wine to end with polish and reserve.
The aromas draw you in with notes of kiwi, pineapple and mango. Brown sugar and tropical fruit flavors are intensely sweet and rich, with an unctuous feel.
Brawny in flavorful black cherry, this well-crafted wine from a prime vineyard is plush with cinnamon and structured tannins. Floral in aroma, it tastes of strawberry and black cherry, with a seasoning of black pepper on the finish. Drink now through 2023.
With the fruit coming from Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Yellow Jacket vineyards, this winery's inaugural Walla Walla Valley release displays complex aromas of coffee, smoked meat, mineral, blueberries, violets and licorice. The dark coffee flavors are concentrated and dense, coming in waves and leading to an extended finish.
Aromas of pressed violet, dark berry, baking spice, aromatic herbs and a whiff of leather lead the way. The firmly structured palate offers juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice, mocha and espresso alongside velvety, compact tannins that still need to unwind.
Gravel, asphalt and iron drive the minerally nose of this bottling, which also shows cigar box, cherry leather, stewed strawberry and chocolate-caramel aromatics. There is plenty of both tannic grip and vibrant acidity once sipped, with cherries, cranberries and oregano elements making for a saucy palate. Drink 2017–2025.
Ripe aromas of prune, cassis and blackberry come with notes of spice cake, minerals and lemon peel. This feels grabby and strong, with pronounced acidity and tannins. Baked blackberry, black currant and toasty flavors are supported by a beam of firm acidity that carries onto the finish. Drink this powerful Rioja now through 2022.
A brand-new offering from this producer that usually traffics in Anderson Valley Pinot Noir from its own estate, this initial attempt at a white wine is stunning, a well-honed marriage between site and winemaker. Thick and expansive on the palate, it's a complex study in succulent apple and ginger, with a mineral-laden finish.
Enticing aromas of wild berry, pine forest, aromatic herbs, iris and a hint of leather emerge on this full-bodied red. The bold, chewy palate delivers crunchy red berry, anise white pepper, clove and sage alongside youthfully assertive tannins and bright acidity. The ripe fruit seamlessly supports the hefty alcohol level.
This has a rather subdued nose that offers aromas of mature dark-skinned fruit, leather, tobacco, cooking spice and a balsamic note. The tightly woven, structured palate offers dried black cherry, ground pepper and intense licorice framed in a backbone of firm, refined tannins.
Produced from flint soil (silex), this wine is intense, delicious and has a great future. Lemongrass and grapefruit flavors give a lift to the tight, strongly mineral texture. Spice and just a hint of wood bring out riper fruits as well as a refreshing, tangy texture. Drink from 2017.
This wine is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc. It's aromatically brooding, with notes of high-toned dried herbs and dark cherries. The flavors are textured and palate-coating, with firm tannins backing them up. Just a baby now, it has a long life in front of it. Enjoy after 2021.
With just 1% each of Cabernet and Merlot, this wine is darker in color, and offers pretty while dense aromas of concentrated violet, hot brick and boysenberry juice. It's dense and grippy on the palate, but quite lively with flavors of dried blackberry, pepper spice, black slate minerality and, on the finish, semisweet chocolate.
The flint soil of the Fiou domaine has given a magnificent rich wine. Yellow fruits, ripe citrus and beautifully perfumed acidity all contribute to a wine that is packed with flavor. The fruit is still crisply fresh and the mineral texture from the soil shows how well it will age. Drink from 2017.
Substantive in oak and weight, this concentrated, estate-grown wine is impressive in velvety texture and a savory conjuring of tobacco and black tea. Dark, brambly blackberry and dark cherry join in on the fun, providing vibrancy amid all the sophistication. Finishing with a dash of cardamom, this wine will cellar nicely through 2020.
This exceptional wine explodes in classic, characteristic aromas of rose water, dried rose petals and orange blossom, so floral and sublime. Edgy in taste, with a trace of salt, it exhibits no oak, celebrating instead an exuberance of fresh pear and grapefruit.
Structured and elegant, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot offers aromas of blackberry, red currant, blue flowers, clove and oak. The concentrate palate doles out black cherry, plum, sage, anise and tobacco alongside a backbone of fine-grained tannins. Drink 2016–2022.
This wine smells like moist earth after a rainfall. Aromas of earth, smoke, peat, olive tapenade and tobacco lead to abundant savory flavors with a lightly chalky feel. It captivates the senses.
Hints of toast from wood aging give this wine its richness. It doesn't detract from the ripe apricot and peach fruit flavors while also keeping great freshness. All the elements have produced a ripe, full wine that could still age another year. Drink from 2017.
Firmly structured, this opens with aromas of cedar, dried herbs, black currant and sweet pipe tobacco. The smooth, rich palate delivers mature wild cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, ground black pepper and a graphite note alongside a backbone of velvety tannins.
Enticing aromas of woodland berry, menthol, baking spices, tobacco and a balsamic note float from the glass. The savory, classically structured palate delivers wild cherry, crushed strawberry, white pepper, clove and licorice alongside a backbone of firm but refined tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2019–2031.
Pale in color, this 100% Grenache has arresting, complex aromas of candied strawberries, pomegranate, herbs, plum and orange peel. The red fruit and savory flavors are sweet and generous, showing an exquisite sense of purity and richness. It's a knee-buckler but all about delicacy and restraint.
Using fruit mostly from the Bassi Ranch property he recently acquired, Mike Sinor delivers a bright, minerally wine, with aromas of scratched grapefruit skin, orange and peach juice, burned lemons, sea salt, ripe apples and nectarines and fresh-cut herbs. Flavors of salty, lime-juice nectarines emerge once sipped, with hints of butter and white flowers.
The variety is unmistakable on this wine with its aromas of mortared fresh herbs, flowers, dry chocolate and cherry. The flavors show a mixture of lightness, intensity and richness, along with a captivating sense of texture and acidity.
This mountaintop winery puts much effort in single-vineyard expressions, but this blend rivals even those, with nose-tingling aromas of concentrated hibiscus and pomegranate, plus dried sour cherries and graphite. Prominent herbs like oregano, thyme and dried sage mix with eucalyptus and menthol on the palate, where soft cranberry fruit serves as backbone.
Named after the steep slopes that back the Bourgeois winery, this powerful, concentrated wine shows both wonderful white and yellow fruits and a mineral character that gives a superb tension. Packed with fruit and impressively textured, it can still age. Drink from 2017.
Jammy, concentrated aromas of boysenberry, violet petal and oak spice are about as rich and lusty as Rioja gets. This wine from a warm vintage is lush and lusty but less structured than other vintages. Jammy blackberry and blueberry flavors end in a jammy fashion. Drink through 2020.
This is yet another dense, powerful single-vineyard wine from Artadi. The palate is pure silk and very ripe. Saturated blackberry, boysenberry, toast, chocolate and herbal flavors finish plump and smooth. This delicious, unctuous heavyweight from a hot year is made for early consumption; drink through 2019.
Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) takes the lead on this wine followed by Merlot (15%) and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Aromas of high-toned dried herbs, flowers, black currant, coffee and barrel spices lead to densely packed black fruit flavors that need time to strut their stuff. Drink after 2021.
This is a fun discovery, a tantalizing mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown from estate vineyards in cool, acid-driven sites within the appellation ideal for sparkling. Light pink and gold in color, it celebrates the tangy flavors of pomegranate, strawberry and grapefruit against a mineral-laden backdrop and remarkable depth.
Strong scents of grass and grapefruit leap from the glass; this could pass for Sauvignon Blanc in a blind tasting. The flavors follow, sweetly grassy, hinting at melon and yellow fruits, with plenty of natural acids and alcohol at a moderate 13.5%.
A solid effort that should have broad commercial appeal, Yangarra's 2006 Grenache displays a squeaky-clean bouquet of black cherries, mixed berries and a touch of vanilla. It's soft and velvety in the mouth, with a full, round presence, mixed fruit flavors and a touch of wood spice. Drink now–2010.
Earthy and meaty, with aromas of dark cherry, plum and a whiff of volatility. Once things settle, it evolves into a full and flowing, semigeneric red with earnest grape and blackberry flavors along with cola. While it's hard to peg this as varietal Syrah, it's well made, balanced and full. Good for folks who like full-bodied wines.
Firm and dry, this LBV from a fine Port year is structured, showing dry tannins as well as ripe, dry fruits. That means the richness is restrained, giving elegance, perfumes of violets and finishing with some tight acidity.
This joins the happily increasing ranks of Oregon Pinots under $20 that can successfully compete with entry-level bottles from New Zealand, California and Burgundy. Grounded in varietal character, it brings tart red fruits, berries, cherries and loamy earth into play; the acids are plentiful and the wine does not overreach. Flavors are true and lingering, with suggestions of gunmetal and iron ore adding interest to the finish.
Ripe, tropical flavors of pear, peach and banana mingle in this blend of five vineyards. It's fleshy and ripe.
Evidence of a warm vintage is sketched on the bouquet. Aromas of raisin, black licorice and mocha are quite sweet. The palate is wide and mildly tannic, with earthy, oaky black cherry and raspberry flavors. For a ripe wine with significant extraction, it's well balanced. But all along there's a hint of prune that tells you it's ripe and ready.
Starts out with gritty, granular aromas that hint at raisin, yet the palate is fresher and more stand-up. Flavors of raspberry and cherry are round and sort of earthy, while the tannin-to-acid balance is good. Finishes sort of narrow but with crusty tannins and stature. Drink now.
Classic Weinert wine; meaning it's well-aged, mature and sort of throwback. It's not purple and saturated and sticky; instead it's medium-weight and a touch scratchy, with roasted berry aromas followed by dry cherry, raspberry and plum flavors. A touch of burnt brown sugar offers balance and sweetness, and as a whole it seems ready to drink.
It's toasty and lush with the scents and flavors of roasted walnuts and butterscotch; not a bad thing by any means. Under the sweet oak are flavors of berry, tart and fresh as if just-picked. This is a thoroughly delightful bottle and a rare find at this price—a Pinot Noir that can be enjoyed immediately but should cellar well for up to a decade.
An herbaceous wine, smoothed out by spicy wood. The wine is balanced, the wood a delicious extra to pear and green plum-skin fruit flavors. Very perfumed, it demands fish with a sauce or scallops.
It shows total citrus focus, linearity and precision, fringed by green pear peel and peppery leaves. Superior freshness and definite ageing potential show in the tingling, invigorating acidity.
Pinot Blanc in a warm year such as 2012 veers closer to the fruitiness of Pinot Gris, as shown here. Barrel fermented in French oak, it remains sleek and crisply defined, with pure fruit flavors of golden apple and ripe pear.
Ken Wright produces more than a dozen single-vineyard Pinots in any given vintage. This wine, which sells for a fraction of the cost of those wines, uses many of the same grapes. It's an astonishing value, lushly fruited, tangy and laced with appealing minerality. The mix of red fruits, earth, acid and mineral is a perfect encapsulation of the pricier cuvées' strengths.
Part of King Estate's ambitious Limited Edition program for Pinot Gris, this is packaged in a hock bottle with a label styled for a European look. Slightly off dry, with residual sugar just below one percent, it's lovely with honey, tea, lemon cake and ripe, semitropical fruit flavors. Great focus and balance are in play, with perfect acidity.
This five-grape blend is ripe, smooth, loamy and rich on the nose, with aromas of pastry, syrupy berry and cassis. A flush, oaky palate has just enough acidity to maintain its poise, while creamy oak and vanilla flavors shadow mellow black plum and cassis. On the finish, oak hangs around and creates a coffee note. Drink this mouthfilling, friendly and generous wine through 2017.
Big, rich and fruity, this wine has a powerful future. It delivers structure and dense tannins, but it's the generous fruitiness that promises much. The tannins will soften by 2016–2017 to give a ripe, full-bodied wine, packed with fruit.
Crisp and distinctive, with a strong mineral streak, this full-flavored Pinot Blanc has a range of fruit flavors, centered upon apple and pear, but also touching on blood orange and a suggestion of celery as well. Low in alcohol, but high in flavor.
The deeper shade of rose-petal pink promises intensity that the nose does not fail to deliver. Ripe red cherry fruit is framed by the aromatic lift of nettle leaves. The palate is bone-dry but echoes with that refreshing trinity of nettle, cherry and lemon. A vestige of tannin provides welcome backbone.I
Spicy, mildly herbal aromas of cassis and red-berry fruits feed into a racy, fresh palate with vital acidity and excellent overall balance. Flavors of spice and berry fruits are persistent, while the finish is deep and feels right. This blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Carmenère is entirely pleasing. Drink through 2018.
Rife with aromas of spring flowers, this wine is crisp, full of tight acidity and has a lively, bright texture. It offers good depth of flavor, the grapefruit and green apple fruits showing strongly. Give it until 2015 before drinking to soften the intense acidity.
This summery Riesling wafts of ripe yellow cherries and blossoms. Dry in style with a rich, rounded mouthfeel, it's deeply concentrated with stone fruit flavors accented by hints of waxy lemon and lime skin. It's delicious now for its fragrant, fruity exuberance, but likely to develop its waxy, mineral complexities through 2019–2021.
Concentrated black-fruit aromas come with notes of rubber, tree bark and rooty berry fruits. A round mouthfeel with depth and density features blackberry, spice, mocha, coffee and chocolate flavors; herbal notes, olive flavors and a chewy texture characterize the finish. Drink through 2018.
Electric purple in color, it conveys wiry aromas of wet dog, green herbs and berry fruits. The palate is loud and clacky, with a jumpy overall feel and an overriding sense of youth. Boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors come with undertones of green herbs and licorice, while the finish is aggressive and moderately complex. Drink through 2019.
Ammonites are the fossils found in the chalk soil of Sancerre. This wine certainly shows the right mineral texture, very crisp and tight. It's full of citrus, zesty orange and apple skins. It needs to develop, wait until 2015.
Ripe and fruity, this is a full-bodied, intense wine. It has citrus acidity as well as more tropical fruits, laden with wood. The whole is much more than the sum of the parts, giving a full, ripe and complex wine that will age.
Here's a polished Pinot Grigio with character. It's loaded with creamy green apple, Bartlett pear and nectarine sensations accented with spicy notes of cinnamon and ginger that add depth. Crisp acidity generates freshness and it has a lingering finish.
An alluring fragrance of honeysuckle comes along with whiffs of tomato vine and green melon. The juicy palate offers tropical fruit, ripe peach and cantaloupe energized by mineral notes and fresh acidity.
From vineyards in the Douro Superior, the high Douro close to Spain, this powerful wine reflects the dry climate with its dense tannins and concentration. A juicy element brings fresh black plums and acidity to the mix. The wine is an impressive work in progress. Drink from 2017.
Hooray for Shea—a shining star in this difficult vintage. Give it a good sniff and note the wood smoke, cedar and bacon scents rising from the glass. Fruit flavors tumble after, a complex mix of fig, berry and black cherry, with a streak of cola. It's lively and lingering—drink now or cellar until 2024.
This mix of Petit Verdot and four other red grapes is dark, slightly raisiny and jammy on the nose. In the mouth, it is ripe and ripped, with depth and density along with soft tannins. Flavors of prune, baked berry, licorice and peppery spice finish with overt herb, tobacco and chocolaty flavors. Drink this powerful, weighty blend through 2018.
Scott Paul's largest production Pinot Noir is a nicely balanced, silky wine, fermented with wild yeasts and structured for elegance. Raspberry, black cherry, a touch of blood orange and a lick of molasses all contribute.
This is already rounding off nicely into mature flavors with notes of truffle, dried cherries, ginger and brown spices. Smooth and medium-bodied, it's drinking in prime condition, with finishing touches of fig and strawberry preserves.
Initial aromas of savory spice and earth subside, revealing luscious apricot, peach and yellow-cherry flavors on this delicate Riesling. Semi-sweet in style, it's nuanced with shades of dusty minerals and a pretty floral spray that lingers on the finish.
Upfront aromas of smoke and spring ramps subside to reveal delicate apple blossom notes on this honeyed, medium-sweet wine. Ripe, rich yellow peach and cantaloupe flavors flood the palate, yet wrap up remarkably dry with a lingering finish that's intense with minerality. It's gorgeously styled, yet elegant and dainty.
Charred plums, roasted meat and a tinge of truffle oil lead the nose on this powerful yet balanced wine. It hits the palate with a sanguine iron flavor and a pleasant tension thanks to appropriate bitterness. This Pinot Noir can tackle the heartiest beef dish you can make.
This structured Pinot Grigio shows the true potential of this popular grape. It opens with fragrances of pear, mineral, smoke and aromatic herbs. These carry over to the creamy palate, alongside juicy apple, white peach, lemon zest, pastry filling and clove. Crisp acidity keeps it fresh and balanced.
While intensely aromatic of honey and marmalade, this powerfully structured wine is dry in style. Rich, round and expansive on the palate, with intense flavors of tart stone fruit and lemon, it's anchored by a steely, mineraly backbone. It finishes long and with impeccable focus.
This cuvée offers a classic mix of rose petals, black cherry and cola. It's lively, fruity and light on its feet. Delicate touches of herb, pinpoint acidity, a hint of lime and perfect balance keep it satisfying through an extended finish.
Lifted purity of ripe Williams pear and a streamlined but not unsubstantial body combine to make a compelling, abundantly pear-fruited wine. It manages to be slender, rich and mineral at the same time.
This is a crisp, dry, and very tangy wine blended from Tocai Friulano, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grigio. It sizzles with lemon, lime and green-apple flavors. While barrel fermented, it's not obviously oaky and seems to get its energy from high acidity instead. It will be brilliant with simply prepared shellfish, fried chicken or as a palate charger before a meal.
Menthol, violet, exotic spice and tobacco aromas take center stage in this wine. The firm palate shows red cherry, licorice and crushed herb flavors set against a backdrop of close-grained, grippy tannins.
Cool mint, blueberry and raisin aromas are lush and smooth, but charred oak is roaring loud on the nose of this dry-farmed Syrah. Punchy, short acidity makes the mouthfeel abrupt. Dark chocolate and ripe berry flavors end with hard-spiced blackberry and an everlasting burnt-oak character.
Menthol, camphor, pressed violet, crushed herb and toast aromas come together in this wine. The solid, chewy palate delivers crushed raspberry, red cherry, espresso, star anise and toast flavors alongside firm tannins.
This dense, savory wine has tobacco, black-skinned berry and red plum aromas and licorice, blackberry jam and black pepper flavors. Fine-grained tannins provide support. Drink through 2022.
This bottling is fruit-forward on the nose with aromas of black currant and black plum, but the touches of dark chocolate and roasted game provide depth. It tightens up on the sip, where the blackberry-jam elements are enhanced by vanilla and milk chocolate shavings. The tannins are present but soft, and the acidity is decent, making for a very drinkable expression.
Traces of charred oak in the aroma and a flood of extremely ripe dark-fruit flavors come with a sense of depth and concentration in this full-bodied, very firm and tannic but nevertheless polished wine. This is higher in alcohol than the last two vintages reviewed. It will benefit from more age or a high-protein pairing.
This spicy, toasty wine currently shows more wood than fruit. Hints of yellow fruits are already there, so the texture should open to give a riper, fruitier wine. Give it until 2020.
This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 5% Carmenère is fragrant, with raspberry, freshly sliced bell pepper and green herb notes. The palate is full of cocoa and chocolate flavors, leaning heavily on oak attributes but still providing appeal.
No-frills berry and cassis aromas open this Cabernet. A wide, jammy palate is generous but a touch off-centered. An aggressive herbal plum flavor leads the charge, while a tannic, grabby finish brings it home.
Dark, briary black-fruit aromas are a little wild but generally well focused. This Syrah displays an iron grip and power throughout. Spicy black-fruit flavors end with toasty oak. Overall, this is dense like an anvil, with a low center of gravity.
Straight down-the-middle aromas of red cherry, salt and pepper, vanilla and a touch of brioche show on this bottling of a clone that's related to the Brunello region. It's lighter bodied on the palate and quite easy to quaff, with light cherry and strawberry flavors riding a gravelly texture.
Ripe, sun-kissed plum and blackberry flavors are crisply balanced in this juicy, velvet-textured red. It's lavishly oaky, streaked with layers of spice, toast and caramel, but maintains elegance and brightness throughout. The finish is marked by fine-grained but penetrating tannins.
Impressively thick and dark for Joey Tensley's new entry-level brand, this wine's deep and dark aromas of slate-flecked soil makes for a very earthy impression on the nose, along with expected hints of tar, purple flowers and boysenberry. Condensed cassis flavors show on the sip along with hints of lavender and blueberry, laced together by soft tannins and an upright acidity.
Intense aromas of blackberry, violet and eucalyptus take shape in this. The juicy, concentrated palate doles out raspberry jam, ripe black cherry, clove and licorice flavors framed by fine-grained tannins. Enjoy through 2022.
This leads with forest floor, blue flower and black-skinned berry aromas while the structured, savory palate offers black cherry, red plum and Asian spice hints. Supple tannins and vibrant acidity provide easygoing support and freshness. Enjoy through 2021.
The 2015 vintage is a strong one for Woodbridge. Ripe fruit tones, bright acidity and lightly mouth-puckering tannins underpin red cherry, clove and blackberry flavors, while the texture is mouthfilling. It's a treat to find an inexpensive wine with such good backbone.
This Côte Chalonnaise appellation has done well in 2015 with its broad, ripe wines. This wine has the same character, with touches of wood and concentration from old vines. It is rich, the yellow fruits cut with some acidity. Drink this full, ripe wine wine from 2019.
This longtime winemaking family uses an old-style label on this bottling of the classic Italian grape, which spent 24 months on American oak. Rusty bloody aromas of cranberry, peppercorn and carnation lead into a palate framed by stiff tannins and strong acidity. Red-fruit flavors mix with woody spice, and the finish is sticky, showing that this wine is still very young.
Slightly earthy and herbal, as Somontano reds are prone to be, with a gritty mouthfeel and sweet black fruit flavors that come with proper herbal accents. Tastes roasted and toasty, with pepper and heat on the lusty finish. Balanced and good; drink now through 2013.
Big, bawdy, hard and concentrated, with black fruit and floral aromas. The palate is grabby and fully tannic, while the flavors run toward blackberry, coffee and vanilla. Rich and espresso-like on the finish, with no shortage of oak and richness. Very big at 15% alcohol.
This is made in the somewhat austere style of a Loire valley Chinon, done well here, adding nothing harsh, bitter or unpleasant to the wine. You will also find soft plum and cherry fruit, modest but perfectly ripe and proportionate, rounding out the midpalate.
Classic ripe Muscadet, ripe but fresh, steely around the edges with delicious fresh fruits in the center. It is a lively wine, flavored with grapefruit and white currants, with an apple skin texture.
Deliciously bright and spicy, its cranberry and raspberry fruit is highlighted with pepper and cinnamon. With more breathing time it fleshes out, fills in with pretty pie cherry flavors and some pleasing toastiness.
While there is a fine citrus element here, the texture also has some creamy richness. However, the almost salty character of the wine certainly places it near the ocean. Drink this year.
Good but a step down from recent vintages. Big and brawny on the nose, with oak-based aromas of shoe polish, chocolate mint chips and mocha. The thick palate is deep, raisiny and chunky, with roasted black fruit flavors touched up by chocolate. Very good and likable, but not as thorough and alluring as it has been. 40% Malbec with 30% each Cabernet and Merlot.
With its juicy, citrus, melon and strawberry aromas and flavors, this dry rosé is mouthwatering and a food winner. Good minerality, fresh fruity character and a spicy finish give it added appeal. Crisp and refreshing, with layers of complexity to give it character.
A little sweet and candied on the nose but there are also floral aromas that are alluring. The palate is plump but offers good balance and structure, while the flavors run toward beefy dark berry fruit, spice and chocolate. Long, deep and roasted on the finish. Quite good for ten bucks.
From Freixenet, this is perfectly good yet familiar, which for $15 is about as good as we can expect. The palate is juicy and also smooth, with red berry, tomato and herbal flavors. There's good depth and balance throughout, and the finish rounds into form and closes things out in a tasty, subdued fashion.
A smooth creamy textured wine, the fruit flavors softened by ripeness and an edge that is just sweet. Good acidity gives it a fresh streak, the flavors of white currants, green plums and grapefruit coming out of a smoky edge. Screwcap.
Rich and spicy, this 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from 10 acres generous and ripe, with warm tannins and a fruity, red berry character. This blend has attractive acidity and spicy flavors from the combination of wood and stainless-steel aging. This is only the second vintage from enologist Jean-Rémi Larrat's own property. It is worth aging, so drink from 2017.
There is a rich blend of Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira and Syrah in this full, ripe, black-fruit tinged wine. It is already open and generous, with wood spice tones and a smooth texture. Drink now through 2018.
Lemberger was planted here in the 1970s, and Kiona still carries the torch for the grape. Earthy, gamy, soft and smooth, it has a quickly maturing flavor set, built upon chocolate and cherries, with dusty tannins.
Touches of sage and tarragon breathe freshness into succulent red cherry and berry aromas on this rich, full-bodied Cabernet Franc. The palate shows off pure, pristine red fruit, jolted by a shock of cranberry acidity and a lingering wet-granite finish.
Aromas of this brawny wine suggest black plum, berry, violet, leather and dill. Notes of licorice, tobacco and black pepper back up the sour cherry fruit. Big with round tannins, this is just reaching its ideal drinking window. Drink through 2019.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot combine harmoniously in this concentrated, structured and brooding red wine. It's wrapped in black fruit, black tea and herb tones, with a little clove flirting above the fray. The tannins are dry.
With its ripe and perfumed character, the wine is not quite dry. It's already maturing, with its fruity acidity muted by almonds, ripe pear skins and a tight, mineral texture. This intense wine will be ready by 2015.
This Bordeaux-style blend of 25% Merlot, 25% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot greets the nose with purple fruits, cigar box and menthol. The soft palate is saturated with blackberry pie and peppery spice, presented with nicely chalky tannins.
Lush in brambly blackberry, this classic Zinfandel comes from a cooler area than usual, the Russian River Valley, which manages to retain small plantings of the variety amid the larger seas of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Spicy, the wine is balanced and fairly elegant, medium in body and weight while still packing a punch.
From the rocky Stagecoach Vineyard atop Atlas Peak, this Cabernet is hearty in tannins and built to age through 2020, the dense black berry and cherry fruit flavors needing time to mature. For now, the wine's character is all savory and leathery, with tight tannins.
A palate-pleasing mix of juicy boysenberry fruit, red licorice and bright spice, this quickly comes into focus. Concentrated and mouth-filling, it's a straightforward Syrah with an emphasis on fruit rather than funk.
A big, soulful wine, this has slightly funky, earthy aromas that include tilled soil, truffle, leather, underbrush and mature black fruit. The fleshy palate delivers ripe black cherry, juicy raspberry, white pepper, cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of mocha. It's structured, with tightly woven tannins that need time to soften. Drink after 2016.
Menthol, crushed flower, red raspberry and savory herb aromas unfold in the glass. The palate conveys juicy red cherry, white pepper and cinnamon alongside supple tannins. It's surprisingly accessible for such a young Barolo. Drink 2016–2022.
Initially a bit closed, this opens with aromas of leather, leafy underbrush, tilled soil, wild berry and a whiff of cellar floor. The palate is still primary, displaying red cherry, sage and menthol alongside tightly knit tannins. Drink after 2018.
Ripe plum fruits give this big and fruity wine from the 130-acre Castéra vineyard a rich character. The structure provides a fine support with tannins that bring out the concentrated blackberry fruits. It's full of potential; drink from 2018.
Powerfully tannic, this dense and firm wine is dark in both color and fruit flavors. Tannins dominate the structure, giving a solid core to a wine that will certainly age. It has richness, juicy berry fruits and plums shining with acidity. Drink from 2018.
Made from old vines, this complex and structured wine brings out the richness and ripe tannins of 2010. It's firm although the fruit concentration is what shows most strongly. It's an impressive, juicy, red-fruited wine that will age. Drink from 2017.
This complex, spicy and fruity wine is big, with attractive acidity. It is piled with berry fruits that give a rich character. The fruits are supported by well-judged wood. This full-bodied wine will develop well; drink from 2017.
Winemaker Kristy Melton continues to show a sense of restraint in her wines. This Merlot provides a classic example, concentrated in dusty red fruit and smooth, supple tannins, a sideways glance of cinnamon and clove flirting thoughout. Structure and elegance reign here over power and oak.
Leather, smashed berries and juniper reveal the age of this wine, further enhanced with a meaty mouthfeel, redolent with flavors of blueberry and purple fruits. Charred vanilla touches on the finish.
A bold, rich wine fringed with tannins, at a young age it already shows a solid structure of ripe and juicy berry tones. With well-balanced oak aging, slightly toasty notes show restraint on this dark and complex wine that has potential to age. Drink after 2016.
In this vintage, the winery stays true to its reputation for making balanced, more restrained Cabernet, offering firm, structured tannins and bright cassis and blackberry around a deft sprinkling of dried herb. Built to age through 2025, it is equally enjoyable now, after a decant. Small percentages of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec factor in.
From young vines, this wine offers up pretty scents of rose petals and lightly peppery strawberries. Just 5% Mourvèdre was included, but its presence brings a dash of extra spice and herb.
This racy, fresh, cool-vintage blend is a touch rubbery on the nose, with berry and cassis undertones. A tight palate delivers a mix of dark plum, blackberry, baking spice and chocolate flavors in front of a peppery, dry, crisp finish. Drink through 2019.
This is a powerful wood-aged wine that is currently exhibiting dark chocolate and coffee flavors from new, smoky oak. It's the weight of the juicy fruit underneath that reveals the promise of aging. There is a mineral texture that shows the schist soil of the vineyard, all part of the dense mix. Drink from 2018.
There should be more Muscat planted in Alsace if this fine wine is anything to go by. It brings out all the ethereal perfume of the grape, offering a ripe character while remaining delicate and elegant. The acidity lightens the final tone.
This mature Bordeaux-style blend is earthy on the nose, with tobacco, clay and loamy berry aromas. Despite its age, the palate is still showing red-fruit acidity matched against ripeness and weight. A mix of dried berry, tomato, tobacco, spice and salty flavors finish loamy and smooth. Drink now.
On the nose, this smells like bath soap or air freshener. It feels fleshy and oily on the palate, with tropical flavors of banana and papaya. The finish is smooth and tastes of candy.
The nose bears lightly green aromas of stalky cherry and raspberry. It feels grabby on the palate, with peppery, dry flavors that come up short in terms of fruit content. The finish is spicy, rustic and unwavering.
Grassy with green leaf and fresh-cut herb notes, this dry, easy-drinking wine boasts lively lime-juice acidity and pleasant apple flavor. Slightly dusty notes of dried herb and reed distract on the finish.
The lavors of candied red cherry and flower are pleasant, but dusty herb notes distract on the nose and palate. It's a big wine at 13.9% abv, but zesty acidity keeps it relatively balanced.
This Chardonnay telegraphs barrel, barrel and more barrel. To its credit is its creamy texture.
Minerally and neutral on the nose, this tastes fresh and crisp like a green apple, with dry flavors of white fruit and bitter almond. It retains that almond character on the finish, which turns even drier and more bitter.
This is raspy and rough on the nose, with heavy mint, green herb, latex and bell pepper aromas. It feels fairly full, with herb and peppery berry flavors, leading to a green, minty, scratchy finish.
The leather and earthy plum aromas in this wine come with a strong, stalky component. It tastes big and syrupy, with the roasted flavors that the nose anticipates. The finish is baked tasting, with a gritty feel and a mild green accent.
This opens with dusty dried-apple aromas. High acidity preserves its composure even though the fruit is marginal and vacillates between flavors of apple and lemony citrus.
For wine drinkers who don't mind briny aromas, here is a wine with a funky-oyster quality on the nose. This adequate wine tastes of orange, brine, asparagus and pickled beans. It's juicy and plump on the tail end.
Crusty on the nose, this has an asphalt note that transitions into hard spice and sour berry notes. It has flavors of creamy, minty oak and medicinal berry fruit. A lasting flavor of oak-driven spice and a hint of green carry some heat.
Meaty and rubbery smelling, this has a wide and dilute mouthfeel. It tastes stalky and a little burnt, with red fruit flavors on the fringe. The finish is herbal, with some heat.
All the Brick House wines are certified organic and Biodynamic. Les Dijonnais spent 15 months in 30% new French oak. The opening aromas lead with fresh, lively, buoyant notes of cherry fruit. With more exposure to air its tannins get a bit chewy, and the wine shows impressive strength through a long finish.
This is turning into an impressive wine as it finds its way between solid tannins and ripe, full black fruits. It is dark and dense at this stage with tannins that dominate. A more juicy character will develop as the wine ages. Drink from 2017.
This solid and powerful wine comes from a chateau right in the walls of Saint-Émilion. A dense texture brings out tannins and the wood-aging flavors. Spice, black currant fruitiness and a dark, dense character all promise aging. Drink from 2018.
Though more focused on Bordeaux varieties, the Daou brothers produce a fantastic Pinot Noir to chew on, with rich aromas of cherry pie set in a anise-flecked crust. The wine is soft and plush once sipped, with black cherries, root beer and strong black licorice elements.
Davies has been making Pinot Noir since 2009. Firm, lively acidity and generous tannins in this complex wine lift up the distinctive cherry and clove flavors. A sharp balance means the fruit flavors and fine structure fill each other out for a harmonious whole.
Monastrell (with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon) has rarely smelled this perfumed, rich and inviting. This is an ultraripe Levante bruiser, with a jammy yet defined structure and huge flavors of baked blackberry, exotic spice, dusty mineral and toasty oak. Herbs, espresso and toast flavors propel this rich red to a lush finish. Drink through 2017.
Toasted bread crust, citrus and apple are just some of the aromas that characterize this lovely sparkler. A blanc de noirs made with 100% Pinot Nero, it offers a vibrant palate that delivers nectarine, roasted almond, pastry cream and mineral alongside persistent bubbles and fresh acidity. It also boasts enough structure to age for several years. Drink through 2017.
Billy Wathen and Dick Dore pick this cofermented blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Viognier together on the same day. The result is very savory, with resinous herbs and root beer on the nose. Once sipped, a rainbow of dark flavors emerges: chopped Italian herbs, creosote, black olive, fennel, soy and orange pith, reminiscent of a North African tagine.
Crushed blue flower, new leather, ripe black fruit and incense aromas jump out of the glass. The palate is surprisingly fresh for the vintage, displaying juicy plum, blackberry and cinnamon balanced by firm but smooth tannins.
A blend of five vineyards, some of which go into single-vineyard designates, this is a well made, structured wine, offering layers of black cherry and subtle earth around soft, velvety tannins. The finish highlights black pepper spice with dark chocolate chaser.
One of the many vintners proud of their forthcoming Willow Creek District appellation, Bob and Jo-Ann Dunning's Chardonnay presents delicate aromas of yellow flowers, vanilla bean, peach skin and limestone. The white rocks extend to the palate, picking up nectarine elements, too, creating a lean but flavorful wine that's refreshing enough to sip all night.
The winery makes this wine from vines planted in 1959 that it now farms organically. In this vintage, they produced a hearty, sizable wine, ripe, soft and intense, in need of time to coax the blackberry and cassis fruit forward. Enjoy through 2025.
Freesia and tangerine rind scent this bright, aromatic wine. It's dry in style, yet luscious and ripe, streaked with tones of honey tangerines and peach. Bristling lime acidity lends cut and vibe to the finish.
Bold flavors and a graceful mouthfeel come together in this classic, complex and well-balanced red, made from 71% Zinfandel with other traditional California varieties. The blackberry, sage and ever-so-slightly earthy aromas continue through the flavors, where they interlace with firm tannins and supportive acidity. This could easily improve through 2019.
Aromas of underbrush, leather, truffle and a balsamic note lead the nose on this lush wine. On the concentrated palate, ripe plum and blackberry take center stage while notes of vanilla, mocha, licorice and clove play supporting roles. Velvety tannins generate a smooth texture and make it extremely approachable. Drink through 2019.
Pleasantly dank aromas of smoldering pine needles, leather and gamy meats hit the nose on this 2% Viognier coferment. Flavors are reminiscent of roasted wild boar, with dark chocolate, creosote and beef crust, presented against grippy tannins.
From the Napa side of Carneros, this small-production Pinot is concentrated and oaky, layered throughout in spicy black cherry tart. The strong flavors lead to a strong, emphatic finish.
Extra time in bottle has proved rewarding for this varietally pure, aromatic, even pungent wine. A complex bouquet yields rose petals, sweet spices, coffee and cedar, and flavors follow through a subtle, penetrating finish. The spicy, brambly berry fruit carries a hint of brine. Drink now through 2025.
There's meaty leather and sizable tannin in this mountain-grown Malbec, from an Atlas Peak vineyard sought after for many types of red grapes. Time in bottle has served it well, the bolder aspects and jammy blackberry and blueberry fruit softened by balanced acidity.
Distinctly wet-earth aromas of mushroom surround a line of graphite with touches of red fruit in this impressive bottling from young winemaker Cris Carter. The umami-driven flavors of shiitake and dried figs are elegant and soft in the mouth, a great fit for lovers of earthy, savory Pinot Noir.
This private reserve is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, aged considerably in bottle. Rich and full-bodied, it has a vanilla-kissed nose and earthy leather pedigree, the black cherry flavor concentrated and thick.
Baked vanilla cake, marcona almonds and pressed guava notes make for a balanced though certainly oaken nose from the appellation's pioneering property. The flavors are round and peachy, with a nice arc of smoke and butter that lead to bitter mustard and acidic zing on the finish.
This blend of 43% Syrah, 31% Mourvèdre, 23%  Grenache and 3% Alicante Bouschet opens with an elegant and nuanced nose, featuring scents of blackberry crumble, lilac and other purple flowers. The tart, earthy flavors combine black raspberry and vanilla with beet root, black earth and sagebrush. A deep, heady blend.
Wildly complex aromas show on this blend of 72% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre, 10% Tempranillo and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Ripe raspberry and eucalyptus run into notes of soy sauce and dried lilac. Flavors lean toward purple fruit and ripe raspberry, with bergamot and pencil lead working their way in as well.
This rich, full-bodied dessert wine offers aromas of spicy plum, blackberry, prune and graphite. The dense palate doles out layers of blueberry syrup, clove and nutmeg alongside fresh acidity that makes this very drinkable.
Blue flower, leather, tobacco, espresso and spicy plum aromas unfold in the glass. The tightly wound palate offers toasted oak, coffee, sage and dried black fruit alongside bracing, teeth-coating tannins. Give this time to unwind. Drink 2017–2024.
Joe Barton, who's made Grey Wolf wines since 1994, launched this brand inspired by pop songs in 2011. This Counting Crows ode delivers aromas of raspberry-laced black tea, clove and cardamom. It's soft and inviting on the palate, with anise, mocha and blackberry flavors that finish with a wash of tobacco. It was still quite tight after hours of being opened, perhaps due to the 35% whole cluster maceration. Drink 2017–2023.
There's a dynamic range of aromas on this wine, from dark blackberry fruit to sassafras, anise, eucalyptus, coffee and earthy loam. It's rich with nicely chalky tannins on the palate, with flavors of cooked black cherry, black tea and licorice.
A heavily spiced nose of cracked peppercorn and tobacco notes mesh with blackberry extract and blueberries on this top bottling from the winery. Its flavors are even darker than blue fruit, with creosote and smoked cigar elements that mellow and evolve as the bottle sits open.
From a winery focused on Alsatian wines since starting in 1983, this tremendous Gewürztraminer is redolent with grilled lemon peels, lilac and a chalky minerality. On the elegant and tasty palate, there are white rocks, roasted nectarines, yellow apples and noticeable salinity.
While exuberantly floral—almost soapy—on the nose, this dry, full-bodied Traminette is surprisingly elegant on the palate with crisp, fresh apple flavors accented with soft Meyer lemon acidity and a blossomy jasmine tea note on the finish.
Aromas of pencil lead, rubber and spice accent distant red fruit notes. The palate is none too deep, with dilution and bracing acidity. Tastes perky and lightly leafy, with cherry, raspberry, dry spice and finally buttery oak. Whispy but hollow for an '06 reserva.
Generic berry and plum aromas come with sweet vanilla notes and a briney pinch. The wine feels fresh but clacky, with juicy acids giving drive to standard dark cherry and berry flavors. Peppery and lightly oaked on the finish.
Chunky on the bouquet, with soft apple and melony aromas. Feels fleshy, round and a bit chunky, with white pepper, fresh-picked asparagus and melony flavors. Feels just tangy enough on the finish. Well made for under $10.
Wet and citrusy smelling, with a touch of toasty oak. Good and medium-bodied on the palate, with decent acidity and balance. Tastes like spiced apple and melon, with vanilla and mild woodspice on the finish. Well done for under $10.
From what used to be known as the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, this Merlot-dominated wine offers soft fruits laced with acidity and gentle tannins. It is not a wine for aging.
Stalky black currant fruit dominates this wood-aged wine. The black fruits are fresh, although with a stern structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. It need a year to develop.
Opens with an aromatic blast of graphite, peppery spice and rubber along with meaty black-fruit scents. Feels round and a bit wayward, with middling fruit, peppery accents and moderate sweetness. Finishes heavy and condensed, with jamminess.
Airy and light on the nose, with citrus and tropical fruit aromas. Feels juicy, high in acidity and pointed, with tangy citrus flavors, particularly lime and lemon. Finishes tight, pithy and ultimately a touch bitter.
A soft apple-tinged wine, with bright acidity that cuts right through. The wine is rounded, with just enough crispness. Ready to drink.
This is a very easygoing and drinkable rosé, with faint aromas and flavors of strawberry hull, ripe white cranberry and a touch of hard peach flesh. Overall, it's balanced and approachable, but also very light; pair with lighter fare.
Dark on the nose, with peppery spice, mocha, basil and secondary berry aromas. Shows power and density in the mouth, with burnt, blackened flavors of blackberry, plum and pepper. Even more peppery on the finish. More black and dark than typically herbal and spicy.
At the moment the pleasant fruit seems completely overmatched by the heavily charred, smoky barrel flavors. Even after substantial breathing time the fruit failed to fill out, and the finish turned a bit watery and slightly bitter.
A generic wine with berry and cassis flavors but not much in the way of complexity. Feels rough and rubbery, with grabby tannins in front of herbal berry and plum flavors. Finishes herbal as well, with some heat and burn to boot. Contains 10% each Carmenère and Petit Verdot.
Fresh and colorful, with black cherry, cassis, sweet oak and coffee aromas. Feels big and grabby, with big tannins supporting blackberry and olive flavors. Sort of a rough ride but generous with the baked flavors and fruit content.
A vibrant pink hue in the glass, this rosé has nice ripe fruit aromas of wild strawberry and fresh cherry that follow through to the juicy, red fruit-dominating mouth. Round and full, the rich mouth could use a bit more cut.
Lean red fruit and sweet spice aromas lead the way on the bouquet of this blend, made from 45% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache and 15% Carignan. The palate offers more of the same, with a lean structure and a surpringly sweet finish.
Opens with pointed red fruit aromas as well as an herbal/green infusion. Feels grating and scratchy, with red currant, plum and milk chocolate flavors. Finishes with buttery oak and vanilla. Pretty much your standard fare Chilean Cab.
Clean mineral, saline, blanched almond and white-fruit aromas announce that this wine is still fresh and not losing a step just yet. Flavors of white peach, apricot, pineapple and green apple are pleasant, while the mildly pithy finish is short but cleansing. Drink now.
Satisfying melon and refreshing citrus give this enticing wine subtance and spirit. Crisp apple adds to the clean, fruity character in the mouth. Consider this with a fresh plate of sushi or spicy grilled chicken for a knockout warm-weather pairing.
More pulpy and flat than ideal, but still this wine shows a lot of spirit and Rioja character. It starts with a jumbled nose of lacquer, shoe polish and licorice, while the palate is chewy and dark, with some briary notes. A good effort from a challenging vintage.
A structured, firm wine showing a great balance of red fruits, dry Bordeaux-style tannins and a freshly jammy texture. For a branded Bordeaux, it has both quality and elegance.
Good wines sometimes come out of the woodwork, such as this Tempranillo rosé from the Granada area. It presents as candy apple, both in color and bouquet. But the palate shows nicely with raspberry and cherry flavors. Gets the job done and stirs some interest. Just 350 cases made.
Deep gold in color, this is a big, dense, rather high-alcohol wine (11.5%) for a kabinett, with honeyed flavors of Golden Delicious apples, dried apricots and candied pineapple. Yet because of the elevated alcohol level, it's not that sweet, finishing on the dry side, with firm acids.
Berry, dark chocolate and coffee on the nose lead this exuberant red blend from Warwick. Bright fruit flavors and enticing spice on the palate are supported by a solid tannin structure and long finish. Lots of personality and certainly could age, but the wine is approachable now.
Spicy, bretty and leathery; this type of wine represents Ribera in a traditional, no-tricks light. Air only helps it show its best attributes, which revolve around meaty black fruit and herbal accents. It's chewy, sort of tannic and finishes with flavors of moss and jerky. Good for near-term consumption.
This wine nicely displays the fleshy pear, melon and citrus notes of unoaked Chard. It's plump and medium-bodied, with a clean, refreshing finish. What it isn't is particularly complex, but it will still go well with any number of seafood or chicken dishes this summer.
Owned by the Bernard family who also own one of the major Bordeaux negociants, Millésima, the wine is structured, deliciously fruity and with a series of smoky tannins that will allow it to age. It comes from a vineyard close to Pauillac and that shows in the dense Cabernet Sauvignon that gives the wine its weight. Drink from 2021.
An intriguing oak spiciness on both the nose and the palate makes this medium-bodied wine interesting without overpowering the focused and vivid raspberry and red cherry flavors. The wine's texture is lean, braced by fine-grained tannins that give support and balance. Best after 2018.
The d'Arenberg style favors structure over plushness, even in Grenache. This is crisp and firm, its cranberryish fruit tinged with hints of raspberry, orange zest, cinnamon and clove. Give it a few years to soften. Drink 2020–2030.
This wine opens with the fresh liveliness of stemmy earth and black tea notes, growing funkier and more herbal on the midpalate. Brightly layered and deeply flavored, it's a full-bodied rendition that remains true to its variety.
This is a vibrant take on the grape, with fresh-pressed boysenberry and wisteria aromas merging with rosemary, fennel and sarsaparilla on the nose. Food friendly, it shows more boysenberry, thyme, white pepper, and floral freshness on the palate.
Spicy musky notes hover above scents of canned peaches. On the palate, these rich peach notes are framed by pleasantly bitter notes of pith and peach skin. The characteristic 2014 freshness makes this bright and sprightly and creates an off-dry finish to the concentrated palate.
Sweet cedar aromas kick off this attention-grabbing bottling, with elderberry and black plum scents combining for an Old World feel in which the structure can be sensed on sniff alone. Wood and graphite notes pop on the palate, where a loamy riverstone minerality courses through black currant flavors, finishing on chocolate cake.
Dark in the glass, this blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah is rich and appealing, made in the typical Paso style. Vanilla, cola, spice cake and black cherry aromas lead to a palate laden with milk chocolate, more black cherry, and star anise flavors. The tannins are soft and lush.
Savory pepper and grilled beef aromas make this wine appetizing, its rich berry and ripe plum flavors bringing excellent concentration and depth to the palate. It's big and bold, yet polished. Firm tannins interlacing with ripeness and spiciness to keep it balanced and help propel a lingering finish.
This opens with dry underbrush, sun-baked soil and French oak aromas. The palate is equally brooding, its dried black cherry and blackberry fruit brushed with licorice and espresso flavors. Assertive, close-grained tannins leave a firm finish. Drink 2020–2027.
A pretty soft-focus wine, this opens gracefully with cherry lollipop fruit, accented with chocolate-coated orange peel. It's smooth, almost silky, showing just a hint of the granitic minerality that typifies this AVA. The wine spent 10 months in 42% new oak.
Star anise, forest floor, mature dark-skinned fruit and a whiff of menthol perfume this structured red. The taut, full-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, licorice and pipe tobacco flavors, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2020–2027.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this elegant Chianti has enticing ripe red berry, violet and baking spice scents. The palate doles out succulent black cherry, leather and clove notes, while firm, savory tannins offer support. Enjoy through 2021.
Tightly structured in a ripe, bold bundle of cherry and berry flavors, this is an intensely tannic and youthful wine, clearly indicative of the vintage. Sage, dried herb, marshmallow and toasted oak aromas round it out, giving it flavor beyond its innate concentration.
On the nose, luscious peach notes are slightly muddied by earthier notes. On the palate, generous sweetness boosts all the fruit flavors to an intense lusciousness. There is balance in the form of lemony freshness and a lovely tangy texture. This is momentarily quite intense.
Light and earthy, this wine glows in spicy citrus, with a rhubarb-and-strawberry tartness and black tea accents. Medium-bodied, it shows an underlying crispness that belies its weight and depth, the oak subtle yet supportive.
This doesn't appear to be the strongest recent vintage of this wine, but it remains a benchmark for McLaren Vale Shiraz. Hints of vanilla and tobacco leaf add nuance to a mix of berries ranging from red raspberry to black currant, but there's also a hint of bruised fruit and a green toughness to the tannins. Give it some time in the cellar. Drink 2020–2030.
This Chardonnay from Dan Kessler and Ellen Haak-Kessler is a blend of of clones 95 and 76, featuring tangerine, pear, and chamomile on the nose. The palate is framed by tension and bright acidity, opening up to riper flavors of peach and melon, with a hint of sea salt.
Made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, this wine shows a rich, full-bodied and juicy core of soft, baked plum, cherry and vanilla flavors, with a lingering streak of cinnamon. Not a vineyard designate, this is rather a selection of complementary wine lots and barrels.
Earthy in anise and blue fruit, this wine is inexplicably crisp and plush at the same time, showing the allure of the variety in its rose petal aromas. Medium bodied and velvety, it follows through in cassis and pomegranate flavors.
Its prime location near Archery Summit and Domaine Drouhin marks Nysa as one of Oregon's most sought-after fruit sources. Mark McNeilly (of Mark Ryan Winery) has chosen it for one of two vineyard designates for this new project. Sweet baking spices and raspberry jam are the hallmarks here, offering immediate appeal, while retaining the structure to age for another decade. Aim for an optimal drinking window from 2019 through 2024.
This captures all the ripe fruit and fresh mouthfeel you could ask for in a young Riesling. Succulent and peachy, with references to other mixed tree fruits, this also brings highlights of orange pekoe tea. Residual sugar is 20 g/L.
Light in color, this bottling from a famous vineyard shows red cherry, crushed clove and woody herb notes on a nose that's both sanguine and sharp with anise spice. The palate is lively and spicy, with energetic white sage and bright red fruit leading into a long-lasting, menthol-laced finish.
In 2014 this vineyard designate was further subdivided by clone. The Pommard bottling pushes big fruit front and center—a juicy mix of blood orange, red berries and cherries. There's a certain stiffness to the tannins still, but overall it's finely proportioned and should be enjoyable through the mid-2020s.
Underbrush, oak, wild berry, herb and balsamic notes lead the nose of this Brunello. Tightly wound, fine-grained tannins frame cranberry, red cherry, orange zest and white pepper flavors on the palate. A hint of star anise signals the close. Drink 2020–2027.
Apple notes have a lifted ethereal quality. The palate comes in with beautifully poised lemon freshness that counters the just off-dry richness of the fruit flavors. This is balm-like in its apple-focused fruitiness and goes down very easily. Flavors linger.
Nutty and lush with layers of peach, pear and lime fruit, this is a medium-bodied and well-balanced white. It's refreshing while offering both length and breadth on the palate.
Rich, ripe and oaky, this full-bodied wine has loads of sweet blackberry and black cherry flavors, with generous doses of oak spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, wood smoke and dark chocolate. It's bold but complex and will be a lot of fun to drink with red meat.
This wine is lifted by vibrant acidity and shows bread-like aromas accented with wild strawberry, compost and forest floor flavors. Light-bodied and fresh on the palate, it's nicely crafted and table-ready.
Fiesta is the lightest, most fruit forward of the four different Tempranillos from Abacela. In a great year such as this, it's also substantial and authoritative, with deeply driven flavors of red and blueberry fruit, a whiff of oak and slightly grainy tannins. This wine clearly over-delivers for the price.
Apricot, fig and fresh-cut grass intertwine on the nose of this pungently crisp white, lengthy in honeydew melon. Light bodied and lightly textured, it offers a burst of acidity on the finish.
Strong gravel, slate and other rocky mineral elements show on the nose of this wine, which also boasts black-cherry compote aromas. The palate is also earth-driven, with wet clay and flint flavors holding throughout the sip. It's distinctive if only on one strong note.
Barbecue smoke is prevalent both on the nose and palate, a characteristic that lays atop supple tannins and oak. This wine has a powerful bite of bitterness on the lean, herbal finish.
Aromas of lime and tropical fruits are clean and lean. This is lifted by citric acidity and spritz, while flavors of lime, green herbs and bell pepper are authentic. Beyond that, there's not much to this besides overriding freshness.
Saucy, herbal berry aromas come with gritty notes of earth and rubber. This feels chunky and grabby, with drawing tannins. Flavors of black plum, clove, green herbs and coffee grinds finish with a noticeable herbal boost.
An ode to the founding fathers, this bottling is quite tight on the nose, with lime skin, lime blossom and Meyer-lemon juice aromas. The palate offers apple skins, crisp apple flesh, lemon-tinged butter, grapefruit zest and a shaving of vanilla.
The nose isn't very expressive but eventually reveals leather and berry. The easygoing palate shows fruity notes of wild cherry, raspberry and a hint of kitchen spice. It's simple and fresh so enjoy soon.
Still young, this wine has considerable acidity that is surprising. Its cherry fruits are fresh with soft tannins and a juicy aftertaste. It needs another six months to calm down. Drink from summer 2016.
Aromas of tilled earth, truffle and woodland berry lead the nose. The lively, straightforward palate offers up juicy wild cherry, cinnamon and clove alongside soft, polished tannins. Simple but well made, it's ideal for everyday.
Made with 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, Canaiolo, Mammolo, Colorino and Cabernet Sauvignon, this has aromas of espresso, scorched earth and ripe berry. The firm, rather evolved palate offers dried black cherry and clove alongside moderate acidity and drying tannins.
Velvety texture underlies dusty tannins and neutral oak in this light and lean wine from a vineyard in the heart of Pinot Noir country. Vanilla and cherry play off each other nicely, finding equal partnership with a buoyant acidity.
Sweet-leaning red berries meet with touches of cinnamon and vanilla on the nose of this affordably priced wine. There is decent acidic zest on the palate, which frames the tart cranberry and dark strawberry fruit and is leveled by pencil-lead flavors. It's fairly simplistic overall.
This is a ripe style of Sauvignon Blanc wine. It has hints of Mediterranean tropical fruits as well as the more familiar cool climate herbal flavors. It is young, probably too young to drink now, so wait until early 2017.
An immediately attractive wine that is bursting with black currant fruitiness. Along with light tannins and red berry fruits, it is fresh without any hint of wood aging. The wine is ready to drink.
Boysenberry, violets and a touch of bacon fat show on the nose of this wine from a vineyard on Paso's Eastside. The palate is upright in both tannins and searing acidity, with flavors of tart blueberry and black peppercorn.
With a dull nose not making any promises, this wine turns out to be a velvety, full-bodied explosion of packed dark-cherry flavor and cola-vanilla, with moderate acidity and structure.
Pear blossom, baked lemons, packed lemon flowers, apple juice, walnut and a touch of quinine pop on the nose of this wine from a challenging grape. The palate is rich but zesty with walnut oil, chamomile, lime, apple and pear notes, offering lots of textural intrigue.
With soft tannins and ripe berry fruits, this is an immediately accessible wine. It has a fresh character, with a smoky edge and a ripe, smooth aftertaste. This would make a great barbecue wine for the summer.
Made with 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, this offers subtle aromas of violet and damp underbrush. The palate is rather simple, offering red cherry and a leather note. Drink soon.
A ripe, soft wine that has touches of wood from its four months aging in barrel. There is a spicy, perfumed character with apricot and ripe pear flavors. The acidity is well in balance. Drink this attractive wine now.
This characteristic blend of Braucol, Duras, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon is light, soft and fruity with red berry flavors. It is ready to drink with its rounded, smooth aftertaste. Braucol is the local patois name for Fer Servadou.
This wine is slightly austere at the start, despite its fuller body and style. Leathery and dusty in tannin, the black and blue fruit remain elusive, teasing in between bouts of coffee and chocolate.
This is a light, clear and candied wine, somewhat thin, that's also tangy in acidity. Also holding 5% Zinfandel and 5% Sangiovese, it's definitely fruity in cherry and vanilla without getting overripe, a good value made by longtime winemaker Dr. Richard Peterson.
This easygoing wine falls into the soft side, bordering on a soapy mouthfeel. Flavors of banana-cream and coconut-cream pie abound, with 30% new oak making its impact felt. The finish is yeasty. This is best enjoyed well chilled.
In keeping with the good quality of 2015's Beaujolais Nouveau, this is a ripe red fruit and black cherry flavored wine. It has really fresh, juicy acidity and the softest tannins. It's a bright, fruity wine that is just waiting to drink.
This intensely fresh wine is a blend of Duras, Braucol and Syrah in a textured, stalky style that is tight and layered with tannins. It's certainly young, still bursting with fruit and needing to fill out as its tannins soften and its black currant fruit calms down. Then it will be a fascinating, complex wine, elegant and poised. Drink from 2018.
Dusty dried herb notes lend a savory tone to this dry Riesling. Straightforward but brisk, it offers abundant lime acidity off set by fresh apple and pear flavors. Drink now.
Aged in both French and American oak, just 30% of it new, this dark wine is somewhat thin, despite its full body and high level of ripeness. It mixes aromas and flavors of sage, plum and raspberry chocolate.
This blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre is fighting (and winning) above its weight (price) class. Tarry, gritty, asphalt-like aromas blend with smoky berry notes to form an inviting bouquet. The palate is round and juicy in feel, with herbal, minty red-berry flavors and a deep, flush finish that's showing a high level of complexity. Drink through 2018.
Fresh-flowing blood, dried Italian herbs and cured cuts of meat greet the nose on this annual Bonny Doon treat, a blend of 28% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 17% Cinsault, 17% Mourvèdre and 16% Carignane. The flavors are dominated by purple fruits, trending toward blackberry and blueberry, with violet florals and rustic dust.
Aromas of graphite, earthy berry, dried cheese, fine oak and dense black fruits make for a supremely confident bouquet. The palate on this Cabernet-led blend is pure, forward and racy, with depth and structure. Flavors of coconutty oak blend with chocolate, blackberry and cassis, while the finish is ripe, long and satisfying, with just a touch of herbal essence. Drink through 2019.
Made by a small estate that's one of Montalcino's little-known gems, this delicious and earthy. It weaves together sensations of ripe red cherry, black raspberry, leather, blue flower, sweet cake spices and a hint of orange zest. The juicy fruit is balanced by friendly, velvety tannins. Enjoy now–2019.
All of LVV's 2011 Saint-Joseph's are impressive. This one is fuller bodied and more lushly textured than the others while still showing intense Syrah character. Blueberry fruit and hickory smoke mark the nose, while the palate reveals remarkable nuances of crushed stone yet ends long and velvety. Drink now–2020.
Powerful blackberry, prune, juniper, cola and fern aromas are demanding but appealing for Spanish Cabernet. This feels tannic, full and generous, with flavors of spicy, lightly green berry fruits. A foresty note accents an elegant yet strong finish. Drink through 2022.
This Maule Valley old-vines Carignan opens with licorice, blackberry and cassis aromas along with exotic spice notes. It's big, tannic and firm as a boulder, with baked flavors of black fruits blended with coffee and toast. Licorice, blackened toast and overall grit take this to a good but gripping conclusion. Drink through 2018.
Talk about an assertive flavor profile, this smells vividly like black pepper and black cherries, then adds smoky accents on the palate. Firm-textured and medium-bodied, it is made from one of the Rhône Valley's wildest-tasting grapes and is unconventional, unadulterated and unusually satisfying.
This puff-pastry of a wine has a vivid gold color, enticing bread-dough aromas and lush texture. Ripe peach and honey flavors are layered with butterscotch and mineral notes that lead to a lingering finish. Full-boded, well-balanced and delightful.
A bit of moody musk precedes notes of lifted orange marmalade—bitter-sweet peel countered by juicy lusciousness. The botrytis is palpable here amongst the concentrated sweetness, so wonderfully shot through with lemony acid. A focused, refreshing BA, with swirls of citrus that go on and on.
From Olsen vineyard grapes, this is brawny, ripe, dark and oaky—what else would you expect? It's a take-no-prisoners red that is loaded with spicy blackberry fruit. Tannins are ripe and in proportion, and the fruit has that notable lift from vivid acidity that sets Washington reds apart.
This solid and dense wine has firm tannins as well as juicy fruitiness. It is dark, rich and full of black fruits that are cut with intense acidity. It needs to age further, so drink from 2015.
A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah all aged in neutral oak, it's jazzy and appealing with notes of blue fruit, raspberry, smoked meat and peppery spices showing good purity and richness. It's nowhere near as weighty as the labeled alcohol level might suggest.
This opens with an intense fragrance of perfumed berries, crushed blue flower, hints of Mediterranean herbs and a whiff of new leather. The ripe palate brings together juicy wild cherry layered with notes of baking spices alongside supple tannins and just enough freshness. Enjoy now–2017.
You can't compare Borobo to anything else because what else is a blend of Carmenère, Cab Sauvignon, Syrah and Pinot Noir? Overall, this is a polished wine with tobacco, balsam wood and cedary berry aromas. The palate is soft and rich, with mellow tannins. Flavors of spice, berry and plum are slightly baked, and the finish keeps the mellow, fruity vibe going. Drink through 2018.
This wine features inviting aromatics of fresh plum, coconut and strawberry. The palate entices with savory rhubarb, bay leaf, mint and cola. A tight core of structure partners with soft, plush tannins.
This is the most impressive Chante-Alouette I can recall, boasting layers of honeyed pineapple fruit, the barest hint of fresh, just-golden toastiness and notes of gingered apricot. It's full bodied and lush on the palate, ending long and mouthwatering. It should drink well into 2015, but expect it to close up only to re-emerge between 2020 and 2030.
Bright, zesty lemon appears alongside yellow Mirabell plum that also pervades the palate. There is linear focus, as befits an icewine made from Riesling—and if you have desserts that feature confit lemon, this is what you need. Incredible that something so rich should be so wonderfully light at the same time.
Sultry notions of honeycomb, pine sap and something more tropical—perhaps pineapple, perhaps passion fruit—converge in an incredibly concentrated and at the same time tight and light-footed palate. Passion fruit notes intensify on the palate and while this is very sweet, racy, zesty acidity holds wonderful sway. This expresses the much-lauded purity of Eiswein perfectly.
This elegant Nebbiolo delivers the grape's classic sensations of crushed raspberry, dark cherry, violet, sweet cake spices and a hint of orange peel. It's juicy and fresh with supple tannins. While this can age for a couple more years, enjoy it now for maximum freshness.
Ridge's historic Monte Bello estate produces black tobacco, wet slate, chalk and blueberry jam aromas in this vintage. The wine, which gets support from 14% Merlot-3% Petite Verdot-1% Cabernet Franc, is not very dense and even racy on the palate, with violet, cola, tart cranberry and darker fruit as well.
Adam Lee's take on this vineyard on the eastern border of the Sta. Rita Hills is rich with tomato, cinnamon, sour cherry and tart blackberry aromas. It's soft and velvety once sipped, with cranberry juice flavors and cola making for a fun yet approachable Pinot Noir, easy to drink but able to trigger deep thoughts as well.
Brisk freshness characterizes this Pinot from Richard Sanford, a pioneer in the region. The wine presents violet and elderberry on the nose and is soft yet extra-expressive once sipped, with mocha, strawberry, black tea, and, on the edges, a grapefruit peel bitterness.
There's a bit more fruit—cherry, cranberry—and no dust to this Cigare compared to other Bonny Doon bottlings, but blacker aromas of asphalt and char persist. The blend of 36% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 19% Cinsault delivers strong tannins and flavors of a black-and-blue filet mignon topped with a wild berry reduction sauce
Charred meat, blood, concrete and elderberry form a deep and complex nose. The fine-grained tannins deliver gamy, blackberry flavors, making for a very solid wine that's a steal of a deal.
This Pinot Noir project from the Napa Valley's Hall family starts with dense and inky core aromas of ripe raspberry and black tea, with a touch of vanilla. Once sipped, the flavors verge toward black cherry and blackberry, with very liqueur-like chocolate and a pronounced and lasting spice element.
On the nose, layers range from fragrant and floral jasmine to mango sorbet, and ripe nectarine to oven-fresh croissants. The mouthfeel is creamy, with stone fruit and banana flavors. Zingy acidity powers a long finish.
Pleasant red-fruit aromas of cherry and raspberry are low in octane for Toro. A fresh but not overly dense palate is lively and vital, with wild berry, plum and brown sugar flavors. A warm, heady, generous finish is fruity and bright. Drink through 2018.
Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes team up to produce this firmly structured but accessible red. The palate delivers ripe black cherry, red currants and tobacco lightly accented with oak-driven spice. It's balanced with firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2016.
Structured and firm, this is a dry wine with the potential of fine fruit in the future. Acidity cuts through the texture promising the freshness of black currants and berries. It's a perfumed wine that can still age. Drink from 2016.
Despite the name, this is the value offering, not the reserve, from Soléna. Young, tart and tight, it displays primary fruit flavors of strawberry and raspberry, with sharp, lemony acids. Holding until 2016–2017 may help to smooth it out, but it's perfectly delightful already.
Sweet-seeming aromas and flavors dominate this full-bodied, ripe-tasting wine—not unusual for a Rhône-style blend that leads with  Grenache. A spicy, smoky influence is delicious in its own right, but has a tasty component of fresh blackberry and boysenberry to back it up.
Slightly oxidized aromas of marzipan, pressed yellow flowers, dried lemon rinds and apricot cream entice the nose on this wine from the historic vineyard by Joshua Klapper. The palate shows woody spice and a unique iodine character, with cinnamon, salt, sour yeastiness and a touch of tart citrus peel.
Pure Syrah, this is young, spicy and crisp, with blue plum, red licorice and a streak of dark chocolate. It has a light suggestion of the gamy, cured meat character that typifies Syrah. This marks a good start for such young (second leaf) vines.
In this fruit-forward vintage, it's not surprising to find that what shines here are the bright, spicy and tart flavors of strawberries, raspberries and cherries. The Sangiovese was co-fermented with 7% Syrah, and aged in 30% new American oak. As the wine breathes open the flavors of oak and char come up, and the tannins show some extra grip.
Aromas of ripe dark-skinned fruit, spice, underbrush and dried herbs emerge from this blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The palate delivers dried black cherries, plum, clove and grilled sage alongside tightly-knit tannins. Drink 2016–2020.
Remarkably strong cinnamon characterizes the nose of this old-vine wine, which also shows red and black cherries, potpourri and gingerbread on the nose. Black raspberries, cranberry-pomegranate juice, dark chocolate, purple flowers, black pepper and cardamom entertain the palate, which also offers decent acidity and grip, but finishes quickly.
Dense aromas of earth, berry fruits, latex and animal fur are a touch challenging at first but balance out with airing. This has a crisp, fresh feel despite coming from a hot year. Lightly herbal, leathery flavors of red currant and wild berry finish oaky, with more than adequate filling.
This blend is mostly Syrah, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon backing it up. Dense, earthy, meaty and lightly roasted on the nose, the palate is mildly tannic, with lively acidity. Roasted, foresty plum and red-berry flavors end short and baked in character.
This Sangiovese opens with aromas of blue flowers, underbrush, dark-skinned berry and a whiff of roasted coffee beans, all of which carry over to the concentrated palate along with black pepper and clove. The tannins are still tightly wound but drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit richness.
Vibrant and elegant, this delivers aromas and flavors of crushed red cherry, raspberry, cinnamon-spice and Alpine herbs. Supple tannins and bright acidity provide support. Enjoy through 2018.
Elegant and fragrant, this blend of 90% Nebbiolo and 10% Merlot from Valtellina opens with aromas of violet, rose, wild berry and cake spice. The vibrant, luminous palate doles out juicy red cherries, crushed raspberries and cinnamon, framed in bright acidity and supple tannins. Enjoy through 2018.
Aromas of toast, blue flowers, sage and mineral lead the nose. The bright palate offers red berry, clove, orange rind and roasted coffee beans alongside firm acidity and assertive tannins. Drink through 2020.
Aromas of vanilla, oak, white flower, hay and pear lead the nose of this blend of 30% Sauvignon, 30% Chardonnay, 30% Incrocio Manzoni and 10% Nebbiolo. The unusual palate offers citrus, Alpine herbs, dried apple, candied lemon, a hint of tropical fruit and a coffee note that lingers on the close. The rich flavors are brightened by racy acidity.
This is aged in oak, but the vessels are large casks, or foudres, so the impact isn't that noticeable. The wine is meaty and savory on the nose, but the palate shows more herb-garrigue flavors and superripe cherry fruit. Drink now–2017.
Tart white peach and plum notes are fresh and fragrant throughout this crisp, mineral-driven Chardonnay. It's satisfyingly plump in mouthfeel, yet vivacious and crisp on the finish. Drink now through 2016.
This densely extracted expression of Pinot Nero opens with aromas of tilled soil, espresso, toasted oak and sage. The concentrated palate delivers blackberry extract, coffee, vanilla, chocolate and a hint of herb alongside assertive but fine-grained tannins.
Made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this structured red offers aromas of black currant, toast, graphite and a whiff of cedar. The firm palate offers coconut, coffee, grilled sage and red berry alongside bracing tannins. Drink sooner rather than later to capture the fruit richness.
Full bodied and bold flavored, this is not overwhelmingly dark in color nor pumped up in ripeness. It does emphasize aromas of anise and dried plums, adding flavors of blackberrry juice and a sense of alcoholic strength. It is moderately tannic, while the texture is mouthfilling and the finish rather warm.
This fruity, friendly Pinot opens with ripe berry aromas mixed with touches of minerality and latex. It feels fresh and sturdy, with black cherry and raspberry flavors. A pure, sweet, lightly chocolaty finish wraps things up.
Smoke, cedar and plum aromas are followed by a focused palate of pepper and berry flavors. Poised and sophisticated, this wine is great for fans of drier style reds.
Firm and spicy, this blend of Sangiovese and 10% Merlot opens with aromas of black plum, crushed violet and kitchen spices. The juicy palate delivers ripe black cherry, licorice and clove alongside a backbone of tightly wound but refined tannins. Drink 2016–2020.
This brooding wine opens with aromas of mature blue and black fruit, allspice, charred earth and whiff of game. The palate delivers spiced blueberry, blackberry, ground pepper, licorice and tobacco alongside assertive tannins.
Dark-colored and deeply flavored, this full-bodied wine smells smoky and meaty, tastes savory, feels firm and appropriately tannic. Showing the more robust, hearty side of Pinot, it can be paired successfully with most opulent meat and fowl dishes.
Earthy berry and licorice aromas are composed, lightly oaked and attractive. This standard Priorato blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah is fresh feeling, with a bolt of bracing acidity. Juicy plum and raspberry flavors finish loamy, earthy and balanced. For a wine that's no heavyweight, this is strong throughout. Drink through 2018.
Brambly cassis and raspberry aromas are warm and a touch cooked. This is bullish, heavy and grabby in feel, with big tannins. Blackberry, cassis, herb and chocolate flavors finish ripe and dark. Drink through 2017.
Aside from hints of dark wild raspberries, this entry-level, second-label wine by Norm Yost doesn't offer overt fruit on the nose, instead showing graphite, dark earth and crushed rocks. Earthy flavors of beet juice and juniper show a slightly sour side, making for an interesting wine, if not completely delicious
A subtle nose of smoke and spice leads into flavors of smoke, slightly tart berry and spice on this affordable South African Merlot. Smooth tannins and a soft finish give the wine an everyday, food-friendly feel.
Tropical fruit and banana on the nose and palate are both exotic and unusual in this affordable Sauvignon Blanc, and a lively acidity adds to the appeal. A refreshing and fun everyday wine, pair this with ethnic food or salads.
Lively and balanced, this wine offers fresh fruit flavors and an undertone of minerality. A classic but uncomplicated white with a dry character that will pair well with fresh seafood—think ceviche—or Thai food.
Lots of leather and churned earth on the nose, and with time plum and tomato notes enter the party. It's a forward, aggressive Tempranillo with jumpy red-fruit flavors and a long, angular finish. Not really a wine for connoisseurs, but good for everyday consumption.
Dry and leafy in the Cru Bourgeois sense of Bordeaux. And that makes sense given that it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo from a cool, tough vintage. While not vegetal, the wine is herbal and nervous, with leafy notes and burnt brown sugar flavors.
A strange bird for sure. The blend is 70% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Picapoll. In no way is it common, and truth be told it lags far behind the winery's usually excellent reds. But it does have a lot of kick, body and tropical fruit. And for a unique Spanish white, it may draw some interest because it's not poorly made.
Big and sweet, with ripe berry aromas, candy and leather on the nose. This wine is a classic fruity joven; it's bulky and easygoing, with black cherry, raspberry and chocolate. If you aren't looking for miracles, this is fine within the young Ribera del Duero category.
Rusty in color with a neutral, light-styled nose. This wine shows all of its age via lean apple skin and cherry flavors. It's a bit acidic and stripped down, but deep inside there's adequate tobacco, leather and coffee notes.
Osborne is now in Ribera del Duero, and if this wine is an indication of what to expect, then work needs to be done. It has a cheesey nose with no real fruit character. The palate has acidic freshness but also a dearth of substance and a grabby feel. It's not bad wine per se, but in RDD the competition is stiff and this isn't going to draw many converts.
This wine offers clean, minerally aromas and a palate of honey and apples. Pair with poultry or fresh seafood. Not overly elegant, but a good wine from a great producer.
Fairly rough and gaseous at first (and we tried two different samples), although it does soften with time. The mouth and palate are pretty good: Raspberry and plum flavors are tasty, and the acidity is not lacking. Finishes with earth and a touch of burnt coffee.
Marked by simple pineapple and citrus flavors, this plump, fleshy-textured Chard turns unexpectedly crisp and slighly metallic on the finish.
Everyone who follows Spain and the Mediterranean basin knows that 2002 was a cool, miserly year. But still, this wine is offering almost nothing. It's tart, limited and borderline sour. There isn't much middle or body to it, so expect scratchy red fruit and lots of wayward acidity.
Young, rambunctious Toro is what this is. It's leathery and raw on the nose, with barrel char to boot. The palate is sweet, unctuous and creamy, with candied berry flavors and caramel. And the tannins are typically huge and grabby.
Vibrant to the point of spritzy, with more tartness than cushion. This is a sharp rendition of Viura that emphasizes grapefruit and lemon. It stretches astringency to its limit, and yet some may like it because it will never be confused for plodding.
Shows some rather lactic overtones to go with ample citrus and guava flavors. Medium-bodied, with a fresh, lemony finish.
This is a 100% estate wine from the producer's cool-climate sites near the town of Freestone. Black pepper and a nutty entry invite one in to explore further, this wine having many stories to tell as it develops. Soft and mellow, it's also feral and funky, with a strong essence of mushroomy forest floor.
This is a beautiful and beguiling wine, so different from many of its counterparts in its sizzling, citrus-driven acidity and persistent freshness. Tangerine and grapefruit are the stars, unexpectedly keeping this light-bodied vineyard-designate alive and inviting on the palate.
The top rosé from old vines at Grand Boise, this is a ripe, well-structured and balanced wine. The fruit is right up front, raspberries and red plums along with a lightly herbal element. The high-altitude vineyard (up to 2,000 feet) gives a cool, crisp aftertaste to this impressive wine.
Another study in citrus: bergamot peel mixes with fragrant citrus foliage on the nose. The palate brings further harmony with notes of orange and tangerine. The juicy freshness is utterly mouthwatering. The dry, slender palate is seriously playful and playfully serious. Only Riesling can achieve this. Utter joy and supreme refreshment.
Aloe vera balminess is promised on the zesty, aromatic nose. The palate fulfills this easily: this is supple and flowing, concentrated and fluid. White pepper, grapefruit zest, juicy pear and greenish leafiness all gather around the central seam of freshness. Elegance, poise and total refreshment is the result.
Bright, fresh and vivacious, this bottling from the historic vineyard offers white flowers, sea salt, lemons and buttered white peaches on the nose. Apple flesh and lime rind sizzles into the citrus-driven palate, where a touch of lemon verbena adds complexity to this straightforward and delicious wine.
Blackberry, cassis, mocha and chocolate aromas are typical of fine, modern Malbec, even if this contains 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. A flush, widespread mouthfeel expands across all corners of the palate, while savory, toasty flavors of blackberry and licorice finish with a reprise of char as well as hickory and coffee notes. Drink this beefy wine through 2022.
It's the stem inclusion that shows itself first, with aromas of olive and herb in front of violets, red fruit, pepper, earth and whiffs of coffee and smoked meat. The flavors are reserved, supple and polished, with bright acids keeping it all in focus. It demands food alongside it to be properly appreciated.
Black cherries, leather, dried rose petals, rustic cinnamon, bloody meat, graphite, cherry cola and vanilla bean show on the wondrously layered nose of this Steve Clifton bottling. It's still a tad young on the palate, which is grippy with sticky tannins, but shows cola, brown spice, cinnamon, cardamom cream, tart plum fruit and a lasting dried mint element. Drink 2018 through 2028.
The aromas of cocoa, vanilla, coconut and dried herbs are still quite locked up, with the oak out front. The cherry flavors are dense, plush and layered, with vanilla and other barrel spices speckled throughout. It provides plenty of immediate appeal but will only benefit from some time in the cellar; best after 2019.
Ripe, rich fruit and bold, mouth dampening tannins express the rugged muscularity of this wine. A blend of classic Bordeaux grape varieties, it highlights pristine black cherry and cassis against a backdrop of spice, cedar, barnyard and tobacco complexities. It needs a few years to ease off its brawniness, but should improve beautifully through at least 2023.
Grown on the producer's 1,800-foot-high, dry-farmed property west of St. Helena from 40-year-old vines, this is a great wine, structured and elegantly designed to highlight cassis, clove and cigar. Thick, heady tannins soften in the glass, allowing room for enviable structure and a black pepper-dotted finish.
Given slightly less new oak (60%) than the producer's Les Sommets bottling, this is an equally rewarding wine, blended with 12% Merlot. Red fruit dominates atop a soft grip of leather, pencil lead and cedar. The considerable density of the tannins and overall firm texture suggest this will benefit from further aging; drink 2018–2022.
This is a Westside Road site known for its rocky soils, and the wine presents sassafras, cherry-berry and roses on the entry before laying down a tightly woven mix of sour, salty cranberry and blood orange. It is softly voluptuous and velvety, though young, with a biting chewiness that should mellow in the cellar. Drink now through 2028.
This ultraripe Malbec-led blend suggests aged P. X. Sherry via raisin and citrus peel aromas. A jammy palate manages to exhibit balance, despite heavy ripeness, while flavors of blackberry, cassis and prune are dark and dense. A savory, warm, saturated finish continues the theme of maximum ripeness. Drink through 2020.
Piercing blueberry and wild berry aromas are prototypical of this label. A juicy, high-acid palate is linear and a bit edgy, but its composition bodes well for the future. Spiced plum and currant flavors finish with toast, spice and berry notes. Drink through 2024.
Opaque in color and manner, this wine benefits from the 5% addition of Malbec, a speciality of the producer. Juicy blue and black fruit intermix around a touch of milk chocolate, with smooth tannins and well-integrated oak. This is a classically styled wine balanced against a richness of California fruit.
Peach and bergamot, mirabelle plum and lemon zest, ripeness and freshness, amplitude and sleekness: whoever loves to trade in juxtapositions will love this expressive, irresistible wine. Etched with very clear contours it nonetheless delivers generous, gorgeous fruit.
A larger offering from the producer from a selection of sites, this shows a prowess of blending in its grippy, classic elements of black pepper and currant, a focused display of savory edges around elusive fruit that makes for a compelling experience. Drink now through 2023.
The bottle carries the signature of French sculptor César, who marked his friendship with the Sumeire family, owners of the estate. The wine, the top cuvée of the property, is impressively rich while still being beautifully balanced and fresh. From selected parcels, it is a real food wine, tense with a good texture and a ripe, concentrated aftertaste.
Always aged for a year before it is released, this iconic wine is impressive. It is superrich without losing freshness. Light wood toast, red fruits and balanced acidity meld together in a ripe, spicy whole. The wine could even age for another few months, so drink it this summer or keep until the end of 2016.
This wine is from the Chenoweth grape-growing family and is made from three of its finest vineyard sites: Chenoweth Ranch, Treehouse and Bootleggers, all special spots that have produced grapes for special producers. Here, the result is a smooth and velvety expression of juicy cherry and raspberry, given freshness via vibrant acidity.
Red cherry, vanilla, chaparral scrub and cranberry puree show on the nose of this bottling from the longtime estate, and then come the intriguing olive and Middle Eastern spices. The palate hones in on that Mediterranean spice character, with Kalamata olives blending into lavender, exotic mulberry and thyme-laced cherry-plum sauce.
A portion of this estate is in the cru appellation of La Londe, based on schist soil. This single-vineyard wine is impressive in its ripe fruit and vein of fresh acidity. It is full bodied and concentrated, while keeping a light touch. It is dry, lightly structured and likely will be even better from the end of 2016.
Slightly more advanced notes stand out: a herbal tinge of sun-warmed, wild thyme has crept into the citrus peel which utterly dominates the palate. This sleek Smaragd has just started on its long ascent. It has the toned muscle and the stamina to go on and on—those who have enjoyed older vintages know of its near eternal youthfulness. On the aftertaste, herbal notes assert themselves again: dried tisane of verbena and dried apple punctuate with pleasant accents.
Dark golden in color, this celebration of the Chinese zodiac opens with fresh-squeezed lemon and saline, a a saltiness that's inviting and imaginative. Medium in body, this is fleshy, juicy and bright, a complement of ripe apple and banana, a perfumed floral quality and spicy minerality.
From vines averaging 95 years old, this is an impressive effort, in balance between savory, sultry overtones of peppercorn and espresso and a riper, juicier core of blackberry. Supportive acidity provides a freshness to the wine, which offers plenty of length and breadth on the finish.
Elegant and silky on the nose, this bottling shows aromas of pressed violet, rose bud, grape candy, cherry blossom and lilac. There is a lot of cinnamon and star anise spice on the palate as well as a strong touch of licorice that's laid across deep olallieberry fruit and a lavender florality.
Stemmy wet forest and a distinct note of mushroom opens this exotic wine, a full-bodied and concentrated expression of the coast. Tangy orange and juicy rhubarb flavors support the searing acidity that balances the wine and keeps it fresh and lively on the palate.
Burnt hay, grapefruit and waxy apple aromas lead to a palate with briny citrus flavors. Pithy grapefruit and orange flavors carry the finish, which is quick and light in weight.
This overly ripe Malbec is packed with rooty spice, oak and tree bark aromas. The wine feels sticky and soupy, with a resiny texture and salty, oaky flavors of syrupy berries and mint. A sugary, cloying finish is short on freshness.
The nose is neutral except for dusty aromas and a hint of applesauce. This feels bold, thick and a bit clumsy, with pithy citrus, nectarine and apricot flavors. These notes continue through the wine's finish. Drink now.
Earthy in character, this is a rustic wine. It does have attractive red fruits, and balancing acidity but these elements come up against a barnyard character and firm tannins.
Dusty, earthy and herbal defines the nose on this minty Cab. There are also whiffs of animal and pickle on the bouquet. This feels raw and tight, with crisp acids and peppery, lightly herbal flavors of plum and berry. A minty, dry finish is slightly harsh.
Grassy aromas of green tobacco and alfalfa come in front of a lightly abrasive palate. Herbal red-berry flavors are suggestive of minty cranberry, cherry and raspberry. This turns more fruity and less green on the finish.
Inexpensive, this Zin is quite ripe and quite oaky, a big mouthful of wine ready to enjoy now.
Briny raspberry aromas are a bit murky. This smacks down hard with acidity, while the flavors run toward earthy, generic plum and berry. A salty finish with animal notes is firm but struggles with cleanliness.
A maderized color and flat, old-smelling aromas of molasses and baked beans are barely cutting it. This feels tired, with mildly oxidized flavors of raisin, tobacco and vanilla. Tomato and herbal notes carry the finish on this mostly gone Rioja.
A very dusty aroma gives a wine that has pepper, green apple and a metallic edge. Finishing with bright acidity, it is ready to drink.
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.
From the Layon Valley with its ability to produce botrytised grapes from the morning mists in the autumn, this wine is rich, sweet with orange marmalade and honey flavors. The contrast with the acidity is what makes this wine so light, perfumed and poised. It needs to age, so drink from 2019.
Another tiny production, made in a different style from many of the other designates released by the producer this year, Ten Oaks is named for the, yes, 10 trees bordering the vineyard. Medium in tannin and oak, with a surprising lightness of being, it shows a citrus-like quality that makes it refreshing, while a sublime texture keeps rolling along the tongue.
The aromas of embers, black pepper, dark fruit, herbs, smoke and spice are brooding and locked up on first pour, showing more on each swirl. The blue and black-fruit flavors are ripe, sweet and full, with savory notes fleshing out the crazy long finish.
Floral, citrus aromas, honeylike flavors and an unctuous texture make this white Rhône-style blend almost a dessert in a glass—without being sweet. The wine is full bodied, mouthfilling, complex and gushing with great pastry-like flavors.
Berry, eucalyptus, Alpine herb and a balsamic note are some of the aromas you'll discover on this structured red. The ripe, fresh palate offers juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, cooking spice and licorice alongside firm but refined tannins. Drink 2020–2032.
The variety announces itself with aromas of dark plum, fig, herbs and blackberry bud that enchant the senses. The fruit flavors are soft and plush, showing a dazzling sense of purity along with a finish that lingers. It flat out impresses.
There's an immediate pithy tension on the nose of this bottling from a producer in the game since 1933, with Brie-cheese rind, fresh Greek yogurt and and grapefruit-peel aromas. The flavors are intriguing, hard to pin down and alluring, with exotic citrus and varied stone fruit, light honeysuckle and crushed slate mixed with chalky structure. Simmering acidity keeps the flavors coming.
Pure notes of ripe but crisp pear on the nose turn into concentrated, herb-spiced pear and citrus notes on the palate: the ripeness of the pear vies with the zesty freshness and makes of a lively, vivid and most enjoyable and refreshing wine. This is crisp, light bodied but balanced and puts a little Austrian spring in your step.
With a dominance of Merlot in the blend, this Saint-Émilion-classed growth has ripe, jammy fruits and softening tannins. It is dense and concentrated with big blackberry fruits that have a touch of spice and pepper from the alcohol. The wine is rich and ready to drink now and until 2024.
Minty, oaky, smoky aromas of ripe blackberry draw you towards a saturated, full-bodied palate with hard tannins. Blackberry, cassis, pepper and chocolate flavors form a fine team, while this finishes with molten-chocolate richness but also heat and tannic clamp. Drink through 2028.
The color of this wine is deep and dark, and the aromas and flavors both have lots of plump black cherry, baking spice and clove tones. It's dry, full bodied and pretty massive in terms of mouthfeel, so this is not a delicate flower and is best enjoyed with heartier fare or after some time to open.
Light and delicate aromas of lime curd, vanilla yogurt and a touch of pear custard show in a very pleasing manner on the nose of this vineyard-blend bottling. The palate is expertly rounded, with wet riverstone, yellow apple, lime zest and creamy white fruit like cherimoya and ripe nectarine.
Aromas of green herbs, flowers, earth and mineral start out quite brooding. The smoked meat and savory flavors are very pretty, showing a light touch. The finish lingers.
Aromas of iris, exotic incense, leather, woodland berry and a whiff of Alpine herb lift out of the glass. On the succulent, chewy palate, velvety tannins wrap around ripe Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco. It's delicious and already almost accessible. Drink 2018–2025.
Baked red plum, black cherry, sagebrush, graphite and budding hibiscus aromas show on the rich and minerally nose of this bottling. The palate is very inviting and lavish, with pungent dark red fruits of cherry and black plum enhanced by allspice, ginger and black pepper.
Aromas of leather, flint, toast, menthol and exotic spice come together in the glass along with a floral note. The full-bodied, firmly structured palate offers mature black cherry marinated in spirits, licorice, and coffee alongside assertive, close-grained tannins and bright acidity. A mineral note closes the finish.
A tempting aroma of vanilla and cream leads to mouthfilling fruit and baking-spice flavors in this full-bodied, plush-textured and concentrated wine. The details of bright fruit and nutmeg weave through an almost unctuous sensation on the palate and linger nicely on the finish.
Everything is still tightly coiled: the intense Conference pear fruit, the zesty lime notes, the deeply herbal savoriness. For now, the refreshing lime peel notes are chief amongst its charms but allow this to relax for just a little and this will be a quintessential summer wine of concentration and utter refreshment.
Additions of Sauvignon Musque and Sauvignon Gris add complexity to this rewarding white, full bodied and rounded in anise, creamy vanilla and apricot tones. Succulent and lengthy, it teases in an underbelly of herb and grass. It saw stainless-steel fermenting plus time in French oak, chestnut and acacia.
Typically the most forward of the winery's offerings, this wine brings aromas of blue fruit along with notes of fire pit, olive, mineral and cured meat that become more prominent over time. The blue and black-fruit flavors are dense and focused, with a firm backbone of tannins providing support. It needs time in the cellar to stretch its legs.
The white-pepper, garrigue, raspberry, orange-peel and pot-roast aromas pop. The palate is action packed with raspberry and cranberry flavors that lead to a long, savory finish.
A totally aromatic, floral and rose-spiced nose makes for an unusually fragrant Grüner. The palate shows the same floral spiciness, edged with exotic lychee amidst peppery spice, sprightly lemon acid and Grüner's telltale phenolic edge. This packs in a whole lot of flavor. Make sure you savor every last nuance.
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (74%) with the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this wine starts out brooding, with aromas of coffee, spice, vanilla, plum, dark fruit and high-toned herbs. The cherry and barrel spice flavors coat the palate, backed by firm tannins that need time to soften.
Pan-seared apple flesh, light jasmine, white lily, chamomile, lemongrass and sandstone aromas show on the delicate nose of this bottling from an increasingly popular vineyard in the foothills east of Salinas. Very stony and pithy flavors show once sipped, with crisp nectarine, heirloom apples, Asian pear, a slice of riper pineapple and sea-salt flavors.
Relatively full, and perfumed with grapes from the Muscat family, this is a perfect apéritif wine. It has a texture of pear skins, with kiwi fruit and a final finishing softness, lifted by very fresh, dry acidity. Screwcap.
Aromas of mineral, smoke and floral black fruit are attractive, while the palate is focused and nimble, with red fruit, rhubarb and herbal notes. There's a wild, rather natural character to this wine along with a solid finish that brings herb flavors and medium tannic bite.
Crisp, citrusy and slightly herbal, this is a well made, mainstream Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at a terrific price.
Dominated by toasty, coconutty aromas, with just hints of peach and hazelnut. Hold six months and see what emerges; right now, this wine is defined more by technique (barrel-fermentation and aging) than terroir.
An elegant nose of spicebox, cherry, cranberry and pepper are followed by flavors of nut, cherry, cinnamon and spice in this medium-bodied red. The wine offers structure and complexity, with an earthy, lingering finish. Pair with pork, turkey.
This notable Gewürtz starts with an aromatic, fresh fruit nose—melon, flowers—tinged with spice. On the palate, the wine offers an elegant array of white fruit, citrus and spice flavors and a shot of balancing acidity. The wine offers complexity but is also fun and refreshing, not perfumy or heavy.
Imported by Bluewater Wine Company.
A little candied and jumpy on the nose, with floral, grapey aromas. The palate is wide and stocky, with grabby tannins that turn the flavors of bold berry and plum a bit thick. Fruity and extracted on the finish; good wine but needs some refinement to match the big size.
This lively Riesling offers aromas of citrus, apricot and honey, followed by layers of white fruit, spice and pepper. The wine has a slightly sweet fruity character but it's balanced by acid and minerals. A fun but impressive Riesling.
Dark and minerally, with black fruits, char and power on the nose. The palate is fresh and grippy, with integrated cassis, berry and herb flavors. Dry and lightly herbal on the finish, which is long and solid. A very nice blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.
Pine and herb and green apple scents introduce this sharply defined wine, with crisp acidity and bright fruit flavors. It's tight and juicy, an excellent companion to creamy dishes or soft cheeses.
Currants, cherry and cocoa aromas give this Cabernet a luscious start. On the palate, a smoky wave of cherry, blackberry and cedar is both exotic and likeable. This is a tight wine but has appealing fruit accents.
Sourced from Marlborough's main valley, this is a nicely made example of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Grapefruit and crushed tomato-leaf notes mingle easily, backed by ripe, vaguely tropical fruit. It's medium in body, finishing clean and refreshing.
This Syrah is really attractive upfront, with aromas of sweet pastry crust, baked plum, licorice and cracked pepper. The plum and blackberry fruit is balanced by some savory elements on the palate, which doesn't show a lot of weight or length. A pretty wine to drink over the next couple of years.
Nicely concentrated with a core of ripe red fruit and menthol, this is a fresh, forward Cab that's a bargain at $8. Bright and clean from start to finish, the finish lingers on smooth, velvety tannins and a fresh, herbaceous mint note.
A chunky wine, packed with tannins that fill out the dark plum and black cherry fruits. It's solid, if on the dry side, with fine acidity.
Surprisingly multifaceted, this lovely Sauvignon Blanc counters sweet, ripe stonefruit and gooseberry on the nose and palate with elegant hints of fresh tarragon and bergamot. Dry and medium bodied in style, it's a refreshing wine with brisk acidity and balanced alcohol.
Flirtatious on the nose with heady white blossoms, peach and sweet citrus scents, this medium-bodied Feteasca Regala is crisp and vivacious on the palate with an abundance of white peach and apricot flavors balanced by lime zest and a fresh, zippy acidity.
Dark and dense up front, with leathery, beefy aromas that suggest weight and size. The palate is indeed round and full, while the flavors are herbal and savory as you dig through blackberry and fig. Hefty, a little hot and a bit baked on the finish.
This is rounded and soft, with wood and spice flavors. There's an intriguing touch of ginger, along with a salty, mineral character.
Dry and spicy up front, with aromas of herbed raspberry and sandalwood. The palate is juicy and structured, with toasty, spicy plum and berry flavors and good zest. Finishes toasty, with a bit of chocolaty richness. Fresh, ripe and well oaked.
This mouthwatering blend starts with a nose of fresh mint, pineapple and mango, followed by flavors of orange peel, peach and lemon. Fresh and fruity with a mineral backbone, the wine finishes on an earthy spin. Pair with grilled sardines or poultry dishes.
Perhaps the greatest way to taste this legendary winery in an affordable way, this appellation-blend bottling shows baked bramble pie, dried chaparral scrub, licorice, roasted beef and allspice on the palate. The plump blackberry and black-cherry fruit is leveled by rocky minerality and clove spice, all boosted by long lasting acidity.
Plump blackberries and ready-to-pop cherries are laced with touches of fresh tobacco, graphite and turned earth on this very well done Cab. The rich black plum fruit of the palate is cut by a strong acidity and firm tannic grip, with flavors of pencil lead keeping the wine serious and driven.
Saracina makes dazzling white wines, but this intense red is outstanding too. Dark fruits like blackberry mingle with bright raspberry in this hefty, substantial wine that's full bodied and handsomely tannic. It's dry, very textural in the mouth and concentrated well enough for a lingering finish.
This wine gives a big bear hug with aromas like wild berries and black pepper. Then sweet oak and rich, savory plum flavors emerge on the palate as the ripeness comes through. The finish is long and reverberates with the nutmeg spiciness of perfectly seasoned barrels.
Imposing, concentrated and tannic, this Syrah-based blend needs time to mature and soften. It has vivid aromas and flavors of black pepper, clove, cranberry and dark chocolate plus an almost rigid mouthfeel from a thick underpinning of fine tannins. The distinctive flavors match the powerful structure, so it should age well. Best to drink after 2020.
Ripe, lusty blackberry, cherry and earth aromas are accented by woodsy spice scents. This is full in body, with firm tannins that provide structure. Flavors of mixed berry fruits, toasty oak and related spice run deep, while this Tempranillo is staunch on the finish, with mildly abrasive tannins. Drink through 2022.
Riojas of this quality and price are not a dime a dozen. This ripe, delicious wine shows all the virtues of a great vintage. Earthy, roasted berry aromas are pure, ripe and magnetic. This feels full, tannic and strapping, while flavors of cassis, blackberry and chocolate are supported by generous but appropriate oak. Mocha, espresso and black-fruit residuals grace a fine finish. Drink through 2022.
A lightly perfumed nose of white flowers, fresh herbs and dry stone fruits sets up a round, elegant palate with no coarseness. Briny, slightly salty citrus flavors are focused and steely, while a steady, mildly salty finish is in great shape and confirms this bubbly's high level of quality and purity. Drink through 2019.
This is an earthy, ethereal, lighter-bodied wine. It's satisfyingly varietal and shines in blue fruit, sarsaparilla, strawberry hulls and touches of a forest floor's trove of mushrooms. Well-hewn acidity gives it a freshness and structure with a background of firm tannin.
There's a lot to like in this soft, juicy wine, bright in red fruit and notable in its gentle texture. Quietly powerful and full-bodied without being overdone, it has balance and elegance, with a meaty underbrush.
A very ripe, sweet boysenberry aroma sets the tone for this very full-bodied, fruit-drenched wine. It fairly oozes blackberry flavors, feels rich and broad on the palate and has a firm but not very tannic texture. It's easy to enjoy this exuberant wine now through 2023.
This bright and spicy wine is packed with botanical flavors. The aromatics are pungent and intense, pushing sharp notes of lime, Meyer lemon and orange soda deep into the palate. In some ways this has the penetrating density of Gewürztraminer. It's bold and distinctive, though clearly different from other domestic Viogniers.
Tasted at their regular release date less than a year after the vintage, the Tahbilk Marsannes aren't terribly expressive. The key is bottle age, and this Museum Release has it. Lemon custard and thyme are tinged with hints of toast and marmalade in this medium-bodied white. A touch of creaminess on the midpalate extends through a long finish.
Ah, this wine is distinctive and practically haunting in personality, as wild, earthy, sage and mushroom aromas meet meaty, savory, mineral-like flavors on a well-balanced frame of good acidity and appetizing, fine-grained tannins.
Outcrop was planted in 1982. A hint of leather (not too much) along with scents of sassafras and crushed roses, open into a peppery palate with cranberries and red fruits. Ample acidity carries it into a penetrating finish. Drink 2020 through 2035 and beyond.
An abundance of fresh fruit spills out of this full-bodied, pure and uncomplicated wine in a way that's hard to resist. There is little obvious oak to get in the way of flavors like vine-ripened raspberries and blackberries as they stream along on fine tannins and lithe acidity.
It's amazing how this super-concentrated wine smells like chocolate cherries and tastes almost like blackberry syrup, yet it's nice and dry in style. A firm coating of fine tannins gives grip on the tongue and seems to extend the juicy fruit and dark chocolate notes on the finish.
A 100% varietal wine that opens invitingly in wafts of baked bread and follows on the palate with juicy black currant and dried herb, this shows complexity and elegance in equal measure. Firm tannin girds substantial characteristics of black licorice and tobacco, with a succulent finish. Drink now through 2023.
Coconut scents convene around ripe purple fruits—blueberry and plum—which abound here. Lovely and seductive, this has the potential for long-term aging, which should bring additional layers of complexity. Drink now through 2028.
Showing bright white fruits shot through with citrus, this ripe wine is intense in its freshness. It is very pure in its character with a great line of acidity. The hints of wood are modest, giving a wine that is all mineral fruitiness. Drink from 2018.
There is an appealing rusticity and a certain wildness about this wine. Hints of smoke and singed meat makes it visceral and unusual. Red fruit lurks here and there between the earthier notes and there also is a grip of firm, but unforced tannin. It's full of rugged, swarthy charm and secretive, intriguing depth.
This deeply flavored wine bursts forth with ripe blueberry, plum and cherry fruit. The mouthfeel is silky and succulent, wrapping the forward fruit into darker flavors laced with minty cacao, licorice and espresso. Drink now through 2026.
From a warm site in a warm year and entirely varietal, there's much to impress in this wine, from its full-bodied, bold structure to its velvety texture. In between cranberry and pomegranate offer a freshness of flavor, bringing out further acidity before cocoa powder, tar and black cherry take over.
Sultry blackberry, tobacco leaf, caramel and black pepper spice show on the nose of this well-integrated, brooding but fresh nose. The palate is rich, flavorful and vivacious, with lilac, lavender, boysenberry and olallieberry deepening into tar, char and smoked meats.
This limited block selection comes from own-rooted vines planted in 1979. Full-fruited flavors combine into a fresh and lush mix of berries and cherries with a citrusy kick. There's a tropical punch sensibility combined with the texture and depth of a very fine Pinot. The tannins are polished and in perfect proportion.
Intense aromas of lemon, grapefruit and mint lead this appealing white. On the palate, a fantastic balance of fresh citrus fruit and sea-salt minerality finishes with an herbal, earthy spin. Delicious on its own or paired with fish or chicken.
While this wine has slightly rustic aromas, the flavor is lively, ripe and bright with good acidity and a thrust of steel that gives minerality. Tight and crisp, the wine will take a while to develop. Drink from 2018.
Only two acres in size, this southeast facing vineyard has produced a ripe, spicy wine. Soft peach and pineapple flavors are rich and opulent. A tang of acidity over the wood aging gives the wine shape. It is still young, so don't drink before 2018.
New management, farming and winemaking practices at this producer, including a focus on smaller production, are remarkably on display in this delicious white. Golden pear and crunchy apple provide an unctuous, delightfully balanced experience that's crisp in underlying acidity and subtle baking spice.
Fermented in all new French oak, this wine opens with an enchanting nose of floral beauty and freshness. Its sophistication follows through on the rich, balanced palate of caramel, papaya and crème brûlée, the lushness countered by a stony grit.
Exuberant in mousse, this wine is luxurious and rich, the perfect quaff for any occasion. Made from 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, and aged for three years, it's bright in bolts of green apple and strawberry.
This varietal wine is toasty in caramelized oak and richly interwoven with flavors and aromas of pencil shavings, plum and black currant. Grippy, with a velvety texture, it provides structure and power in equal parts.
From older vines planted on the producer's estate Quail Hill Vineyard, this wine is thickly concentrated, with a generosity of oak. Creamy, intense and well made, it features complex layers of golden apple, butter and lemon bar.
This is a highly perfumed and floral wine from the famous site, which is tangy and slightly tart within a medium-bodied frame. Lemon and baked apple play off each other with ease, as a metallic edge of stony minerality persists and expands.
A Napa Valley wine from the Central Coast folks at Fess Parker Winery, this Cab was aged for more than two years in 67% new French oak. Briary, it drips in brawny black fruit and highlights of tobacco, clove, leather and black pepper. An uplifting hit of acidity maintains a balance against the heft.
A blend of the favorite grapes of winemaker Edgar Torres (60% Grenache) and his wife, Erika (40% Syrah) from Kimsey Vineyard, this bottling shows bright and elegant aromas of boysenberry and elderberry with olive, wet river stone and pine forest. The chalky tannins still need time to evolve, but the black pepper, dark fruit, incense and myrrh flavors are well balanced.
This wine is ripe in spicy black-currant aromas on the nose and intense in juicy black fruit on the dense palate. The rich, generous layers of fruit perfectly balance the tannins that build up to a harmonious whole. Still young, it will be best from 2019.
A gold color and honey aromas set the scene for this rich, opulent wine. It has a great layer of botrytis as well as plenty of spice and delicious apricot and orange fruit flavors, finishing with a tang of crisp acidity. Drink from 2020.
A smoky perfume marks this young wine immediately as Cabernet Franc. Its ripe blackberry and juicy black currant flavors give it richness, while tannins come through strongly. It's a powerful, solid wine, with great potential. Drink from 2020.
Rich, generous and packed with fruit, this is a field-blend wine that just bursts from the glass. With a fine balance between tannins and the rich blackberry fruits, the wine is ripe, warm and structured. It is a wine to age, so drink from 2020.
Get to know the local red grapes of Gaillac that make up this blend: Duras, Braucol and Prunelard. Together, they create impressive structure, concentration and intensity. Acidity balances the bold red fruit and ripe cherry flavors. It's a serious wine with good potential and will be best from 2020.
Fresh and easy aromas of raspberry, plum candy, dark rose petals, boysenberry and allspice show on the nose of this clonal study. The palate blends big, joyous purple fruit and grippy tannic tension, also presenting lavender and Sichuan peppercorn tones.
This is a wildly exotic wine, vibrantly abuzz in cranberry, pomegranate and rhubarb, a side note of barnyard-like earth and pretty rose petal. Tight-grained acidity remains firm in the glass and supportive of a grittiness of texture, notes of clove and black tea spiked throughout.
This blend of 70% Roussanne and 30% Viognier from one of the young appellation's newer vineyards is a white Rhône done right, balancing restraint with ripeness. Aromas of beeswax, daffodil, yellow rose and ambrosia melon rind lead into a fresh, tightly wound palate of lemon mousse, yellow apple skins and cherimoya, all framed by a chalky grip.
Light and crystalline in the glass, this snappy bottling shows ripe cranberry fruit, thyme and composting violets on the dynamic nose. Though very lightweight on the palate, it delivers waves of raspberry, hibiscus and spicy cinnamon flavors, revealing how layered and vivid that a fresh and bright expression of Grenache can be.
Plenty of fresh purple flowers, from violets to lilacs, show on the nose of this bottling, as well as cola spice and a strong core of blueberry fruit. It's lightweight but well structured on the palate, where rose hips, lavender, fennel fronds and tarragon meet with boysenberry and light elderberry. This is still very fresh and young.
In the increasingly important Dão region, Sobral's top-of-the-range is an impressively rich dense wine. With its great tannins and generous black fruits, it is full of potential. Produced by winemaker Carlos Lucas from a selection of grapes as well as parcels, the wine is concentrated, dark and firm. The acidity gives it great life as well as a juicy character that emphasizes the ripe fruit. The wine is still young, drink from 2019.
This perennial favorite lives up to its word-of-mouth goodness, offering fistfuls of blueberry and huckleberry with a juicy length and throughput of acidity. Soft and strong, it's supple, floral and memorable in its deliciousness.
This bottling from Santa Barbara County's oldest Syrah planting is always like tasting history. Aromas of roasted coffee beans and charred wood meet with pressed blackberry, vanilla and caramel on the nose. The palate combines tart black-plum skins with charred meat, more roasted coffee and lots of cocoa dust, with riper hints of fig and blueberry fruit arising toward the finish.
Enclave is Ventisquero Winemaker Felipe Tosso's collaboration with John Duval from Australia. The result is a smoky, oaky Cabernet, with subtle black cherry and cassis aromas that turn more earthy with air. A layered and structured palate is home to flavors of tobacco, chocolate, berry fruits and cassis. On the finish, oak remains out front. Drink through 2022.
A 100% varietal, site-specific wine from the heart of the appellation, this succeeds in a herbal persistence and lean nose. Red currant, cassis and anise wrap around thick tannins, with lingering notes of clove and cedar.
Made entirely from Chardonnay, this is a bright sparkling wine, bubbling in acidity and dry, leavened layers of apple and pear. A creaminess of vanilla balances the crispness, making for a successful small-production sparkler.
From a high desert vineyard in the Cuyama Valley area, this bottling impresses with structure and earthy minerality. Aromas of black rocks, loamy soils and beef crust meet with shreds of elderberry and black plum on the nose. The palate's sticky tannins are persistent but pleasant, carrying flavors of dried blueberry, savory charred meats and a touch of lilac and rose petal.
The blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 16% Mourvèdre and 4% Cinsaut offers subtle mulberry fruit on the nose, a spicy peppercorn kick and plenty of gamy meats. That funky meat quality, from raw to jerkied, is prominent and pure on the sip, surrounded by exotic plums and Middle Eastern spices.
There's a compellingly nutty warmth to the nose of this reserve blend of 66% Grenache Blanc and 34% Roussanne, with pecan and cashew aromas as well as more tart scents of key lime peels and lemon mousse. It lands heavily on the palate with roasted banana flavors and a buttery midpalate, but it is cut immediately by a kumquat tartness. Fascinating sipper.
This is a dreamy creamy white founded in stony mineral and juicy acidity that shows a mix of baked apple, pineapple and melon. A tease of green olive provides a briny, salty edge to its tense balance. A lingering hint of vanilla oak figures prominently on the lengthy floral finish.
Rustic earth and forest emanate from this Pinot Noir, a rare find from Yountville, a growing area more devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon. From organically grown grapes, the wine has a smooth taste of wild strawberry and is not overly complex, the finish abbreviated and the wine on the lower price range of the variety.
Scratchy, horsey berry aromas set up a fresh, regular palate. Plum, berry and peppery flavors are basic, while the finish dries out fast while showing a wood character along with juicy acidity.
From a cool-climate pocket within the larger Russian River Valley where even sparkling wine grapes thrive, this Pinot is muted somewhat, its flavors darker and oakier than expected, earthy yet shy in spice
Blending Douro's native Viosinho and Verdelho grapes, this is ripe, wood aged and smooth. It has layers of citrus, grapefruit and white fruits, apple juice and pears. It is fruity, fresh and ready to drink.
Raw raspberry and plum aromas feed into a crisp, edgy palate with grating acidity. Tart plum and berry flavors turn earthy upon airing, while this finishes with pointed acidity and snappy red-fruit flavors.
Exceedingly dry berry aromas register as scratchy and woody. This is intense and grabby in feel, with minty strawberry and raspberry flavors that run heavy with oak. A minty, dry, peppery finish is a touch hot.
Blackberry and boysenberry aromas are a touch grassy and green in the middle. This is chunky, jammy and fairly concentrated in the mouth, with blackberry and cocoa notes. A loamy, plump finish is friendly and offers plenty of weight and density.
An aromatically reserved wine with notes of apple and melon. It's medium bodied and drinks dry, losing some of its concentration in the middle.
Smoke and savory spice notes waft from this semi-sweet Riesling. Ripe peach and grapefruit notes are juicy on the palate, accented by zesty lime acidity and a delicate mineral finish.
The freshest fruit is balanced with vanilla and spice flavors. Crisp apples have light, bright acidity, freshened further with lemon and lime fruitiness that leaves an open, full and generous aftertaste. The wine will be better in 2016.
The Côte Chalonnaise gives a fruity while structured style of red Burgundy. It's juicy, with red cherries and berries giving a bright character behind the still-present tannic structure. It's ready to drink, although it will be better in 2015.
Peach and lemon curd aromas are good but basic. A plump, melony palate displays freshness and flavors of honeydew, papaya and lime. A soft but not flabby palate is just bright enough.
Crisp, not quite dry, this incorporates lively, fruity Loureiro grapes with a touch of Trajadura and Arinto culled from Lima Valley vineyards. With its light squeeze of lemon and sliced apple and grapefruit flavors, it's all about freshness. Drink now.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel, this is aromatic, with notes of ripe peach, melon and honeysuckle. It's full bodied, somewhat viscous in feel, carrying considerable alcoholic warmth.
Earthy and recalling the aromas of a woodshed or old barn, this tastes of darker fruit. Relatively lean on the palate, it ends as abruptly as it starts.
Quinta do Carmo, formerly owned by the Rothschild family of Château Lafite, is now part of the Bacalhâo group. Perfumed and fruity, this leaps from the glass with fresh, crisp lemon and pear flavors and light minerality. Drink now.
This soft wine shows gentle Chardonnay flavors. Toast and yellow fruits are blended with minerality to give a ripe texture that doesn't need to age.
This lightly perfumed wine is crisp and clear. Apple and pear flavors are attractively packaged in fresh acidity and an orange-peel tang. The wine is still young, with its tight aftertaste, so wait until later in 2015 to drink.
Unctuously ripe yellow peach and cherry aromas entice on the nose of this sprightly late-harvest Riesling. It's semi-sweet and fruity, with tart tangerine acidity that takes the spotlight on the palate. A refreshing, tasty quaffer for a remarkable price.
Intense aromas of savory spice and smoke lend a mysterious tone to flavors of pressed apple and pear in this dry, medium-bodied Riesling. The palate is bright with lemon-lime acidity, but finishes on a dusty mineral note.
An attractive wine from Chitry, south-west of Chablis, this is fresh, soft and fruity. It lacks complexity, but does have bright apple and pear flavors and refreshing acidity. It's a great apéritif wine, ready to drink now.
The aromas show some oxygen exposure, which distracts from the palate's sweet cherry flavors and vanilla accents. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
This fragrant wine has perfumed aromas and a light candy-flavored palate. It's crisp with apples, tangy with citrus, finishing with bright acidity and a fragrant aftertaste. Drink now.
Almost black in color, this is a dark-hued, black plum and chocolate flavored wine. It is powerful and very concentrated, densely tannic as well as fruity. There is a dusty texture, a fine stratum of acidity and strong wood-spice flavors. The wine is for long-term aging. Drink from 2017.
This is 100% Riesling, but with less than half the residual sugar of the winery's 2011 vintage. Sourced from the Evergreen Vineyard in the up-and-coming Ancient Lakes AVA, it has great acidity and purity of fruit, along with the minerality for which the region is known. Dense flavors of lime, grapefruit and pineapple are at the core of this wonderfully concentrated, expressive Riesling.
This inky, concentrated, ultraripe Malbec is one of the best wines Zuccardi has produced. Aromas of blueberry, cassis, graphite and chocolate feed into a generous palate with creamy oak, mocha, baked berry and cassis flavors. The finish is lusty and big, but not biting, so you can drink this beauty anytime from now through 2017.
Earthy, leathery aromas of baked red fruits fit the classic style. This is full on the palate but not heavy, with cola, molasses, coffee and heady raspberry and plum flavors. A warm finish with fine tannins and ripe flavors of chocolate, lightly baked black fruits and vanilla. Drink 2015–2025.
The No Girls Grenache, from a vineyard adjacent to Armada (the source for the Cayuse God Only Knows Grenache) is lighter, more elegant, perhaps brighter than its companion wine, with fresh blueberry and other pie berry  fruits, a streak of umami, herbal tea and impressive minerality. Almost Burgundian in style, it possesses excellent length and wonderful texture.
The 2010 Widowmaker shows a bit more fruit, less funk than usual. It's a pleasing mix of berries, cherries, plums and figs, along with clean earth, green tea and a hint of chocolate. The tannins are smooth and the flavors linger gracefully and slowly fade through the finish.
A rich, Port-like wine that is full and concentrated while also soft and fruity. It is powerfully structured, with a balance of great acidity to balance the dry tannins, imparting a fine texture. An impressive wine that will need many years to age. Drink from 2017.
Naturalis Historia is a bold and beautiful Taurasi that offers a stunning perfume of violet, incense, berry and leather. The palate has mesmerizing depth, delivering dense black cherry, black pepper, licorice and exotic spice along with notes of well integrated oak. This will continue to develop for years.
Powerful scents of black olive, brine, seaweed and umami introduce this classic Syrah from the heart of what's known as The Rocks District in Walla Walla. The flavors are a complex mix of iron, rock, saline minerality and crushed raspberries. The No Girls project is distinct from Cayuse, sourced exclusively from the La Paciencia Vineyard, and provides a showcase for wines with elegant aromatics, great balance, length and complexity.
A dark, dense wine that comes from a parcel of old vines. It's a solid, supremely tannic wine at this young stage, but that black fruitiness will push through over the next few years. Great swathes of juicy acidity, tannins and fruit, all impressive potential. Drink from 2018.
A gold-colored, supremely rich wine produced from a selection of grapes in the vineyard. It is concentrated with honey and lemon flavors, acidity for a great balance and touches of orange peel. Drink this special wine from 2018.
The best La Bernardine I can recall, this is a wonderfully full-bodied yet elegant rendering of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Garrigue and floral notes make a healthy impression on the nose, while the expansive herb and black cherry flavors linger on the silky finish. Drink now–2025.
A ripe wine, blended from fruit from across Touraine, this lively, smooth wine has a touch of sweetness at the end. That makes for a wine that's ready to drink with a soft aftertaste.
A blend of Colombard and Ugni Blanc, this crisp, light wine is as fresh as a daisy. Fruity and aromatic, it offers citrus and melon flavors. The fruit explodes in the mouth, leaving a light, bright aftertaste.
Wood-driven aromas recall coconut, coffee and toast. The warm palate delivers espresso, licorice and vanilla confectionery alongside raspy, astringent tannins that dry out the mouth. It lacks the fruit richness to stand up to the oak.
This blend of 70% Chenin Blanc and 30% Sauvignon Blanc is clean, direct and easy to like. Aromas and flavors of orange pith, firm pear, melon rind and green plum abound. It's balanced and refreshing, with a bright, mouthwatering finish. Enjoy now.
This funky wine opens with rustic aromas of animal fur, game, tilled earth and a whiff of barnyard. These carry over to the palate along with mature blackberry and robust tannins.
Clean, simple pear, melon and apple aromas are friendly. Reasonably full and fresh on the palate, this value-priced wine tastes of tropical fruits including banana and papaya as well as honey. A slightly oily finish gives weight to closing citrus flavors.
Floral, leafy, citrusy aromas lead to a fresh, light-bodied palate. Dry, peppery red-fruit flavors finish short but clean, with textural ease.
Made in fairly large quantities for a wide swath of palates, this wine is grippy in tannins and possessed of sizable weight and power.
There's a heaviness to this 76% Cab blended with 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, 6% Cab Franc and 5% Malbec. A muscular, powerful wine, it's intense in hay and herb, the finish veering savory to the point of sour.
From a cold vintage, this coastal Malbec offerssnappy cherry and boysenberry aromas along with woody spice notes. The palate is wiry and fresh, with zesty acidity. Tart plum and berry flavors end with raw oak and bitterness as the wine's modest fruit content fades out.
Showing its youthful side, this is a breathtakingly fresh wine with intense acidity and tight grapefruit flavors. It's the style of Muscadet that really needs to soften for a few months and round out, when it will be very drinkable.
This salmon-colored wine opens with aromas of red berry and a whiff of Mediterranean herb. The easygoing palate offers wild cherry and a hint of cooking spice alongside bright acidity.
Ripe aromas of blueberry, acai fruit and grape candy get touched by smoked meat, crushed herbs and a slight mint. Leather and tar flavors emerge on the palate, but the fruits and spice characteristics are wound up in incredibly firm, mouth-drying tannins, which are overwhelming right now.
This aromatically unusual wine features notes of peppermint, honeycomb and apricot. It's front loaded in feel, pulling up short on the back half.
A light and fruity style of Malbec that emphasizes the red fruits and freshness that is possible with this often-tannic grape. The wine is designed to be drunk young and this bottling is totally ready to go.
In this plush pillow of a wine, smoothness and easy drinkability come along with medium body, soft tannins, not too much crispness and just-ripe-enough flavors.
Streaks of sweet cream and caramel accent delicate peach and apricot tones in this Chardonnay-dominant ice-style wine. Plush and yielding, it may come off a bit confected, but it's appealing nonetheless.
Funky and feral, this is a dark, bacon-y Pinot that's alive on the palate, swarmed by silky tannins, the tension between oak and fruit resolved.
A blend of Chenin Blanc (75%), Chardonnay (20%) and Viognier barrel-fermented in French oak and acacia, this wine brings notes of dried apple and flowers, drinking off dry.
This is a creamy style of Sauvignon Blanc, bone-dry while softly textured. Balanced, fresh and with attractive green apple flavors, it is ready to drink.
White fruit and almonds dominate the flavor of this perfumed wine. It has a young, fruity structure that hints at minerality while letting acidity and freshness show strongly. The end is bright and crisp, ready to drink.
Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, this has funky, yeasty aromas of pink grapefruit and passion fruit that turn citrusy and briny if given time. On the palate, this recalls orange juice. Orange, grapefruit and generic tang proceed from the flavor profile to the finish.
Fresh on the front end, this offers lean, citrusy aromas suggestive of grapefruit and lime. A citric, cutting palate brings lime, green apple and pickled mango flavors in front of a zesty but basic finish. Drink now.
Notes of caramel apple are juxtaposed with touches of saltwater and dusty mineral in this unusually savory-yet-sweet wine. Lithe and lean on the palate, it finishes briskly.
Coming from a cool vintage, this shows notes of green herbs, vanilla and black cherry. It's somewhat lean in feel with puckering acids and chalky tannins.
Equal parts Syrah and Merlot with a dash of Mourvèdre and Cabernet Franc (3% each), this wine brings notes of biscuit, cherry, dill and dried cranberry. Like many wines from this vintage in Washington, it's quite tart out of the gate, supported by chewy tannins.
Stony lemon-lime aromas are low on fruit but clean and familiar. This is racy and fresh, with cutting acidity. Flavors of lime and passion fruit register as common, while the finish is zesty, with an emphasis on grapefruit.
Herbal notes of fynbos, lime peel and green melon rind lead the nose and palate of this straightforward yet refreshing quaff. It's bright, lightweight and ready to drink now.
Leafy cranberry aromas smell a bit like wet cement. This is choppy and drawing on the palate, with sharp acidity that creates tartness. Core flavors of herbal, leafy red-berry fruits are briny and finish with a spot of resiny oak.
Surprisingly shy in aromas at first, this eventually releases pleasing elements of mace, nutmeg, star anise and red cherry. The palate is softly lush and earthy, with black rocks, heavy black plum, hoisin sauce, boysenberry and a cola character. With quite strong structure, this will smooth and grow more delicious with time. Drink 2018–2028.
A few swirls of the glass release engaging aromas of baking spice, red berry, rose and a whiff of tar. The linear, elegantly structured palate boasts bright wild cherry, white pepper, cinnamon and a mineral note alongside vibrant acidity and assertive but refined tannins. It's still rather austere but should blossom into a beauty after a few more years in the cellar. Enjoy after 2019.
Red fruit aromas are a bit rough and scalped in front of a chunky palate. Charred, burnt, oaky flavors of raspberry and cassis stress ripeness and weight before finishing with buttery oak, a slightly greasy feel and roasted berry flavors. Drink through 2020.
Ripe berry, menthol, truffle, leather, cured meat and tobacco aromas come together in the glass. The palate offers mature black cherry, licorice, clove and black pepper alongside fine-grained tannins.
Aromas of mature black plum, espresso, wild rose and spice emerge on this full-bodied red. The firm palate offers dried black cherry, menthol, mint, white pepper, well-integrated oak and licorice alongside fine-grained tannins.
While barrel-influenced and full-bodied, this unctuous wine remains crisp in edgy acidity, with lean flavors of lemon and grapefruit amidst a deeper, richer background of oak and caramel.
A strongly wood aged wine, powered by tannins and dense fruits, it is concentrated and still young enough for the wood to show through although the fruit is developing well. This is a structured wine that will need plenty of time to age so drink from 2018.
One of the most beautiful package designs in the state introduces a fresh and toasty wine that translates this cool, wet vintage into a most delicate and enjoyable bottle of Pinot. Light cranberry and cherry fruit is set in a gently proportional bed of tart acid and pretty oak, 40% new.
Firm and polished, this barrel-fermented wine is just rounded off enough, without damping the bright, almost crunchy fruit. There's a light touch of toast and the structure for further bottle age to improve it. Drink 2017–2025.
A striking shade of amber/orange, this soft and fruity wine is open and loose knit, with broad flavors of mature, slightly oxidized tree fruits, plus lightly spicy notes of cinnamon and baking spices. It's very well made, but well apart from any standard approach.
Fresh and refined, this delightful, easy-drinking wine opens with scents of rose, woodland berry and a whiff of dark cooking spice. The vibrant, savory palate offers juicy red cherry, raspberry and white pepper alongside bright acidity and polished tannins. Drink through 2018.
Nicely layered aromas of clove, graphite, iron and simmering black cherries show on the complex nose of this well-priced bottling. More iron and raspberry appear on the palate, where a balanced acidity pairs well with the strong mineral character.
This lovely wine captures the floral, perfumed essence of the grape in a restrained, sippable style. It's dry and crisp, with lemony fruit and the delicate sensation that you are drinking fresh flowers.
Although red cherry and raspberry make an appearance, this vineyard-designate is otherwise all about forested pine and earthy pungency, accented by a pretty floral tease of rose petal. High in acidity and tannin, it takes time in the glass to settle down and find its balance, with a lengthy finish of black licorice and clove.
This is a wine that reveals the younger side of Moscatel in Setúbal. It shows honey, spice and perfumed fruitiness that contrast with the richness of the texture and its fresh peach and apricot flavors. Drink now for immediate enjoyment.
This is a finely integrated, rich wine that shows impeccable balance between dusty tannins and juicy dark berry tones. The wood aging shows through in a smooth texture that gives a sense of richness to the ripe fruit. This is an elegant wine that can be drunk now although it will benefit from some aging. Drink from 2017.
Smooth, deep aromas of licorice and blackberry are composed. This Mencía feels full and lusty, with grip but nothing too hard or edgy. Earthy black fruit flavors are savory, toasty and meaty, while the finish is woody and plump. Drink through 2020.
Despite its richness, this is a stylish wine that exudes freshness as much as dense fruit and structure. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, all structured varieties, it still yields a generous full-bodied and rounded wine. It does need to age, so drink from 2018.
Resiny oak and mildly stalky berry aromas muscle out cherry and raspberry scents. This feels grabby and clampy, while oaky flavors of mixed berries and baked plum end with coconut-infused oak flavors and notes of raisin and licorice. Drink through 2020.
This wine is dark red-violet color to the eye, offering aromas of blackberry, roasted red pepper and juniper berry. It is very smooth on the palate, with flavors of black plum, blackberry, white peach, elderberry and violet. There is a slightly dominant eucalyptus flavor that backs off at the finish, replaced by a fresh cherry juice flavor.
A red-violet color, this wine has a bouquet of blackberry, lilac and pencil lead with a whiff of iodine. A network of velvety tannins and a vein of bold acidity are equally weighted, wrapped around flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black pepper, rose petal and Mediterranean herbs, with bright fruit persisting into the pleasing finish.
Aromas of red berry, rose, toast and a whiff of oak emerge in the glass. The firm palate offers mature wild cherry, licorice, grilled sage and mineral alongside taut, fine-grained tannins.
Enticing aromas of pressed rose, iris and perfumed berry lead the nose, with a whiff of cake spice on this straightforward red. The elegant, enjoyable palate offers sour red cherry, raspberry, white pepper and a hint star anise alongside firm, refined tannins. A tobacco note signals the close.
While racy and spry, this delicately framed wine packs a punch of honeyed peach and nectarine flavors. It's effusively fresh, floral and fruity, yet accentuated by a crystalline sheen of minerality. Drink now.
Waxy apple stars in this brisk, approachable white from a single estate-farmed block, the oak briny and salty in toast and honey. Textured and elegantly light bodied, it finishes with a satisfying note of lemon candy.
The nose on this appellation blend is full of soft tones of ripe nectarine and pluot, though cut with walnut oil and a citrus edge. It's more pithy in flavor, showing orange bitters, dried apples and more nut oils, slightly oxidative in style.
Old-vine fruit delivers an elegant Pinot that combines low alcohol with graceful details of pretty spices and red fruits. Young, tangy cherry flavors are precisely defined, with a delicate tension. This might very well improve dramatically with a decade or more of cellaring. Drink 2020–2030.
A rich nose of cedar, balsamic, vanilla and spice leads this red from Greece. Black fruit, spice and tobacco on the palate is structured and serious. A balanced, cellarworthy wine with class.
A recommended entry-level Ribera, with aromas of violets, minerals and oak. The palate has a standard, competent feel and balance along with flavors of gangly berry fruit and black cherry. Mocha and vanilla help sweeten and soften up the finish, but overall it's a regular, fresh type of wine.
This has all the touchstones of good Chardonnay: just enough body and richness, apple, pineapple and melon fruit flavors and a crisp, citrusy finish. Solid Chardonnay for under $10.
Initially it gives off murky, soupy aromas. But with airing it rounds into form, displaying prune and oak scents in front of a round, soft, stewy palate of chunky berry flavors. Gets better with time before finishing with toast, herbal notes and tobacco. Offers more highs than lows.
This vintage of Broquel reflects the cool, challenged characteristics of the '08 vintage. It has snap and berry aromas and flavors along with obvious oak, char and mocha. The palate is more driving and linear than previous years, with juicy, snappy cherry and wood at the base. Finishes with coffee, toast and controlled bitterness.
Not all that expressive on the nose; about all you get is basic yellow fruit and lettuce. The palate shows more intensity, but the flavors of lemon and tropical fruits are basic at best. Chunky, sweet and common on the finish. Good for Argentina but still it leaves you asking for more.
Tropical and toasty, with buttercup and banana on the nose. Good acidity keeps the palate zesty and moving forward, while the flavors of lemon, lime and pineapple are juicy and clean. Good in a fresh and simple way, with just a spot of oak character.
Savory, baked cassis and blackberry aromas show form and solidity, while the palate is deep and a little soft, with lush, slightly roasted berry and black currant aromas. Chocolaty on the finish yet not too heavy or forced. Not all that Syrah-like but it still smells and tastes good.
This shows the sharper, more herbaceous side of the grape, though perhaps without being fully ripe. It seems to fall away quickly into simple lemon juice flavors, with a hint of herb.
A solid but seemingly standard blend of Tempranillo, Syrah and Garnacha with berry and cherry aromas along with touches of mint and leather. The palate is woody, with spiced berry flavors and decent body and structure. Vanilla and then oak-based bitterness define the finish. A good wine but hardly a knockout.
Begins with muddled, murky, syrupy aromas of caramel and berries. The palate is more high-toned, with lemony accents to tomato, baked fruit and savory flavors. Finishes solid albeit lightly damp and bitter. Comes around with time but always seems a bit murky.
Roasted and mildly leafy, and then clacky and a bit tannic in the mouth. The fruit flavors are good and mostly pure as they settle on black cherry and blackberry, while the finish is jammy but short. For $8 this should not disappoint.
A menthol/eucalyptus note shoots through the aroma of this pleasant Cabernet. It shows quickly maturing flavors of plum and pie cherry, an easy-drinking softness throughout the mid-palate, and just a hint of heat in the finish.
A lean style bringing out acidity from the juicy black currant fruits. It has definite tannins supporting the fruit, while it finishes with fresh, perhaps too fresh, acidity.
Fresh berry aromas carry some spice notes, while the palate is rugged and a little hot. Juicy berry flavors are forward but not overly evolved or complex, and the the finish is tight and aggressive. Spunky and clean, with honest flavors.
Aromas of balsam wood, dry leather, and slightly herbal berry fruit are generally appealing, while the palate has size, balance and a healthy feel to it. More woody and spicy than outright fruity, with a touch of zesty raspberry and strawberry at the core. Nice but simple red wine.
Going for structure as much as fruit, this is a cool wine with black currant flavors giving high acidity. It feels light, fresh, although there are tannins and spice to give some final weight.
Opens with a blast of cola and minty grass, and then comes a raisiny wave and mossy herbal notes that are typical of Navarran Merlot, which makes up 60% of this three-grape blend. Gritty in the mouth, with black cherry, licorice, herbs, raisin and lasting sweetness on the finish.
Opens with good berry fruit aromas, mineral notes and coconutty sweetness, which is followed by a plump, well-balanced palate of black fruits, plum and licorice. Finishes solid and warm, with enough vitality and juiciness to maintain balance. More or less what you want from affordable Monastrell.
This concentrated, almost syrupy Malbec smells mossy and mulchy while also displaying scents of coffee grinds, tree bark and blackberry jam. A bolt of tartaric acidity keeps it from being flabby, while flavors of blackberry and black currant are salty, woody and finish resiny. Drink through 2020.
A rare 100% Petit Verdot, this is dense in red and black fruit, from plum and blueberry to blackberry, ripe enough to be in a cobbler. Cinnamon dusts the top, with a puff of smoke in the background. Balanced despite its heft, it finishes soft, ready to be paired with meaty foods.
This youthful, full-bodied red is restrained but slowly reveals aromas and flavors of crushed violet, bright red berry, baking spice and tobacco. The tannins are tightly packed so give it a few years to unwind. Drink 2018–2025.
Made in a complex style rather than simply fruity, this smells like toasted almonds and vanilla bean. Tastes suggest not-quite-sweet Bosc pears, butter and walnuts. While the texture is luxurious the body is actually light, and the wine is not at all cloying.
A savory blend of 40% Sangiovese, 30% Monica and 30% Carignano, this vibrant red offers aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, tilled soil, leather, cooking spice, carob and violet. The chewy palate delivers ripe black cherry, juicy blackberry, ground clove and dried Mediterranean herb alongside round, enveloping tannins that give it a velvety texture.
Fragrant and structured, this opens with aromas of perfumed berry, rose petal and spice. The tightly woven palate offers ripe red cherry, crushed strawberry and grilled herb alongside tightly packed tannins and brisk acidity.
Scorched earth, black-skinned berry, orange zest and baking spice are some of the aromas that emerge on this vibrant red. It's still nervous, offering flavors of raw red berry, white pepper and grilled herb alongside bracing tannins. A coffee note signals the close. Drink 2018–2026.
Another big, dense expression of the vintage, this has a softness to the tannins that makes it accessible, though the wine will benefit from time in the cellar, through 2017. Cinnamon and clove intermingle with black cherry and currant, finishing in a hint of tobacco.
Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Saperavi and 5% Rara Neagra, this wine has a nose of leather, cherry, black raspberry, fig and black plum. Flavors of fresh fig, spice and black plum slowly dissipate on the enduring finish.
Crafted from 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Gris and 5% Pinot Blanc, this straw-colored wine offers aromas of lemongrass and almond blossom. It is balanced in the mouth, with flavors of tropical fruit, pineapple and understated flowers.
A big, ripe wine that is full of tannins as well as rich black plum fruit flavors. It is dark with bitter chocolate, smoky bacon flavors as well as a concentrated structure that promises aging. This 100% Touriga Nacional is still so young, still tough, so drink from 2018.
This unique wine offers light aromas of white pepper, bay leaf, coffee and dried leaves. The cherry flavors are elegant with a creamy feel and a tart finish, seeming a big compact at present but developing over time.
This smells toasty, spicy and nicely oaky. Rich and plummy, it tastes blackberry-like, jammy and opulent with hints of clove and cassis. Stylish and polished, it's big in flavors and full in body, with soft tannins. It's a sophisticated wine that offers plenty of enjoyment.
One of the winery's special block bottlings, this shows purple aromas of blackberry, violet and lilac alongside graphite and toasted oak. The palate is meaty, bitter and spice-driven, without much overt fruit, showing anise, pencil shavings, tar and concentrated cranberry skins.
Tingling acidity wraps around a core of pear and peach fruit in this well-integrated, layered and lush wine. The oak is quiet through the entry and midpalate, picking up power and weight on the finish. Lovely on its own, it's also a good choice for the table.
Powerful black cherry and blackberry aromas and flavors seem to infuse this full-bodied wine with lots of fruit energy. It tastes vivid and unique because of that deep vein of black fruit impressions, and stays balanced by firm acidity and fine-grained tannins in spite of its alcoholic strength.
Vivid aromas of tart cherry and cranberry are followed by equally vivid, crisp and tangy flavors that echo the cherry and cranberry but add richer plum notes and nuances of cinnamon, nutmeg and cedar. This is so well balanced and bright that it tastes lip-smacking delicious now but will improve with age through at least 2020.
Aromas of café au lait, woodspice and dark fruit lead to full-bodied, hedonistic coffee flavors. The style is rich, mixing fruit and barrel.
Rounded in baked and dried fruit aromas, this is a soft, gentle wine with tangy acidity and swathes of ripe apple and orange citrus. A backbone of subtle oak gives it structure and complexity, finishing lean and bright, with a darker, richer twist of vanilla and clove in the mix.
This soft, subdued wine is pervasive in barbecue smoke, black licorice and toasted marshmallow. It's made from mostly Zinfandel, with smaller pockets of Petite Sirah and Carignane. Intense, especially toward the finish, it finds a thread of acidity in the background to lift itself up.
Bold aromas of tire rubber, black cherry, blackberry and stewed plum are integrated and attractive. A full, lively, rich palate offers briny black-plum and blackberry flavors in front of a creamy, salty, exuberant finish. Drink through 2018.
This Rocks District offering has aromas of black pepper and stems, seeming a bit locked up at the moment. Flavors are palate-staining with smoked meat and assorted herbs along with a lightly tacky feel.
A tremendously focused blend of 42% Roussanne, 42% Viognier and 16% Grenache Blanc, this offers aromas framed by a steely minerality, as well as peach and a touch of pecan marzipan. It's light on the palate, with nectarine and ripe green apple elements.
This opens with aromas of red berry, underbrush, spice, scorched earth and a funky note of wild game. The lively palate has succulent black cherry, crushed raspberry, cake spice and tobacco while velvety tannins and zesty acidity provide back up. It ends with an orange-peel finish.
Entirely barrel-fermented in 20% new French oak, this 100% varietal wine is complex and weighty. It holds a bite of ripe apple at its core, with accents of pineapple and tropical guava. Rich on the palate, it's also soft and seamless, a good choice for the table.
Produced from the vines that surround the family house at Quinta da Aveleda, this is an exemplary Vinho Verde. Dry and crisp, with richness as well as freshness, it is a bright, tight and lightly mineral wine to drink now.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of black plum, vanilla and toast. The concentrated palate doles out black cherry jam, cedar and tobacco alongside assertive tannins. Drink through 2019.
This 100% Lagrein opens with aromas of ripe dark berry and a whiff of brown spice. The savory palate delivers blackberry, white pepper and clove alongside lively acidity and firm velvety tannins.
This blend of 76% Sta. Rita Hills and 24% Russian River Valley fruit plays to the denser side of the grape, with black cherry and nutmeg aromas most prevalent. The palate offers cola, ripe cranberry, oregano and sage flavors, set against grippy tannins that ensure a few years of solid cellar life.
Oaky aromas of pencil eraser and milk chocolate are draped over cherry and red-plum notes. This feels chunky and a bit heavy and creamy, with chocolaty oak dominating the flavor profile along with medicinal berry notes. An herbal tasting choppy finish is saturated.
Pinot Noir is something winemaker Anthony Nappa makes only in rare vintages. This intensely earthy expression offers slightly muted tones of red currant and cranberry accented by dusty minerals, cedar and dried oregano. It's a sharp slightly peppery wine with firm persistent tannins on the finish.
Aromas of ripe green apple, pear, Spanish broom and tangerine lead to a creamy palate of yellow stone fruit and a hint of white almond. Fresh acidity and a mineral note brighten the finish.
Shy aromas suggesting ripe black-skinned fruit, espresso and a whiff of dark spice emerge in the glass. The medium-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, mocha and grilled sage alongside fresh acidity and taut tightly knit tannins. Drink after 2019.
Medium-intense scents of honeydew, baked apple, peach pit and dried wildflowers are direct and forward on the nose, while flavors of citrus and melon fill the smooth but not flabby palate. Solid acidity lifts the mouthfeel and lends freshness through the finish, which is otherwise full of rich notes of apple pie, honeycomb and orange marmalade. Drink now.
Delicate swathes of honey brighten savory chestnut, smoke and mineral tones throughout this feather-light dry Riesling. It's an earthier slightly darker expression of Riesling with electric acidity accenting hints of spice and dusty pollen. The finish is long and intently smoky.
Initial aromas of jammy black fruits and cardamom yield to cheesy oak as this airs out. A plump wide palate is blocky, while gamy notes of animal hide, cassis, plum and oak form the flavor profile. A lingering exotic taste of blueberry centers a mild finish.
This wine has offers aromas of dark plum and chocolate. It is inky garnet in the glass, with flavors of cherry, cranberry, cured meat, thyme and sage. Stealthy tannins appear as if from nowhere just before a bright finish that is punctuated by a touch of smoke.
Dried berry, leather, cola, and herb notes show on the nose of this bottling from the mountains between the Conejo Valley and Malibu Coast. The flavors are savory at first—all crushed anise and mint—but grow fruitier as it opens, suggesting dark strawberry, blueberry, vanilla and clove. Quite quaffable.
This wine has a clean nose of grapefruit with a hint of violet. Flavors of apricot and lemon take a backseat to a strong vein of lavender. Soft on entry, it has good mouthfeel and a nice pink grapefruit splash on the finish.
Fermented in new barrels, this is a ripe, yellow fruit- and spice-flavored wine. It blends Fernão Pires, Roupeiro and Arinto, resulting in rich fruit, bright acidity and a fine, toasty character. Ready to drink.
This orange-style wine has a cloudy yellow-gold appearance because it spent 30 days on the skins and 100 days on the lees. It has aromas and flavors of aged apple cider and tart apple pie with an astringent finish. This style is not for everyone, but for those who appreciate orange wine made from Chardonnay, this is a solid example.
Aromas of raisin and cooked black fruits are malty. This high-alcohol Malbec feels hard, tannic and collapsed. Stewy nutty flavors of blackberry and prune come with a dash of salt, while this shows raisiny flavors and dry tannins on a heavy finish.
Pretty orange blossom notes morph into zesty white grapefruit and lime in this exceptionally light off-dry Riesling. It's delicately concentrated on the palate but offers loads of invigorating, waterfall-like refreshment.
Sunny orange and apricot aromas are accented with hints of smoke and nuts on the nose of this spry dry Riesling. The palate turns a shade zestier, suggesting cutting grapefruit and lemon dusted with pollen. It finishes long and clean.
Forest floor, new leather, pressed violet, ripe berry, Mediterranean herb and eucalyptus aromas lead the way on this robust red. The densely concentrated palate shows raisin, vanilla, prune and espresso alongside the warmth of evident alcohol. Chewy tannins provide support while a hint of licorice wraps up the finish. Give it a few years to unwind, then drink to capture the remaining fruit richness.
This 100% Pinot Nero opens with aromas of red currant, rose petal and a whiff of graphite. The savory palate offers strawberry and red cherry alongside smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.
This opens with aromas of mature orchard fruit, lemon zest and acacia honey. The vibrant palate delivers candied grapefruit, Golden Delicious apple and vanilla alongside fresh acidity that leaves a clean finish. Enjoy soon.
This 100% Lagrein offers aromas of dark-skinned berries, violets and baking spices. The bright palate delivers ripe black cherries and nutmeg alongside velvety tannins. Enjoy soon.
Fynbos and lime leaf aromas are front and center on the nose of this wine, but are grounded by fruity tones of tart gooseberry and plum. The nervy palate boasts a soft astringency in lime rind and fresh herb flavors, framed by bright acidity and just enough fruit flavor to give subtle weight to the mouthfeel. Drink now.
Initial pronounced smoke and struck match aromas blow off with aeration, revealing fresher green apple and lime notes. As it opens, lip-smacking hits of honey and sweet tangerine come to the fore. Drink now through 2020.
Relatively restrained for Viognier, with attractive fruit notes of muskmelon, apricot and pineapple, but not much more in the way of complexity. It's medium bodied, with a long, refreshing finish that hints at white pepper. Drink now.
This wine is made from 100% Furmint and has an intriguing bouquet of jasmine and lemon blossom. It is crisp and acidic on the palate with pleasant flavors of lemon zest and lime juice.
This wine is well balanced and solidly constructed, wrapping its ripe blackberry and dark plum flavors in firm tannins. Light oak spice, vanilla and cinnamon touches are the icing on the cake.
Adrianna sits at 5,000 feet, making it one of the highest vineyards in all of Mendoza. The wine shows pure Tupungato mountain fruit, with deep chocolaty undertones and lots of fine, toasty French oak. For deep berry flavors and smoothness more than rough and tough, Adrianna is on the money. Drink now through 2011.
A studly Malbec sourced from the Altamira section of the Uco Valley, then aged 18 months in new French oak. Much of this wine is fermented in plastic bins (not tanks), and the affiliated intensity grabs your attention. The blackberry flavors are potent and backed by heavy chocolate and toast. Lots of mouthfeel and power, with tannic grab. This wine can age several more years.
This is an exotic, flashy wine, marked by layers of ripe, sweet tropical fruit. Honey, peaches and mangoes are plump and mouthfilling, but end with elegance and finesse, making for a finely balanced wine worthy of the two-star accolade.
Vall Llach Embruix may be the winery's base-level offering but it's no starter wine. Five grapes led by Garnacha are blended to achieve a potent and piercing brew of blueberry aromas, black cherry and cassis flavors, and a rich, chocolaty finish. Modern in style, and making no apologies for it. Equal in quality to the excellent 2004 Embruix.
Wines from Morey-Saint-Denis should be opulent in 2005, and this wine has opulence in spades. It fills the mouth with rich red plums, red cherries and some cranberry juice to give an edge of dryness. Maybe complexity is edged out by all this juicy fruit, but the tannins do firm up the wine, which should certainly age 10 years or more.
Big, burly Pinot Noir, dominated by black cherries, rich fruit and firm tannins. This is wine that shows richness, with a smoky, chewy structure and great spice and aromatic perfumes. The juiciness comes through on the finish, but never leaves the structure behind.
The aroma is a perfume shop. Even on the palate, although the rich botrytis character is prevalent, there is a wonderful, exotic, Asian intensity of flavor. The acidity and honey are welcome and balanced.
Rich, viscous and sweet, this is a spätlese that punches above its weight. A bit of dried apricot hints at the inclusion of some botrytized grapes, while the rest of the fruit shows superripe flavors of peaches and honey. This is long on the finish, clinging to the palate. Imported by Chapin Cellars, LLC.
Big-format Malbec is what we're calling this new 15.5% wine from Benjamin de Rothschild and Laurent Dassault, original partners in Michel Rolland's Clos de los Siete project. Round, lush and full of body, Flechas shows muscle but little fat. It's colorful, dark, full of black fruit and long on the finish. It is modern Malbec done for modern palates.
Since we last tried this wine, Catena has dialed back the new oak and pumped up the natural acidity. And the result is pleasantly akin to fine Burgundy. Now the emphasis is on refined, Dijon-style apple and peach flavors with great mouthfeel. Drink now.
This ripe, almond- and pear-flavored wine has a fine balancing structure of green fruit skins. It's certainly rich, but it also has elegance, restraining its exuberance through the finishing acidity, which promises 5–7 years' aging.
For a Savigny, this is surprisingly firm and tannic, the wine's structure an impressive edifice of dry tannins and firm cranberry and plum skin flavors. It is certainly ripe, the fruit promising attractive richness in 3–5 years, followed by good aging potential.
Intensely perfumed, this wine shows both strength and great elegance. The raspberry flavors float over a light structure of some dry tannins. The acidity is there, but it is the generosity of the fruit that is most obvious, going right through the wine to the sweet, jammy finish.
This is a rather big and burly wine for a Mosel spätlese, weighing in at 11.5% alcohol. And while it shows plenty of power, it also shows nuance in its aromas and flavors, which range from baked fruit, honey and spiced marmalade to oily, mineral essences. Has the concentration to age, but the balance of sugar and alcohol may not hold in the long run—drink it over the next few years to avoid disappointment.
Though not as powerful and concentrated as the Spofford Station Syrah, this wine displays the same distinctive, complex flavor palette—a mix of earth, herb, compost, fungus, smoke, rock and, oh yeah, baby, oodles of fruit. This sort of flavor profile is similar to the biodynamic wines of Cayuse, but at half the cost.
Soft and seductive, this coffee-laced Cab Franc perfectly captures the dark aromas and crisply defined fruit of the grape. There's just a splash of DuBrul Merlot in the blend to add some buoyancy; but the Franc dominates. It's a cool-climate style, firm and tart, with natural acids and a lovely coffee and smoke streak running through polished tannins. Brilliant winemaking.
This is taut and dense, and requires time and air to untangle. Deep, dark fruits are mixed in with layers of black olive, smoke, compost, tar, moist earth and herb—a delicious mélange of flavors that promises good things to come as the wine ages. It's masterful winemaking in a package so young and wrapped up tight that it may pass you by if you don't give it a good look.
The grapes come from three very widely separated vineyard sources. The Klipsun, says winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla, is for the backbone and tannins; the Pepper Bridge gives dried herbs and tighter tannins; and the Alder Ridge is more European and fills out the midpalate. This is showing very well, and has clearly benefited from the extra bottle age. It's beautifully integrated, with the tannins substantial but polished. The fruit mixes ripe berries and moves smoothly into flavors of earth, smoke, tobacco and graphite.
The Rust style of ultra-sweet wine is all about wonderful honey and toffee flavors over intense acidity, a great balancing act of spice, dry botrytis and great sweetness. This wine is both fresh and complex, a bottle that needs at least 5 years to age. Screwcap.
One of the most untouched, terroir-driven Malbecs made in Argentina is Achaval-Ferrer's Altamira. It's harvested about three weeks earlier than most high-end fruit, resulting in core raspberry flavors and a certain redness of character. The wine is unfined and cloudy but still very clear on the palate, with length, power and class. Best from 2009–2012.
A wine that is on the cusp of adding an extra element of complexity. At present, there is deliciously perfumed fruit, white and green currants and white peaches, with a definite citrus edge. The bonus is the taut texture, which is closing in and lifting the fruit, promising future aging. Screwcap.
Racy, lime-tinged acidity cuts a fine edge through this steely, intensely mineral kabinett. On the palate, pristine, honeyed sprays of lemon and tangerine lend a mouthwatering feel. The finish is long, accented by touches of pollen and spice.
Chalk and slate notes juxtapose fragrant, sweet-tart tangerine, lime and lemon on the nose and palate of this laser-edged kabinett. A kiss of honey gives the midpalate just a touch of sweetness that lingers long on the finish.
A wine that's had some time to find itself in bottle, this opens in a wildness of mountain tannin and dusty texture, grippy and dry on the palate. Cedar, tobacco and shy black fruit call out for braised red meat, with a structure that should hold up longer in the cellar if necessary.
A lush and expansive, small-production wine, this weaves together dark fruit with streaks of cedar and herb, its texture fleshy, full bodied and powerful. The tannin and oak are nicely integrated, allowing for a balance of structure and flavor.
Scott Shull (Raptor Ridge) makes this cuvée for Le Cadeau, and it's a triumph in this vintage. Cherry fruit ripe to the point of syrup hogs the flavor spotlight, but there's cranberry and raspberry too, putting a tangy note into the mix. Root beer and sweet cola elements combine, and there is little doubt that, good as it is already, this is a wine to cellar. Drink now–2028.
Elegantly floral and classic in dried herb, cedar, black pepper and pencil lead, this wine offers complex components of flavor and intrigue around velvety black fruit and a long, grippy finish. It impresses in its ability to be both approachable and timeless.
Graphite, rose petals, vanilla and a strong yet not over-exuberant black cherry quality pump up the nose of this decadent bottling by Brian Loring. There's great tactile texture once sipped, with chalky tannins unveiling ripe cranberry, red cherry, clay, cinnamon and baking-spice elements.
This wood-aged wine is a product of the new venture Sogrape has launched in Alentejo. It is powerful, dark in color and seriously concentrated. Dense tannins and a solid structure are rich with black plum and berry fruits as well as acidity. The wine is still young and needs to age. Drink from 2018.
From Montemaggiore Vineyard on the western hills of the appellation, and containing 5% Viognier, this is a well-made wine, nicely rustic in a dirty, rowdy mix of black pepper and earth. Dense, thick layers of cocoa play with floral notes of lavender and rose, finishing softly. This will age well through 2023.
Lush candied fruits abound in this naturally botrytised wine. With 147 g/L of residual sugar, it still reaches over 12% alcohol. Pineapple, lemon and orange peel, pine resin, honey, cedar and butterscotch are all in the mix, plus a lot more. You can go spelunking in this wine and never see it all.
With light touches of wood aging, this delicate, honeyed wine has all the poise and style of Jurançon, in the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains. Lightly stepping between freshness and rich, ripe, sweet fruitiness, the wine is full of apricot, sweet apple and lime acidity. It is delicious, but it would be a shame for the taste Sébastien and Isabelle Bordenave-Coustarret created not to age it, so drink from 2019.
From the winery's dry-farmed vineyard comes this bottling with seamlessly integrated aromas of boysenberry, black-pepper sauce and black sesame. A tarry character kicks off the palate and then evolves into roasted lamb with lavender-pepper crust, dried mint and tarragon flavors. A soft and deftly sewn acidity hums throughout the sip.
Cranberry, dried sage, sour cherry, thyme and dried chaparral shrubbery show on the nose of this wine from an oceanview vineyard near Ben Lomond. The palate is fairly lithe and bouncy with acidity, showing lots of crushed bay leaf and wild sage as well as underripe strawberry and richer cranberry notes.
A damp herbal character shows first on the nose of this wine, with wet sage and marjoram spicing up the stewed cranberry fruit. The action explodes once sipped, with black cherry and mulberry giving backbone to the cardamom and other Indian-spice components. It combines richness and energy.
This super-rich wood-aged wine is ripe with tropical fruits and packed with toast flavors. It is already mature with an attractive oxidative edge from the new barrels that adds complexity to the fruitiness. It is impressive—maybe too powerful—but certainly a serious expression of what the Douro can do with white wines. Drink now.
It will be interesting to see if the release of this luxury-level Shiraz (the second vintage) has any impact on the perception of Casella's other brands: Yellow Tail and Peter Lehmann. Even at nine years of age, this is impressively dark and intense, with minty notes, cedar and vanilla and meaty, umami-like flavors that linger on the long, silky finish. Drink now.
A new wine for Alain Dominique Perrin's Lagrézette, this comes from a single vineyard on mainly gravel soil. It is dark, dense and powerfully concentrated. The dry tannins with their edge of minerality still dominate the black plum and berry flavors. Along with power and depth, the wine has its elegant side with the acidity giving a lift and even freshness at the end.
Heady, gamy and thick notes of lanolin, blood, lamb, smoked wood, roasted fennel, pencil lead and peppercorn rise into intriguing coriander and cumin notes on the nose of this blend of 52% Grenache, 26% Syrah and 22% Mourvèdre. Those exotic spice notes carry to the palate, where a medium acidity and clean tannic structure present black peppercorn and cardamom notes atop a boysenberry backdrop.
Irresistably juicy and fruity, yet so delicately nuanced by spice, earth and mineral, this light-footed kabinett encapsulates much of what's so special about Mosel Riesling. The palate bursts with rich yellow peach and mango, but nervous lemon-lime acidity lends an electric vibe. It's delicious now but should improve through 2021.
Vanilla, citrus and white flowers on the nose lead this memorable white from mainland Greece. The overall character is linear and crisp, with lemon and limestone flavors interlaced with exotic fruits and rose. A wine with class and character that will offer diverse food pairing experiences.
This wood-aged, perfumed wine is serious, complex and will take its time to develop. It is full of dark tannins and ripe black fruits, laced with acidity. It comes from old vines, planted in the 1970s, which give great concentration and depth to the wine. It will be ready to drink from 2019.
A lightly colored, earthy and yet intense and powerful wine, this comes from a tremendous vineyard site along Westside Road. Pretty roses and cups of black tea are evoked on the entry before supple, well-built layers of lush, juicy cranberry, pomegranate and tangy cherry come into focus, finishing complex and rich.
Light in color and ethereally earthy, this wine opens with delicate notes of rose petal and allspice. It then broadens into a gorgeous, medium-weight and mouthfilling sensation of red fruit and more spice, which lingers long on the finish.
Forest floor, new leather, ripe, dark-skinned berry and hint of blue flower are some of the scents you'll discover on this structured, polished red. The smooth, delicious palate offers layers of fleshy black cherry, baking spice and dried Mediterranean herb while firm, refined tannins provide the framework.
Effusive and inviting fruit and spice aromas plus tangy, tasty black-cherry and cranberry flavors inhabit this full-bodied, beautifully focused wine. It's solidly balanced, not at all shy about oak flavors and engagingly complex. Drink now through 2020.
The wine comes from the Guedes family's showpiece estate for Casa Ferreirinha in the Alto Douro. It is dark, dense and still very young. With a strong mineral element and dry tannins, it has concentration as well as potential. The black plum fruits are still developing, still youthful. So give this impressive wine until 2020 before drinking.
Dense and chewy at first, this deliciously brooding wine is all about black licorice, berry and meat. Contoured layers of integrated tannin give it an understated elegance and sense of class despite its wild power and body.
This lively, 100% Sauvignon Blanc sports fresh flavors of grapefruit, lemon meringue and quinine—much like a cool-climate Viognier. Racy and fresh, it was mostly stainless-steel fermented, and is young enough to capture a bit of spritz in the mouthfeel.
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.
Lively white fruit with a mineral edge. The flavors are just showing some signs of mature toast, but at the moment green, crisp tastes predominate. The sweet dosage —relatively high—seems to need time to integrate.
Cassis and chocolate notes dominate, but there's enough minty, eucalypt character to impart complexity, all framed by some firm, dusty tannins. Finishes long and mouthwatering; drink now–2015. Multiple U.S. importers.
Honeyed apricot and orange peel on the nose and palate typify this elegant but playful botrytis wine. The wine's lively acidity gives it a bounce on the tongue, adding dimension to the citrus components and lending it more to food pairing with desserts or a cheese plate.
Plenty of deep color, thick tannin and dark streaks of smoke and tar make this a stand-up steakhouse wine. The fruit does have an herbal edge but it is lingering, complex and interesting. Think of it as the vinous equivalent of a cello-viola sonata—dark and mysteriously intertwined.
Broquel always offers a little more elegance and pedigree than most value Malbecs, and the 2005 has body, a silky feel and aromas and flavors of tobacco, baked blackberries and leather. It's a ripe, moderately tannic wine that's best for near-term drinking.
This is a supersmooth, easy-going wine with mild dark-fruit flavors, very little tannin and a soft texture. Two years aging in previously used oak barrels helped round off any corners in the mouthfeel.
This wine is crisp, tangy and bright with acidity. With a lively touch of vanilla and spice over the crisp fruitiness, it is developing well. Drink from 2018.
There's a good array of purple-flower aromas, including lavender and potpourri, on the nose of this bottling, as well as light cola and plum skins. The sip is quite bitter and tarry though, with just a touch of riper black fruit.
Pure Pinot Noir from the south of Beaujolais, this is soft, fruity and with attractive acidity. Red fruits and a crisp acidity give this wine its bright character. Ready to drink now.
This combines 73% Grenache, 16% Syrah and 11% Mourvèdre from Stone Tree, Arianses, Ciel du Cheval and Heart of the Hill vineyards. Its vanilla, pencil box, green herb, raspberry and purple fruit aromas are followed by quite sweet, ripe, full-bodied red and black fruit flavors. The balance seems off.
This opens with French oak and toasted hazelnut aromas. The lean, assertive palate offers roasted coffee bean and licorice flavors alongside grainy tannins that leave an astringent finish.
This soft wine, full of ripe apricots and melons, summarizes this rich white-wine vintage. It is creamy, laced with just enough acidity and fruity. It is ready to drink.
Peach and yellow apple aromas lead the nose, with sweet orange oil and fresh honeydew adding depth and character. There's ample acidic lift to the palate, keeping the mouthfeel bright and the finish clean. A hint of peach pit accents the close.
Aromas like black pepper, anise and grilled meat lead to nicely tart flavors and a mildly tannic mouthfeel. This spicy-tasting wine is relatively light bodied but has plenty of interesting flavors to explore.
This wine is tight, with layers of yellow fruit and spice that are masked by wood flavors. Drink from 2018.
Bright aromas of ripe peach, apricot, flower and jasmine lead to off-dry stone fruit flavors in this simple, straightforward quaffer.
This firm and tannic wine is more structure than fruit. It is dense with a dry core. The acidity suggests that there may be some fruit there, although the rest of the wine is ready to drink.
This wine's barrel spice, barnyard, coffee and vanilla aromas lead to medium-bodied fruit flavors tinged with a strong, distracting gamy note.
What a great value! This medium-bodied wine has spicy oak accents and mouth-filling fruit flavors. It's ripe and generous, with plump cherry and raspberry notes and a palate marked by mild tannins and soft texture.
This blends cool-climate Syrah (50%) from the Edna Valley with warmer-site Petite Sirah (45%) and Grenache (5%) and shows candied cinnamon, black cherry, plum and cedar aromas. Tangy black plum and raspberry notes lead the palate, underpinned by chewy tannins.
There's a definite richness to this wine, which opens with concentrated aromas of candied orange peel, peach preserves, soft apple and lemon verbena. The slightly opulent, round mouthfeel is balanced by just enough acidity, while flavors of melon, orange creamsicle and vanilla grace the finish.
Underbrush, porcini mushroom, chopped mint, used leather and eucalyptus aromas lead the nose. It's robust and somewhat one-dimensional, with flavors suggesting prune, dried cherry marinated in spirits, fig and a hint of cinnamon alongside big but not very persistent tannins.
This big-shouldered blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot offers soft waves of black fruit and smoky oak. It's accented with meatier elements of brick and tobacco.
This wine blended from multiple vineyard souces represents tremendous value for its quality. Black cherry and cedar notes mark its flavorful but thick midpalate, giving way to dried herb and black currant on the chocolatey finish.
Reduced on the nose, this wine's petrol-like aromas dissipate as it opens, unveiling a sharp take on preserved lemon, Gravenstein apple and subtle oak flavors, its acidity reasonably sharp.
The Síria grape—a relative of Malvasia and Roupeiro—is only found under this name in the mountainous eastern Beira region. This rendition is aromatic, with a tight, cool texture, tangy acidity and lime zest and apple flavors that give a crisp, fruity aftertaste.
Made entirely with Marzemino, this has subtle aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit and a whiff of cake spice. The concentrated monolithic palate delivers prune, vanilla and a hint of bitter almond alongside assertive tannins. You'll also notice the heat of evident alcohol. Drink soon.
Aged in French oak for 10 months (10% new, 90% second fill), this is a toasty yet balanced selection. Decadent aromas and flavors of buttered brioche, honeydew, baked apple, lemon curd and vanilla cream pie abound. It's rich and mouthfilling in texture, with a lingering sweet-spice flavor. Drink now–2019.
Marked by a taste of salty caramel pretzel and baked apple, this is a full-bodied, robustly concentrated wine underpinned by sharp acidity. Peach, pear and melon flavors take turns playing supporting roles.
Organically cultivated vines, some over 80-years-old, on the upper terraces above the river Lot are behind this firmly structured, concentrated wine. With solid tannins as well as the potential of black fruits, it is young and certainly needs to age. Drink from 2020.
The bouquet of this Chard is somewhat quiet and reserved at first, offering faint aromas of yellow flowers and honeysuckle alongside fruity accents of red apple and Asian pear. The palate is clean and approachable, with brisk flavors of citrus and underripe pear that lend verve through the close.
Bursts of yellow apple and grapefruit flavor are juicy and fresh in this easy-sipping Kabinett. Just a touch sweet and briskly composed, it's a pertly balanced wine for everyday enjoyment.
Robust pineapple and peach flavors are juicy and concentrated in this uncomplicated, tasty wine. It's medium-sweet in style, brightened by a lemon candy zestiness that lingers on the finish. Drink now.
Pretty floral perfume mingles into delicate apple and pear in this fragrant full-bodied Chardonnay. Broad and richly textured, its softness is accentuated by its yielding tangerine acidity. The finish lingers on a touch of butter and lemon pith.
This is a lush Chenin, with upfront toasty scents of wood-grilled peach, yellow melon, roasted nuts and orange oil. The medium-weight mouth is round and full in feel, with just enough acidic lift to keep the palate refreshed. The finish is all toasted spice and peach pit. Drink now.
With 10% Malbec, this estate red is lightly spiced with clove and cinnamon notes, while fresh cherry and blackberry flavors develop on the palate. Moderate in tannin and oak, it reveals its balance as it opens.
Faint whiffs of sugar cookie sweeten this straightforward, fruity wine that's full of juicy tangerine and apple flavors. Spine-tingling acidity lends freshness to the midpalate, leaving a clean finish. Drink now.
A bouquet of jasmine, honeysuckle and green apple entice you in to sip of this refined Traminer. There are balanced flavors of ginger, passion fruit and apricot and a clean, acidic finish.
Nutty and reminiscent of lemon oil, this wine also offers a full-bodied richness of apple and caramel, transforming into peach and vanilla bean flavor as it opens.
This is a juicy, medium- to full-bodied blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Berry-like fruit picks up some herbal, tea-like notes on the finish, creating mouthwatering tension. Drink now.
A standard but appealing combination of oak, spice and berry aromas leads to a clampy tannic woody palate. This is spicy and tastes fully oaked, with plum and generic berry flavors in support. On the finish, this tastes of plum, berry and chocolate.
There's a delicate hint of toasted spice that lends depth to the yellow apple and melon fruit core of this wine. The well-balanced palate offers ripe fruit flavors and medium acidity, while hints of orange peel and toast linger softly on the close. Drink now.
The producer held this wine back from release because it came from such a great ageworthy vintage—this is well worth the weight. With the wonderful richness of the 75% Pinot Noir dominating, this is a balanced wine, just hinting at toastiness, with concentrated ripe apple fruits melding into the texture of the wine.
The fascinating nose of this wine is reason enough to seek it out—an aromatic display of underripe raspberry, tart pomegranate, fresh dill, eucalyptus and sage. Montmorency cherry notes show on the palate, along with mace, Vietnamese cinnamon and fennel. A unique, refreshing and memorable wine.
Deliciously heady notes of peach and chamomile immediately hit the nose, promising ripeness and aromatic riches. The palate does not disappoint, releasing even more of those wonderfully balm-like, aromatic flavors. It brightens them with wondrous lemon freshness and boosts them with a poised dose of residual sweetness. It's an unusual wine that does not really fit any category but sits in a delicious aromatic off-dry class of its own. The best option with this probably is cheese, but it will serve well as a philosopher's wine, savored on its own. It has enough depth and beauty to nourish sustained thought. Drink 2018–2035.
Right now this is still shy on the nose. There is a glint of pear peel and Mirabelle, plus a suggestion of smoke. The palate is equally shy as the principal sensation is that of wonderfully tangy texture, fresh concentrated acidity and balanced sweetness right now. This needs time to develop its undoubtedly rich flavors. The balance is impeccable. Immense power and lasting strength lie at the core of this monumental wine. This is made to last and should be given time in the cellar. Drink 2025–2050.
A touch of lemon balm adds a breezy freshness to the nose, while a pure, bright and precise notion of ripe lemon pervades and takes over the entire palate. On its fringes, delicious hints of chamomile and chervil appear alongside ripe red apple. This is a tantalizing charmer in spite of its absolute dryness and vivid acidity. Drink 2017–2037.
The nose is still closed but already gives glimpses of citrus zestiness. The palate is a riot of both fresh and candied peel, think Seville orange, tangerine and Meyer lemon. The zesty freshness of the citrus fruit always has the upper hand on this energetic, exuberant late harvest wine and counters the residual sweetness perfectly. Killer acidity and utter concentration create a magnetic, delicious, age-worthy wine. The finish is off dry and refreshing, with a sweetish glint here and there. Drink 2017–2040 at least.
There is a glorious touch of ripe peach among the abundant lemon notes of the nose. A hint of grapefruit spice lends added allure. These notes carry to the palate that is juicy in ripe peach, grapefruit and bright lemon. All this happens on an completely dry, finely delineated body of absolute precision and poise. There is something crystalline about this, something fine-boned and delicate that nonetheless has absolute power to convince. This is simply wonderful. Its inherent grace will only increase with time. Drink 2020–2037.
Smoke and the merest, tantalizing whiff of toffee apple can be discerned on the nose. Fragrant herbs—think chervil and yarrow—also make an appearance. The palate is dry but brims with ripe lemon oil and fresh lemon fruit. This is streamlined and impactful, with a commanding, overarching freshness that only enforces the inherent power of this site more. For now this is tightly wound and still closed, majoring on its ample lemon charm but this needs bottle age to let the myriad notes promised on the nose unfold on the palate. Drink 2022–2040.
Earth, smoke and lifted lemon peel create a very alluring, almost primal aroma. The palate comes in with gentle, subdued sweetness, boosting ripe pear notes before revealing fir honey bitterness and tangy grapefruit zest. A warm sandalwood-spiced core is still tightly closed, holding further stores of fruit and spice and signalling lasting power and barely tamed energy. While aromas are enticing now this deserves cellaring to come into its own. There is much drive and a dynamic citrus freshness wills you to sip more. This draws you in dangerously. The finish is dry and totally enticing. Drink 2020–2040.
This beautiful wine, with its poise, elegance and balance, has both a steely mineral core and an outer ripe-fruit character. It has citrus, tight acidity and rich apple and green-plum flavors. The wine is still a little young and will be better from 2019.
Touches of vanilla, cream and lovely hints of oatmeal allude to developing, evolving autolytic notes. These are edged with pure lemon, giving equal expression to emollience and freshness. On the midpalate the creamy, generous richness of yeast comes through, providing stucture and a canvas against which tart apple and Amalfi lemon can play. Depth and serious intent shows amid the sensuously fine fizz. Although this wine is refreshing and bright now, more bottle age will make it even more alluring. The pure and lasting finish leaves you wanting more. Drink 2017–2017.
Extremely dark in color and nearly opaque, this bottling shows dried violet, lilac and lavender scents, along with a charred black currant essence that's rich but not sweet. Prominent acidity and soft but structured tannins present roasted black fruit and baking spice flavors. Drink 2019–2030.
Perfectly baked red cherry aromas are dusted with cola, slate, olive, sumac and Middle Eastern spice on the nose of this bottling from the historic vineyard. The palate expertly balances tight tannins, bright acidity and a vibrant energy to deliver tart raspberry, thyme, forest floor and roast beef flavors that sail into the zingy finish.
Only 95 cases were made of this Bordeaux-style blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Malbec and 24% Cabernet Franc. It's a stellar example of the high-end and highly cellarable wines that can come out of South Africa, oozing with depth, concentration and complexity, all in a harmonious, balanced package. It's dark and brooding right off the bat, boasting firm, tight blackberry, cherry and cassis fruit that's coupled with hints of raspberry sauce, pressed violets and baking spice. The palate is strong and packed with black fruit flavors that lead into a long, evolving finish of char, espresso bean, cigar and woodspice. Firmly structured and robust in feel, try from 2022–2028, though it could mature well even beyond.
A floral touch of honeysuckle plays spicily on the nose alongside aromatic Williams pear. The palate adds a sonorous and pleasant bitterness to this, reminiscent of fir honey, while the floral overtones of honeysuckle shimmer everywhere. There is quite some warmth and energy in this wine, smouldering at the very core. This is lovely now but is sure to last with all its brooding power. The finish is long and dry and returns to that pure note of Williams pear. Drink 2017–2035.
A tender notion of slightly bitter, dark fir honey appears first before a touch of smoke and ripe peach come in. The off-dry palate uses its sweetness to underline the rich peachy fruit that also has a touch of golden mirabelle. The big bold palate is concentrated and energetic, pervaded by a streak of zesty lemon freshness that keeps this from becoming too rich. There is undeniable drive here, and a very lasting persistent length of peach and lemon flavors which will develop much more with bottle age. Drink. 2017–2037.
A flinty touch of promising reduction still hovers on the nose but cheeky floral and fruity hints of honeysuckle, jasmine and peach shimmer through. The palate unites all of these aromatic notions on a textured, layered and concentrated palate. The hints of honeysuckle spice are intensified by the ripe zestiness of Amalfi lemon and tangerine. The finish is dry and long, with ample refreshment from these gorgeous citrus notes. This is glorious now in its youthful exuberance but has the concentration, structure and fruit to age beautifully. Drink 2017–2035.
Tender notes of orange peel and pear skin reach the nose. The palate shows a vivid note of orange peel, with an herbal hint of mint and a wonderfully light, fluid touch. There is concentration but also poise, absolute dryness and wonderful length. There is an elegant touch that makes this all the more seductive, especially on the tingling zesty finish. A total joy. Drink 2017–2030.
Now just approaching maturity, this floral, aromatic wine is superb. Very dry, very crisp and with delicious lemon and green-apple freshness, the wine also has a strongly mineral character that comes from the chalk soil of the Côte des Blancs. The wine is just ready, although it will age further.
From a meticulously farmed site, this robust wine is intense and powerful, with a baked fruit component that makes it compelling and delicious. Forest floor, sage and rhubarb jam notes enwrap its concentrated weight and texture, with an underlying acidity that tingles the tongue.
This is a velvety smooth, superbly made white with delightful sparks of fresh-squeezed lemon, stone and salt. Ginger and lemongrass touches add an exotic quality, enhancing its bright freshness and core of acid-led tension.
Just beginning to mature, this balanced, ripe wine is complex, with bright acidity, toast and pear and green-plum fruits. It is rich, with a tight mouse that shows intensity as well as a stylish character. This is a fine wine just coming into its own but well worth aging further until 2020.
Wild strawberry and plum mix with subtle yet sultry notes of nutmeg, mace, loam, graphite and game on the nose of this bottling. Sizzling acidity leads the palate, carrying cherry, plum and red apple flavors, followed by layers of eucalyptus and pine forest.
This wine comes alive on the expansive, fleshy palate of black pepper and olive tapenade flavors. It walks a fine line between tenacious structure and high-cheekboned fruit—a mélange of raspberry, cassis and blueberry compote. The aromas are enticing and reminiscent of violets. Though it can be enjoyed now, it will evolve well through 2034.
What a heady nose. Tangerine peel, hay flowers and ripe apples all dance and swirl across the senses. The palate takes the swirling fruit and fragrance up a notch, heightened with the intensity of tangy lemon freshness. This has utter precision and concentration, there almost seems to be a life force of stone and power behind it. It's a textbook Riesling with a clean, dry and totally tangy moreish finish. Lovely now but with great potential. Drink 2017–2035.
This is perfumed with lovely violets and tight layers of mixed berries, currants and hints of truffle. It's young and muscular, with a pleasing chewy texture to the tannins. There is the sense that time will unfold the flavors and add nuances of herb and earth, capturing the varietal notes that can be   obliterated by over-ripe fruit and too much new oak.
A full-boat, five-varietal Bordeaux blend. It's nicely balanced, and retains some inviting aromas of violets and candied rose petals, leading into a lip-smacking, fruit-driven mid-palate with blueberries, boysenberries and a whisper of saffron and chocolate. There is plenty of acid underpinning, and a judicious use of barrels that keeps the fruit front and center. The best yet from Tildio.
From a top subsection of McLaren Vale, this well-crafted Shiraz features a nice balance of sweet and savory notes. Ripe blackberry and plum flavors are matched by nuances of cedar, spice and meat. This creamy-textured Shiraz seems to be already approaching maturity; drink it now through 2012.
Broad in the mouth and rather burly, this nearly dry Riesling offers minerally, spice-driven aromas and flavors. A touch of honeyed richness on the palate rounds it out, but this is not a stereotypical fruity Riesling despite the mouthwatering finish.
In really warm years like 2006, wines from the cool Saar valley often excel. This offering shows crisp, refreshing acidity to balance its residual sugar and classic flavors of green apple, lime and pineapple. Under it all is a firm foundation of slate-driven minerality and a fine, linear structure.
Impressive for its minerality, this wine offers up aromas of petrol, honey and slate rather than the fruit-driven notes of many Rieslings. In the mouth, it's like drinking liquid rocks with just enough honey to help the minerals slide down smoothly, lingering sweetly on the finish.
A big, super-rich wine that concentrates on its vanilla and spice aspects, the fruit coming through as ripe quince and apricots flavored with pepper. The acidity is muted, appearing only at the end, to give a vibrant lift to this impressive wine. Glass stopper.
A very taut, tight wine, crisp, green, perfumed. It has delicious white currants and hedgerow fruits, its delicacy and elegance balanced by its intensity of flavor. There is a definite herbal, mineral aftertaste. Screwcap.
A gentle wine with open and generous soft berry fruits showing through dusty tannins and lively acidity. This is likely to develop relatively fast into a delicious wine.
Very ripe flavors of berries and figs dominate this Cab-centric Bordeaux blend, along with intriguing side notes suggesting melon and cassis, smoke and mocha. It's a big, sexy wine, its fruit flavors backed with thick, ripe, but chalky tannins. If there is a downside, it is that it comes off as a bit monolithic.
This is serious Blaufränkisch, a ripe, firmly structured wine that shows a dry edge of solid tannins before you get to the ripe, red fruits. There's power here, but it is finely integrated, and its fruity finish is well structured. Screwcap.
The Winkler-Hermaden family's vineyards drop precipitously down from Kapfenstein castle, which they run as a hotel. With their great exposure, the vineyards allow the Zweigelt in this wine to ripen well, giving richness and density of structure, with the rich spice and red stone fruits blanketed by dark tannins. Glass stopper.
Barrel aging for 12 months certainly renders this wine  round and rich. Juiciness combines with a severe, dry structure from the Cabernet to give a meaty ripe wine, surrounded with acidity, black fruits and a final soft, toasty character. Screwcap.
Ignore that misplaced accent over the ‘a' and focus on the excellent wine in the bottle. With Cabernet dominating., this wine is sleek and spicy, with a marked impression of graphite and gun metal. Although in general the '05 vintage is tilted more toward the ripe side of the spectrum, this wine retains a lean and elegant precision.
Dark, full and very oaky on the nose, this extracted Malbec is ripe and toasty smelling. Tannic, stacked and chewy in the mouth, with flavors of roasted blackberry, raw oak, chocolate and clove, this finishes with a ton of unabsorbed oak and related flavors of clove and mint.
Spicy and juicy, this is obviously a wood-aged wine. It offers tannins, red fruits, coffee and a warm, rich character balanced by acidity that cuts through the structure. It needs some aging, so drink from 2016.
Cedar, cinnamon and nutmeg notes show in the aromas and continue in the flavors. This complexity blends well with the classic Merlot flavors of black cherry and subtle herbs. It's medium to full bodied, but very smooth in texture. The blend is Merlot, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.
The first vintage from this estate vineyard, this is quite light, especially as the 2011 vintage was cool. It shows the delicate structure at which Pinot Noir excels. It's aromatic and varietal, very well made, and a good bottle for any roasted small bird such as squab or quail.
Fresh and young, this offers scents of violets, plummy fruit and a wash of root beer. Lively in the mouth, it has a leesy minerality that underscores rather light, pretty, but simple fruit. Drink up while it retains its freshness.
This is a rich, full-bodied, medium-sweet wine full of generous fruits and ripe spice. There's no need to wait to drink this lively wine with its light touch of acidity at the end.
Kumeu River's entry-level Chardonnay is an easy introduction the house style, and perfect for high-end by-the-glass service. While it lacks the richness and toast of its stablemates, it delivers ample apple, pear and citrus flavors, gaining focus and displaying fine length.
Bright and juicy, this straightforward, savory red delivers aromas and flavors of succulent blackberry, wild cherry, crushed raspberry and hints of cinnamon. Round, soft tannins give it an easy-drinking quality ideal for everyday occasions. Drink soon to capture the fresh fruit.
A solid deal for the price, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc presents aromas of pine forest, damp caves and black cherry. The blueberry juice flavors fade fast, leaving black sage on the finish. The tannins are ready to drink now.
This spent 18 months in neutral American oak, and has a strong woody scent and flavor. Light melon and cucumber fruit remains somewhat buried, and the mouthfeel is soft and diffuse. Drink up.
Grown at 1,800 feet in the dry upper Douro, this wine is full while retaining a cool, mineral edge. It was made entirely in tanks, giving primacy to the berry fruits and acidity. The tannins suggest it could age,  although it is very drinkable now.
Uncomplicated yet tasty, this medium-bodied, mild-textured wine has a pure raspberry/strawberry character from the bright aroma to the ripe flavors to the lingering finish. The balance is on the soft side due to low acidity and little astringency from tannins.
Leesy mango and lime aromas are fleshy, but attractive. A plump, juicy palate is holding its own, while flavors of pithy orange and melon end in a friendly, round fashion.
A bright, fresh example of Pinot Noir, this is medium bodied and slightly creamy in texture as well. Bold notes of red cherries and beet greens add hints of button mushroom on the palate, then finish tart and refreshing. Drink now–2016.
While the nose shows sweet aromas of cherry bubblegum and vanilla, the palate brings notes of ripe cherry and currant balanced by zippy acidity. Soft tannins provide just enough grip, giving this fun and fruity wine adequate structure.
Slightly reduced aromas of red and black fruits are rustic and come with a whiff of animal hide. This Malbec-led blend is a touch shallow in feel, with candied berry flavors that suggest wild herbs and garrigue. A light, jumpy, fruity finish eschews weight for freshness.
While the nose is demure, suggesting only a hint of muted apple and pear, the sweet-tart palate on this spry wine is full of yellow-cherry flavor. Bracing acidity wraps the finish up tight and brisk.
Clean, simple and fresh on the nose, this is showing aromas of lime and apple cider. The palate is creamy and melony more than sharp and acidic, with leesy pear and apple flavors that finish short but bright. Drink now.
A blend of Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia, this vibrant wine opens with delicate aromas of white flower, tropical fruit and a hint of beeswax. On the palate, creamy white peach is energized by nectarine zest and crisp acidity.
Strawberry and raspberry fruit carry a nice touch of bright spice, notably saffron. Some 30% new French oak was used, and the wine expresses it with highlights of toasted coconut. The wine has medium concentration and length, and will benefit from aggressive aeration.
The nose isn't very expressive but the palate eventually reveals raw red berry, espresso, brimstone and grilled rosemary alongside astringent and rather drying tannins.
This wine is all spice and sweetness. If the sense of terroir is missing, it does offer ripe swathes of apricot and spiced pear flavors lathered with honey. Drink now.
Aromas of smoke, bacon, mature black-skinned fruit and allspice waft out of the glass. The aromas follow through to the dense, monolithic palate, along with oak extract, vanilla, and a confectionary note.
Made with Nero d'Avola grapes that were partially left to wither on the vine, this offers aromas of fig, date, prune and vanilla. The soft, one-dimensional palate doles out ripe blackberry, mocha and a confectionary note alongside smooth, round tannins.
This warm, ripe wine has a balance between spice, rich fruit and a fresher background. It has enough spice to make it completely typical Gewurztraminer while keeping style and elegance. Drink now.
Made in a firm, dry style that will appeal to Cabernet drinkers, this smells like black cherries and blackberries and tastes full and fruity. It feels moderately tannic, well-balanced, and lingers a bit on the finish.
Subdued aromas of Spanish broom and brimstone float from the glass. The vertical palate offers yellow apple, citrus zest and mineral alongside crisp acidity.
Mostly Lemberger, from a 1979 planting, this is an explosion of sweet berry and milk chocolate—what's not to like? Luscious and full across the palate, it's a raspberry truffle in a bottle. Not sweet, so not for dessert, but in a way it is dessert all by itself.
Smooth, tropical and pure on the nose, with pineapple as the lead fruit. The palate is solid and full-bodied, with pineapple, papaya, honey and toasted flavors. Not “oaky” but it is well oaked, and thus the finish is warm, toasty and creamy. Drink now.
Very good Carmenère with requisite tea, herbal and bold berry aromas. The palate is just right in that it's neither heavy nor sharp, and the flavors of cola, burnt brown sugar and roasted berries are smooth and deep. Finishes with notes of coffee, herbs and sweet fruits as it hits the target close to the bull's eye.
Smells good and true, with dry spice and catchy red-fruit aromas. The palate is solid but not at all heavy, with lively red berry and exotic spice flavors. Lengthy and pure through the long finish, and overall this is the best Montes Pinot we've come across and also one of the best from Chile.
Winemaker Nick Goldschmidt plies his trade mainly in California, but this effort from his native country is a winner, featuring a lush mix of nectarine, melon and tomato leaf that finishes long and harmoniously.
Among St. Clair's 2009 range of block Savvies, this is among the sweatiest, with pungent nettle and almost-asparagus notes on the nose. Yet on the palate, the wine is full-bodied, round and concentrated, with nectarine and honey elements punched up by bright herbal tones. Long and intense on the finish. Drink now.
Sidewood's 2009 Chardonnay is a throwback to the sort of delicious, well-priced Chardonnays Australia used to be known for, but with a touch more class. It delivers a big blast of upfront melon and peach fruit nestled in toasted cashew-like oak, then finishes fresh and citrusy. Good value for drinking over the next 6–12 months.
A strong, smoky set of aromas gets this going in the proper direction. There's also spice, earth, herbal aromas and leather to give it variety. The palate is deep and big, with blackberry, smoked meat and richness. Smooth on the finish, with black olive and additional herbal accents.
Dark, tannic and toasty, it's a rich mouthful of wine. The fruit is moderately ripe, with light berry flavors; but the toast and chocolate and coffee barrel flavors add a lot of weight and punch. Nice winemaking from Gordy Hill turns out a delicious wine.
Perhaps this just needs some additional time for the Cabernet and Shiraz components to meld, because right now it comes across as slightly chunky and warm, with cassis and plum flavors verging on prune, yet nicely framed by vanilla and cedar. Try 2012–2020, although this wine has a track record that suggests longer aging isn't out of the question.
A soft, easygoing style of Marlborough Sauvignon, the 2009 Ponga exhibits ripe, almost honeyed, stone-fruit aromas that slide easily into melon and nectarine flavors marked by only a touch of grassiness.
Smoky and savory, with sharp acidity under black cherry fruit. It's still pulling itself together, but the weight and balance are there, showing hints of tobacco leaf, mint and herb.
The style at Domaines Ott has changed to become fresher and less oxidative, and the wine fits the new look. It is vivid, crisp, a rich texture giving fresh berry fruit and a light layer of acidity.
As befits a single vineyard Gevrey Chambertin, this is a structured wine, firmly rooted in tannins. Hidden beneath are black plum and cherry flavors that are raring to go—rich and sumptuous. It's a wine for aging, so drink from 2016.
A bold, powerful wine, showing smooth, mature black-fruit flavors and rich tannins. It is soft, solid and powerfully built. Wood aging has given extra roundness and a touch of spice to the palate. Drink this wine now and until 2018.
This vibrantly aromatic wine brings generous notes of honey, pineapple, papaya and apricot. It's intensely sweet and rich in flavor and feel, lingering on the finish.
While full and ripe in style, this wine is also quite dry. It's packed with crisp, youthful fruits, along with an intensely mineral texture that penetrates deep on the palate. Apple and lime juice pierce through the finish. Drink through 2021.
This is an attractive, fast-maturing wine with soft tannins, ripe fruits and a juicy, perfumed acidity. It has considerable weight and concentration, along with firm red-plum and berry flavors. It's an elegant wine that should be drunk from 2017.
A ripe and fruity wine that boasts yellow fruits and fresh citrus characteristics. It's lush and ripe, with just a touch of minerality to give the wine structure. There's a delicious tangy aftertaste to this full, impressive wine.
Even if there's an herbal leaning and some tomato to the nose, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Cab Franc is elegant and balanced. In the mouth, it's smooth and silky, while flavors of mocha, coffee and herbal berry fruits finish with fresh acidity and a sense of class. Drink through 2017.
Full, ripe and roundly fruity, this is a good example of the natural opulence of 2009. It has rich black fruits, soft tannins, a dark hint of wood and generous richness. Powered by both its acidity and its structure, it is developing well. Drink from 2014.
Initial aromas of earth and smoke blow off with aeration to reveal intense yellow peach scents swathed with honeysuckle and fresh green herbs. The palate is rich in penetrating stone fruit flavor, but dry in style, with a broad, mineral-laden texture and a prickle of astringency on the finish.
This wine leads wqith a a bright personality, showing strawberry, cherry, white pepper and cinnamon aromas that carry over to the palate along with a hint of orange peel. It's linear and vibrant, with fine tannins and nice balance.
One of the finer Pinot Blancs from Oregon, this vineyard-designate has a lighter mouthfeel than the winery's Pinot Gris, yet in some ways shows more complexity and overall appeal. Fresh fruit flavors of apple and melon carry a touch of almond. The bracing minerality extends through the finish.
With vineyards in the southern vineyards of the Aube, Vincent Couche makes a rich style of Champagne. This 2002 vintage, now maturing well, is ripe—almost opulent—in character. Its peach and apricot flavors shine at the fore, extended on the palate with a brisk, nervy texture.
Very mineral in style, this is a structured, textured wine with good aging potential. It's acidity, still pronounced and up front, reveals itself with crisp citrus flavors that accent warm yellow fruits. The wine needs a year or two before drinking, so wait until 2015.
Opulent, ripe and fruity, this is classic Saint-Aubin. Generous fruitiness is balanced with crisp acidity and touches of minerality and spicy wood. Its fruitiness makes it accessible now, but several years' aging will make it even better and certainly more complex.
Solid tannins lead into a wine that balances very dry, dark fruits with dense wood textures. It's a solid, chunky, bold wine, richly fruity and still young. Drink this firm, ageworthy wine from 2016.
This is a strongly mineral wine, textured and rich at the same time, with fine acidity. Blackberry fruit dominates the palate, with rich tannins and cool freshness. It tastes of terroir, a true Dão from the granite soils. Drink from 2016.
Comprised of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Rubin, and 5% Mavrud, it offers aromas of blackberry, cherry vanilla and cinnamon. In the mouth are generous flavors of black cherry, black plum and tart cranberry. Saddle leather and tobacco leaf linger in the persistent finish.
With an inviting strawberry sundae nose, this bright pink rosé of Syrah from the longtime organically minded team at Buttonwood is all about summertime hedonism. There's creaminess on the palate, with some apple tartness in the middle and, again, long strawberry elements on the finish. Pair with beef sliders on soft, sweet rolls that are adorned with gourmet condiments and cheeses.
This attractively rounded wine has a fine balance between red fruits and a crisp texture that is lined with vanilla. It is light in the mouth, fruity, fresh at the end and ready to drink.
Black cherry and wild berry aromas are appealing and lusty. In the mouth, this blend of Sryah, Graciano, Tempranillo and Petit Verdot is solid but a bit thin in the middle. Flavors of raw oak, coffee and cherry finish with a wave of creamy oak. Despite its modest structure, this is a very good and interesting blend to drink now.
Aromas of yellow flowers, lemon drop, nectarine, yellow peach and balsamic notes carry over to the palate along with pink grapefruit and mineral sensations. Crisp acidity gives balance and structure.
Aromas of apricot, pineapple and banana aromas all carry over to the palate, along with ripe peach, green apple,  grapefruit and mineral. Lively acidity gives structure and a vibrant, clean finish.
Aromas of graphite, asphalt, floral berry, black cherry and oak are harmonious and inviting. This wine feels juicy and rubbery, while black-fruit and plum flavors come with herbal notes and overt barrel notes. A fresh, juicy, zesty finish is pure Graciano.
A pleasant surprise among value-priced bottlings, this wine features a hint of gun flint that adds dimension to the fig, melon and pink grapefruit flavors. It's rather round in the mouth and perhaps a little sweet, but finishes long and savory.
Aged in wooden casks for six months, this structured wine has aromas of white flower, lemon drop and honey that carry over to the dense palate along with golden apple. Fresh acidity brightens this up and it ends on a note of bitter almond.
A blast of ripe stone fruit accompanies whiffs of saline and balsamic herbs. The juicy palate boasts yellow peach, pink grapefruit and pear with hints of sage and eucalyptus. Mineral marks the finish.
This sweet wine is full of lychee fruit and the lightest touch of acidity. It's on the light side and has freshness and a crisp edge, bringing out baked apple as well as peaches and a final lightly honeyed texture. Drink now.
Fresh pear and lemon aromas are brightened with hints of white florals on this brisk, medium-bodied wine. Off dry in style, it's juicy on the palate with concentrated white peach flavors accented with honey and tea notes. It's an elegant yet easy quaffer at a very reasonable price.
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.
This plump, easy-drinking wine offers plenty of ripe fruit. Lovely pink grapefruit or gooseberry notes lead the way, buttressed by passion fruit shadings. No doubt it's a crowd-pleaser.
Lavish blossom, peach and tropical fruit notes perfume this big-bodied wine. Off dry in style, it fills the palate with rich stone fruit and pineapple accented with peppery spice and tangerine acidity. It's a powerful yet nicely balanced wine with pleasant astringency on the finish.
White fruits, fennel and Serrano ham aromas create a sophisticated bouquet. This jabs away on the palate courtesy of citric acidity, while flavors of nectarine and citrus are good. It finishes dry and foamy.
Bold berry fruit, mint, shoe polish and creamy oak aromas are present on the nose of this full, plump, fairly tannic Malbec. Flavors of ripe blackberry, spice and raw oak finish toasty and pure, with good length and clarity.
In a cool vintage this site brings out more herbal components, here verging on flavors of green bean. But it pulls itself together with pretty berries, toasty oak, and a gentle streak of milk chocolate. The blend is 38% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Cabernet Franc.
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.
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.
The name certainly gives a clear indication of what to expect from this wine, with prominent herbal aromas and flavors of fresh mint, fynbos and licorice root that frame the blackberry and raspberry fruit core. The fine-grain tannins are fleeting, but provide enough structure to the spiced fruit flavors. Notes of Thin Mint, menthol and pepper linger long on the finish. Drink now–2016.
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.
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.
Aromas of mineral, exotic spice, leather and dried cherry lead to elegantly styled fruit, earth and game flavors. There's intrigue here but it doesn't all come together.
This small-production Tuscan-inspired wine shows sour cherry fruit and a funky note of peat. Low in oak and tannin, it's softly layered and slightly salty, appealing in its Old World style.
Basic aromas of apple and melon feed into a solid round palate with good acidity. Salty flavors of popcorn and tropical fruits finish flush, balanced and with notes of melon and papaya.
This medium-bodied red includes 8% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Toasted oak scents lead the nose, followed by generous cherry, cranberry and cassis notes on the palate, supported by soft acidity.
This is a big-boned, dusty varietal wine, aged in 50% new French oak. Oak spice scents enwrap its leathery blackberry and black currant flavors, finishing on a bittersweet taste of tobacco.
Soft with cranberry and red currant accents, this fairly priced wine is subtle in tannin and oak, with a core of succulent black cherry and clove flavor. Approachable and round on the palate, it's a good choice for big gatherings.
This rich cream-textured blend of Chardonnay and Viognier evokes warming pastry notes of vanilla, caramel and crème brûlée. It's a dry full-bodied wine with soft acidity and accents of toast, smoke and orange peel.
This Syrah-based blend of five different red grapes may be “big” in blending components, but it's quite sleek and elegant on the palate. It's not a deeply concentrated brooding wine, but brisk and spry, offering fresh black-cherry and berry flavors. Soft feathery tannins and notes of cedar and forest floor linger on the finish.
The Sousão grape, normally only used in rare blends, has produced here a dark-colored wine packed with smoky tannins. Its fruit and intense acidity are dwarfed by its impressive structure. Age the wine at least until 2019.
A bright nose of pineapple and grapefruit prepares the palate for flavors of passion fruit and guava with light floral notes. This wine is full in the mouth, with tropical fruit flavors that persist into a lingering rose-petal finish.
Grown in red ironstone soil, this wine is dark and firm. It has solid tannins as well as succulent black fruits. Combined, the two give the wine its rich dense character. It's a ripe wine, likely to age for another few years. Drink from 2018.
This blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot into a tightly woven package of red fruit, soft tannin and robust concentration. Full bodied, it shows the warmth and distinct power of the vintage.
This blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot is dense and boldly tannic, with varietal characteristics of dried herb and a fruity core reminiscent of wild blackberry.
This 100% Pinot Grigio opens with aromas of lemon, green apple and white peach that carry over to the juicy palate along with an almond note. Bright acidity gives it a refreshing finish.
Ripe and round Gala apple, peach custard and vanilla cream aromas show on the nose of this appellation blend from Tolosa's new winemaking team. It's light and easy on the palate, with steely tension framing its lemon and lime flavors, a creamy vanilla component adding weight to the midpalate.
Plum, baking spice, pressed blue flower and tobacco aromas emerge on this full-bodied red. Showing the heat of the vintage, the palate is rather evolved, displaying dried cherry and licorice alongside firm tannins. Drink over the next few years to capture the remaining fruit.
From old vines trained on high trellises, this fruity wine is bright with citrusy acidity and lemon zest-like texture. Its creamier side emerges as the wine develops in the glass. Best to wait until 2018.
Dried blueberry, leather, soy and pepper notes show on the nose of this bottling from the region's Syrah pioneer. The palate is very dry and brimming with deep purple flower, black fruit and herb flavors.
Blended with 5% Viognier and aged in a combination of new French oak, neutral oak and stainless steel, this is a full-bodied white that offers a wealth of ripe peach, apricot and key lime flavor.
Tea, spice, tomato and dried-fruit aromas feed into a lightweight palate with slightly raw acidity. Snappy flavors of red currant and plum are clean, fresh and light. In a nutshell, that's what this Tupungato Pinot is about: freshness, femininity and dried red fruits. Drink through 2019.
Unusual exotic-leaning aromas of lavender, violet, cardamom and anise are intriguing. In the mouth, this has textural issues, namely it's abrupt and tannic. Flavors of mild chocolate, carob and blueberry are uncommon for Ribera del Duero.
Despite being less expensive, this is more expressive and fruitier than the Crozes-Hermitage. Pineapple, melon and hints of stone fruit and mango are reasonably full and rich for a wine that's labeled at a moderate alcohol level. Drink now.
Like most Colomé Malbecs, this is purple in color, with concentrated aromas of rubber, herbs and jammy blackberry. A thick, almost soupy palate is chewy and cushioned, while saturated black-fruit flavors finish heavy, jammy and on the cusp of overdone.
Cracked pepper and black olive aromas give this wine a savory cast, and they're followed up on the palate by hints of charred meat. It's medium-bodied and supple, with a soft, slightly diffuse finish that suggests drinking not cellaring. Drink now–2025.
There's a subtle richness to this well-balanced wine, evident in toasty accents of hazelnut and peach pit that compliment the honeydew and juicy pear-flesh core. The medium-weight palate offers ample acidity that lifts the rich fruit tones, with a lingering note of spiced citrus on the close.
This wine needs plenty of breathing time, revealing pleasant hibiscus, rose, cranberry and tart cherry aromas as it opens. The flavors suggest pepper and red fruit, with a somewhat leathery aged character.
Tight grapefruit flavors, very perfumed and totally dry and crisp, this is a pure-fruited wine, packed with acidity, flavors of white currants and a final zesty minerality. Screwcap.
Dark and chocolaty, with grainy tannins under deep cassis and black cherry fruit. Full-bodied and chewy, with coffee grounds and spices filling in the finish.
Decadent scents of buttered brioche, honeydew and crushed yellow flowers lead the nose, while flavors of grilled yellow peaches and orange oil flood the palate. The mouthfeel is round and full, but countered by medium acidity and a slightly bitter note on the close.
Delicate sweet-pea and white-flower aromas marry into forward fruit notes of fresh pear and hard apricot. A mineral streak weaves through the lush palate, and a peach pit nuttiness lingers into the finish. Accessible and enjoyable now.
There's a bright, almost Ribena-like quality to the fruit in this wine, with underlying hints of wood and mint. It's full bodied, but the tannins are modest and softly rounded, making it deceptively easy to down. Drink now–2018.
From Temecula-based producer Fazeli, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon features a lofty nose that's quite herbal, drifting into eucalyptus land—and tasting of cranberry. Velvety tannins.
Interesting aromas of graham cracker, pastry, blackberry, dark cherry and tomato all work well together. The palate is full and easy, with some weight to it along with flavors of black plum and berry. Not exuberant on the finish; it ends in mellow, lightly medicinal fashion.
Smells cheesy and leathery, with herbal notes. Feels condensed and flat, as if it's collapsing on itself. Flavors of baked berry and prune are dark and typical of very ripe Malbec, while the finish is warm but basic in feel and flavor. Bullish, sweet and heavy. Not Colomé's best effort, especially given the price.
Livermore Valley-based Fenestra loves to source fun stuff from Lodi, and Graciano has proven to like Lodi very much. In Fenestra's hands this varietal is soft and round, perfectly fine drinking, a taste of Bing cherry in liquid form.
Standard cherry and plum aromas create a straightforward bouquet. The feel is hot and choppy, but there's enough body and balance for it to weigh in properly. Tastes of sweet cassis, kirsch and creamy chocolate, with an oaky finish containing cocoa notes.
Grown at 2,400-feet elevation from Italian budwood, this Dolcetto, so common to Piedmont but almost unheard of in California, is muy grande, with mountainous tannins and flavors of coffee and toffee and bright notes of cranberry and cherry.
Lightweight and easy in the mouth, with bright, juicy red fruit aromas and flavors spiced up by olive tapenade and fruitcake accents. Clean and balanced with a medium-length finish.
Sweet on the nose, with scents of pink grapefruit skin, rose petals and lychee fruit, Glenora's bottling screams classic Gewürztraminer. Waxy lanolin notes and black tea notes on the finish add a touch of complexity to this slightly off-dry sip.
Waxy fruit flavors of peach, melon and banana, all a bit understated, lead through a light and pleasant quaffer with a hint of toast on the finish.
This alcoholic wine (15.9%, and you can taste it) is also tongue-scrapingly tannic. The black cherry and cassis fruit is fabulous, and quite ripe, but the alcohol starts to burn out the finish. Let the record show that some tasters will love this wine.
Light fruit flavors run from melon into pale strawberry, with tannins that seem just on the edge of ripeness. Pleasant for the near term, but not for cellaring.
From husband-and-wife team in California redwood country, comes this interesting Syrah, sourced from dry-farmed estate vines. Smelling of cedar pine and red fruit, it's very savory, full of pepper and leather, dark coffee and espresso. Lay it down another year or so to tame its wild soul.
The lightest wine from Cartuxa, EA stands for Eugénio de Almeida, the creator of the charity that owns the winery. It's simple and fruity, with attractive tannins and red cherry fruit. Ready to drink.
It's pretty easy pegging this for Chilean SB; the nose is full of grass, lettuce leaf and bell pepper along with citrus. Feels fresh and deep, with good cut and pointed flavors of green bean and lychee. Runs heavy on the bell pepper and capsicum.
Opaque in color, with blackberry and licorice aromas but also a distinct streak of brambly herbs and green. Later on, pine needle and tartness enter the fray. This is a commendable modern Rioja but it does have a few issues, namely a green herbal component.
Smoky and a bit stark with whiffs of struck flint and stone. This off-dry Riesling is piercing on the palate with nervy lime-juice and lime-skin flavors. The finish is medium long, ending on a softly floral, crushed-stone note.
Sourced from a high-altitude vineyard near the top of the Awatere Valley, this wine shows some of the leafiness characteristic of the region. The fruit is more roasted root vegetable than tree fruit, with a potent savory and fairly muscular character.
Murrieta's blend of 31% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Viognier, 15% Sémillon, 11% Pinot Blanc, 8% Orange Muscat and 8% Muscat Canellii is well-made and likable, medium-thick and somewhat sweet in style with citrus and almond accents. Delightfully quaffable.
This pretty, Rhône-style red blend consists of roughly equal parts Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, with a splash of co-fermented Roussanne. It smells young and fruity, with candied scents of strawberry and raspberry. With plenty of breathing it gains a bit of midpalate weight, but the candied character remains.
Plum and blueberry aromas come with a hint of green herbs. Feels fresh and clamps down with good tannins in the mouth before unleashing dark plum along with toast and peppery spice flavors. Juicy on the finish.
Raspy cheesy fiery aromas of plum and raspberry are a bit harsh. This feels tannic and grabby, while inky berry fruit and resiny oak flavors finish hard and blocky with a mild note of schisty minerality.
Deep raspberry, plump cranberry and licorice show on the nose of this well-constructed wine. A prominent cranberry spice hits the front of the palate and carries all the way into the finish, along with a bit of pencil shavings.
Still with its firm tannins in place and with layers of wood aging flavors, this is obviously a young wine. It has a background of ripe berry fruits and acidity that will develop over the next two years. It is potentially rich and full. Drink from 2017.
The wine has a fat fruity texture along with acidity and plenty of tannins. It is austere in character, very dry and dense and with a serious intent. There is a juicy aftertaste that is more attractive and has promise for the future.
Anchored in fig, plum and berry fruit, this is a substantial effort for both the vintage and the price. It will show best with hearty, cold-weather dishes. Hints of cinnamon and chocolate extend the finish.
A surprisingly fresh wine for an Alvarinho from the hot Alentejo. It shows crisp acidity, with lime and apricot flavors and a bright, crisp aftertaste.
This is an attractive, perfumed wine that is a blend of Síria, Arinto and Viognier. It's the Viognier that gives the perfumed character that makes it so distinctive. It's fruity, lightly textured and ready to drink.
Bracing and tightly wound, this opens with subdued aromas of pressed rose, resin and a whiff of exotic spice. The evolved palate isn't in sync with the nose, offering raisin and a touch of anise as well as aggressive, astringent tannins that give it an abrupt, raspy finish. It's already drying out so drink now.
Woody and dense at first, this smells bright and fruity as it opens. A solid palate houses lightly toasted flavors of blackberry that turn more peppery and toasty on a fairly oaky finish.
Luscious honeyed tangerine and yellow peach notes are offset by a streak of minerality in this easy, off-dry Riesling. It's delicate in body yet juicy and refreshing. Drink now.
Faded black cherry in the glass, this wine offers an aroma of pomegranate and brambles. Flavors of tart cranberry, green pepper and eucalyptus are pleasant enough, but this wine is a bit past its prime.
Reduced rubbery aromas of blackberry and black currant come with a touch of mushroom. This is extracted, heavy and blocky on the palate, while baked blackberry flavors are massive but short on elegance. Bitter coffee flavors, rugged tannins and stickiness make for a heavy finish.
Stalky, soupy berry aromas come up shy on elegance. This feels clampy and hard with rocky tannins. Standard berry fruit flavors are overshadowed by gritty stalky blackened accents, while the finish is grating and uncushioned but long.
Whiffs of pollen and saffron lend shades of nuance to this otherwise perky sun-kissed Kabinett. Sweet yellow peach and apricot flavors are honeyed and plush, but balance out nicely through a crisp, lime-tinged finish. Drink now.
A classic Douro blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz makes a harmonious wine that has ripe berry fruits and a soft structure. It is a stylish wine with a fresh fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
Ripe butterscotch and a notable flank of big vanilla and oak greet the entry of this vineyard-designate. It makes for a luxurious wine reflective of a warm vintage and approach.
A direct blast of reedy cherry and cassis aromas leads to rough-charging clampy palate with high acidity and hard tannins. This tastes of rooty plum supported by bold acidity, while spice, tomato and a dusting of brown sugar are the closing flavors.
Aromas of espresso, French oak, blackberry and exotic spice lead the way. The firm palate offers raw black cherry, coconut and oak-driven spice alongside racy acidity and fine-grained tannins. It closes on a note of roasted coffee bean.
Leathery, baked aromas of cheesy oak and red berry fruits are a bit lacking in pop but are reflective of typical Rioja Crianza. A full grabby palate shows earthy, buttery flavors of baked stalky berry fruits and oak. A grabby chunky finish wraps this up.
A rich, thick and oaky 100% varietal, this comes from the Green Valley area, and possesses power and flavor in abundance. Baked apple and pear dance around lighter remembrances of lemon soufflé, finishing in a touch of ginger and nutmeg.
Popcorn and apple aromas ride highest on a lightly baked and toasty bouquet. This feels clean and correct, but basic. Flavors of spiced apple and melon blend with fresh celery and lettuce notes in front of a minerally lime-tinged finish.
Aromas of mature plum, toasted oak, menthol and dried herb lead the nose. The firm palate offers blackberry jam, dried black cherry, Oriental spice and licorice alongside grainy tannins that leave an astringent, mouth-drying finish.
The Pannell family, who founded Margaret River's Moss Wood in 1969, moved on in the mid-1990s to Pemberton, where it felt conditions were more suited to Burgundian varieties. This is a rather full-bodied Pinot Noir, with supple tannins and a long, slightly dusty finish. Light resiny notes and rooty scents add complexity to modest cherry fruit. Drink now–2020.
Harmonious but mild cherry and raspberry aromas are light and nice. This is substantive enough, with rubbery tannins and some chewiness to the palate. Generic flavors of raspberry and red plum finish mellow and easy.
Rubbery slightly grassy berry and plum aromas give way to a fresh and fair palate that works. Oaky cherry and berry flavors are standard but well presented, while the finish is mild, with leftover plum and berry notes.
Dried orange rind and citrus blossoms perfume this dry yet honey-touched Gewürztraminer. Concentrated grapefruit flavor lends surprising intensity on the palate, all the more enjoyable for an extreme value price.
Don't let the gold color fool you, this is quite vital with floral, leesy, almost grassy aromas. Bracing acidity is at the core with clover, grass, quince and sour-apricot flavors. Blasting acidity is a force on the finish.
Blossomy and perfumed, this white wine made from red Pinot Noir grapes exudes much of the variety's smoky floral flair against the backdrop of a crisp, refreshing white wine. The palate is concentrated in pressed apple and pear notes that finish briskly. Drink now.
This big, firm wine offers serious tannins as well as rich blackberry fruits. It's a structured, dark wine, spicy from wood aging and ripely concentrated. Drink from 2017.
Dominated by red fruits, this wine also has the structure of 2010. It is firm and concentrated while always fruity and accessible. It could be kept for a few months, but really is ready to drink now.
Co-fermented with Viognier (for the first time at Ste. Michelle), this aims for a brighter, softer style of Syrah. It's plenty soft, pleasantly accessible, and lightly toasty. The smoothness seems to have eliminated some of the brightness, the hills and valleys that make Syrah so distinctive in Washington.
A big and oaky style, liquorous and full-flavored from the start. This is spot-on varietally, the fruit sourced from the Zerba Vineyards, and has a nice run through the midpalate with purple berry fruits and plenty of new oak. It turns a little chalky in the finish.
Pleasant red fruits awash in chocolaty oak craft an accessible, broadly open Syrah. Though it seems a bit generic, it is balanced and tasty; a good bottle for near-term drinking with simple grilled meats.
Shows a bit of struck match character on the nose, but nothing that a quick splash decanting won't solve. Once past that, this 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah displays a lively mix of herbs and cherries, supple tannins and a long, easygoing finish.
Showing definite maturity, this remains a solid, chunky wine. It has richness as well as a light structure of acidity and raspberries. It is very ready to drink now.
Tight and gritty on the bouquet, with licorice and herbal aromas. Comes across hard and tannic in the mouth, with blackberry and herbal flavors. Tannic like nails on the finish, with lemony oak notes.
Perfectly dry, yet bursting with pure, ripe red fruit, Sauska's rosé would be a refreshingly easy apéritif to be enjoyed anytime of the year. Made with a hefty dose of Blaufränkisch, it's clean and fresh on the palate with pretty wildflower notes and zippy sour cherry acidity.
There is some volatility in the nose, along with strong scents of the new French oak. But the flavors are substantial and bring tart fruit with black olive, toast and coffee highlights. The acidity seems chalky, but it's a noticeable improvement from previous vintages.
Opens with leathery aromas suggestive of animal hide along with a leafy element and nuttiness. Airing reveals a compact, medium-intensity palate with baked, roasted, fairly sweet berry flavors. Finishes sweet and mildly leafy.
Jammy and granular smelling at first, then charred aromas rise up and take over. The palate is round and healthy, with forward berry, plum, herb and barrel flavors. Finishes toasty and chocolaty, with drying tannins and a lot of spice flavor.
Although plummy fruit dominates the nose, if you take an extra moment or two you can ferret out a lot more: mint, leather and vanilla, for example. The flavors feature a wintergreen component that adds a welcome degree of individuality to this offering, before fading into a medium-length finish.
From the Setúbal Peninsula, this 100% Periquita is bright and cherry-laden. Soft and velvety in texture, yet with sufficient acidity to accompany food. Be forewarned: There are some nasty bottle stinks that warrant decanting prior to serving. Best Buy.
About a third of this is Bien Nacido Vineyard (Santa Barbara) fruit; the rest comes from Sonoma. Plenty of cedar, earth and some cherry-tomato flavors in this fruit-forward wine. Strawberry preserves and that darn hint of tomato extend into the finish, along with a fair bit of tannin.
Supple and easy to drink, this cherry-fruited wine easily carries its veneer of toasty, caramelly oak. This would be a great restaurant Pinot; versatile with food and in absolutely no need of cellaring.
Some slightly sappy elements mingle with cinnamon and blackberries in the aromas of this complex red. Anise and cherry flavors appear on the palate, along with mild bitter chocolate on the finish. Lots of interesting things here in this medium-weight, food-friendly wine.
A fairly full, rich and creamy version of Vinho Verde, with floral and anise aromas. Big and yet refreshing, sparked by some lively spritz. The finish echoes the anise and blends in some bright lime notes as well.
Graceful, and elegant, this offers achingly pure, tart cherry fruit, accented with notes of compost, butter and nutmeg. It's a fine example of a brilliant wine from a so-called “lesser” vintage.
Time in oak has given this wine great depth and richness. Its tannins are finely integrated into the spice and black fruit flavors. Solid and concentrated, it is going to develop into a serious pour. Drink from 2017.
One of the star grapes of the Alentejo, this is a ripe, full-bodied and deliciously juicy wine. Almost black in color, it is packed with tannins, spice, intense acidity and a fine structure. It could do with some aging, so drink from 2016.
Blueberry, blackberry, black cherry and ground black pepper aromas lead the nose and carry through to the full-bodied palate together with notes of clove, tobacco and mint. It's balanced with firm, velvety tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2016–2019.
Floral in jasmine and orange blossom, this is a sultry, full-bodied after-dinner sipper, lilting in honey goodness yet light in stone fruit and layered acidity. It is enjoyable on its own but would be fabulous alongside a peach pie or apricot tart.
This 100% varietal wine comes from The Rocks region of the valley. It offers brooding aromas of herbs, dried cherry, licorice and green tea, while the flavors are restrained with cranberry-like tartness and grainy tannins.
A juicy nose of red cherries and sweet-leaning cranberries is leveled by a strong sagebrush element. More chaparral scrub shows on the palate, along with black pepper and other dark spices, laid across ripe raspberry and dried cherry fruits.
Light red berries, red plums and cinnamon greet the nose on this countywide blend from Brian Loring, whose tasting room is in Buellton on Highway 246. Brown spice powers the palate, with more cinnamon, star anise and cloves, making for a food-friendly wine.
This dry, single-vineyard bottling is extremely aromatic, as only Gewürztraminer can be. The ripe lychee and grapefruit is subsumed in a cloud of baby powder. It's quite dry, and for those that want a supremely floral varietal expression of this grape, this is your go-to bottle.
EQ is a consistent leader among Chilean Pinots. This vintage shows high-toned, edgy aromas of currant and spice. It's quite full in body, with a resiny, creamy oak note that should settle in the near future. Woody, ripe-berry flavors finish round, with a mild sense of chocolaty richness. Drink through 2018.
Made with dried Nebbiolo grapes and aged in new barriques, this bold wine opens with aromas of baked plum, resin, nutmeg and grilled herb. The warm palate offers ripe black cherries, steeped prunes, espresso, black pepper, licorice and mint chocolate alongside velvety tannins. You'll detect the warmth of alcohol on the mid palate, but it doesn't dominate the rich flavors.
Grown in a rather cool part of the Applegate Valley AVA, this offers aromatics of cured meat, peppery herb and a dash of iron ore. The fruit leans toward black cherry, and streaks of coffee and cola add to the complex finish. Drink now through 2025.
Tight, tart raspberry fruit is immediately juicy and inviting, set atop a crisp and refreshing mineral base. The concentration is impressive, and this seems likely to age well over the next decade. Drink now through 2025.
This sophisticated, dry and affordable wine will shine at mealtime due to its balance between generous fruit flavors and an appetizing, moderately tannic texture. Aromas resemble raspberries and red cherries, while flavors are a bit riper than that. The acidity is lively and the finish lingers.
Red apples, sourdough bread, cherry blossoms and strawberry zest show on the nose of this ever-so-slightly pink wine. The sipping experience is reminiscent of a fizzy, foamy mouthful of Pop Rocks flavored by sour cherries, altogether fun, tart and delicious.
At first sharp and showing the influence of barrel aging in roughly 20% new French oak, this opens up and smoothes out into a supple, buttery wine. It's rich with flavors of pineapple, baked apple, sweet spices and a hint of mint. Polished and sophisticated, it generously rewards your attention with plenty of delicious details.
Pretty aromas of fresh-picked raspberries and cherries invite you into this lovely young Pinot. It's fresh as a spring day, with perfect balance and clarity. Drink now through 2018–2020.
While the nose is decidedly savory, wafting of herbs and bramble, the palate of this delicately lacy auslese bursts with juicy, peach and apricot nectar. Wax, honey and spice notes meld into a long finish, lifted by a streak of tangerine acidity.
This library release kabinett is a rare opportunity to experience the remarkable evolutionary properties of Riesling at a relatively gentle price point. At 14 years of age, it's remarkably lush with stone fruit notes, but layered in swathes of caramel, saffron and dusty minerality. Drink now.
Made with 50% Sangiovese and a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this vibrant red opens with lovely aromas of dark-skinned berry, plum and cake spice. The smooth, vibrant palate doles out black cherries, crushed blackberries, dusty cocoa and aniseed. It's nicely balanced with racy acidity and polished tannins. Drink through 2018.
This wine by Gypsy Canyon's Deborah Hall raises money for dogs in Thailand, but it's certainly no gimmick. Deep aromas of black raspberry, cherry chiffon and dried violets mix with chipped slate, charred pine, morel mushrooms and turned loam. The palate shows sharp cranberry followed by graphite and herbal saps, with noticeable grip.
Leperchois's wines are almost always interesting. This one, a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault, features distinctive green olive and peppercorn aromas alongside cherry fruit. It's silky and elegant on the palate, with a long finish. Drink now–2017.
The estate wine of Château du Cèdre is structured, balanced and full of fruit. It has black currant freshness under its solid tannins and dry core, poised between the intensity of the fruit and the firm structure. It will certainly age, and will be best from 2018.
This presents a rather fresh take on this often extracted grape, with raspberry and boysenberry juice, black pepper, dried strawberries and a touch of wild mint. There are nice coffee elements on the palate, along with sage and brown spices, but the boysenberry and fresh purple fruits shine throughout.
This is a ripe Syrah, with warm, earthy, raisiny aromas of blackberry, vanilla and prune. The palate is so dense and extracted that it feels spongy, while a full-force flavor profile includes inky blackberry, graphite and minty oak. On the finish, this is fat, jammy and baked in flavor while soft in feel. Drink through 2018.
The quest behind the name of this wine is to make Jurançon wines better know. Cauhapé is well placed to do this, and this lightly wood-aged wine is a good point to start. It is rich, full in the mouth with a hint of toast that supports the quince and apricot fruit flavors. Drink from 2016.
This is a broad, rich blend of Duras and Braucol with a little Syrah thrown in. It is ripe, with black fruits and balanced tannins that give structure but do not dominate. A smoky character from wood aging rounds it out. Drink from 2016.
Vivid, bright red cherry and cranberry notes create the main aroma and flavor impressions, while crisp acidity and lip-smacking tannins make a firm texture. On subsequent sips, more complexity and depth come out as the crisp, austere structure holds its ground. This is tantalizing, and should improve through 2019.
A 100% varietal, this represents a tiny offering of this single-vineyard wine. Despite its youth it is silky and supple on the palate. Rich, dense black fruit and graphite marry well and find cohesion among the toasty oak.
The nose on this Carignan-led blend is open and floral, with scents of violet, toast, blackberry and cassis. There's fleeting elegance to a full-bodied palate along with baked blackberry, char and roasted plum flavors. The spicy, oaky finish shows a note of caramel and nice length. Drink this friendly wine now through 2020.
Aromas of red fruits, tomato, herbs, tobacco and cedar are stylish and not overpowering. This feels fresh and a touch earthy, with flavors of tobacco, cinnamon, cassis and baked berries. The finish is medium in length and intensity, with apparent but not overbearing oak. Drink through 2017.
From the Vogelsang, or “bird song” vineyard, this wine sings melodiously. It has bright green and citrus fruits, lively acidity and a crisp, dancing feel. There is a youthful feel to the acidity that demands a year in bottle. Screwcap.
Ripe, dusty fruits dominate this structured wine. It has concentration and dark tannins that come from the wood aging. Flavors of black plum skins, blackberries and juicy acidity all show strongly. For aging, drink from 2016.
This is a full-bodied, structured wine full of ripe berry fruits, delicate acidity and soft tannins. There is a juicy element that offers freshness to balance the firm texture. Wait a year to drink this wine.
This is a solid, chunky wine, rich in dark blackberry and and red plum flavors. Maybe the tannins are too hard at this stage, but its weight and rich fruit suggest aging potential. Drink from 2016..
Dark and dense, here is a wine that shows just as much hard-edged dryness as it does juicy red fruits. Once the components come together, the wine will be concentrated and powerful. This wine has lots of potential. Drink from 2016.
Rich, fruity and very ripe, this is a wine with toast, spice and luscious apricot and green plum flavors. Still young, it has intense potential to yield a full-bodied, intense wine with great acidity as well as fruitiness.
This cuvée features grapes from some of the vineyard's oldest vines. It's a light, elegant mix of pomegranate and cherry pie flavors with plenty of natural acidity behind it. Cola and dried herb highlights add complexity, and a persistent minerality buoys the finish.
Solid and textured, this is a firm wine with a bright future. It has weight from its tannins as well as ripe berry fruits that shine through. Delicate acidity lightens the load. It does need to age, so drink from 2016.
This beautiful white is fermented and aged in large casks that add complexity but not wood sensations. It opens with a floral fragrance of white spring flowers, with whiffs of tropical fruit and flint. The palate delivers pineapple, banana, melon and spice flavors that close on an almond note. Bright acidity gives this a dry, refreshing finish.
This wine has good spiciness, ripe fruits and firm tannins. There is a good balance between acidity from red berry fruits and a dense, tannic character. It is solid and concentrated, and needing to age longer. Drink from 2015.
Solidly tannic, this is a firm wine with juicy fruit that adds balance to the structure. It has a refreshing quality with black currant flavors that are full and dense in the mouth. Give this fine wine time. Drink after 2016.
This delicious blend of Sangiovese, Barbera and Sagrantino opens with expressive floral scents of rose and violet alongside notes of berry and orange peel. The palate offers dense black cherry, white pepper and licorice notes balanced by big but polished tannins.
Here's a blend of 85% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that offers succulent plum, black currant and prune flavors layered with notes of oak, spice and cocoa. While rich fruit and smooth tannins make this appealing now, fresh acidity gives this some staying power. Drink through 2020.
Tannic and brooding in its big-boned structure, this high-elevation-grown Syrah will please Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers in its upfront oak and herb overtones. But it remains true to its varietal roots, offering bright Bing cherry, black plum and licorice, complete with loads of earthiness and ground pepper.
Dense and concentrated on the nose, this features blackberry and black cherry aromas, with hardly any perceptible oak. It feels fresh but choppy and tannic, with roasted plum, berry and savory spice flavors. It's baked in flavor and gritty in feel as it finishes.
A witch's brew of five grapes, the Abondante is a fine wine to pair with pizza, offering interesting flavors of berry and stone fruit. What it lacks in focus, it makes up for with plenty of fruit and some unusual complexity.
Vanilla and cookie crumb notes add a sweet, toasty flair to the sour cherry flavor on this bright, nervy red. The palate is tart, tangy and refreshingly tasty, with soft, chalky tannins that linger on the finish.
Bold berry aromas charge forth in a clean, pointed fashion. This feels firm and solid, with no obvious flaws and a dark flavor of blackberry that's offset by notes of rooty licorice and sweet brown sugar. Lengthy and fresh on the finish.
Applesauce, lime and mineral aromas comprise the shy bouquet on this Cava. It feels round yet alive, with crisp apple and peach flavors. Citrus-driven acidity comes out on the finish.
With just 2% Syrah, this is a Bordeaux-style blend, feauturing mostly Cabernet and Merlot. The rich entry features berry, chocolate and espresso, with a round midpalate and polished tannins. A hint of tar runs through the finish.
Fermented with indigenous yeast and then aged in French oak, this has rose and raspberry perfumes, with deep black-plum and berry flavors. Striking acidity and bold, angular tannins soften on the palate, revealing a smooth, luscious finish.
This is declassified ice wine, picked frozen. It does not have the depth of the other dessert wines from Viento, but it is a remarkable effort, textural and delicate, with threads of straw, honey, cracker, candied tropical fruits and more, but all in a light and delicate style. This could easily become a wine that will amaze people in a blind tasting given the price.
Lovely scents suggest citrus rind, lemon cake, honeycomb, candied orange and more. Substantial fruit flavors run from lime on through ripe pineapple, and the supporting structure offers a firm foundation of acid and extract, with a pleasingly long finish.
This 100% estate-grown Cabernet carries some of the identifying aromas of the Rocks, a part of Walla Walla where vineyards are planted on a dry river bed. Hints of earth, clay and chocolate make a lively introduction to a wine loaded with cherry and currant fruit flavors. The wine spent 20 months in French oak, but the barrel scents and flavors are handled lightly; the fruit is the star of this show. A fine debut.
Wood-grilled peach aromas mingle with notes of orange blossom and almond skins on the nose. Juicy and well balanced, the rich toasty red apple and orange creamsicle flavors lead into the long wood-spiced close. Drink now.
The only trouble with this bargain-priced version of a vendange tardive Pinot Gris will be finding some, as only 40 cases were imported. At only 11.6% alcohol, there's plenty of sugar left in the wine (67 g/l), concentrated and enriched by the inclusion of 50% botrytis-affected fruit. The impressions are of honeyed pineapple, ripe melon and peach preserves, finishing long and sweet. Delicious now, but should still be good 5–6 years down the road.
A big, syrupy five-grape blend that delivers the full allotment of baked, ripe berry aromas followed by a firm, tannic palate housing serious flavors of blackberry, eucalyptus, olive and mineral. Very long and layered on the finish, with acidic zest to keep it pulsing. Drink now through 2015.
The small Pauillac vineyard close to some of the first growths is able to bring out all the Cabernet-dominated structure of the appellation. Look for black currant fruits, dark tannins and dense texture. Age for six years.
From one of the properties controlled by Marie-Laure Lurton, this is a finely made wine. It revels in its structure, while around that there are ripe, soft red berry fruits, spice and an intensely juicy acidity. Full of charm, ready to age.
This big, fruity black-colored wine has ripe stone fruit flavors and firm, ripe tannins. There is structure, obvious aging potential as well as ripe, sweet juicy Merlot fruit flavors. Age for 5-6 years.
A big, earthy type of wine with a ton of ripeness and heft. Smells like pure black olive, earth and smoked meat. The palate is tight but friendly as it delivers big doses of herb, tea, chocolate and black fruit flavors. About as deep and long in the mouth as this variety gets; proof that Maipo can produce the occasional excellent Carmenère.
Obviously young, but with good acidity as well as bright red fruit flavors. The wine's acidity balances the juicy fruits well. Its structure suggests a good few years' aging.
For a spätlese, this is on the drier, racier side of things, with lime-like notes providing vibrance to the wine's stony, slate-like core. It's light to medium in body, with a crisp, refreshing finish. Try as an apéritif, or alongside certain Asian dishes.
The Awatere is a Marlborough subregion whose wines are often a touch more edgy than those grown in the main valley. After nine months in French oak, this wine's black cherry fruit is marked by touches of vanilla and toast, a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a crisp, refreshing finish. Approachable now, but should develop more nuance over the next year or two.
A barrel-aged surprise. The nose is round and toasty but not overwooded. The palate is balanced and elegant, with full, round, integrated flavors of dry apple, cream and spice. Has the right texture to be considered elevated and classy; 70% Treixadura with five other white grapes.
Fine grain tannins, with an aroma of light smoke and tobacco over juicy, soft fruit. It has great structure, with a firm core, round and fruity. Well balanced, it suggests aging possibilities.
Scented with notes of pine needle and lemon polish, this puts its concentration square in the mid-palate. There are pretty traces of honeyed botrytis, and a suggestion of sweetness, though the acidity keeps it on the dry side. Excellent length, with a pretty finish of honey and tea.
An elegant and well-made Albariño with lemon chiffon, pear and green apple aromas. The palate is just right in feel, depth and minerality, with apple, pear, honeydew and hidden spice flavors. Clean, teetering on lush and delicious as it finishes. Drink this pretty wine as soon as possible.
Poised between sweetness and acidity, there is a good jammy character here, edged by tannins and layered with herbs and spice. A fine wine, with some aging potential.
Still with its young tannins intact, the wine is firm and structured. It has spice, mint and black-currant fruits under the tight texture. It will still age so wait, if you want, for another year.
Fresh-squeezed grapefruit, pomelo, Key lime, lemongrass, green papaya and Anjou pear combine for a very green, fruit-driven nose on this bottling from a vineyard just behind Pismo Beach. The palate is a tad ripe but shows apple soda, lime juice, cherimoya and apple-custard flavors.
Aromas of cellar floor, roasted herb, anise and toast come together on this. The straightforward palate offers cherry marinated in spirits and licorice while a note of powdered sage gives it a bitter finish.
This is a soft and easy wine. It has light apple and lemon flavors along with a orange zest tang. It is a light, crisp wine that is totally ready to drink.
Oak, espresso and toast aromas take center stage and follow through to the tightly wound palate along with a hint of butterscotch, coconut and the barest hint of dried cherry. It possesses structure but lacks the fruit richness to stand up to the assertive tannins and evident oak.
Grapy, balsamic aromas of blueberry and wild brush come with a hint of animal fur. Hard, edgy and compact in feel, this tastes punchy, with a note of vinegar and plum skins to an otherwise black-fruit flavor profile. Shallow, raw and tannic on the finish.
Largely neutral lime and generic citrus aromas lead to the type of crisp, fresh palate Txakoli is known for. Tart, snappy lemon and orange flavors are lasting on a cutting finish.
The grapes were harvested in the early morning to preserve the real freshness that is here. The attractive, rich wine is full in the mouth with its red-berry and red-currant fruits that are cut with citrus. The wine is ready to drink.
Saucy, leathery berry and cherry aromas are totally adequate. This feels good for the most part, with rubbery tannins and some grab. Blackberry and plum flavors are basic and finish with savory notes.
Ripe aromas of cherry, spice and licorice pop, with the warmth of the vintage—along with just-in-check volatiles—showing. The cranberry and green herb flavors are tart and full, yet still show some elegance and persistence.
Light aromas of flowers, herbs and soil are followed by tart cranberry, smoke and citrus flavors and firm, gritty tannins. It doesn't stand up by itself but has a place at the dinner table alongside a juicy steak.
The aromas are surprisingly reserved, with notes of vanilla, spice and brown sugar. The palate provides brown-sugar and purple-fruit flavors, with the vanilla notes from the oak riding high. Coffee flavors persist on the finish.
Hard-spice aromas rest on top of cherry and briar aromas. Fresh and snappy on the palate, this medium-bodied Rioja delivers fully oaked flavors of vanilla and butter along with strawberry and raspberry fruit. A distinct buttery flavor rides high on the finish.
This wine is two-thirds Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Mesquite, dark cherry, vanilla, herb and spice aromas lead to tart, tingly flavors with bunched up tannins.
Earthy, medicinal cherry and leather aromas come in front of a tight, pointed, firm palate. Medicinal notes carry onto the flavor profile, which is bold and slightly leafy and cool. An aggressive finish with rubbery tannins and juicy intensity indicates that this will last for years to come, should you want to revisit.
The wine, with 70% Merlot in the blend, is soft with gentle open tannins. It has an attractive perfumed edge. It's a light wine, fruity and ready to drink.
This interesting rosé actually resembles a thirst-quenching Sauvignon Blanc in its pungent, passion-fruit aromas. It's even slightly sweaty, like some SBs (and it is a pale-hued rosé). But it's also medium to full in body, with spicy notes that recall cracked pepper and crushed ginger. Drink now.
On the eastern end of the Bordeaux appellation, this Gazaniol property reserves 10 of 161 acres for its white blend. This is a ripe, soft wine that is rounded with peach and red-apple fruit flavors. Crisp acidity gives it some tightness to balance the full, fruity character of the wine. Drink now.
A rich, spicy wine that is full of black-currant fruits. It does have a lighter touch of acidity that is nicely integrated into the smoky texture and fine tannins. The wine is ready to drink.
Candied cherry and berry aromas abound on the nose of this dry rosé, but the palate is surprisingly elegant. Pristine red cherry and raspberry flavors are fresh and bright, accented by savory, slightly bitter hints that lend nuance to the finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot come together to form an herbal, medium-bodied wine that drinks lean. Cedar, black tar and leather meet black pepper and chocolate while the tannins remain tight and firm.
A strong boysenberry fruit character is spiced by anise, graphite, cedar and Dr Pepper notes on this bottling. The palate shows light red currant, ripe plum, mulberrry and strawberry, with a touch of pencil shavings adding complexity.
The aromas are light, with the notes of green herbs, flowers and plum, leaning pretty far into the green and savory. The flavors are plump and soft, with the concentration at times seeming faint.
A fruity hint of red, ripe apples colors this easy-drinking, softer-style but nonetheless dry Riesling. This is slender and refreshing.
Bright aromas of flowers and orange rind lead to perfumed, lightly spritzy sweet fruit flavors. Enjoy it as an apéritif.
A rather neutral nose leads to a simple, dry, fresh palate. There is a little citrus and green pear flavor. This is easy-drinking, fresh summer wine.
The slightest hint of lemon zest on the nose leads into the light, crisp, dry palate. If it weren't for the friendly lemon notes, this would almost be neutral, but also clean. Slight spritz makes this slimline wine very easy to enjoy. Drink soon.
Cocoa, dark-roasted-coffee and vanilla aromas are followed by lightly sweet plum and dark fruit flavors that possess a tacky feel. The flavors linger on the finish.
Wood aging has rounded out this wine's tannins and integrated its fruity character into something complex. It's big, rich and smooth, and with its tannins it will age several years.
This has a touch of toast and a rich character. A creamed pear note mingles with lime-driven acidity and a delicious, warm tropical-fruit aftertaste.
Though not indicated as such on its label, this is a sweet wine. It has spiced, ripe fruit flavors, notably pear, which are deliciously laced with honey and cinnamon notes. There is also a fine streak of lively acidity that keeps this very fresh.
A marvelous effort in a difficult year, this textbook Washington Riesling is bursting with apricot and peach goodness. Round and polished, it's long and textured, with an excellent wash of minerality.
A beautifully balanced wine, expressing a certain sweetness, this has a great line of acidity. It's full bodied, ripe and packed with spice and fruit, while remaining elegant and impressive.
This is a juicy, buttery, nicely defined bottle with caramel and butterscotch flavors that run through its heart. Thoroughly delicious fruit notes of key lime and apple pie complete the picture.
More Sangiovese (62%) is in the blend this year, with Cabernet and Syrah filling out the rest. It's dark and smoky, featuring an intriguing flavor mix of spun sugar and black cherry. It seems to hit a firm wall of toast and char that rounds out with some hours of breathing time. Certainly one of the best Saggi offerings to date.
This is a tight, mineral-textured wine that shows the potential of its rich black fruit, while keeping a close rein on its exuberance. The result is a wood-aged wine that offers considerable aging potential, so it keep for at least three years.
A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah from the Armada Vineyard, this expresses its characteristic mix of superripe fruit and organic funk. Cracker, berry, spice and earth components all seem to compete a bit in the mouth and need more bottle time to fully meld together.
Roasted and rubbery, this features potent leather and compost aromas that settle with airing. Angular, aggressive and full of power and lemony oak, it also has raw wood and heavily toasted black-fruit flavors. Long, peppery and choppy, it's powerful and stomping. Best to hold this for 3–5 years before drinking, when it should emerge as a better, more approachable wine.
This is supersmooth and attractive, with earth, cola, tobacco, balsam and solid berry aromas. The palate rings with vitality, while the flavor profile consists of an ideal mix of vanilla, herb, tomato and berry. Dry on the finish, with a leathery note. Drink now–2018.
This biodynamic Muscat is direct and focused, with a ripe core of stone fruit, melon rind and sweet citrus notes, framed by touches of waxy honeycomb, white flower and soft baking spice. A hint of toast lingers on the long finish, and the mouthfeel is full and lush without feeling viscious, thanks to the vibrant acidity.
This is a really fragrant wine, with white hedgerow flowers that introduce its rich, full body. It has just a touch of sweetness from the ripe pear and quince flavors, although the texture also has a fine edge of minerality. Age for another 1–2 years.
Sourced exclusively from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, this pure Roussanne is fragrant with bright scents of apple and citrus. The fruit is set in an elegant frame of mineral-infused acids, and it stretches out on the palate into a lengthy, polished, refreshing finish.
This borderline overripe big boy tosses out aromas of raisin, baked black plum and jammy black currant. It's lush, solid and steady, but blocky on the palate. Flavors of cassis and black cherry finish with ripe, sweet flavors of brown sugar, cassis and chocolate. Drink through 2021.
Lake Chelan's Nefarious stretches out with this impressive Oregon Pinot Noir. Stiff and compact when first opened, it fills out nicely. The fruit runs from pomegranate to mountain berry to plum, with a touch of peppery spice. The midpalate continues to broaden and gather strength through a long finish.
This is the third separate cuvée of Grüner Veltliner from Reustle, and given the name (which means emerald), it's clearly meant to be modeled after the Austrian style. For those who relish a crisp, mineral-driven wine, with ripe fruit flavors of Meyer lemon, green apple and pink grapefruit, this rings all those bells and more. The length and definition are most impressive.
Burly in black fruit, leather and cigar, this is a smoky, full-bodied and powerful wine, richly textured in toasted oak and supple tannin. Blackberry and black currant play off each other to provide a juicy core of consistency. Drink now through 2020.
Tangy red fruit sits atop leathery texture in this dark, brooding wine, blended with 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Violets and blueberries play on the palate while integrated oak and tannin lend body and power to the proceedings. The finish is smoky.
Fresh, angular aromas of jalapeño, bell pepper, beach breeze and citrus fruits are elegant, chiseled and potent. This tingles with acidity and tastes minerally, with orange, tangerine and lime flavors. A stony, bright, pure finish confirms its high quality.
Deeply brooding notes of crushed violets, rose petals, black cherries, thyme and sagebrush make for a manly take on this often feminine grape. Elderberry fruit shows on the palate, as do more violets and lilacs, dried mint, sagebrush, menthol and pine-needle flavors.
Young, spicy and forward, this immediately accessible wine is a bowl of cherry candy, backed with pineapple highlights from natural acidity. It's full in the mouth, still with primary fruit flavors, but the structure to age gracefully over the next five to eight years.
Rounded plum and berry aromas grow more complex thanks to hints of sarsparilla bark, rose buds, cinnamon stick and nutmeg on the nose of this cool-climate bottling. The palate is quite peppery, with dried red flowers, red plums, peppercorns, strawberries and a texturally earthy core of fine-grained tannins.
Very strong white peach and lemon blossom aromas meet with roasted chicken, honeysuckle and chamomile on the nose of this bottling. Apple, pear and nectarine show on the palate, as does fresh cherimoya, graphite and more white peach toward the finish.
This is a very solid, well-structured and deeply flavorful wine from the first whiff of blackberries and black pepper to the mouth-coating but dry flavors to the lingering spicy finish. Best to drink after 2018.
This is a well-balanced, handsomely composed wine that is big in flavor and full in body. The aromas are spicy like black pepper and cardamom, the flavors are meaty, peppery, smoky and berry-like, for a great taste experience that goes way beyond the usual. It's made mostly from Mourvèdre grapes, with Syrah and Grenache in supporting roles.
This wine takes time to unravel and reveal itself, rewarding the patient with a wealth of high-toned citrus and elegantly wound, medium-bodied honeyed pear and caramel. Lengthy and complex, it's one to consider aging and allowing to further mellow over time. Drink now through 2021.
From the relatively hot South Coast comes a big, powerful, chewy wine, with aromas of dried blackberries, light leather, some smoke and purple flowers. The real heft is on the palate, where sour tar is laced through stewed black plums, dark chocolate and herbs like dill and oregano. The tannins are a bit stiff.
Sourced from the oldest vines in the vineyard, this lovely wine is scented with rose petals, cranberries and sour cherries. Those flavors continue in a light, elegant framework, that gains power and focus as it works its way through the palate. Don't quit on this; it won't quit on you, finishing with a lick of sea salt caramel chocolate.
Strong cola, fresh pomegranate, pressed strawberry and dried spearmint notes show on the nose of this blend of 40% Tempranillo, 32% Petite Sirah, 18% Zinfandel and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from east of Los Angeles. Very intriguing, extremely minty flavors pop on the palate, spicing up the baked blueberry and meaty beef elements.
This combines a majority of Cabernet with 4% Malbec for a huge, powerfully made wine, aged almost two years in French oak. It is named for the block from which it is sourced atop the mighty Stagecoach. It's reflective in leathery tobacco and cedar and fully concentrated with flushes of dark chocolate and caramel. Drink now through 2022.
A pure rendition of honeysuckle blossom rises from this wine along with notes of ripe pear. The palate has something both crystalline and stony, pure and distinct. Beyond its central seam of freshness the wine shimmers with rich, earthy nuance of ripe pear on one side, of brisk zestiness on the other. Drink now and until 2020.
Vibrant and savory, this opens with lovely aromas of spring flower, citrus, herb and white stone fruit. The round, juicy palate offers ripe white peach, juicy grapefruit, pineapple and mineral alongside fresh acidity. A saline note backs up the finish.
A glaze of honey accentuates the sweetness of ripe melon, peach and tangerine flavors in this intensely fruity yet delicately balanced wine. It's ethereally light in texture, but packs a firm, tropical punch, juxtaposed by a spine-tingling streak of acidity.
Made from a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon with a sizable addition of Merlot and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, The Discussion is lovely in spicy black pepper and clove, full bodied and softly integrated in terms of tannin and oak. A brightness of red fruit shines through, along with a distinct taste of fig.
This is the first time this recently purchased vineyard has been featured as an Elk Cove designate. Planted in 2007, it's just coming into its own. The young fruit is tight and tangy—a mix of raspberry and black cherry. Forward, bright and lightly spicy, it's nicely focused effort with some high acid snap to the finish.
This is an opulently lush and bold, full-bodied wine, ripe and soft on the palate with a distinct hit of oak on the entry. It evolves in the glass to reveal crisper notions of green apple, nutmeg and lemon-lime.
Softly smoky, with pretty strawberry and raspberry fruit, this strikes a lovely balance. The mouthfeel is smooth and seductive, the flavors seamless and the balance spot on.
The nose is a bit shy but the ripe, enveloping palate has impressive depth, delivering smoke, nut, candied nectarine zest, mature Bartlett pear and ginger. A honeyed mineral note closes the lingering finish. Drink through 2020.
Baked mulberry, light clove spice, cola and gingerbread show on the intriguingly distinctive and delicious nose of this bottling from a boutique producer. Spicy red cherries meet with cinnamon, tangy plum skins and an encompassing tannic grip on this expression of a rarely planted grape.
Floral aromas suggest rose hips, while lemony oak scents provide framing for earthy berry and cherry notes. This is reaching maturity; it's fresh and plush on the palate. Flavors of cherry, blackberry and coffee finish smooth and quick, with a touch of residual juicy acidity. Drink through 2020.
Cherry, blackberry and baking-spice aromas are classic for this winery and the Rioja region. Bright, elegant and just plush enough on the palate, this tastes of plum, spiced berry fruits and mocha. A composed, dry, loamy feeling finish isn't pushy or demanding. Drink this easygoer through 2021.
Judicious use of new oak meets gorgeous fruit flavors in this generous, warm and softly tannic wine. It's undeniably delicious, broad and satisfying in texture and almost viscous in mouthfeel. Enjoy it now through 2023.
Crusty, rubbery aromas smell a bit burnt, while leather and berry aromas, rest below the surface. The palate is full, edgy and a little tangy, with red plum, herb and tomato flavors. Mild and saucy tasting on the finish.
Opens with minerally, almost metallic aromas, along with rubber and berry mixed in. Feels fresh and ready, with plum, berry and chocolaty flavors. Finishes with a smooth feel, but maybe it could use a bit more cut and tannic structure. A wine that falls squarely in the middle zone.
Opens with a pinch of green as well as more standard cassis and berry aromas. Borderline sheer in the mouth, with pointed acidity and raspberry and plum flavors. Feels slightly abrasive, but on the plus side it's fresh and juicy.
A bit muted and shy on the nose, with faint accents of fresh grass, sweet citrus and just-ripe gooseberry. The palate offers a pithy-citrus flavor, adding a touch of bitterness to the clean close.
Soft sweet spice and black tea characters mingle with black cherry and plum flesh aromas and flavors. Medium weight and approachable, with dusty tannins and a clean, licorice-kissed finish. Drink now.
A ripe Chardonnay, big and full, with fistfuls of oak influence and a spoonful of sugar to help it go down. Find some rich crab cakes in a creamy sauce and enjoy.
An earthy wine with rich, red fruits along with a barnyard flavor. The wine is ripe and jammy, the juicy acidity coming through at the end.
Suggestions of soft spice and bark jazz-up the dark fruit center of this blend, made with 75% Syrah, 13% Cinsault, 7% Mourvèdre, 4% Carignan and 3% Grenache. Mouthwatering black cherry and raspberry sauce flavors flood the mouth and stay through the solid finish. Drink now.
A medicinal quality comes at you right away, followed by chocolate-coated cherry, creamy oak and a distant note of paint or chemical. Feels round and voluminous, with minty, rubbery flavors of oaky, berry and chocolate. Finishes dry and oaky, with a buttery aftertaste.
Peach, scented candle wax and matchstick make for a solid bouquet. Feels good, maybe a touch cloying, but not too much. Flavors of crystallized mango and pineapple mix with fresh melon, and the finish is clean. About all you could hope for from an $8 Argentine Moscato.
Pure Nebbiolo from the Elerding Vineyard, aged 40 months in a mix of French and American oak. Nebbiolo does not have much color to begin with, and this seems a bit washed out, with acids and barrel flavors overtaking the fruit. Astringent and aggressively oaky.
It opens with raisin and stewed aromas, so its freshness is questionable. In the mouth, it's actually round, subtle and fairly well structured, with oaky vanilla accenting lightly herbal berry and cassis flavors. Herbal as well on the finish, with a lasting flavor of coffee.
No doubt Michael-David is going for a certain style with Earthquake, describing it as “over the top and shattering to the veins.” Indeed. This Lodi Zin will knock your socks and several other pieces of clothing off with its smoky, greasy, hot and sweet berry pie flavors, with a side of bacon to boot. True to its style, this is one very big boy.
Slightly herbal plum and berry aromas come with a pinch of spice and meatiness. Feels medium-bodied and crisp, with juicy red-fruit flavors of plum, tomato and raspberry. Dries out on the finish, where it becomes more herbal and roasted.
The aromas of boysenberry, black pepper and roasting game are reminiscent of Syrah in this tasty bottling from brother-vintners David and William Vondrasek. The palate offers a lot of zing, followed by flavors of tobacco ash, olallieberry and peppery bacon.
Minty blackberry fruits mix with black loam and fudge on the nose of this wine from a winery in West Paso along Vineyard Drive. It's hearty on the palate, with dark chocolate syrup, extract espresso, black pepper beef jerky and deep purple fruits held together by lingering acidity.
For those who enjoy substantial flavors of toasty oak with their Chardonnays, this is a good choice. Full-bodied and instantly appealing, it's got ripe fruit flavors of peach, banana and apricot, underscored with green apple acidity. The toastiness comes through in the finish, with a lick of salted caramel tickling the back of the throat.
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a drop of Petit Verdot, this deeply colored wine offers aromas black plum, dried cherry and clove. The round, ripe palate doles out mature black cherry, blackberry, licorice and black pepper alongside firm, chewy tannins.
Based in nearby Cornas, Colombo has fashioned a medium-bodied Condrieu that's a bit oily in texture while remaining very drinkable. Mint, melon and apricot notes mark the aromas and flavors, while the finish is clean and refreshing.
Power and precision are accounted for on a deep, minerally nose that's loaded with cassis and blackberry aromas. A tight, rounded-by-oak palate offers flavors of coconut, vanilla, buttered toast, blackberry and cassis, while toast and vanilla flavors steer a potent finish. Aged six months in oak; drink through 2016.
Coudoulis is an up-and-coming estate in Lirac. This is only a Côtes du Rhône, but it's an excellent effort, combining generous black cherry fruit with hints of pie crust and baking spices. It's full-bodied and plush, with a velvety texture and long, licorice-tinged finish. Drink now–2018.
This bang-for-your-buck spätlese shows off the surprisingly tropical side of Nahe, one of Germany's sunniest wine regions. Ripe, rich mango and pineapple flavors are soothing and mouthcoating, brightened by squirts of sunny grapefruit and tangerine.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this opens with aromas of ripe plum, black-skinned berry and a whiff of cedar. The palate delivers spiced blueberries, dried blackberries, mocha, clove and crushed herbs alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2019.
Aromas of charred earth, underbrush and roasted coffee beans lead the nose of this blend of 50% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. The palate offers dried black cherries, prunes, clove, anise and tobacco set in a framework of tightly woven tannins. Drink 2016–2021.
This flowery, perfumed wine is full of red currants and berries that balance a solid, dry element. With the potential of rounding out and becoming rich as well as structured, it should be cellared. Drink from 2017.
The 12th-century Château de Grézels forms the backdrop to this ripe, perfumed and structured wine. It's solid, firm with layers of toast from the wood aging. The black plum fruits form the other component, giving the potential for a generous, full-bodied wine as it ages. Drink from 2018.
From vineyards on Diamond Mountain as well as Atlas Peak and Calistoga, this majority Cabernet employs 7% Petit Verdot, giving it a tad more weight and tannin. It otherwise is a high-toned and herbal wine, offering a taste of black tea amid chocolate and black cherry, finishing in fine-grained tannin and oak.
Made with 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 5% Syrah, this opens with aromas of brimstone, allspice, dried black-skinned fruit and a whiff of olive brine. The full-bodied palate delivers ripe black cherry, plum, vanilla and white pepper alongside chewy tannins.
Coming from Gary Eberle's pioneering, 31-year-old vineyard, this presents fresh blueberries, smoke, cedar and a hearty mocha touch on the nose. It's thick on the palate but cut with strong acidity, showing flavors of chocolate-covered espresso bean, blackberry fruit and coffee grinds that last deep into the finish.
Black pepper, crushed herbs and red raspberry fruit aromas give this elegant red a place at the dinner table. Red fruit, cedar and vanilla on the palate are balanced with soft acidity. Pair with smoked fish, cheeses and lamb.
From an estate in Rutherford that can't be named, this delightfully balanced Cab offers succulent plum, black olive, raspberry and cinnamon to great effect, melding the myriad sides of its personality well. Integrated oak and a medium-weight body allow the wine to breathe and expand on the palate, finishing in dust.
This is big, ripe, chocolate and dark-fruit flavored wine that shows concentrated tannins and dense wood. Blackberry tones are starting to push through to give this impressive wine balance and a serious future. Drink from 2017.
From a blend of grapes sourced from three vineyard sites, including Keefer, one of the producer's vineyard designates, this wine displays a light red color. It has a noticeably supple texture, a soft expression of cranberry and red cherry accented by black tea.
The popularity of rosé has lead to higher prices in Tavel, but this estate, one of the region's largest, has kept those increases in check. Thankfully, the wine quality seems as good as ever, with this 2013 offering deep cherry-berry notes, hints of white chocolate and a long, citrusy-clean finish. Drink this full-bodied rosé now and into fall and winter 2015.
This wine is all about fruit—ripe, velvety in texture and rich on the palate. It is dense, black in character without allowing the natural tannins of the Tannat to dominate. With its fruit, it will develop over the medium term. Drink from 2017.
There has been an impressive jump in quality over the past few vintages, along with a price drop. What's not to like? This young, lightly spritzy wine is a fresh summer drink with immense appeal. Scents of white flowers, flavors of pears and highlights of tangerines, continue into further flavors of pink grapefruit and clean rock. The low alcohol suggests that there is a touch of residual sugar, but the wine finishes dry.
This blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is full of black currants, rounded berry fruits and some solid tannins. The fruit dominates, spicy and fruity with final acidity. It is both drinkable from 2016 and worth aging until 2018.
Cherry, cassis, leather and mineral aromas make for a lively bouquet. This is round and full on the palate, with welcome division among its layers. Ripe blackberry, fig and chocolate flavors finish lightly baked and heady, showing depth. Drink through 2018.
This has a medium-deep color with a slightly purple rim. Fresh and fruity aromas bring to mind strawberry juice, tart cherries and rose-hip tea. With medium body and enough tannin for a velvety texture, this well-mannered, slightly restrained wine keeps asking for another sip.
Though obscure in America, this Tempranillo-Grenache blend is not uncommon in Spain, and the results are solid. Thick aromas of plum extract, black pepper, fudge and tobacco lead into a rich and luxurious mouthfeel. Ripe flavors of boysenberry and olallieberry are cut by a very spicy edge of black pepper and mocha.
This varietal Trepat is fresh and dainty on the nose, with strawberry aromas. A direct, pure, juicy palate is elegant, and, like the nose, this tastes of red fruits, raspberry and cherry included. A clean finish glides away with grace and length. Drink now.
Bright red fruit, plum and spice aromas are followed by a combination of smoke, spice and red fruit on the palate. The wine is focused around cherry-fruit tones and overall shows good balance.
A complex blend of 23 varieties, from a Languedoc vineyard originally planted in 1905. This has firm, rustic character, with dry tannins, dense black fruit and fresh, juicy acidity. There is a softness at the end, giving black currant acidity to finish.
Ripe red fruits are aided by a core of dark tannin to give this wine good intensity. There is acidity, followed by bubbling fruit, topped with berries and spice. Worth keeping until next year.
A robust nose of cigarbox, cinnamon spice and minerals introduces this elegant wine from Meerlust. On the palate, it's integrated and serious, with blackberry, anise and pepper. With its firm tannins and lingering finish, the wine is a classic red with character, and is approachable.
With nearly 200 acres of vines, this is one of the largest Beaujolais estates. This Brouilly is ripe, raspberry-flavored, with fine sweet fruits and a tight core of tannin. The essential acidity is well balanced.
For an inexpensive Oregon Pinot Noir, this has a lovely, expansive aroma that mingles rose petals, strawberry, white chocolate and cola. This is elegant, supple and entirely approachable, with none of the hard, earthy, vegetal or bitter character that can often characterize inexpensive Pinots. Think of a really good village Burgundy from a ripe vintage such as 2005, but at a much better price.
Soft, silky and seductive, this qualifies as an outstanding everyday Pinot (by Oregon standards) that offers more subtle scent and flavor than most under-$30 bottles. Violets, cherries and star anise are mixed in the nose; the palate adds herbal and earthy nuances.
The Kirchberg vineyard just to the west of Vienna produces distinctly smoky, mineral wines that give a tight, coiled, peppery style of Grüner Veltliner. This is a powerful wine that shows considerable ripeness, finishing with vanilla and spice. Screwcap.
This stylish and affordable Chenin hits all the right notes with its full-bodied nose of fresh fruit, spice and citrus and balanced, pretty flavors of tropical fruit. Slightly curvy but still fresh, it's a white with energy and extra character.
A lush nose of dark fruit and pepper leads to juicy but balanced flavors of berry, spice and a touch of smoke in this mouthfilling red. Balanced acidity, good structure and overall solid fruit flavors mean the wine will pair well with many dishes—think smoked meats, grilled chicken, or stews.
Creamy soft fruit, with the richness of 2005, hinting at some toast flavors. This wine is the second label from the Conti family, owners of Château Tour des Gendres, by far the best producer in Bergerac. It is a rounded, full wine, with fine, ripe white fruits, pears and nectarines, topped with light acidity.
A zippy, spicy nose offering minerality, earthiness and red berries starts this pert Zinfandel. The wine offers balanced tannins, fruit and a fresh acidity. Friendly and fun.
Welcoming jammy fruit aromas are clean and robust, while the palate on this value-priced bottling is creamy, balanced and generous. The flavors are naturally a bit herbal, but there's so much beefy blackberry and dark plum fruit that the package is downright commendable. For everyday Carmenère, this is where to look.
A cheerful nose of raspberry, strawberry and lemon starts this rosé blend, and like flavors follow in layers that offer substance beyond the typical rosé. The wine has a touch of sweetness and a more unctuous mouthfeel than the nose might suggest, giving it the weight to pair with more complex dishes. Overall, an affordable, elegant choice.
Nice berry fruit aromas with a touch of sweetness set this off in good form. The palate is solid and well balanced in terms of feel, while flavors of cassis and berry show a little bit of oak-based vanilla. Textbook and straight from central casting, but satisfying and not the least bit difficult.
Smells mature and slightly baked, with granular, sweet, raisiny core aromas. The palate is full in size and smooth in feel, with ripe berry flavors fading to raisin and prune on the back palate and finish. Chunky, flavorful and ready to drink now.
A blend of Evergreen vineyard fruit and old-vine Riesling sourced from a pair of Yakima Valley vineyards, this feels drier than its 1.8% residual sugar. Citrus and citrus rind flavors make for a tart, grapefruity style with some bite to the finish. It has the heft to take on a range of spicy foods.
Begins with weight and yeasty, bready, white fruit aromas. The palate is round and full, with lime, apple and kiwi flavors. Zesty and proper on the finish, with good length and clarity. Solid and nice throughout.
Dry, minty oak aromas mix well with snappy plum and vanilla to form a proper, pleasing bouquet. The palate is fresh, vibrant and houses sweet, slightly spicy plum and berry flavors. Same on the finish, which is correct, spicy and dry.
This is a perennial winner among well-priced Spanish whites. The nose is clean, light and suggests apple blossom and buttercup. The palate has a good, tight, regular feel and honest flavors of green fruits and melon. Pleasant at every checkpoint.
A bit roasted and reedy smelling, with a hint of stem and grass mixed with berry and leather. The palate is full and feels creamy, with mildly roasted black fruit and leathery flavors. Good on the finish as the wine picks up steam and clarity with airing.
A great value Zin from Amador. It's a briary, meaty, mountain version of America's grape with plenty of pepper to please. Grab a slab of ribs for this one.
Immediately this barrel-selection Tannat presents itself well, with boysenberry, plum, brick dust and rubbery aromas. The palate is nicely balanced, with layered fruit and complexity to the texture. Blackberry, cassis and spice flavors finish toasty and composed. For Uruguay at its best, give this a try.
Enticing aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine, citrus and a whiff of stone fruit mingle in the glass. The crisp palate offers apple, white peach, nectarine and mineral. It's fresh and balanced, with tangy acidity.
Spicy cherry, blackberry, tobacco, tar and oaky vanilla aromas set up a creamy palate that's whole and comfortable. Raspberry, cassis, plum and spice flavors come with a raw, snappy feel and a woody finish that's smooth and mildly lactic. This is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah and 10% Carmenère.
This is a rich style of Muscadet, ripe with red apples and lemon acidity. It's full bodied, structured with some minerality and a tight, nervy texture. It's a delicious wine that could be aged, so drink from 2016.
With attractive, authentic aromas of lemon, lees and radiator dust, this Albariño is one of the best you'll find outside of Galicia. The palate is round, layered and citric in the middle, with melon, orange and pineapple flavors. A clean, free-flowing finish is on the money. Drink now.
Delicate sugar-cookie notes abound throughout this biodynamic Riesling sparkler. Blossomy and fresh, it's spine-tingling with lemon-lime acidity balanced by an exuberant, creamy mousse of white peach and grapefruit flavor.
The reliable négociant winery scores once again on this bottling, which shows intriguing aromas of smoked plums, hoisin-marinated pork, cocoa powder, crushed pepper and ollallieberries. It's delicious once sipped, with pepper, boysenberries and a hickory wood character.
Can Blau's wines are always black in color and fully extracted. This is no different, and its aromas of boysenberry and wood smoke are inviting. Full, flush and meaty on the palate, this multigrape blend pours on the black plum, blackberry and boysenberry flavors, while the finish is dense and chocolaty. Drink through 2020.
This intensely fruity wine is full of crisp acidity, lemon and lime flavors and a tangy, tight, steely texture. The wine is mineral and structured, while remaining fresh and attractively juicy. It's tempting to drink it now because of the freshness, but better wait until 2016.
Firm and structured, this has dense tannins as well as fruity character. Both the texture and the black plum fruits are concentrated. Flavors of wood aging have smoothed out the naturally stalky character of the fruit. Drink from 2016.
This ruby-red wine presents an enticing bouquet of strawberry, rose, flint and a whiff of smoke. The silky palate offers bright red cherry, crushed strawberry, mineral and white pepper. It's elegant and well balanced, with supple tannins and bright acidity. Drink through 2018.
Blackberry, black pepper, herb, olive and mint aromas are draped over the nose of this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah and 10% Carmenère. Complete and comfortable on the palate, this has moderately edgy acidity and warm flavors of berry fruits and vanilla. Creamy, lactic leftovers weigh down the finish.
A very light shade of straw in the glass, this shows distinct honey, beeswax and mead notes on the delicate nose. The flavors float on a cloud of more honey, drizzled atop Key lime pie, with vanilla syrup popping up on the finish.
Lavish aromas of honeysuckle, peach and lemon abound in this vivacious, zippy Riesling. Dry in style, the palate is a bracing crush of white grapefruit and lime flavors that intensify through the long finish, accented by ripples of slate-like mineral.
This off-dry Riesling awakens the palate with a piercing strike of lemon-lime acidity, but recovers quickly with pliant layers of sweet berries, yellow cherries and pear. It's sharp and brisk, but mouthwatering and juicy.
Winemaker Christian Roguenant makes a strong series of affordable white wines from the Niven family under this label. This Sauvignon Blanc delivers aromas of lemongrass, wet stone, lime zest and white pepper. Flavors recall sipping ice-cold creek water, with refreshing notes of cut grass, honeydew melon, ripe apple and lime juice.
Lines of dusty chalk lend an elegant mineral vibe to this richly fruity, blossomy wine. The palate is luscious and ripe, boasting dense white peach and apricot flavors, but anchored by a zesty backbone of acidity. It's fruit-forward and accessible, yet remarkably elegant.
Generous berry aromas smell floral. In the mouth, this is plump and soft in the middle but more tannic and stout on the edges. Baked blackberry, plum and cassis flavors finish with hard tannins and a sense of extraction. Expect a very full, chunky and ultimately satisfying Garnacha-based ride.
Made mostly with Chardonnay and aged in barriques, this full-bodied white leads with aromas of white spring flower, beeswax, honey and toasted oak. The vibrant palate offers mature Golden Delicious apple, dried apricot, lemon drop, vanilla and candied ginger. Firm acidity provides freshness and balance.
Here's a full-bodied Pinot Nero that opens with aromas of ripe red berry, graphite, and a touch of mint. The elegant, accessible palate doles out juicy strawberry, red cherry, white pepper and a light vein of mineral alongside supple tannins.
While aromatically subdued, this semidry, late-harvest Riesling is surprisingly exuberant on the palate. Sunny and bright grapefruit and apricot flavors coat the tongue in rich, almost creamy, layers, lingering through a bracing lemon-lime finish.
This full-bodied white opens with a delicate fragrance of pressed white flower, citrus zest, dried apricot and a balsamic note. The round palate delivers lemon drop, yellow peach, tangerine and a touch of vanilla alongside fresh acidity. It closes with an almond accent.
Spicy aromas of cedar, tree bark and herbal red-berry fruits announce a fruity, flush palate with flavors of raspberry and plum accented by woody chocolate. Dry, spicy, peppery flavors rest comfortably on a balanced finish.
This is a lean, austere—even a bit severe—Riesling that looks to need a good five years or more to mellow. Crushed stone and citrus pith finish long and painfully tart.
A blend of 60% Gaglioppo and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, this polished red conveys aromas of underbrush, cassis, grilled herb and red currant. The juicy palate delivers crushed black cherry, ground pepper, licorice, clove and a coffee note alongside velvety tannins.
Aromas of wildflower, hay, stone fruit and citrus lead the nose. The vibrant palate delivers tart Granny Smith apple, juicy citrus and peach alongside crisp acidity. The clean finish closes on an almond note.
This intensely fragrant wine leads with aromas of red currant and violet. The palate offers strawberry, mandarin orange and almond alongside fresh acidity and delicate tannins. Enjoy soon.
Hints of smoke and toast mingle enticingly amidst ripe black plum and cherry in this rich, lusciously textured wine. It's bold and a bit brawny on the palate, but reined in elegantly with a cool mineral tone and bright acidity. It finishes long with a ruffle of soft tannins.
Viosinho, more often found in the Douro, dominates this ripe and full-bodied wine. Lemon acidity is integrated into the rich yellow fruit flavors to give smoothness and roundness. The intense fruit needs to soften a little, so wait until 2016 to drink.
Heavily toasted charred oak aromas meet maple syrup flavors in this sweet and full-bodied wine. It is heavy on the oaky elements and light on natural-tasting fruit flavors.
Jammy, overripe fruit does not help this wine. Its soft tannins and acidity provide some pleasure, but that clumsy fruit gets in the way.
New wood aromas lead this toasty wine that has spice, high toast flavors and the smallest hint of fruit. If the producer had not been so enthusiastic with the oak, this could have been a good wine.
Aromas of marionberry jam and smoke leap out of the glass, along with orange peel and wilted flower notes that seem a bit unsettled. The flavors are plump around the edges but light in the middle, with a mesquite note that distracts.
Herbal berry aromas are accompanied by scents of plastic and latex. On the palate, this feels round and basic. Salty, herbal black-fruit flavors finish chunky and obtuse, with mild bitter notes.
Grassy, leathery aromas lack ripeness and concentration. In the mouth, this is high in acidity, with rough tannins. Leathery, lightly weedy plum and currant flavors finish herbal. This Tannat puts up noticeable green notes on the nose, palate and finish.
Aromas of mushroom and cedar are overpowered by cherry in the form of cough drops and Kool-Aid. Notes of sour cherry and unsweetened cranberry juice are set against piercing acidity. The flavors fall flat on the finish as the acidity rides on.
Aromas of asphalt, milk chocolate and generic berry fruits come with notes of creosote and chimney. This feels tannic and a bit flat. Savory, rubbery berry flavors are roasted and taste like oak-based clove on the finish.
This wine is earthy, peppery and grippy. It is hard to penetrate in its mix of spicy clove and sour fruit.
Oak, vanilla and furry berry aromas are raisiny and overly sweet. This Ripasso from dried Tannat grapes weighs in heavy and feels rustic. Saturated toasty flavors of oak, prune and raisin finish dark, minty and chocolaty.
There's something overwhelmingly herbal and weedy about this wine, which shows a simple structure of tannin and lingering flavors of cherry cola.
This medium-bodied wine has ripe and semisweet flavors like cherry juice and plum jam that give a soft impression on the palate.
This wine starts on intense aromas of charred oak and roasted nuts. It eventually gives way to stone fruits and marmalade that, while soft on the nose, are stronger on the fruit-forward palate. Nutty flavors and rough oak seem out of place among the fresh fruit and viscous mouthfeel, and makes for a long yet disjointed finish.
With the addition of 24% Merlot, this big burly red is simple and soft in its elements of cedar, graphite and soy. The fruit is black and jammy.
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is orange in color and smells neutral except for a note of orange peel. On the palate, this has a grabby skins-driven texture. Short flavors of stone fruits are chunky and clunky. Other than having a mild flavor of nectarine, the finish is neutral.
This wine smells more like an Amarone than a Brunello. Aromas recall nail varnish, raisin, prune and overripe black fruit with whiffs of toast and espresso. The extracted, one-dimensional palate offers black plum, mature blackberries, oak, vanilla, coffee, and the warmth of noticeable alcohol alongside bracing tannins. Overall, it lacks finesse and nuance.
This one-dimensional Brunello opens with overripe black fruit aromas. The dense palate offers sweet plum and mature black raspberry layered with notes of vanilla, mocha and balsam. Reflecting the warm vintage, it's shy on intensity and energy so drink soon.
This 2012 offering—100% Chardonnay that's 40% aged in American, French, and Hungarian oak—has notes of tangerine, pear, and petroleum jelly. The stone fruit flavors are sweet and rich, occasionally leaning toward the tropical.
Blackberry and cherry notes are fresh and primary in this Merlot-based Bordeaux blend, but shaded with interesting notes of coffee and smoke. The palate is juicy and supple with soft, furry tannins that accentuate a velvety mouthfeel. It's a boldly structured wine, but elegantly framed and long on the finish.
Already an easy, ripe wine, this is fruity, rich and developing well. Its black currant and berry fruits give a sense of freshness, while smoky tannins suggest structure. It's not powerful, but will be very enjoyable. Drink from 2017.
This wine is maturing well, giving a firm, structure and some stalkiness. It's dry and will remain that way, showing some mineral texture as well as black currant flavors. The wine will be at its best in 2015.
Raspberry, cherry and plum aromas are fresh but a bit raw. Racy and clean on the palate, it has ripe, sweet-leaning flavors of blackberry and cherry. A slightly oaky, resiny finish with a chocolate flavor is appropriate.
Tart and brambly, this carries well-integrated streaks of earth and bark along with the light berry flavors. At first the tannins feel a bit rough, but the wine smoothes out and lightens up into a fresh, fruity finish.
On the plus side are complex aromas of mixed red fruits and fresh herbs. In the mouth the wine feels just a little flat, with a chalky, tannic finish.
This starts with aromas that recall a closed cellar; these quickly burn off to reveal dominant oak sensations accented with meat juices and hints of mature black plum. The palate offers sweet, almost sugared black cherry, espresso and stewed plums alongside astringent wood tannins. It's rather evolved so enjoy soon.
Rich black-cherry pie, vanilla and spice notes mark this intensely aromatic Bordeaux-style blend made of 60% Cabernet Franc augmented with equal proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The palate is bright with tart sour-cherry flavor wrapped in layers of velvety smooth tannins. Finishes moderately long.
Made from the grape of the same name, this Freisa from Piedmont offers fragrances of blue flower and berry. The palate delivers ripe raspberry and tart cherry along with a hint of spice. Pair it with savory quiche recipes or grilled chicken.
Intriguing scents of pressed flower, dried orchard fruit and aromatic herb unfold in the glass. The savory, medium-bodied palate shows nice depth, offering candied citrus, dill, apple, kiwi and toasted almond. Zesty acidity provides balance and freshness. This is an impressive effort, especially for the 2014 vintage.
Big flavors, lots of body and a smooth, almost thick texture make this a bold wine, yet it also has good underlying acidity to keep it from being heavy. The aroma is quite earthy when first uncorked but that goes away with airing and the buttery and ripe fruit flavors come through and stay lingering on the finish.
With Hubert de Bouärd (whose family owns Château Angélus in Bordeaux) as consultant, this estate has produced a ripe wine that has the crispest, purest fruit flavors. Red berries and apples shoot through the lightly tannic texture. The wine will be better from late 2016.
Pale in the extreme, this wood-aged wine is a sister to the estate's top cuvée, Garrus. This wine is maybe less intense and more approachable when young, although still with the same beautiful fruit. Red berries shine through the edge of toastiness and spice, balanced by good acidity.
Named after the chalky land where the grapes for this wine are grown, this is a ripe, red-fruit-flavored wine, It also has a tight, mineral texture that comes from the terrain, a crisp edge and packed acidity. Winemaker Charles Rouy has made what is almost a rosé to age and will certainly be better from the end of 2016.
This wood-aged blend of Rolle and Ugni Blanc comes from selected parcels on the ancient estate Hubert Rouy began renovating in 2003. It is smooth, rich and full of toasty flavors as well as ripe, tropical fruits. It can be drunk now although it will be so much better from 2017.
The palest pink-grey in color, this wine is light and based completely around crisp fruitiness. A buoyant, lively character gains some depth from lemon zest and spice. The aftertaste of this refreshing wine is tight and perfumed.
Unusually, Tibouren (a red grape more often found further east near Nice) forms part of the blend of this wine along with white Clairette. The mix gives a spicy, very perfumed wine that has ripe apricot and raspberry fruits. A strong peppery undertow suggests this is more of a food wine.
This is a soft, pepper and red-fruit-flavored wine. Crisp acidity is well integrated into the tangy, mineral texture. The wine has a rich, concentrated feel, perhaps from the low-yield organically farmed vines. It offers a floral, aromatic aftertaste.
Blueberry pie, black plum, licorice and a touch of tobacco show on the inviting nose of this solid bottling from the Morgan Hill producer. The palate is very well integrated and delicious, with blackberry jam, vanilla cookies and strong espresso flavors, framed by sticky, prominent tannins.
Created by Knights Templar in the 13th century, the estate now consists of 160 acres of vines. This wine has a strong sense of structure, with a zesty tang as well as tannins that enhance the fruitiness of this intense and juicy wine.
Light, bright and zesty acidity brighten this otherwise structured and concentrated wine made from heirloom selections of the variety. Measured amounts of stone fruit, oyster shell and salty minerality complement youthful weight, finding plenty of balance in the end.
A sense of depth and gravity imbues this full-bodied and richly flavored wine. It smells woodsy and mushroomy along with lots of ripe plum. It feels broad and plump on the palate, is nicely supported by moderate tannins and acidity, and has a lingering finish.
With an opaque purple color and grapy, full aromas of blackberry Kool-Aid and cassis, this ripe Bordeaux blend is plump, chewy and a touch soft on the palate. Toasty but largely generic black-fruit flavors finish blackened, with a note of creosote, heat and drawing tannins. Drink through 2019.
Peppery spice and a nose of violets and roses mark the entry and midpalate of this wine, priced moderately for the appellation. Layered, with a twinge of yeasty baked bread, it has a strong personality, stemmy and feral, with a lasting linger of grenadine.
Earthy, mossy, cedary aromas of berry fruits come with spice and coffee notes. This is fairly high in tartaric acid, so it scrapes across the palate. Quick-passing flavors of wild berry fruits and plum are toasty and lightly herbal, while the finish on this Cabernet Sauvignon blend is tight, spicy and grating in feel. Drink through 2022.
Slightly more earthy pear fruit appears on the nose. The palate bounces with freshness and verve, fizzing with a little white pepper here and there. The core is textured and shows some concentration with real citric force. Lovely on its own, even better with food. Simply lovely.
From a tremendous site, Crossfire displays bold, brawny and extracted black fruit, from blackberry to black currant. Polished tannins still need time to mellow, suggesting further time in the cellar, through 2023. A strong streak of brushy sage, cedar and menthol rises midway on the wine, peaking on the finish.
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.
Cut apple, sliced nectarine and crisp citrus elements meet with sourdough yeast, slight jasmine, chamomile and dried dandelion on the nose of this wine from the El Jabali and La Encantada vineyards. The palate is slightly sour, with tight green apple, baking soda and lime flesh flavors.
Aromas of pure black fruit, slightly burned toast, concentrated plum, black cherries and a touch of espresso show on this study of a rarely standalone grape. The palate is firm with chewy tannins yet approachable in flavors, offering dried elderberries, coffee beans, burned caramel flavors.
With a healthy whack of Merlot (22%), this drinks a bit more like a Bordeaux blend than a varietal wine. It enchants with aromas of high-toned herbs, coffee, toasty oak and red cherry. The cherry and black fruit flavors are layered and tightly wound, with a pleasing mouthfeel. The tannins need time to unwind.
A blend of Merlot (73%), Cabernet Franc (24%) and Petit Verdot, it rises from the glass with aromas of cedar, flowers and red and black fruit. The black-fruit flavors are dense but deft, with firm tannins backing them up.
A fabulous blend of Zinfandel, Sangiovese and Syrah, this wine has earthy, dried herb aromas, dense fruit and dark chocolate flavors and considerable soothing tannins. It is dry in style, not too full-bodied, and has a lingering finish. Needs time to mature, and will best after 2018.
One of the cru classé estates of Côtes de Provence, Galoupet goes back to the 17th century. This latest vintage is a blend that includes a whole gallery of grapes. The result is a rich wine that benefits from the warmth of the year. It has kept plenty of bright acidity and red-currant flavors, leaving a tight, mineral, crisp aftertaste.
Located close to Saint-Tropez, the estate is one of the Côtes de Provence growths classified in 1955. This top wine from the estate is ripe and powerful. It has a structure as well as peach and pear fruit flavors, so it could well age. A citrus burst at the end adds an attractive lift.
An intriguingly and wondrously unique nose offers baked plum, shaved kola nut, pressed red rose buds, cinnamon and dried tea leaves. The palate carries that array of scents forward, showing root beer and more kola nut as well as tobacco lead, slate and slightly sour black plum skins.
Fragrant white flower, yellow stone fruit and dried herb aromas open. The vibrant, elegant palate offers mature yellow apple, creamy white peach and mineral alongside bright acidity. A white almond note closes the lingering finish.
The aromas start out quite brooding, opening to reveal notes of green pepper, vanilla, wood spice, powdered cayenne and dark cherry. The flavors are lithe and polished, with cherry, vanilla and coffee interweaving throughout to an extended finish. It comes off as oak heavy but still impresses.
Although this is labeled as Vin de France, its fruit comes from the La Bégude estate in Bandol. With one year's aging, it is full, soft and ripe with generous strawberry flavors. Dark in color, it may not follow the trend in Provence for pale rosés and its taste is rich and full bodied. The acidity at the end gives the necessary freshness.
Delicate aromas of toasted egg bread, baked apple and orange rind dance in the bouquet, while the brisk and effervescent mouth shows more red apple-skin flavor alongside acidic notes of pineapple core and lime zest. Balanced and refreshing.
A light-bodied, delicate style of Pinot Noir, with pretty cherry fruit and plenty of forest and earth complexity. Silky on the finish, with hints of tea leaf. Probably best over the next year or two.
Tart, with brambly berry fruit, and even a bit of apricot. This was a cool year in Walla Walla, and the fruit flavors reflect that.
A soft acetone streak permeates the red cherry- and berry-driven bouquet, while red fruit and pomegranate flavors dominate the palate. A slightly twiggy herbal accent adds depth and staying power to the finish. Drink now.
Almost tropical in style, with abundantly ripe mango and pineapple on the nose and palate, this semidry Riesling is irresistibly lush and fruity. Zippy tangerine acidity and a zesty orange peel note provides refreshing restraint on the finish.
Scents of bacon fat from the new French oak introduce a tight young wine. The cured meat aromas and flavors somehow suggest a splash of Syrah in the blend, though none is noted. Give it a couple more years to smooth out and let the fruit come through.
This popular Chardonnay gives you a generous burst of buttered nuts and toast, the flavors many consumers want in their Chardonnays. Not much going on in the fruit department—just clean, tart green apples, with a sharp, acidic edge.
After an aromatic opening that includes wet leather, rubber and brine, this wine finds its stride, and while it's firmly tannic, the flavors of dark fruits, tomato, herbs, tobacco and cured meats do the trick. It gets better the longer it sits; drink now but give it as much air as possible.
Dashe uses 30-year-old vines from Guinness McFadden's farm in the southeastern end of Mendocino County, organically grown and planted in rocky, chalky soil. Golden in color and thick in texture, the wine has lovely acidity and is definitely dry, austere and very Germanic, with a nutty earthiness.
For a simple Beaujolais, this is an intensely rich wine with toast spice coming through the black cherry fruit. The tannins give a ripe structure. All the time, the wine remains true to its fruity origins.
Broadly fruity, with a palate of mixed red berries and cherries. Light and balanced, this is well-made, of medium length, and ready to drink right away.
This is mildly herbal and dilute on the nose, but not unappealing. It feels medium in body, with a timid structure and simple red-berry flavors that taste slightly sweet. Fresh and mild as a whole.
This is a toasty, black-currant-fruited wine. Its structural tannins give a dry character. A touch of green herb and a hard edge of toast indicate that the wine needs another year to soften.
This smells bland but clean, with a hint of citrus. It feels spritzy but simple, with papaya, green melon and mild citrus flavors. Good in a very basic way, but drink now before it fades.
This is a soft, rather unfocused, open-textured wine that shows apple and citrus flavors. It's ready to drink now.
With a blackberry flavor and a juicy character, this is a wine that has a bright, fresh feel and soft tannins.
Lean, soft and soapy in character, this has a dry core and soft tannins, with a lightweight red-berry note. Not for aging.
This smells stalky and past its prime, but it's not stinky or maderized. The palate is fleshy in feel and oily in sensation, with bitter citrus flavors and pithy notes. Neither vital nor fresh on the finish.
Spearmint chewing gum, cassis and raisin aromas are friendly. However, on the palate this wine rings hollow, with little structure and hardly any midpalate. The flavors of candied red fruits are basic, while the finish shows residual raspberry flavor and no complexity.
Perfumed aromas of lemon verbena and wild flower are reminiscent of air freshener. The palate is a bit heavy, but solid acidity provides necessary cut. Flavors of vanilla and spice are a little funky, while the finish is also oaky.
Whiffs of soft leather and fresh herb set up this dry Cabernet. The scents and flavors of earth and stem are accompanied by a finishing accent of vanilla.
Herbal and earthy, this dry and tannic wine shows almost no hint of ripe fruit. It might be best with a burger or skirt steak to absorb the tannins.
A cool cherry aroma and a mild, creamy paste note open the nose. The feel is fiery and untamed, while full flavors of cherry and plum seem raw. A cocoa flavor and juicy feel define the finish.
A somewhat volatile nose introduces a wine that has a powerfully oaky flavor, perhaps from the 30 months it spent in 50% new American barrels. It seems a bit overdone, and the fruit heads into dry, pruny flavors. It is seemingly already past its prime.
This crisp wine with light citrus, toast and spice flavors is open and fruity. Behind the apple and pear flavors there are almonds, pepper and tangy acidity. Drink this wine now.
Fruit-forward aromas of blueberry, orange peel and spice lead to medium-bodied fruit flavors. It's respectable, though it's near impossible to peg it as Cabernet.
This wine has mouth-puckering tannins that make it almost impenetrable. Its baked plum fruit meets a Dr. Pepper-type cola flavor.
Light, bright and crisp, this is a tangy wine. Its floral aroma and its juicy tropical fruits are both part of a wine that has been made to be drunk young, fruity and easily. Drink now.
Bready, oxidized aromas are imprecise and lacking in fruit. This is a blend of Palomino, Rufete Blanca and Moscatel from Salamanca, which is off the beaten path. A plump but flat palate of yeasty white-fruit flavors lacks zest on a fading finish. Drink now.
This concentrated Merlot is blended with smaller percentages of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Dense in black licorice and toasty oak, the fruit character is dominated by red plum and berry aromas and flavors.
Coming from the highest corner of the limestone-laden vineyard at 1,275 feet—with views of the entire Santa Ynez Valley—this gives off broad, approachable aromas of lit match, bacon fat, purple fruits, pepper and smoked meats. Though full of dried cherry and smoked blueberry flavors, it's leaner in texture, with acidity that keeps it fresh. Drink 2017–2025.
This is the winery's superstar Bordeaux-style blend, and one of the defining red wines of the Okanagan. In its youth it is peppery, tannic and tough, with strong herbal flavors, along with pomegranate, cranberry and white raspberry fruit. It's firmly acidic, lightly toasty, complex and finished with flavors of coffee grounds, cacao, baking spices and smoke. Drink now through 2025.
Smoke and flintstones play among green pear and savory yeast notes. The palate reveals a yeasty, cushioned texture, framed by grapefruit zestiness. The finish is clean-cut but persistent and is set to evolve over the years.
This wine is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It offers brooding notes of dried herbs, cassis, spicebox, blackberry and anise. Flavors are rich yet refined with mouthwatering acids and exquisitely polished tannins.
Still-subdued fruit signals that this needs time. The palate is tight and elegant, but riches of tart cherry fruit rest just beneath the surface and wait to emerge fully. There is acidic verve and velvety structure; nothing is overdone and it's very balanced. This fresh little number needs time to blossom.
Spicy white pepper pervades this rich, rounded red. Structured tannins call for meat if this is to be drunk now. These will mellow by 2016 in cellar and the ripe, crunchy red fruit will come to the fore.
Breezy, zesty stoniness is overlaid with lemon freshness, suggesting a slender wine. However, the palate is rounded and generous, with layers of red apple, Comice pear, honeydew melon and orange zest. The finish is whistle clean and that counterpoint of breezy freshness and rounded ripeness makes you want to sip more.
From the Hahn family of wines comes this solid representation of the appellation, with dark cherry, wet slate and soft mint on the nose. The mouthfeel is soft and comforting, with tight raspberry fruit and a clove-like spice note carrying through the entire sip, culminating in a mouthwatering black-pepper finish.
This annually anticipated bottling offers a blend of Doug Margerum's top barrels from a variety of vineyards. In this vintage, aromas of baking spice and red fruit come with minty sagebrush lift. Herbs, from oregano to dried thyme, play a central role on the palate, with red cherry fruit and a tighter, tart plum skin finish, proving slightly lighter in style.
Very ripe yellow pear mixed with punchy arugula create a contrast that makes this wine hard to put down. Partly aged in large, used acacia barrels, partly in stainless steel, the slender but ripe body is accentuated by the peppery edge. Very moreish with a lovely and long finish.
This is as tightly closed as a new rosebud, but suspicions of iron oxide and red cherry escape. On the palate this has a northerly, cool aspect and its very own, reticent charm. More iron oxide comes to the fore, along with earthiness and a mix of elderberry and red cherry. If you have the patience to wait until 2017–2018, this will come to you as a grown-up beauty. Its name Samt & Seide—velvet & silk—does it justice indeed.
A beautifully subtle scent of Williams pear makes for a soft opening. The palate is equally soft but totally driven by the ripeness of the juicy pear fruit streaked with lemon zest on the concentrated palate. Refreshment and enjoyment are programmed into this.
Juicy, luscious Comice pears and floral overtones are brought into tighter focus by the zesty freshness on the concentrated palate that shows intensity and warmth. This finishes with a long impression of pure lemon oil.
Dark and silky, this bursts open with ripe plum and black cherry fruit. Streaks of smoke and iron run through, along with highlights of bright citrus. Sweet toast and dark chocolate flavors wrap up a long and most satisfying finish. Drink now through 2024.
True to its advocacy for Malbec in the Napa Valley, the producer adds 15% Malbec to this Cabernet Sauvignon, forging a dark, rich and intense wine that's generous in black fruit and tobacco. It nonetheless retains ample acidity to stay balanced and rewarding on the palate. Enjoy through 2020.
Aromas of ripe dark berry, exotic spice, tobacco and an anise note lead the nose on this intense wine. The succulent palate delivers layers of blackberry, raspberry, clove, licorice and allspice. Tightly-knit but velvety tannins provide support.
The winemaker has said he makes Russian River Valley Pinot Noir to support his Syrah habit. Here he offers a compelling case in point, making a velvety, substantial 100% Syrah that's more elegant than overpowering. Mocha-kissed tannins play nicely with black and red berry fruit, providing a structure built to age, through 2021.
Yeast and earth can be smelled as much as tart apple, ripe yellow plum and fresh lemon. In the mouth there is concentration and more of that expansive, savory yeastiness. A summoning streak of fresh lemon acidity provides a whistle-clean finish.
Aromas of underbrush, espresso, spiced plum and toasted oak lead the nose. The smooth palate doles out juicy black cherry, coffee, vanilla, cinnamon and mocha alongside firm, polished tannins and bright acidity. Hold for complexity. Drink 2016–2023.
This winery was originally developed as a Cabernet specialist, and the regular 2012 bottling is another fine success. Briery, herbal shadings frame blackberry fruit, while the finish features a mouthwatering combination of mocha, dark fruit and lingering tannins. Drink this medium-bodied Cabernet now through 2025.
This has a very deep color, even for this notoriously dark varietal. Complex aromas blend rich fruit with smoky, peppery notes, followed by mouthcoating flavors like dark-chocolate-covered blackberries. It doesn't mess around with overtly sweet oak, but stays dry, concentrated and focused. Best after 2020.
Peaches, red apples and a spray of fresh citrus come together on an earthy, textured and rounded palate that nonetheless is wonderfully light. These old vines give verve, concentration and lots of depth.
Savory herbs and peppery watercress dominate the crunchy green pear fruit on nose and palate. Citrus edges lend liveliness to the concentrated, spicy palate. Lots going on here, from the first whiff to the last, lingering echo.
A blend of Grenache (50%) and Cinsault (20%) along with equal parts Mourvèdre and Syrah, this wine draws you into the glass with notes of smoked meat, bark, raspberry, blue fruit and peppery spices. It brings a rich, mouthful of generous fruit flavors that hit the delicious gong and then linger to hear it resonate.
Aromas of cooked red cherry, blackberry liqueur and smoke waft from the glass. Layers of flavor emerge once sipped—cassis, elderberry jam, cracked pepper, cardamom and espresso—proving more approachable than heavily tannic versions of the grape.
Tart berry and sour cherry fruit is set amidst a well-balanced, pure varietal expression of Cab Franc. A touch of stem, earth and coffee carry out the varietal flavors, with a firmness to the tannins.
This wine brings notes of plum, dried herbs, mocha and wood spice. It's rich and silky in feel with sharp-edged acids, showing some warmth on the finish.
Pure on the nose, with a delightful mix of graphite, wild berry, cedar and minerally aromas, this is a rich, plump, mildly tannic Cabernet that will show best in the near term. Flavors of cassis, subdued oak spice and vanilla finish with ripe dark-berry sweetness and proper overall weight. Drink through 2018.
A blend of 60% Syrah from Ambassador Vineyard and 40% estate-grown Petite Sirah, this brightly aromatic wine conveys raspberries, dark cherries and vanilla. It's fruit forward, richly flavored with red fruit that leads to a cranberry-filled finish.
Sadly, just 44 cases were produced, from Block 1 of the original estate vineyard. Rhubarb, cherry, cinnamon and suggestions of light tropical fruits are delicately entwined here. It would be easy to skip over the wine's complexity; you must let it breathe open and it will reward you with fascinating, subtle layers that slowly unravel.
A wonderful, rich wine, fermented in open stone lagars, giving a concentrated, beautifully soft wine. The texture is dense and velvety; ripe black fruits are given further complexity by wood aging. A superb wine, powerful and elegant.
A selection from the Quinta da Bacalhôa vineyard, this sumptuous wine layers the darkest fruit flavors with a structure that is solid, dense and powerful. Juicy plums, licorice and a firm, stalky edge go with wood aging and bone-dry tannins. Age for 5–6 years.
Rui Reguinga, named Portugal's Winemaker of the Year in 2009, produces this sumptuous wine. The fruit is rich, with jammy berries and plums, balanced with spice from wood aging. The core of tannins suggests a powerful wine that will age well.
High toast aromas are filled out on the palate with rich, concentrated fruit and bitter chocolate flavors. This powerful, impressive wine is spicy and densely packed. At this stage, it feels hard edged, but that will fill out in the next 3–4 years as the wine broadens out.
His skills show in this rich, powerful, finely balanced wine. It has layers of black berry fruits, damsons, bitter chocolate and a good core of acidity. Give this impressive wine 3–4 years.
This Cabernet-based wine is supremely elegant. It brings together new wood flavors, firm and dry Cabernet tannins and powerful concentration. It has great depth of flavor; very complex, the acidity promising good aging.
Sourced from the Stoller vineyards, this gets a late release after aging in 38% new oak. It's soft and a bit flowery, the oak nicely integrated with flavors of spiced apple, pear and a hint of peach.
Oregon Grüner is still a rarity, but deserves a place of honor in the pantheon of emerging white wine grapes grown in the Willamette Valley. Grapefruit and citrus—both flesh and rind—form the core of this tart, mineral-driven wine. Even better on the second day, it remained fresh and focused.
Rich, but structured and balanced, this is a wine that has delicious swathes of ripe blackberry and black plum. There is a touch of bitter extract, but this will integrate as the wine ages. The acidity goes well with the solid tannins. Drink from 2016.
This is an attractive, fruity, creamy wine that's full of rich yellow and white fruits. It's ripe and rich in feel, but the smoothness is layered with textured acidity and touches of vanilla that add complexity.
This rich dessert nectar from Tuscany is made from a blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes. It delivers typical Vin Santo aromas and flavors of maple syrup, dried apricot and candied oranges. Dense and sweet, it's a perfect match for traditional cantucci biscuits or to sip on its own after dinner.
This refined sparkling wine has a classic Franciacorta fragrance of candied fruit, almond and just a whiff of vanilla. The palate delivers ripe peach and nut flavors andd a hint of bread crust. Fine perlage and a crisp, quenching finish.
Layers of fresh-cut grass and herbs add freshness to sweet white-peach flavor on the palate of this exquisitely structured kabinett. Bristling acidity lends a ticklishness to the mouthfeel that lingers long on the finish.
Whiffs of smoke and crushed stone form a veil over concentrated peach and preserved quince in this remarkably nuanced auslese. It's sweet and juicy on the palate and accented with hints of fresh herb. Earthy flavors lend a dark, savory dimension.
Emozione is a lovely sparkling wine with a floral fragrance of acacia and orange blossom. The palate offers white peach and apricot flavors, along with toasted walnut notes. It's long and linear, with a refined perlage.
Super fragrant, with lush scents of citrus, apple and a hint of vanilla, this excellent Auxerrois pushes confidently through the palate and into a well-defined, lengthy, slightly saline finish. Unique and delicious.
This firmly structured, dense wine is packed with dark plum and fig fruits, laced with chocolate and tannins. It's a solid, foursquare style of wine, with acidity and fruit forming a fine partnership. Like many wines from this year, it is likely to mature quickly, so drink from 2016.
This opens with a fragrance of white flowers, hints of vanilla and oak. The palate delivers pineapple and lemon peel flavors and a note of cream pastry, along with well integrated oak. The wine has a soft texture and a small, persistent bead. Pair this with shellfish.
A blend of Arinto and Antão Vaz, this is an impressively structured and concentrated wine. Ripe and flowery, with flavors of mango and yellow fruit. The smooth yet tangy structure gives pleasure now, but also promises aging. Drink until 2019.
A very pretty wine with a refined aroma profile of wild strawberry, wet stone, dried cherry and peppery spice backed by rich, candied fruit flavors that manage retain deftness.
Lightly aromatic with notes of currant, cranberry and spice. The palate is all about balance, with sugary fruit flavors that are drawn out in the finish.
A top quality rosé; fruity and textured, providing a bone dry wine that is made to be paired with food. Bright acidity is infused among raspberry and mulberry fruit flavors, adding intensity and freshness. Drink now.
This is a dense and rich wine that shows both smoothness as well as an edgy mineral texture. It's weighty on the palate with ripe white and yellow fruits and a rounded, juicy character. Fruit and wood aging are still coming together, so give it some time. Drink this stylish wine from 2016.
Made only in the best vintages, Cuvée Annamaria Clementi is Ca' del Bosco's flagship wine. This sparkler offers aromas of white flower, pastry, stone fruit and a hint of oak. The palate delivers apricot, peach and candied lemon layered with subtle oak notes. The wine closes on a dry note of toasted almond.
This opens with aromas of pressed violets, rose petals and spice. The savory palate delivers a core of black cherry accented with nutmeg, hints of cinnamon and a licorice note. Pair this with rich pastas, semi-aged cheeses or grilled red meats.
This dry white wine, made from red Malbec grapes is intensely aromatic with quince, almond and lychee notes. It's a fascinating combination that has produced a rare style of wine. Although it is dry, its perfumed character brings out ripeness on the palate.
This wine's cranberry, orange peel and herb notes are atypical for the variety. Its fruit flavors are tart and elegant, needing a bit more structure to prop them up. It's a bit thin in concentration, with consistent orange peel flavors throughout.
This wine's menthol, oak-driven spice, toasted oak and dried herb aromas slowly take shape. The lean palate offers sour cherry and roasted coffee flavors alongside grainy, astringent tannins that leave a tongue-drying finish.
Reductive aromas distract from the fruit and barrel notes in this wine. The palate brings medium-bodied, mouth-puckering cranberry and cherry flavors. Vanilla notes linger on the finish.
This wine's fragrance evokes underbrush, toast, chopped celery and prune. The tight, angular palate offers dried cherry, star anise, espresso and sage notes alongside bracing tannins that clench the finish.
This opens with raw oak and toasted hazelnut aromas. The closed, bracing palate lacks fruit richness, offering instead oak-driven spice notes bolstered with astringent tannins.
Dried fruit aromas of prune, fig and nearly raisin show on the nose of this red, which is enhanced by savory touches of salt, pepper and leather. There is a pleasant rustic quality to the sip, but a strong bitterness reminiscent of bittersweet chocolate, underripe plum skins and coffee grinds arises midpalate and doesn't dissipate.
This wine smells extra ripe, like raisins and black figs, and tastes rich, chocolaty and almost fat in texture. It has a sense of sweetness akin to brown sugar and mostly soft tannins. It is unusual for the varietal.
Delicate notes of earthy herbs and cola spice grace the red chery, currant, rhubarb and cranberry tones on the nose and mouth of this easygoing wine. It's light in weight and softly structured, with ample acidity lending freshness through the close.
A strong blast of tire rubber dominates the nose. In the mouth, this wine feels narrow and tannic. Dark berry flavors are almost burnt tasting and come with a note of dark chocolate, leading to a charred finish.
This has subdued prune and tilled soil aromas. The simple, informal palate offers Morello cherry and black pepper flavors alongside loose-knit tannins. Drink soon.
This blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir is soft and ripe with red fruits. The wine is all fruit: red cherry and raspberry with a light touch of spice and tannins. The wine is ready to drink.
Waxy pear and apple aromas lead to a lean, acidic palate. This Garnacha Blanca from the highest vineyards in Somontano tastes of briny citrus and tart apple. A slightly green finish with pickled notes closes it out.
Gemtree's Obsidian Shiraz ratchets up the intensity from its usual offerings, adding structure and richness to straight-ahead aromas and flavors of cherries, coffee and vanilla. The wood sticks out a little on the finish, so give it another year or two in the bottle, then drink it over the next 10.
Matured 18 months in French oak, this rich, velvety-textured Shiraz shows plenty of vanilla influence as a result. But there's also plenty of ripe blackberry fruit, and the overall impression is of a lush, fruity wine that would make a lovely steakhouse red.
As mammoth wines go, this is rock-solid. Sixteen percent alcohol tells you that it's strapping and ripe. But more than just being big and fiery, it's pleasant and sophisticated. The nose offers mocha and raisin, and the palate delivers a feast of toasty, vanilla-edged berry and plum flavors. Fresh and balanced given the level of ripeness and oak treatment. Drink through 2010. 350 cases made.
One of a growing number of micro-boutiques in Oregon, Vidon made its first wine in 2003. Subsequent vintages were quickly sold out, with quantities as low as two barrels of individual wines. This 2007 is in better supply, and well worth seeking out. Fragrant with sweet strawberries, hints of fresh herb, a Dr. Pepper soda streak particular to Oregon and nicely laid-in oak, it's a seductive and focused effort that masks its high alcohol effectively.
This wine starts off with intense aromas of blackberry, sandalwood, vanilla and oak. The palate boasts a ripe plum flavor, along with spicy pepper and cinnamon accents. It has ample freshness as well as brooding tannins and depth. Hold this for a few more years for additional complexities to develop.
Sourced from vines planted in 1982, it's brightly aromatic with sweet floral notes, orange peel and lychee. Medium bodied, it drinks dry with abundant spice and floral flavors. A thoroughly delicious wine that begs to be paired with scallops or spicy Thai dishes.
Here's a lovely sparkling wine from northern Italy, with enticing aromas of freshly baked cookies, almond and apple. The palate is creamy, with a smooth texture and elegant perlage, offering flavors of ripe apple, lemon-cream pie, vanilla and bread crust, all lifted by crisp acidity.
This rich Amarone boasts aromas of mature black fruit, raisin and cinnamon. The palate is dense, with black cherry, plum and raisin flavors layered with black pepper. It's soft, round and polished. Pair this with seasoned cheeses or cured meats. Metrowine, Vignaioli Selections.
This soft, supple and seductive Merlot (with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend) is both earthy and sensuous. The mouthfeel is like smooth felt. Black cherry, blackberry and a dash of cola fill the mouth, with lush tannins and a long finish. There's just a hint of brown sugar as it wraps up.
Savory, smoky aromas of blackberry, blueberry and latex lead to a rubbery feeling palate with full tannins and chewy, extracted weight. Earthy, loamy flavors of blackberry, chocolate and buttery oak finish rich, with a mossy flavor, big tannins and length. Drink through 2019.
This blend of 85% Syrah, 10% Grenache and 5% Carignan is aging beautifully, and still shows great life ahead. Spice and toasted-oak notes are front and center, with supporting aromas and flavors of dense black-fruit preserves, crushed violet and cocoa powder. The texture is still firm and tight, with slightly chewy tannins and a long, earth- and wood-flavored finish.
Despite the age, this still drinks quite young and tight, with firm tannins and a gripping structure framed against a fleshy black-fruit center. Rich and dense notes of blackberry, boysenberry and plum are laced with hints of cigar spice, licorice and toasted vanilla, and a sweet-wood sensation stays through the long finish. Big in almost every regard, this should continue to age well through 2016.
This blend of 30% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30% Carignan and 10% Mourvèdre is not showing its true age. Sure, it boasts some developed notes of charcuterie, balsamic herb and garrigue, but it's also still brimming with full, ripe black-fruit notes of plum and berry. With a crushed velvet texture, gripping tannins and a long, heady finish that's laced with hints of espresso and vanilla, this shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Enjoy now, or try after 2016.
Don't dismiss this aged Toro because it smells cheesy and leathery, and don't give up on it when you're hit with massive tannins. Because once this airs out and settles, you'll have a brawny wine with earthy, loamy flavors of baked blackberry and cassis. Nine years after harvest this is still tannic, grabby and earthy as they come. Drink now through 2019.
This lovely metodo classico sparkling wine is made entirely from Chardonnay grapes. It has a creamy texture that delivers sensations of peach and honey, with notes of cream-filled pastries and almond. It finishes crisp and clean.
Casey McClellan blended 15% Merlot into this vintage—the most ever—and has crafted a bright, sappy wine with vivid flavors of spiced apples and raspberries. There's a distinct scent of cinnamon, perhaps from the use of Hungarian oak barrels, (30% new.) Thoroughly delicious and surprisingly deep in this lighter vintage.
This offers earthy aromas of tobacco leaf and mushroom, along with ripe blackberry and raisin notes. The rich, round palate delivers plum, prune, black pepper and graphite notes alongside a welcome freshness that lifts the palate and adds finesse.
This is a knife-sharp Viognier, offering precise, chiseled flavors of citrus rind, Meyer lemon and grapefruit. The piercing acidity belies a wine whose flavors are fully ripe, and deliver an extended, mineral-drenched finish.
This more structured, concentrated version of Nero di Troia opens with aromas of allspice, mature black fruit, violet and a whiff of leather. The bold palate delivers ripe black cherry, black pepper, grilled herb, vanilla and a chocolate note alongside big, velvety tannins.
From a warm vintage, this aromatic offering has notes of candy corn, corn silk, pear and tropical fruit. It's full bodied with sweet fruit flavors that have a creamy feel and lead to a lingering finish.
Celery, lemon and zesty grapefruit are the dominating aromatic trio on this slender, moreish offering. The palate is balanced—even rounded—for such a slender, zippy and refreshing wine. The aromatic intensity becomes even more pronounced on the palate.
This crisp Swiss white grape is rarely seen in the U.S. and that's a shame. Spritzy, racy, fresh as a mountain stream, it possesses impressive minerality under lemony fruit. Bone-dry, low alcohol, and surprisingly dense, it has a pleasing finish with a light almond note.
Estate-grown from a small family winery and entirely Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is savory in earthy truffle, subdued plum, black cherry and tobacco leaf. A complex intermingling of pencil shavings and cedar round things out. On the palate the generous tannins are sure to smooth over time.
Black cherry fruit gets serious with elements of slate, eucalyptus, tar and wild mint on this wine from the Corralitos area at the southern coastal edge of the appellation. It's soft at first on the palate, then reveals a wash of acidity, with sour cherry fruit and black tea tannins.
Fresh and toasty, spicy and focused, this matches crisp fruit flavors of apple, citrus and pineapple to barrel-fermented grace notes. The overall length and definition are excellent, and the wine should drink well now through 2020.
Bold and pretty at the same time, this has oodles of crushed berry aromas. Ripe fruit flavors that recall black cherry and boysenberry come with hints of toasted oak and a silky smooth texture. It's full bodied but not too stiff or tannic, just concentrated and almost sweet in its richness.
Mouthwatering aromas of dark berry, cooking spice and cured meat lead the nose on this bold wine. The savory palate doles out layers of mature black cherry, blackberry, ground black pepper and savory herb alongside firm acidity and velvety tannins. Drink through 2021.
Coming from a who's who of Red Mountain vineyards, the inaugural release of this brand from Duckhorn Vineyards offers generous notes of dark coffee, espresso bean, dark cherries, sage and vanilla, with a pleasing interplay between fruit and barrel (64% new French). The plum and coffee flavors are restrained in style, with well-integrated tannins.
Ripe, almost sweet, fruit is full of delicious black plum and berry flavors. The wine is rounded, opulent and generous to a fault. A solid core of darker tannins hold all this richness together. Drink from 2015.
This southern Rhône-style blend is soft, lush and heavy with a rich mix of peach, apricot and papaya fruit power. One-third new oak barrels put a patina of toast and butterscotch on the ripe fruit, with a finishing flavor of fresh roasted cashews.
This comes from a single vineyard that is owned by several growers but whose fruit is made into a single wine. It is rich, ripe and fruity, a powerful and full-bodied Muscadet. It has spice as well as citrus fruitiness and a rounded texture. Some aging has really improved this wine.
Aged for 36 months in barriques and 24 months in large casks, this opens with aromas of coconut, toasted oak and spicy blackberry. The palate offers sour cherry, mocha, tobacco and roasted coffee bean. The palate starts smooth and creamy but austere wood tannins impart a mouth-drying finish. Drink through 2022.
This wine gets neutral French oak and it shows in its zesty profile of orange and tangerine over apple and pear. The fruit is hearty and juicy, the texture light and refreshing.
This offers ripe yellow and green pear shot through with grapefruit zest, with a yeasty, savory streak on the midpalate and a touch of pineapple. Certainly ripe and rounded—but beautifully tempered by lively white pepper.
Earthy yeastiness combined with soft lemon freshness creates a very savory wine. While the palate has umami-like spice, it also has a linear lick of clean lemon acid. The two work in contrast and will show their best with a mixed cheese platter.
Lemon balm, peppery arugula and yeasty savoriness combine into a sleek, streamlined wine that goes down all too easily—notwithstanding its wonderful layers and length. The lemony finish lasts and refreshes.
This wine is rich and ripe, oozing with black cherry, boysenberry and strawberry jam aromas and flavors. It feels full and rather soft on the palate, as the acidity and tannins appear very mild.
Haute-Serre is high on the plateau above the Lot river. It produces wines that are structured with complex tannins and an austere fruit character. This 2011 is in that mold. It has acidity as well as juicy black fruits, plus striated tannins that are in the process of being smoothed by the wood aging. Drink from 2018.
This is a meaty, dark-fruited Shiraz. Seductive notes of caramelized beef and brown sugar dominate, while the wine's texture is a bit coarse, turning astringent on the finish. Try in 2017.
Pristine grapefruit and apple blossom notes lend perfume and elegance to this dry, intensely mineral Riesling. Bracing lemon-lime acidity shocks the palate to attention, intensifying a lean, lingering finish.
Hints of waxy white florals and lemon zest persist from nose to finish on this intensely revitalizing semidry Riesling. Tart stone-fruit flavors penetrate the palate, highlighted by a stream of spine-tingling acidity.
Despite the low alcohol, this pure Carmenère is fully ripened, with a soft, seductive nose boasting highlights of baking spices and pipe tobacco. Wild blackberries, tart acids and streaks of earth and stem comprise the core flavors, with a finishing note of dark chocolate.
Aromas of ripe plum, black cherry, leather and ground white pepper follow through to the smooth, full-bodied palate along with a mineral accent. Supple tannins and fresh acidity provide the framework while a licorice note signals the close.
Made from 40-year-old, bush-trained vines, this opens with earthy aromas of charred earth, smoke, grilled sage and black spice. The concentrated but elegant palate delivers mature blackberry, dried black cherry, allspice and pipe tobacco alongside velvety tannins.
Fermented in the bottle, this beautiful wine opens with delicate scents of citrus blossom, white stone fruit and a whisper of thyme. Loaded with finesse, the bright silky palate displays Anjou pear, Rennet apple and lemon zest alongside an elegant perlage. Crisp acidity gives it a pristine refreshing finish.
Still young, this rich, lightly honeyed and intensely ripe wine is beautifully structured. It has swathes of apricot, citrus and gooseberry fruits as well as a dense concentrated texture. The wine is certainly in need of aging. Drink from 2019.
Made entirely with Pinot Nero, this boasts apple, bread crust and toasted hazelnut aromas that follow through to the smooth silky palate along with an orange-zest note. Crisp acidity lifts the creamy flavors. Delicious.
A touch of evolution is immediately apparent: that chamomile lift and dried citrus peel nose gives it away. The  dry palate then serves up notions of ripe but tart apple, incisive lemon freshness and a more generous, fluid rich texture that play off each other beautifully. On the finish it is the lemon that shines, alongside some notions of candle wax and more chamomile. A lovely snapshot of a Riesling on its trajectory. Drink 2017-2027.
Clean Asian pear, wet gravel and lime peel aromas show on the tightly wound nose of this bottling. The palate is quite delicate at first, offering lightly seared white peach, chalk and lime zest notes, but grows increasingly savory and delicious as it opens, indicating great cellar potential. Drink 2018–2030.
This estate red is named after its mountainous locale—a brambly vineyard on Pritchard Hill above Oakville. It combines quite ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot, projecting power and prestige with perfumed violet, dark cherry and savory leather and tobacco notes. Soft, pliable tannins add weight and texture. More time in bottle should add nuance; enjoy 2024–2034.
This is all Pommard clone Pinot from a vineyard in the McMinnville AVA. It's loaded with ripe, fleshy cherry fruit and suggestions of steely minerality, typical of the terroir. Big, full, delicious and nicely balanced, it wraps up with a yummy chocolaty finish.
This bottling's core of black cherry fragrance is wrapped in sugar plum, balsamic, allspice and nutmeg notes, combining elegance and power. Mulberry and wild cherry flavors show on the palate, lifted by baking spice and gingerbread accents and balanced by solid acidity and tannins. A sagebrush note pops on the finish.
This wine's wild raspberry, mace, composting violets, kola nut and musk hints make for a very pretty but extremely complex nose. Fermented with 30% whole clusters, it's energetic on the palate, with dark cranberry and sharp raspberry flavors enhanced by allspice and anise. It has a very long finish.
A tropical whiff of passion fruit hovers enticingly on the nose. A touch of this also clings aromatically to the taut palate where concentrated citrus notes of orange, lemon and tangerine dominate. This is resolutely dry and bouncingly fresh with precision, fruit and verve. The finish is totally refreshing and lip-smacking.
A lick of lemon tanginess plays on the nose alongside a touch of peach. The palate reprises this lemon freshness and lets it dance softly on the fluid, dry palate. Peach and mirabelle can be glimpsed, too. This is dry and fresh, clean and vivid, leaving the palate cleansed and refreshed. The lemon echoes long, joined by zesty grapefruit on the finish, and makes this totally moreish.
Only produced in magnums, this Champagne is crisp, tight and with intense acidity. It is tangy, salty with lemon and grapefruit flavors. It is only just ready to drink, the magnum allowing it to age more slowly. Best to drink from 2018.
Aged in four-year-old barrels for 16 months, this bottling allows its elegant fruit to shine, showing concentrated black cherry, cola, rose petal and ginger aromas. A tight boysenberry note emerges on the palate, dusted with clove and lavender and cut by lively acidity. A thorough and complete wine.
The wine in this 100% Pinot Noir comes from one of the top villages in the Montagne de Reims. It is rich, structured and with a youthful character despite its nine years . It has berry and rich plum fruits as well as a dry core of acidity. Drink this ageworthy Champagne from 2019.
Smooth blackberry, chocolate, violet and raisin aromas make for a complete nose. A saturated, ripe palate is a touch heavy, while heady flavors of licorice, black peppercorn and blackberry are slightly charred on a flush finish. Drink through 2022.
With its winery close to the Chardonnay heartland of the Côte des Blancs, it is no surprise that this massive cooperative can produce a fine Blanc de Blancs. This vintage iteration is mineral and full of tangy orange zest acidity. It also has a softer element from the dosage that comes through at the end to leave a balanced wine. Drink now.
Fresh, elegant and well structured, this gorgeous white offers heady aromas of spring wild flower, white stone fruit, citrus and an inviting whiff of toasted nut. It's bright and savory, delivering yellow apple, nectarine drop and almond while a saline note wraps around the lingering finish.
There is much to like about the youthful vibrancy of this wine from Texas-raised Ryan Roark. It packs bright and fruity raspberry, pomegranate, hibiscus and crushed violet aromas on the nose. The refreshing palate pairs snappy raspberry fruit with fennel pollen and eucalyptus touches.
From 30-year-old vines, this is beautifully built and already showing the complexity that predicts a long life ahead. The old-vine grapes create a skeleton of mineral and acid upon which just-ripe fruit flavors of mulberry, plum and blueberry are placed. Drink now with pleasure, or put a few bottles away to enjoy through 2027 or longer.
This deeply fruited wine is a rich cranberry/purple in hue, and flavors put blueberry and plum front and center. There's a touch of cassis, and the tannins are brushed velvety smooth, while remaining substantial, even muscular. Bergamot, pomegranate and marionberry flavors come through as well, in a lush cascade of spicy fruits.
Winemaker Paul Clifton excelled in this vintage, finding the balance between the region's ripe fruit, natural acidity and powerful spice. Baked black cherry, hibiscus, earth, gingerbread and cola notes show on the nose. The palate is creamy and lush, but the acidity is persistent, carrying its dark red fruit and minty chocolate flavors into the finish.
A funky smoky notion of yeast clings to the nose on which a pure lemon streak becomes apparent. A generous, luscious and almost creamy sweetness then conquers the palate, boosting all of the fruit flavors, wrapping them in its creamy mellow embrace. The pure lemon streak counters and brightens the richness and around the edges there is grapefruit spice. This is all rather beguiling but not overdone. The finish is moreish, medium sweet and long.
This vintage delivers a wine with deep and rustic cherry, boysenberry, sweet herb and rose aromas, the latter contributing a penetrating floral dimension. Pure raspberry, potpourri and thyme notes pop on the palate, where clean acidity and tight tannins provide a light frame and carry the flavors toward a caramelized finish.
Exotic blueberry and cassis aromas are accented by cardamom and wild-herb scents. This Malbec from Altamira in the Uco Valley is jammy and saturated, but pure, with ripe berry, oak and spice flavors. A juicy fruit-filled finish is packed and tastes like berry compote. Lastly, a delicate herbal note gives this complexity. Drink through 2024.
Dominated by rich Chardonnay, this is a ripe wine. Acidity and a mineral texture are foils to the rich apple and green-plum flavors, giving a balance between deliciously crisp and a fuller style. It is just about ready to drink but will be better from 2018.
A barrel-selection, top-of-the-line cuvée, this is intensely aromatic with black cherry, soft leather and baking spices in play. Flavors focus in the midpalate, leading into supple tannins and a smattering of cocoa powder. Overall it's a big wine, full flavored, balanced and already drinking very well.
Sweet aromas of orange blossoms and honey emerge from this bottling, along with a more nuanced sense of quinine and botanicals. The sip is drier than expected yet still a tad sweet, with rounded orange cream, lemon peel and dried white-peach flavors.
This fruity wine is made to be drunk young. It has soft tannins, perfumed blackberry fruit and just enough acidity. Smoothly textured, it's a great barbecue-style of red. The wine is named after the vineyard rather than after the literal Portuguese meaning of “scantily dressed.” Drink now.
Aromas of spiced plum, purple flower, leather and truffle lead the nose on this informal wine. The solid palate offers dried cherry and a hint of licorice alongside grippy tannins that clench the finish.
This inexpensive wine is enjoyable to drink for its raisin aromas, ample fruit flavors and comparatively soft, easy texture for the variety.
Spunky passion fruit and citric aromas are far from dull. This feels racy due to strong citric acidity. Lime and passion fruit flavors follow the nose, while this is quick and simple on the finish.
Clean, stony aromas are more neutral than fruity. This feels good and standard, with fresh acidity. Mild flavors of citrus, stone fruits and yeast fade quickly on the finish.
A soft and fruity wine, this is ripe with dark cherry and spice flavors. A hint of bananas from the fermentation spoils the rest of the ripe fruitiness of this ready-to-drink wine.
It is the high proportion of perfumed Sauvignon Gris in this wine that creates its ripe, smooth and rich character. It brings in a calming, rounding influence to the more herbal Sauvignon Blanc and will allow it to develop a creamy character as it develops. Drink from summer 2017.
An unusual 100% Tinta Roriz, this wine is ripe with well-integrated tannins and good acidity. Blackberry fruits give crispness and a full body. This attractive wine is ready to drink.
Produced from organically grown grapes, this is a ripe, easy and fruity wine. It has light tannins, juicy black-currant fruit and acidity. It is still young, showing off its fruitiness and will be ready to drink soon, from early 2017.
This wine, made from organically grown grapes, is ripe, full of red-cherry fruits and soft tannins. It is an immediately attractive wine, packed with fruitiness and ready to drink. The village of Leynes is on the border between Beaujolais and Macon.
This is a ripe wine that has a high proportion of Sémillon in the blend. That makes it rich: revealing yellow fruits as well as greener herbal characters. It is fruity, tangy and refreshing. Drink from spring 2017.
This ripe Saint-Émilion is generous with its rounded perfumed Merlot. It gives the wine richness, juicy acidity and an open texture. Touches of tannin do bring in some structure, but the emphasis is on the fruitiness and fresh aftertaste. Drink from late 2017.
This ripe, creamy wine contains the rare Vital in the blend. That grape gives crisp, tight acidity while the Chardonnay brings out the smoother, richer side of this balanced and fruity wine. Drink now.
This young wine could use additional bottle age. The edges are sharp and there is some bite to the fruit. Citrus pith and rind flavors dominate, rather than flesh. It's spare and lightly bitter in the finish.
This wine is a blend of Monette's Vineyard Grenache and River Rock Syrah (15%). The volatiles are amped up, along with aromas of raspberries and herb. The flavors are full and liquorous, showing a fair amount of heat.
Apple and citrus aromas are a touch briny. This feels pulpy, with standard weight and balance. Dry bready yeasty melon and white-fruit flavors finish with a salty side note.
This attractive wine is full of ripe fruit, with soft tannins and only light acidity. It is developing well. Drink this wine from late 2017.
Aromas of orange blossom, lychee and lemon peel are potent and oily. In the mouth, this is thick for Torrontés, with distinct oiliness. Flavors of tropical fruits and lychee are pithy and full of pyrazines.
Named after the fortress at Blaye on the banks of the Gironde, the wine is easygoing and approachable. It has generous black-currant fruits, shot through with acidity, and is given structure by some dense tannins. Drink this wine from 2017.
This is a viscous, pruney dessert wine made from 45% Zinfandel and 55% Mixed Blacks. Labeled as 8% residual sugar, it exhibits that sweetness in an intensity of ripe, tannic blackberry and leather.
Gritty aromas of grilled beef and asphalt blend with savory berry scents. Frankly, this is rough on the palate, with abrasive tannins. Savory herbal green-leaning flavors are peppery and bitter on a grabby finish.
After a few swirls of the glass, you'll find subdued aromas recalling porcini mushroom, forest floor, camphor and a whiff of cellar floor. The lean palate offers raw sour cherry, espresso and a hint of coconut alongside raspy tannins that grip the mouth-drying finish.
Succulent black cherry, clove and oak mingle effortlessly in this simple, straightforward and light-bodied varietal wine. It also shows a wealth of rose and sage perfume on the nose.
This offers fresh flavors of pear fruit, with a lightly fleshy mouthfeel. The length and balance are in proportion. Drink now through 2018.
Situated at the highest point of the Entre-deux-Mers region, the estate is dominated by the ripe Merlot in this wine. It is fruity and soft with lively acidity and gentle tannins. There is a touch of wood from the aging, although the fruitiness is what this wine is about. Drink from 2017.
Jumbled jammy berry aromas lack specificity. This has a forceful tartaric mouthfeel that supports tart plum and currant flavors. Keeping things consistent, this is angular and acidic on the finish, with sour plum and racy berry flavors.
A bit leafy and earthy on first take, but this also smells of roasted meat, berry fruit and menthol. It feels layered and rich, with drying tannins and full-force plum and herb flavors. This is big, dark and herbal, finishing with hints of leather, tomato and oregano.
This négociant's top cuvée of Saint-Joseph has vibrant mixed berry notes that pick up lovely hints of licorice and garrigue, then turn chocolaty and velvety on the finish. Nicely done all the way around, with a drinking window extending from now through 2017.
Atypical for the appellation in that it's 80% Syrah, this is a dark-fruited, slightly pruny Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Chocolate and licorice notes add complexity to this full-bodied, firmly structured wine. With its long, chewy finish, consider deferring consumption until at least 2014.
Nicely focused, with a core of wild strawberry and black cherry, this bears herb and pepper highlights common to Oregon Pinot. It has a nice mouthfeel and is balanced throughout.
More Tardieu-Laurent than Côtes du Rhône, with hallmark exotic, nearly tropical notes suggestive of toasted coconut, vanilla and apricot. It's full bodied and plush in texture, with a long, cedary and velvety finish. Drink it over the next few years.
This wood-aged wine shows equal notes of toasty spice and ripe fruit. On the palate, it's full and round, with pear and apricot flavors giving it richness. This is concentrated and worth aging for another 2–3 years.
This Nero d'Avola suggests mature black-skinned berry, carob and toast on the nose. Concentrated and chewy on the palate, it offers ripe black cherry, raspberry jam, clove and cocoa flavors framed by velvety, polished tannins. Thanks to its fruit richness, it's not overwhelmed by the warmth of evident alcohol. Enjoy through 2021.
Crushed dill, forest floor and moist earth aromas lead this wine's nose. Its racy palate shows red cherry, strawberry compote, licorice and clove flavors framed by youthful, fine-grained tannins and brisk acidity. A hint of tobacco marks the close. Give this a few more years to mellow before drinking.
This opens with balsamic aromas of camphor, new leather, menthol and exotic spice. The tightly wound palate offers Morello cherry, cranberry, white pepper and grilled sage while assertive, close-grained tannins provide firm support.
The wine has a jammy character that gives it concentration. It is sweet although with enough acidity. The blackberry jelly flavors are firmed out with some fine tannins, certainly plenty to promise good aging. Drink from 2025.
Delicate in aromas of honeysuckle, Asian pear, Gravenstein apple and a smoky butter element, this shows that quality Chardonnay can indeed succeed in this warmer region of Southern California. The wine is also soft and restrained on the sip, with fresh nectarine and white-flower flavors, finishing with a familiar kiss of oak.
This tightly wound wine offers firm purple fruit flavors, along with a touch of sweet berries. There's ample acidity and a slightly chalky finish.
This savory red boasts star anise, blue flower, new leather, red berry and eucalyptus aromas. On the palate, expect Marasca cherry, cranberry, cinnamon and clove flavors set against firm tannins and racy acidity.
This blend of 60% Gamay, 28% Cabernet Franc and 12% Pinot Noir, sourced from widely separate vineyards throughout Oregon, is a surprising success. The flavors are ripe, recalling sweet mulberry and blackberry, and the polished tannins wrap it up nicely. Drink up.
This dry white has apricot, peach and white floral scents and lemon curd and orange zest flavors. It's well balanced, with a creamy finish.
This is a rich and perfumed wine. Packed with tarry tannins, dark black fruits and hints of truffles, it is firm and full. The structure is still important in this wine, pushing forward around the fruit. Wait a while to drink from 2018.
Dense dusty tannins dominate this 100% Touriga Nacional wine, powering its black fruits and acidity. The serious structure and firm, dry core contrast with the juicy berry flavors that will give a bright character as the wine matures. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, impressively rich wine. With dense tannins, spice and layers of black fruits it is concentrated, wearing its high alcohol easily. It comes from one of the home estates of Casa Santos Lima in the heart of the Lisboa region. Drink this wine from 2018.
This aromatic wine offers rich fruit and floral scents. It's tart and spicy on the palate, with bright red fruit. Although aged in 42% new and 33% one-year barrels, oak-derived flavors aren't evident. Still, it's a young wine pulling itself together.
Leather, menthol, red berry and crushed herb aromas lead the way in this youthfully vibrant wine. Star anise and herb notes back up its core of red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. Taut, fine-grained tannins and racy acidity provide the framework.
Caramel toasted oak contributes a concentrated richness to this full-bodied expression of the coast—a dark brooding offering of baked cherry and cola spice. Underlying acidity and specks of forest floor contribute brightness and complexity that pair well with the fruit.
Plum, black cherry and mocha cflavors ombine in this smooth, well-integrated wine. It must have seen some time in new oak, and the pretty baking spice accents add length and pleasure to the finish.
This Cabernet Franc is superripe and oaky, with earthy, stewed and woody aromas. In the mouth, this feels grippy, resiny and dense. As it airs out, vanilla, woodspice, prune and cassis aromas come to the fore. The chocolate-tinged finish is slightly sticky in feel, exuding a strong sense of ripeness.
This fragrant red opens with violet, red berry, crushed herb and menthol scents. It's bright and elegant, offering raspberry, juicy Marasca cherry, white pepper and clove flavors alongside polished tannins. A saline note signals the close.
This producer's style is for rich wines and this is no exception. With its depth of fruit and ripe apples and lemon, it is both crisp and full. The wine has some wood aging not for the flavor, more for the open effect. Drink the wine now.
Bright golden color gives way to caramelized oak and densely packed flavors of yellow apple and anise. Crisp, underlying acidity helps balance the lush mouthfeel of luxurious weight and incorporated oak.
Given the vineyard location, on the eastern edge of the Columbia Gorge, this is a unique take on Merlot, falling somewhere between the broad, fleshy Washington style, and the thinner, more herbal southern Oregon style. The layered flavors mix berry, citrus and red plum, in an open, easy-drinking wine that should pair well with a variety of transitional autumn entrées.
This is an intensely herbal wine. Its high alcohol doesn't take away from its green fruit, gooseberry and cool taste. Perhaps it does increase the intensity of all these elements, producing a wine that is both rich and also taut and mineral. It does seem to need more aging, so drink from 2018.
Pouilly-Fumé is often the source of wines for the Sancerre producers. This wine is ripe, full in the mouth with its yellow fruits. There is a spicy character from the oak aging. The wine could age a little longer so drink from 2018.
Subdued and delicately ripe, this wine offers understated notions of leather, chocolate and blackberry bramble, with an electric undercurrent of fresh-squeezed citrus. Light and bright, this is a study in holding back, with complexity at its core.
Aged for 12 months in wood, this smooth, ripe wine is already rich and delicious. Its structure is well integrated into the berry fruits and acidity. It's ready to drink from 2018.
There's zero doubt about this Chardonnay's ripeness. The nose is warm, honeyed and a bit leaden. Round in the mouth, it offers tropical flavors of orange and nectarine. On the finish, a buttery note blends with residual citrus fruit.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this earthy wine leads off with aromas of red berries and wet soil. The juicy palate delivers wild cherry lightly accented with notes of white pepper alongside smooth tannins and fresh acidity. It's an ideal match with a variety of dishes, including pizza. Enjoy soon.
Berry, plum and dusty earth aromas control the nose on this full-flavored wine. In the mouth, this offers weight but good framing and edging. Flavors of ripe red fruits fall into the tutti-frutti category, while creamy oak and spice notes spill onto a medium-long finish.
Intensely aromatic, with notes of blackberries, bramble and granite, this is a rich, lavishly oaked Pinot Noir with heft and power. It's a bit woody now, but 3–5 years in the cellar should bring out its floral, mineral qualities.
While the tannins are still powerful and dense, the wine has rich berry fruits and juicy acidity that give freshness. It's ripe, well balanced, and full bodied, with a dark, concentrated character at the end. Drink from 2016.
Aromas of white spring flowers, ripe Bartlett pear and roasted almond take the lead. The juicy, round palate offers lemon pastry, juicy golden apples and a nutmeg note alongside fresh acidity. It finishes on a slightly sweet note recalling glazed brown sugar.
This is rich and full of superripe fruit that gives the otherwise structured wine a jammy feel. It has a solid, dense texture that brings out blackberry jelly flavors as well as a more tannic core. It's not a wine for long-term aging, so drink from 2015.
A ripe, rich and deliciously spicy wine, it has a light touch of white pepper, red berry fruits and a broad brush of acidity. It's rounded, although with some tannic structure, and can certainly be drunk now.
Oak extract dominates the nose on this wine together with aromas of Golden Delicous apple and lemon zest. The palate offers lemon, oak, vanilla and clove, but it lacks the fruit richness needed to support the oak.
A fruity, lightly tannic blend that comes from a region just to the east of Bordeaux itself. It has ripe berry fruits, a sense of dry structure enveloped with juicy black currants and is finished with crisp acidity.
A fresh, fruity wine that also has some richness. With flavors of peach, canned pineapple, and a touch of greener herbaceousness, it's balanced and rounded. Wait until late 2014 before drinking.
This Zin contains percentages of Petite Sirah, Sangiovese and Grenache, offering powerfully dusty tannins and layers of blackberry. Chewy, the finish is all leathery saddle.
Somewhat rustic aromas recall soil, ripe black berries with a whiff of farmyard. The simple, straightforward palate delivers juicy black cherry and a hint of baking spices. Pair it with hearty pasta dishes or pizza.
A blend of Sangiovese and 20% Canaiolo, it conveys spicy aromas of black pepper, spearmint and toast. The palate delivers black berry and cherry alongside bright acidity. Simple but well-made, it would pair well with hearty pasta dishes.
It opens with aromas of pineapple, papaya and stone fruit. The lively plate offers sweet yellow peach, mango and cantaloupe alongside crisp acidity.
This blend of Merlot and Cabernet has aromas of bell pepper, black currant and a hint of cedar wood. The palate shows one-dimensional flavors of plum, black currant and oak.
Delicate aromas of hazelnut, lemon zest and a whiff of subtle mineral carry over to the fresh palate. It's simple but well-made and would pair nicely with lightly seasoned vegetable risotto.
A green, herbaceous wine that has some concentration from the old vines in the blend. It has grapefruit, intense acidity and a fresh, crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This structured red opens with aromas suggesting espresso, French oak, menthol, mature plum and a whiff of Asian spice. On the taut palate, hints of coffee, toast and clove accent a core of dried black cherry. Tightly wound, assertive tannins grip the finish. Give it a couple of years for the tannins to soften a little then drink up to capture the remaining fruit richness.
This AVA is a hotbed for this grape, as this ripe, robust effort demonstrates. Concentrated plum and cherry fruit has a whiff of leather, along with pretty baking spices. The tannins are substantial, and turn a bit chalky with plenty of skin flavors. Another couple of years of bottle age would be optimal.
All five red Bordeaux varieties are represented here, providing velvety tar and raspberry liqueur, remaining bright and fresh in a medium-bodied package. The brightness of acidity remains through the finish, assisted by a lift of cranberry and cassis.
Light and clear in color, this ethereal and delicate wine is earthy, with a brightness of cherries and a woodsy back note. Subtle in alcohol and power, it provides a food-friendly experience of cardamom and rose petals that makes it pretty on the nose and elusive on the palate.
Black plum, roasted coffee bean, toast and dried herb aromas unfold in the glass. The firm palate offers dried black cherry, espresso, orange peel, clove and sage while close-grained tannins provide the framework and grip the finish.
Both the aromas and the palate shout out the wood aging that's been used in this wine. It is still young and the spice and burnt toast character should soften further into the ripe blackberry fruits. The texture is certainly concentrated and firm; a wine with a good future. Drink from 2017.
Earthy aromas of brandied cherry, spiced berry and coconut require lengthy airing to shed murky, damp notes. This feels tight, with rubbery tannins. Spiced plum, raspberry and foresty flavors finish grabby and lightly herbal.
Ripe blackberry, truffle, cured meat and leather aromas emerge on this svelte red. The polished, light- to medium-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, cinnamon and white pepper while fine-grained tannins provide elegant support.
This pure Pommard-clone bottling offers lighter red fruit with highlights of cocoa and baking spices. The balance is good, and this should age well and develop interesting aromatics if cellared. Drink 2018–2025.
This is a meaty and soft wine with a lot of power behind it. Plummy, slightly jammy yet structured, it features appropriate accents of peppercorn, cedar and toasted oak. Full bodied, it's enjoyable now and a deal to boot.
A wealth of oak and tannin marks the entry of this wine, a blend of 62% Malbec with 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. It mellows on the midpalate, providing a more supple experience of baked plum, raspberry and coffee, finishing with a full-bodied flourish of vanillin toast.
This unfined and unfiltered wine carries itself lightly, as is appropriate to the vintage and the grape. It's clean and delicate, with light raspberry fruit and hints of leaf and dried herb.
Scents of rose powder and petals come up first, followed by hints of cherries. Then the palate brings raspberries, with a sour-candy tanginess. The cleansing acids and overall balance are pitch perfect.
Black pepper, lavender, blueberry, blackcurrant, grapseseed and smoked game make for a heady nose on this wine from a property just south of the Sana Ynez River. The palate offers tart black fruit and elderberry jam, with just enough pepper and purple flowers to round out the sip.
This displays the bright and polished fruit of this excellent vintage. Highlights are pretty cherry and strawberry candy, which touch on cotton-candy charm without becoming sweet or cloying. Just 15% of the wine saw new oak.
Earthy, lightly stalky aromas of leathery plum and currant are not overly assertive. This has a slightly gritty, grating feel, with acidity outmuscling body. Oaky flavors of vanilla and spice accent red plum and pie cherry, while this finishes dry, with lively acidity. Drink through 2020.
Wet slate, cinnamon and allspice notes meet with red cherry, baked black cherry and bramble on the nose of this bottling from a popular single-vineyard source. Clay and chalky earth notes show on the palate, which is very full and rich with tart cherry, black plum and pencil-lead flavors.
Fresh and peppery in a more classic style, this bottling by Gary Robinson shows just-tanned leather, green peppercorn and herbaceous elements that border on bell pepper. Peppery zest on the palate spices up the tart red fruit and crushed thyme herbs. Chill it a tad and enjoy on a warm day.
This wine is sourced from several vineyard sites across the appellation, showing off a healthy balance of acidity amidst crisp swathes of grapefruit, Asian pear and fennel, finishing in nutmeg spice.
Subtlety is not the point of this powerfully flavored, full-bodied and spicy wine. It has aromas of toasted bread and poached pears, with lots of oaky, smoky spiciness as well. To complete the picture, the mouthfeel is viscous and lush.
Fragrant blue flower, black plum, eucalyptus and a whiff of exotic spice lead the nose. The firm palate offers dried black cherry, pomegranate, vanilla and mocha alongside austere, fine-grained tannins that give the finish grip.
A nontraditional blend of 35% Zinfandel, 31% Merlot, 17% Grenache and 17% Petite Sirah, this offers cooked strawberry, sea-salt caramel candy, plum pudding and sweet violets on the nose. The palate shows more dry restraint, with black currant fruit and herbs of dill, oregano and marjoram.
This offers aromas of dark-skinned berry, Asian spice, menthol and new leather. The juicy palate delivers wild cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice alongside fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. It shows good concentration and body for the vintage.
Savory pepper, tangy blueberry, black raspberry and pencil-shaving notes show on the nose of this blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. The cedar and graphite element carry to the palate, where tobacco, grapy fruits and dill make for an intriguing sip.
Mike Sinor's lighter take on Syrah from his new coastal vineyard is refreshing though not quite as inviting as the Black Label. Black cherry, white sage and spearmint notes entice the nose, before the palate breathes in tart elderberries and black pepper, presented with tight tannins and brisk acidity.
Firm but fully ripe, this mixes black cherry and dark chocolate in a tight and chewy style. It's already showing a slight hint of browning, but aerating it aggressively is recommended, or wait until 2017–2018 before drinking.
Silky and fresh, this delivers succulent Marasca cherry, cinnamon star anise, orange zest and chopped herb. Soft, supple tannins and fresh acidity ensure sheer drinking pleasure.
Made by legendary Steve Clifton for a property owner just west of Happy Canyon, this wine shows pure purple fruit aromas of blackberry syrup and blueberry, enhanced by a sprig of spearmint. The palate offers red cherry, boysenberry and lighter blueberry fruit, with a splash of milk chocolate, fudge and dark gravel notes completing the layers.
Dark, brick colored wine, heavily oxidized, with nutty, smoky, Madeira-like flavors, and thick, dry tannins. An odd, raisiny approach to Zin.
This one comes from the Mouton branch of the Rothschilds. Showing its age a bit already, with mature apple and wood varnish aromas that perk up a bit on the palate, where they pick up some attractive lemon nuances.
Simple fruit and a sweet, almost candied flavor. This wine seems unbalanced. There's an odd hole in the middle, and very little weight or tannin in the finish. It's all forward, sweet fruit, more like candy than berries.
Plummy, ripe, beginning to oxidize. Ready to drink right now, it's got a leafy, tomato flavor to it. Unusual.
A famous old brand that seems to be living off past glory, this year's edition is quite neutral in aroma and flavor; you have to work to pick out some mild herb and citrus, but it does show a nice spicy, green-peppercorn character on the finish.
The nose features some plum and faint cedar aromas, but not a lot of intensity; the light black-cherry and cedar flavors incorporate some earthy nuances on the finish. Light and correct, but where's the beef?
The more I taste Vidal, the more I find it an acquired taste—a taste I've yet to acquire. This one has intense aromas of canned creamed corn, with a few other vegetal hints thrown in for good measure. Yes, it's sweet, with balancing acidity and a rich, lush mouthfeel, but the flavors—well, let's just say they're unique.
A white this age should be fresh and crisp; this one is a bit dull and shows only faint bitter lemon flavors on the finish to go with tired apple aromas.
Picture grandma standing over a pot of stewed prunes, which fill the dusty old house with their sickly aromas. Cooked, earthy and rustic, this wine has little going for it. Just barely acceptable.
Young and racy, this has aromas of moist earth, red berry and chopped aromatic herb. The tangy, light-bodied palate offers strawberry, sour cherry, orange peel and a touch of clove alongside firm acidity and refined tannins. It cries out for food and would pair well with hearty pasta dishes topped with thick tomato-based sauces and savory soups.
This blend that seems to include every Corsican and Provence red grape works out as a wild and wonderful wine. With acidity, spice, perfume and tannins that bring in a bramble texture, this is a wine for drinking young.
Inky cool herbal black-fruit aromas set up a choppy tight palate with pounding tannins. Flavors of black coffee and blackberry are heavily toasted. The finish keeps that toasty theme while introducing notes of pepper and horseradish.
Inky purple in color, with herbal, minty, toasty berry aromas that suggest a touch of green, this Tannat-Malbec blend tastes of rooty, baked black fruits and black pepper. On the finish, which is hard as rocks, this tastes of licorice and burnt toast.
This is a new wine from this negociant house that specializes in limited production wines. It is a smooth and rounded wine, ripe with apples and yellow fruits as well as being cut with acidity. The wine is refreshing and crisp at the end with a touch of minerality.
This wine is produced from vines aged 62–88 years old. It has ripe red fruits and soft tannins creating a wine that is generous and ready to drink. It is a blend of grapes from the flat lands beyond the slopes in the Côte d'Or. The wine finishes with acidity as well as attractive fruitiness.
Deep straw in color, this semi-sweet wine made from an indigenous Georgian grape has an aroma characterized by soft hints of apple. It is harmonious in the mouth, with flavors of ripe apple, white peach and apricot that meld into a finish marked by persistent floral sweetness.
Light aromas of pear, white flowers and melon lead to dry, medium-bodied fruit flavors. It doesn't bring much complexity but still offers plenty of appeal.
Aromas of ripe orchard fruit, pressed flower and a whiff of citrus zest take center stage on this enjoyable white. The bright palate offers golden apple and pear while a note of bitter almond closes the finish.
This easygoing, generously fruity wine has candied fruit aromas, just enough tannin for balance and leaves a nice blackberry nuance on the finish.
Attractive floral aromas and bright cherry and raspberry flavors make a light, refreshing impression. This medium-bodied wine has light tannins and lively acidity in the texture.
An attractively crisp wine, this has fragrant acidity and a lively raspberry-fruit character cut with a tight mineral edge. The wine is ready to drink.
Attractive toasted oak and baking-spice aromas dress up the tasty pear and apple flavors in this deceptively light-bodied yet plush-textured wine.
Herbal berry aromas are dry and foresty, much like Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. This is superficially creamy and a touch sticky, but otherwise not that deep or dense. Leafy-berry flavors finish with notes of spice, olive and herbal berry. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot is more old school than modern.
Dank earth, dark berry and cherry are the standouts in this wine, which is a bit more lush than some of the producer's vineyard-designates. Approachable in its acidity and oak, it's a good place to start at a somewhat reasonable entry price.
Fresh blackberry and cherry aromas are cloaked in exotic shades of cocoa powder, soil and spice on the nose of this Cabernet Franc. The palate is a bit more reserved, suggesting crisp black-fruit flavors bolstered by fine tannins and a zesty acidic backbone. The finish is brisk but clean.
This well-mannered, well-balanced and medium-bodied dry wine offers tasty raspberry and pomegranate flavors. Light tannins add a little grip.
This silky, medium-bodied Pinot Noir represents much of what Marlborough Pinot has to offer: generous cherry fruit, modest complexity largely imparted by oak and supple tannins, all at a reasonable tariff. Drink now–2018.
This mild-flavored and smooth-textured wine will be a good supporting actor at the next meal or party. It has subdued fig and baking-spice flavors, a supple mouthfeel and lightly fruity finish.
This is a big wine in structure, but mellow and complex in flavor as if it's been well aged. Blended from Grenache, Tempranillo and Monastrell, it smells lightly sweet and tastes dry and inviting like vanilla, milk chocolate and raspberries.
This wine kicks off with awesome aromatics of jasmine flowers, white beach, green tea and Rainier cherry. The palate is clean and crisp with ripe honeydew melon, Gala apple and Anjou pear flavors that are pleasant but simple.
This wine reflects the ripeness of the vintage while still retaining crisp minerality. Creamed apples are balanced with a tangy texture and soft acidity. The wine finishes with a crisp aftertaste that gives a great lift. Drink the wine now.
This is an attractive red-fruit flavored wine with fine acidity as well as juicy berries and cherry. Its soft tannins are just right to sustain the delicious fruitiness. Dink this wine from 2017.
Showing the ripe 2015 vintage, this is a soft rounded wine. It has attractive acidity to lift the ripe yellow fruit and add a shot of citrus. The wine needs another few months to settle in, so wait until summer 2017.
Medium body and an attractive earthy, oaky flavor profile make this wine a little different from the norm and a great value. It has complexity in the red cherry, rhubarb and sweet-spice flavors, and a supple texture with a touch of tannin.
This wine is pale pink in color. Lightly reduced aromas of dried herb and cherry are followed by an elegantly styled palate, etched with orange-peel flavors. It brings intrigue but the concentration doesn't always seem all there.
Aromas of cigar box, herb and cherry are followed by bright tart acid-driven cranberry flavors. The tannins bring a light astringency but it delivers a lot of enjoyment.
This opens with aromas of acacia flower, lime and a whiff of flint while the savory palate delivers Golden Delicious apple, ginger and citrus zest. It's nicely balanced, with bright acidity.
This wood-aged wine is rich, full with tannins and great black fruits. The vineyard is in the heart of Cahors to the west of the city, able to produce classic Malbec, ripe and full of fruits and acidity. The wine is made to age, so drink from 2019.
This wine is a near equal split between three varieties: Gerenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Mesmerizing aromas of red cherry, plum, wood spice and herb are followed by quite tart elegant fruit flavors. It shows a lot of finesse but still needs some time to stretch its legs.
Now in its 14th generation, this domaine has produced a ripe wine from this single parcel. It's both structured and packed with red fruit and acidity, reflecting its vintage. Drink from 2018.
This 100% Merlot opens with delicate aromas of black currant, tilled earth and a whiff of vanilla. The ripe palate offers black-skinned berries, pipe tobacco and hints of toast alongside assertive tannins. Drink through 2020.
Demure yellow apple and tangerine skin notes are riper on the palate in this easygoing but lip-smacking Spätlese. Streaks of honey and lemon biscuit sweeten the midpalate, calibrated by tangy lime-like acidity and salty minerality. Enjoy now through 2020.
Blossomy and fragrant from start to finish, this semisweet Riesling offers loads of spring floral freshness. Crisp apple and pear flavors are a bit lean in concentration, but sunny lemon acidity lingers brightly on the finish.
Straw colored in the glass with aromas of green apple, citrus blossom and freshly cut grass, this Bulgarian Sauvignon Blanc has flavors of lemon curd, guava and pineapple. It is medium bodied in the midpalate and has a crisp, clean finish.
This 100% Lagrein opens with aromas of blackberry and exotic spice. The straightforward, juicy palate delivers black cherry and a hint of cocoa framed in smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.
With 3% Syrah, this wine has a leathery, gamy character to it, the grapes grown at high elevation. Blueberry and blackberry notes provide a robust backdrop of fruitiness, as chewy, smoky tannins support concentrated black cherry flavor on the finish.
French oak, coconut, underbrush and a balsamic aroma follow through to the full-bodied palate along with licorice, espresso, dried cherry and raw cranberry. Raspy tannins provide the assertive frame work and clench the finish. Give the tannins a few years to relax then drink to capture the remaining fruit.
From this small enclave in the foothills of the Basque Pyrenees, this blend of Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Petit Courbu is crisp, cool and perfumed. White stone fruits and a ripe tangy texture are cut with acidity and a bright, tight aftertaste. Drink from 2018.
This is a young, fruity wine with bright acidity and red berry fruit that comes across as lean. Its structure and tannic core suggests it needs to age. Drink from 2019.
A blend of 85% Melnik, 10% Grenache Noir and 5% Petit Verdot, this wine has aromas of saddle leather, cassis and dark chocolate. In the mouth there are flavors of cherry, chocolate and dried blueberry. It has good balance with a soft tannic finish.
This robust, full-bodied white is dark gold in hue, floral on the nose and voluptuously rich and layered. Honeyed creme brûlée flavors make it inviting and ripe, with an elegance on the finish.
Hailing from the hilltop Határi vineyard, this wine has a delightful aroma of freshly picked lemons and grapefruit leaf. In the mouth, it is creamy and full bodied with flavors of white peach, lemon curd and grapefruit.
This is an almost gulpable Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Soft, cocoa-powder-like tannins frame cherry fruit, while hints of garrigue and earth add interest to the moderately long finish. Drink now–2020.
Savory smoke and mineral tones persist throughout this light-bodied Pinot Blanc, lending a shadowy cast to its fresh lemon and lime flavors. It's refreshing, with a brisk, revitalizing finish.
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.
With aromas of cherry and lavender, this inky garnet-colored wine delivers flavors of blackberry, black plum, eucalyptus, anisette and iodine with a touch of salinity. There is a nice interplay of fruit and cooling herb flavors amid firm tannins that come to a head in a minty finish. Mevushal.
This dessert wine opens with aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine and a hint of cinnamon that carry over to the lively palate alongside ripe pineapple and yellow peach. Fresh acidity balances the sweetness.
Baked loamy berry aromas come with a reedy rooty note of licorice. This feels good but jammy and a touch flat. Jammy raspberry, plum and currant flavors finish spicy and lightly herbal. Drink now.
Touches of smoked nut and dry clay lend earthiness to this crisp, light-footed wine. Dry in style and briskly acidic, it's invigorating refreshment with a zesty, lime pith finish. Drink now through 2021.
Juicy and exuberantly floral, this wine is structured with a reasonable amount of tannin. Its strawberry and cherry fruit is robustly ripe, but high acidity saves the day.
Light and tart, mixing grapefruit, lychee, mineral and floral aromas, all evident here. Very spicy, it is a bit like Gewürztraminer without the floral highlights. The Brix (under 20) leads to a thin wine that doesn't quite reach 12% alcohol.
Pretty good wine with only the mildest weedy, herbal notes. For the most part this is full, sunny Malbec; only a hint of green and finishing black pepper vies with the dark berry and plum flavors that one should expect. Decent balance; ordinary as a whole.
Mocha and chocolate welcome you in, but once you get in there isn't much to taste. There's generic red fruit, spice and leather, but the wine seems acidified and on the razor's edge. Not overly generous and the mouthfeel is sheering.
No stuffing here, just thin berry and cherry fruit and a quick hit of chocolate.
Bubble gum on the nose makes you wonder about carbonic maceration, but that technique wasn't used to make this fruity, simple and generally nice little Cabernet. Don't expect complexity from it, or much varietal character; this is your basic red wine with adequate sweetness and some chocolate.
This unique red blend from New Mexico has a nose of candied spice and a smooth but structured character of red berry, spice and a touch of sweetness. It's not terribly complex but the flavors are good and the overall impression appealing.
Suffers from the common new winery kinds of faults. Overpriced for the competition; there are odd, off scents suggesting hay, honey, and yeast. It feels awkward on the palate, disjointed and incomplete.
Good vineyard sources—Ranch at the End, Chandler Reach and Willow Crest—but the bitter, leathery flavors impact all these wines. Here it's less intrusive than in the Barbera, but it still fouls the finish with bacterial funk. Somewhere in here is some pretty cherry fruit.
Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) Merlot (40%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) comprise this red blend from Idaho, named after the winemaker's son. Soft spice and berry on the nose and toast, tobacco and berry on the palate are approachable and pretty.
Here's a gorgeous, delicious wine that's all about sheer elegance. It's loaded with alluring blue flower, creamy wild cherry and black raspberry sensations accented by notes of carob, clove and white pepper. This is impeccably balanced, with fresh acidity, silky, smooth tannins and a long, lingering finish. It already boasts great depth and complexity, but will continue to evolve for years.
Hailing from a warm region and a warm vintage, this is displaying maximum ripeness on the nose via raisin, prune, blackberry and fig aromas. In the mouth, this is loamy, chewy, a mile deep and rich as Bill Gates. Concentrated black cherry, blackberry, cassis, chocolate and mocha flavors conclude with baked notes, licorice and tobacco. So smooth, yet bullish. Drink through 2022.
Aromas of spiced berry, coffee and balsam wood start slow and pick up intensity. This is powerful but focused from front to back, with hard but honest tannins that will soften with time. Pure, potent flavors of cherry, berry and chocolate come with tons of spicy, peppery oak and all sorts of textural depth. Drink from 2015–2028.
A small, acre-sized parcel gives a wine that has both great structure and finesse. It retains the natural fruitiness of the vintage as well as a more defined texture. Concentration and densely ripe fruit are already finely integrated with the hints of wood. The wine speaks of long aging potential; don't drink before 2019.
Rounded and rich, it is full of dark fruits and red cherries that combine with firm tannins and great acidity. This comes from a parcel of the Corton Rognets Grand Cru that unusually has been given the Faiveley name. Drink from 2020.
This dark, brooding wine is still tight and closed. It's powerful and concentrated, with gripping tannins as well as delicious black fruits. It's solid, chunky and very firm while retaining the generous fruitiness of the vintage. Don't drink before 2020.
Va Piano has introduced a stellar series of single-vineyard Syrahs. But if you had to pick just one, it would have to be this massive, beautifully structured bottle from Les Collines vineyard. Concentrated boysenberry fruit leads into a firm, sleek, subtle wine with even deeper flavors of black cherry, chocolate, espresso and baking spices.
From vines owned by the Chanson family, this is a wonderfully rich wine, deliciously fruity at the same time. Apple and citrus as well as richer apricots come through powerfully. It's structured with a sense of opulence, richness that also has a tight texture. It needs to age; drink from 2019.
This is richly powerful, packed with dark plum fruits and solid, concentrated tannins. At this stage, it is closed, a potential powerhouse of firm fruits and structure. It has weight, the fruit and the firm texture all promising long-term aging. Drink from 2020.
This special wine begins with stunning aromas of cedar, roasted meat and ripe raspberries, then adds savory notes of espresso and black olives to create a harmonious blend of fruity and savory elements. It's full bodied yet supple, with a long, fruit-filled finish. Already enjoyable, it should age well for at least 10 years.
Remarkably inky in color for a Grenache-based blend, it features strong aromas of cedar, meat and deeply purple fruit. The soft, rich mouthfeel coats the palate like a luxurious lacquer, and features flavors of blackberry jam, macerated cherry and vanilla-spiced plums. The blend of florals, herbals, fruit and oak-driven tannins is masterful. Drink now by itself or with a peppercorn-crusted filet mignon.
This is the big one, one of the most treasured white wine vineyards in the world. And the wine is magnificent, balanced with restrained power and style. Yellow fruits are shot through with acidity that conveys a nervy texture and an intense, concentrated character. This needs many years; don't drink before 2020.
Power and concentration exude from this wine. Very structured, very firm, it has solid tannins backed up by powerful black, juicy fruits. Blackberry flavors are still developing in this seriously ageworthy wine. Drink from 2020.
This single-vineyard Rioja is smooth, pure and elegant. Aromas of lemon peel, tobacco, cookie dough, marzipan, spiced plum and cassis set up a lush, deep palate with saturated flavors of wild raspberry, ripe plum, chocolate and fig. Compelling notes of licorice and chocolate are accompanied by a touch of youthful heat and burn on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2025.
Almost jet black, this single-vineyard reserve sports marvelously complex aromas of smoked meat and dark fruits. Those perfectly ripened and layered berry, black cherry and cassis flavors are wrapped in slightly smoky, super-smooth tannins.
This is a powerful wine with complex structure, dense fruits and a solid texture. It's dry, firm, dark and still very young. The core of the wine is still tannin, the black cherry fruit giving so much richness before the fresh acidity cuts in. Drink from 2018.
A specialty of Chanson, this small premier cru gives a perfumed, dark and tannic wine. The dense, firm structure gives a dramatic base to the ripe black fruits, balanced acidity and a touch of wood that smoothes the wine. Drink from 2018.
This reserve is only occasionally produced. A stunning wine, it's tight and packed with raspberry and cherry fruit that show great concentration, well-balanced acidity and ripe tannins. The barrel-aging brings in a nice lick of chocolate to this blend that includes a small amount of Petit Verdot.
Despite being barrel fermented and matured, this Condrieu retains a remarkable amount of varietal character in its flamboyantly floral and spicy aromas. It's full bodied, broad and richly textured, yet avoids any sense of heaviness, finishing on hints of honey and white pepper. Drink now–2020.
One of the flagship wines of Louis Latour, this has great weight, richness and ripe yellow fruits, all surrounded by wood and citrus flavors. A sense of mineral in the texture adds complexity, while the firm structure needs to age. Drink from 2018.
Very terroir-driven from chalk soil in this great vineyard, this firmly structured wine is powerful and solid. There is a mineral character at this stage of the wine's development, with 60% new wood giving a lightly smoky feel. Drink from 2017.
A firmly structured wine, packed with fruit, acidity and complex tannins. It is powerful, dark and rich with great weight to balance the dry, smoky character from wood aging. It's impressive, concentrated with a touch of licorice and spice that  cuts through the acidity. Drink from 2020.
Perfumed green fruits, a crisp texture and layers of tight acidity all point to a wine that is too young to drink. Its hints of ripe white fruits and tangy orange peel are still developing. Drink from 2017.
Ice wines are a rarity in Washington. This one offers aromas of orange peel, flowers and candied ginger, seeming to show a touch of oxygen exposure. It's sweet (155g/L residual sugar) but is still quite deft in style.
This medium-bodied, easygoing red offers aromas of blue flowers, dark berry, underbrush and a whiff of cake spice. The palate delivers blackberry, red currant, ground pepper and a note of star anise alongside firm, refined tannins. An almond note backs up the finish.
This wine starts out quite reductive, while also showing aromas of black olive, herbs and chocolate. It's full bodied in feel with abundant dark fruit flavors that show persistence. There are good things here but the aromas and flavors seem disconnected.
Medium-strength, this wine opens with a bouquet of black cherry and raspberry, unveiling an intensity of smoke and heat as it goes. Cradled in oak, it flattens on the midpalate before rising in strength and length on the finish.
A mix of dried and fresh blueberry notes arises on the nose of this wine, alongside gravel and soft cedar elements. It's very purple on the palate, with more blueberry, olallieberry and grape candy, proving tasty but not especially complex. The tannins keep it firm.
Aromas are quite delicate for the variety and style, with fresh flowers, peach and whiffs of lychee. The palate is similarly restrained, showing elegance with the lightly sweet stone fruit flavors that are accented by bright acidity. It's all about nuance.
The aromas of this jazzy wine disclose lime leaf, white peach and slate. The off-dry flavors of flowers, pear and stone fruit are typical of Washington in their intensity and detail.
Baked cherry, toasted oak and cooking spice aromas lead the nose. On the palate, licorice, oak-driven spice and roasted coffee beans back up a core of dried red cherry alongside tightly packed tannins.
Earthy aromas of tilled soil, bell pepper, ripe plum and a whiff of barnyard waft out of the glass. The palate is a bit rustic, displaying fig, ground black pepper, graphite and a gamey note alongside velvety tannins. Drink soon.
Aromas of blackberry, toast, chopped mint and a whiff of dried rose lead the nose. The juicy palate doles out fleshy wild cherry, ripe blackberry, clove and anise alongside fresh acidity and round tannins. You'll also notice the warmth of alcohol on the close.
Piercing lime notes hit a staccato beat against ripe, luscious white grapefruit in this spry, zesty Riesling. A shade off dry, it's vibrant yet satisfyingly easy drinking. Enjoy now for its youthful exuberance.
Blended with 9% Sémillon, this wine has aromas of lemon curd, starfruit, barrel spices (18% new French oak) and fig. It's full bodied, with a creamy feel and a lingering finish.
All the fruit for this wine comes from Bacchus Vineyard. Aromas of jasmine, honeysuckle and apricot lead to medium-sweet stone-fruit flavors that linger.
Thick and lush in red and black cherry, this wine has voluptuous tannins around a medium to full body. Structured and well balanced, it finishes in a tasty cloud of dust.
Vibrant aromas of honeysuckle, honey-drizzled peach and green apple lead to medium-sweet stone-fruit flavors. Pair it with a spicy Thai dish.
This ripe wine is full of citrus fruit, gooseberry flavors and fully integrated acidity. The crisp background is beginning to fill out and soften. Attractive freshness contrasts with the rich fruits and spice aftertaste.
Lees aromas dominate on this wine along with almond butter, corn husk and spice. It's weighty in feel with abundant green apple, lees and cereal flavors leading to a lingering finish. The style gets a bit out in front of the variety but there's plenty of interest to be had.
Aromas of mature black fruit, blue flower, kitchen spice and a whiff of aromatic herb lead the nose on this savory wine. The smooth, easygoing palate doles out black cherry, plum, white pepper and a hint of anise alongside fresh acidity and polished tannins. Enjoy now.
Slightly herbal aromas and vivid citrus flavors lend a unique personality to this light-bodied wine. A whiff of just-chopped parsley precedes bright lemon-lime flavors and definite acidity that will help it pair smashingly with all kinds of seafood, salads and light pastas.
Fruit and barrel mix together on this lightly colored wine with aromas of coffee, herb, woodspice and pepper. The cherry flavors are reserved in style, pulling up toward the finish.
Varietal aromas of fresh and dried herbs, flowers and cherries mix with tar, chocolate and barrel spices. The palate displays a reserved styling and a lingering finish.
Made in méthode champenoise style from Chardonnay grapes, this offers an entirely appropriate simplicity of lemon-lime citrus and green apple, with balanced acidity. It finishes slightly sweet.
Bold notions of strawberry and cherry form around a robust core of oak and tannin, giving this rounded, approachable wine a medium to full-figured build. Minty earth follows, an element of herb that's refreshing on the palate and impactful, a sign of its cooler-climate vineyard site.
Attractive and complex, this blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah starts with black pepper and roast beef aromas, then goes to deep, just-ripe flavors of Bing cherry and pomegranate. It has full body, good structure and texture. Moderate tannins and acidity balance out the richer impressions.
Young and vibrant, this opens with aromas of red rose, wild berry and aromatic herbs. The bright, savory palate delivers black cherry, juicy raspberry, star anise and clove alongside racy, refreshing acidity.
A perfumed wine, this leaps up with aromas of white flowers, ginger and lychee. It drinks off dry, with a viscous, almost oily feel that provides a sense of heft.
Raspberry, white pepper, iron, dust and a Earl Grey tea element peek out from the delicate and restrained nose. Plums and red fruits mark the tip of the sip, but it clings to a gravelly, brick-laden center line of minerality, proving pleasantly peppery as well.
This is a rounded wine that brings forward soft tannins and flavors of ripe fruit and spice. The red currant fruit dominates while the sultana flavor adds some richness.
Understated on the nose, with hints of fresh strawberries and raspberries, this bone-dry rosé is quite penetrating on the palate, with a deep red-fruit flavor and a vein of crushed-stone minerality.
Soft toasted-brioche and hay notes add depth to the orange rind and apple fruit center. Balanced and refreshing, the ripe fruit flavors flesh out the palate, transitioning onto the medium-length finish. Glimmers of sweet spice and peach pit linger on the close.
Delicate notes of white blossom, Meyer lemon and whiffs of sweet melon and biscuit lend an elegance to this brisk blanc de blancs. A shade juicier than the Brut label, it's softly pétillant, with a distinctly saline minerality on the finish.
There are drying tannins and an earthy underpinning to this bottling of the Gravity Merlot. The cherry and cassis flavors have good grip, leading into a coffee-coated finish.
A softly textured wine, this has richness coming from black and red berry fruits. Wood and juiciness combine well in this attractive wine that will be ready to drink in a few months.
This is stalky smelling, with rustic aromas of roasted berry, leather, tobacco and eucalyptus. It's full in the mouth, with smacking tannins and firm acids that create a flavor profile of roasted, herbal berry and plum. Bitter chocolate and espresso flavors control the peppery, dry finish. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah.
This is rustic, with notes of roasted berry, smoked meat, leather and dried cheese on the bouquet. It feels tannic and pushy, with herbal, wild flavors of dark berry, herb and roasted meat. Slightly warm and herbal, the finish lasts.
Herbaceous and brambly on the nose and palate, Wölffer's Estate Merlot is concentrated in red plum and cherry fruit but lean in structure, with lively acidity and a softly tannic finish. It drinks well now, but it could benefit from decanting.
With its apricot and honey flavors, this is an attractive, fruity dessert wine. There is some dryness from botrytis to add complexity. At the end, the wine offers a delicious fruit salad finish.
Using grapes sourced from Klipsun Vineyard, this is a roughly even Sauvignon Blanc–Sémillon blend. Flavors of sweet toast, lemon verbena and melon, with a hint of mint and a splash of orange soda are all in evidence. Nicely nuanced, this does not overreach, but rather zooms in on the details of aroma and flavor that keep it interesting.
This expressive red starts with aromas of raspberry, sour cherry and vanilla, leading into a medium-bodied, mouthfilling array of fruit, spice and a touch of sweetness. Balanced and structured, with an appealing spice backbone, this wine is an example of an indigenous red with true global appeal.
Even though it is weighty, very full and dense, the wine has a fine balance, with acidity that cuts through the richness.
Steely and creamy at the same time, this is no shy Pinot Gris. It's got body and heft from its time spent in 100% French oak (none of it new), and tastes perfectly in balance, with delightful notes of honeysuckle, apricot and honey. This is a small production made from certified-organic grapes.
Concentrated tannins give this wine from organic grapes a powerful structure. For balance, it also has a more fruity character that offers blackberry and black plums. The dense texture means it needs to age until 2015.
A bright, light and fruity wine that is ready to drink. It has flavors of currants, juicy orange as well as a mineral texture and a touch of bitter marmalade. Drink now.
Just lightly structured, this is a delicious, fruity wine. With soft tannins and rounded black fruits, it's fresh and fragrant. Wood flavors support the fruitiness. Full-bodied and ripe, it's ready to drink.
Straightforward and enjoyable, it delivers aromas of peach blossom and citrus. The juicy palate offers white peach, green apple and banana peel. Sip this as an apéritif or pair with light first courses.
Coming from the cool climate of the Lisbon vineyards, this is a fresh and fruity wine. Some Touriga Nacional perfumes emerge from the soft tannins and final acidity. It's an attractive wine to drink now.
There's a slight cobbler-like character to the nose of this wine, with mealy scents of peach bubble gum, banana and strawberry. The palate is more linear, with a pronounced line of acidity and flavors of green banana and orange citrus.
The lightest possible Chinon, very fruity and lightly tannic, this is a delicious, jammy, ripe and fresh wine. It is all black currants and berries with acidity adding its burst at the end. Drink now.
Light in color, smooth, soft with a trace of astringency to the background, it shows off Barbera's marriage of acidity and denseness. It's a heavier version for sure, with spice and rustic black cherry.
This Verdejo is in its late stages of life but it's hanging in there. Mostly neutral aromas of apple and lime set up a palate with citrusy acidity that keeps the wine alive. Narrow, simple flavors of orange and nectarine finish pithy but true to the variety. Drink immediately.
Muted aromatically, it has a light, bright core of cherry lurking in the layers of juicy spice. The grapes come from the Klindt and Wiley Vineyards. Let it breathe or decant before drinking, and enjoy it soon.
Think of a pink version of Beaujolais Nouveau. The grapy flavors light up this light-bodied, extroverted rosé even more than the almost fluorescent pink color. Very fresh, light and frothy and all those qualities seem right for it.
The wine is ripe, generous and lightly structured. Black currant and black plum fruits surround a dry core that gives texture. It's not for long-term aging.
This rough and tumble Cabernet is oaky and smoky in both scent and flavor. It's a rustic, country wine, big and bold and raw around the edges, but packed with flavor.
Scents of purple fruits and wood smoke lead into a straightforward, fruity wine that plays out broadly across the palate. Despite its forward nature, it thins out quickly. There's a bit of chocolate (from aging in 25% new French oak) in the finish.
This substantial wine is replete with apricot and a faint lurking of herb. The acidity is there, just faintly, racing through to the finish.
Dusty potpourri and mineral tones lend an earthy tone to this lean, off-dry wine. It's fresh with lemon, lime and quince flavors, but straightforward in style with a brisk, herbal finish.
A smooth and fruity wine that has soft tannins and a rich, juicy character. It is full of damson and black plum fruits, ripe and jammy at the end. Drink now.
With a strong undercurrent of bell pepper, this soft Petite Sirah has tense shadings of peppery spice and leather. Ready to drink now.
This hard-drilling, bullish Malbec is bright purple in color, with grapy, heady aromas. The palate is rubbery and grabby, with a shock of zesty acidity. Oversized, roasted black-fruit flavors finish with size, power and a grating feel.
Smooth and appealing, with ample fresh citrus flavors and a supple mouthfeel, this isn't so assertive that it gets in the way of the conversation or the food. Sourcing good quality grapes from non-premier regions keeps the price down.
In a reference to the storks who build nests in the chimneys of the Eiffel-designed DFJ winery, Storks Landing shows bright acidity, layers of citrus plus a touch of more exotic pineapple. A blend of Fernão Pires and Chardonnay, it's fresh and light in the mouth, mineral and crisp at the end.
Apple and peach aromas are dusty and lightly tropical. With no oak, fruit is all you get in this Chardonnay; flavors of apple, nectarine and melon run clean, sweet and ripe, while the finish is mellow and lands smack in the middle of the fairway.
Fully mature, this calls to mind an inexpensive village Burgundy: one that is just a touch past its prime. Delicate secondary fruit flavors and firm acidity are in place, with residual hints of tomato leaf and flesh.
Given time to settle in both used French oak and stainless steel, this is a nice effort from a well-respected vineyard that's big and juicy in grapefruit and melon. Made in a lighter style, it offers a bite of oak on the finish, leaving a substantial impression.
Gritty, reedy, minty aromas overshadow this Tempranillo blend's hollow berry scents. Hard, tannic and drawn in, this wine tastes of rustic plum and berry fruits along with hard spices. Notes of tomato, green herbs and raw tannins create a rugged finish.
Self-proclaimed to be the only Sagrantino in the Napa Valley (which is probably true), this wine displays varietal character in its smoky leather and its fruit characteristics trafficking in tart cranberry, orange and black cherry. It is light and subtle.
Packed in a pink bottle, this Garnacha rosé opens with prickly pink-grapefruit aromas. It's balanced on the palate, with a touch of oily weight. Orange and cantaloupe flavors leave a citric tang on the finish.
The nose on this bottling is very smoky and flinty, but also shows underlying pear and apple aromas. There's an intriguing lime-zest character to the palate, with a base of dried apples and a smoked-wood character that's hard to ignore.
Straightforward and accessible, this has delicate aromas of red berry and kitchen spice. The firm, no-frills palate offers dried cherry, tart cranberry, sage and clove alongside solid tannins. Enjoy through 2019.
This opens with aromas of orchard fruit, citrus and toasted bread crust. The firm palate offers lime, vanilla, oak and yellow apple skin alongside bracing acidity. A note of bitter almond marks the finish.
This is a fine, juicy and fruity wine. It has some firm, smoky tannins that are in the background. With its fruitiness, it is likely to be a wine that is ready to drink soon, certainly by 2017.
A ripe wine from Haure Jany, this is dense with wood and tannins. The black-currant fruit is masked at this stage with a powerful dry core. Let this soften before drinking, so wait until 2019.
Fresh and fruity, this is a bright wine, full of almost shocking acidity and red-currant fruits. Its tannins are there, although more of an afterthought to the fruit. Drink this light fresh wine from 2017.
The Vignobles Bourdillas brothers' wine is fruity with black currant fruits and bright acidity. Fresh with a crisp texture and light tannins, it will be ready to drink by 2017.
The wine, unusually 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, is ripe and juicy with some smoky tannins in support. It has a finely perfumed character although touches of extraction give it a bitter edge. That should blow by, leaving an attractive fruity wine.
This is a potentially juicy wine with acidity and red fruits coming through the structure. It has the weight for the tannins and a rich background feel. Drink starting from 2018.
Closed and firm at this early stage, the wine from Jean-Michel Bergeron has good potential. It is rich with plenty of black-currant fruit as well as dry tannins. Give this wine its time and wait until 2019.
Mint aromas speak of new wood as part of the aging process in this wine from Bordeaux Vineam. It has plenty of spice, while also having fine red-fruit flavors and acidity. Drink from 2018.
The wine is dry and structured with firm tannins that are masking the fruit. It is a concentrated wine, firm and dense. Let this wine develop and wait to drink until 2019.
Steely and tight, this block selection reveals a chalky flavor of citric acid that overshadows the fruit, which turns thin in the finish. Ample aeration helps a bit.
Nervy acidity lends a particularly food-friendly vibe to this light-bodied rosé. It's airy and delicate, rather than deeply concentrated, barely perfumed by whispers of raspberry and rose petal. The finish is brisk, cooling and fresh.
This wine features noticeable nuttiness—part almond, part hazelnut—before allowing tart citrus and underripe peach to pronounce themselves. A robust wine, it has plenty to say in terms of a lush yet balanced mouthfeel and texture.
From an organically farmed estate vineyard in Chiles Valley operated by the same family for more than 40 years, this 87% Cabernet Sauvignon-13% Merlot has soul and structure, as well a stony minerality that compels. Menthol and tobacco weave between thick layers of dark cherry and plum, complemented on the palate by exotic cardamom and clove. This is one worth cellaring through 2022 or giving an hour or two to open.
The normally so rich Rosengartl comes in a much more slender body for the 2014 vintage, with zesty relish even. Here and there are glimpses of opulence, in the shadows of pleasantly bitter honeycomb that also contributes to a beautifully defined, linear texture on the midpalate. The finish is whistle-clean. Bravo.
Woodspice and vanillin are out in front on the aromas followed by mocha, raspberry and dark fruit. The palate brings lush, concentrated flavors and a lingering finish. It drinks beautifully now sbut should have a long life ahead of it.
Peppery berry fruit is the joyful, dominating factor here. Nose and palate simply burst with spicy fruit. There is some grippy tannin as a counterweight. Wonderful freshness against oaky vanilla provides a subtle, understated nuance. There is absolute elegance despite the exuberance.
This wine, made by a relative of the Jocko's Steak House family, is vibrant. Bright and racy, the welcoming nose offers light cinnamon notes, plump raspberries, dried rose petals and a touch of slate. The palate winds tight cranberry-raspberry fruit through layers of bay leaf and dark clay, finishing with a menthol character that lingers into the finish.
Very subtle hints of blueberry emerge first, while on the palate they color both texture and flavor of this elegantly structured wine. Peppery spice tinges the aftertaste. This is fine-boned and defined, but with upright, well-bred poise and a subtle rather than in-your-face charm. Drink this now with game and venison or treasure it for another 3–5 years.
Tarry, savory notes of dried beef, soy, charred lamb and underlying blackberry combine for a nose that screams umami. The palate carries a similar effect of grilled, lavender-covered lamb shank, black peppercorns and black sesame.
This combines 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Syrah, all estate-grown, and crafted into wine by Robert Foley. Herb, peppercorn and a sanguine note of wild game adorned in dried cranberry and plum pop on the palate. The finish brings strong, lasting notes of cardamom and clove.
Sourced from the producer's Reserve Block and blended with 10% Merlot from its Hillview vineyard, this is classic Oakville Cabernet, velvety on the palate and spicy in cinnamon and clove on the nose. Blackberry, dried herb and baked cherry-plum pie all play a part in providing it with richness and complexity. Drink through 2022.
A closed nose leads straight to a vanilla-tinged palate of strawberry enveloped by mellow, soft notes of oak. This is rounded and pliable, cushioned with echoes of baking spice and comfort. The palate is soft and silky. Everything about this wine is soothing and mellow.
A hint of red currant fruit appears on the nose. The slender, translucent palate then expands into a harmony of tart, fresh berries, restrained smokiness, forest floor and earth. There is something honest and pure about this that lets the exquisite purity of those tart berries shine. You simply crave more.
Blackberry, black cherry and blueberry aromas are cut by complex hints of dark chocolate and nutmeg on this Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend. The tannins are quite firm on the palate, framing black plums, vanilla, caramel, dill and dried mint flavors. Drinking 2018–2030 will allow more black cherry and blueberry character to evolve on the sip.
The very slightest touch of honey plays among the citrus notes on the nose. There is a touch of yellow pear but the streamlined palate is guided by a seam of lemon zest, smoke, pear and citrus keep echoing each other beautifully. Will benefit from two to three years of bottle age.
Fermented 40% whole cluster in concrete cubes, this stunning wine provides intensely pure aromas of red and black fruit, flowers and herbs. The dark-fruit flavors are exquisite and fresh with an extended finish.
Crunchy red cherry and stone, the merest hint of vanilla and a densely-packed but toned texture of bundled, fine tannins make for a compact wine. This is too young to show its true colours now and will take time to relax into itself and unfold St Laurent's cherry charm. Right now, everything is tightly grasped and coiled. Drink 2017–2025.
Fleshy cherry fruit becomes immediately apparent, while on the palate the fruit acquires a spicy edge of appetizing white pepper. This is lip-smackingly fresh, even tart, but in a very appetizing, bracing way that will mellow with another year or two in bottle. The fruit is crunchy and juicy, the tannins are ripe and fine and wood smoke hovers deliciously.
Oh the purity of freshly cut red-cheeked apples illuminated by equally pure lemon freshness. Yes this is high in the acidity stakes but comes with so much purity of fruit, one simply has to rejoice in all the liveliness. This offeing has a real spring in its step and will enliven any occasion, balanced and concentrated as it is.
Already well balanced, this firm, concentrated wine allows its fruit to show strongly. Dominated by juicy, black-currant-flavored Cabernet Sauvignon, it is solid while also fresh, layering tannins and acidity. The wine will develop quickly; drink from 2020.
What an inviting, friendly perfume of stone-fruit tempered by lemony freshness. This provides glorious refreshment with such a huge amount of charm that it becomes irresistible. Underneath is a creamy but bracing base of texture that anchors this firmly in ancient stone. This soothes and thrills at the same time—what a delicious, compelling paradox.
A 100% varietal, single-vineyard estate wine, at the top of the producer's heap, this was given almost two years in French oak, half of it new, the other half once-filled. Juicy, it offers refined layers of herb, currant and clove, making for a soft, complex and lightly spicy experience. With sizable structure and depth, it can be enjoyed now through 2022.
Perfumed hints of mandarin and stone fruit are subtly expressed on the nose. The palate is more incisive with fresh lemon zest and a feather-light body which holds fresh sprays of lemony citrus. Light but pleasingly intense, notions of stone mingle with all the lime, lemon and mandarin peel. Beautifully long.
Strong herbal aromas continue to the palate, with green fruits plus a tangy acidity that is fresh and hints of more tropical fruits to come. It's a rich wine that has great potential, so drink from 2019. This is one of several properties owned by Bordeaux vigneron André Lurton.
Dense, concentrated and firm, this wine has a powerful, rich structure that promises well. Big berry fruits and dark tannins are developing well together. The wine is full of promise so drink from 2020. Fifteen-percent of the 74 acres of vines are more than 120 years old. New York banker Robert G. Wilmers bought Haut-Bailly in 1998 from the Sanders family, owners since 1955. Véronique Sanders-van Beek has run the estate since then.
This ripe wine, from young vines, has softened its Sauvignon Blanc herbal character and developed ripe apricots and a delicious richness. The wood-aging shows, although not so as to hide the fruit and the tighter, nervy texture. Still developing, it will be best from 2018.
An opulent nose surges from the bottle in this lush, exuberant wine from the legendary vineyard site. Pronounced flavors of baked apple, caramel, honey and peach combine in memorable, full-bodied ways. Textured and layered, this brooder is drinking great now but should do well with more time in the cellar, through 2023.
Made with 100% dried Zibibbo grapes, this generous dessert wine offers aromas of fresh apricot, lemon jam, sweet spice and whiff of eucalyptus. The enveloping palate doles out mature yellow peach, candied date and a touch of cinnamon while bright acidity lends freshness and balance.
A barrel selection off Craggy Range's estate vineyard in the Te Muna Road area of Martinborough, this isn't a huge blockbuster style, but one that favors elegance. The aromas and flavors are ripe, oozing with hints of plum, black cherry, cola and licorice, but what makes the wine special are its subtle spice shadings and silky texture. Drink now–2025.
Acrid and heavy on the nose, this is not showing any of Torrontés's floral, lighter qualities. Instead, this wine is slightly chemical and rough, with a blocky, citric palate and a mix of bitter citrus and pithy flavors.
Pointed red-plum aromas are lemony and leathery. The palate is decidedly tomatoey and acidic, with flavors of plum skin, currant and pepper. An herbal, spicy, drying finish feels raw and tastes sour.
Minty, candied, wet-dog aromas announce that this is a young, basic wine. The mouthfeel is fresh and acidic, while the flavors of candied berry fruits come across dilute and with little depth.
While this opens with harmless aromas of lychee and tropical fruits, the palate sizzles with sharp citric acidity. Flavors of pithy grapefruit and tangerine finish grabby, tart and aggressive. This is not nearly as good as the two prior vintages.
This is a wine that is totally dominated by wood. So much so that there is little sign of fruit. Maybe it will integrate, but there is a question mark.
Hard and extracted, this is a tough number. The fruit seems lean and the bitter chocolate flavor is not promising much. It may work with food.
The unfocused wine tastes soapy, with bitterness and little fruit. Not a wine to enjoy now or in the future.
At first this smells like plastic and sweet black fruits mixed with chocolate. The palate feels heavy and raw, while flavors of muddled yet tart plum and berry finish big, minty and slightly green.
Green, grassy aromas lead the bouquet, which then turns charred and oaky. In the mouth, clove and heavy oak notes are dominant, while the feel is rubbery and rough. This is rugged and oaky.
This is a straightforward, slighlty tart Chardonnay that's shy with fruit. Sourced from Lodi and Napa.
This is an unfocused wine that has jammy fruit and soft tannins. It tastes overripe. Not for aging.
Aromas of blueberry and soupy fruits lack definition and come across like Kool-Aid. This is flat and stewy in feel, with heavy flavors of raisin and Graham crackers followed by a short finish.
This smells rubbery and horsey at first, then earthy and ripe. It feels grabby and tannic, with rustic, leathery flavors of baked berry and cheese. Narrow and a bit dried out, this may already be past its prime in terms of vitality.
Spice, mint, herb, raspberry and currant aromas form a good nose. Things run a bit choppy and rough on the palate, but overall it works, bearing roasted berry and herb influences, with grabby tannins. This is a full, stocky, spicy and mildly green-leaning Cabernet.
Full bodied and rich, this has flavors of apple and lemon, with a warm and ripe feel that is balanced by a final mineral character. It needs several months to come together.
This is aged in 100% new American oak, putting tight berry and cassis flavors behind plenty of dried herb notes and astringent tannins. Fine for drinking with a thick steak, but not so much for sipping on its own.
Though the vineyard sources—Stillwater and Conner Lee—are first-rate, this wine seems a bit disjointed at the moment. Sweet, juicy fruit opens up into a midpalate that seems to have a hole, and then the aggressive flavors of vanilla surface. The vanilla-tinged finish feels tacked on, though perhaps some further bottle age will help to smooth it.
Spunky and mildly abrasive on the nose, this has some punch and character. It feels fresh, lean and narrow, with a traditional Rioja mix of herb-influenced red-fruit and dry spice notes. The mild finish offers tobacco and raspberry flavors.
This wine smells baked and rasiny, and the bouquet brings charcoal and toast notes into play. It feels mature and ready, with raisin, molasses, chocolate and rooty berry flavors. Ripe and ready on the finish. The blend is Garnacha, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now.
Soft and rich, this is a fruity and textured wine. It has strong pear and spice flavors that complement the edge of lemon zest. This combination results in a wine that is bright and fruity. Screwcap.
Dry tannins from the old wood give this wine a hard edge at first. Fresh, juicy red fruits offer an enticing character. On the finish, the tannins are tough and will need several years to soften
The wood, with its heavy toast and licorice flavors, is dominant. That element makes for a wine that has weight but loses its fruit amid the firm extraction.
Much of the sweet-tasting fruit of 2009 is present in this wine, while it simultaneously features a firm core of tannins. The bright acidity is reminiscent of fresh black currants. Juicy, fruity and likely to age quickly.
In this toasty, wood-dominated wine, the fruit is buried beneath dark, dry tannins. It has enough weight to promise a future when the elements fall into balance, so give it 4–5 years.
Rich and dense, ripe and juicy, this is full of black fruits. It is smooth on the surface while solidly tannic underneath. This is an opulent wine, with a dry, wood-driven finish. Keep it for at least six years.
This is a generous, full-bodied wine that shows the ripe fruit of the vintage. The fruit appears upfront, offering a warm mouthfeel, and the tannic structure is likely to allow it to age.
Initially, the acidity cuts through this structured effort. Then the ripe fruits surface, creating a wine that is both rich and firmly textured. It is full in the mouth, rich and age worthy.
A ripe, juicy and forward wine, this is all fruit—but it's delicious fruit. The tannins are restrained behind the exuberant fruitiness. It may not be classic Bordeaux, but it is likely to be very drinkable in 2–3 years.
Here's a big, smooth, round wine, with tannins that are packed into the superripe fruit flavors. It is powerful and concentrated, and the wood influence is still prominent along with a touch of bitterness from overextraction. It needs time to fully integrate.
Smoky oak enwraps fully developed layers of cherry and blackberry fruit in this thick wine packed with generous tannins. A hearty backbone of oak accents additional leather and dark chocolate flavors.
Light and bright, this combines 41% Syrah, 36% Grenache and 23% Mourvèdre, each sourced from the Landa Vineyard near the town of Sonoma. Menthol and cherry notes arise first on the nose and palate, riding a wave of lifted acidity, with a meaty undertone and lavender and tobacco accents.
Nutty almond aromas open this wine, along with a wave of white flower and herb scents. Light in color, it's exuberant with crisp acidity and delicate apricot and peach flavors, finishing clean and focused.
Coming from older vine plantings at Dionysus, Red Willow, Boushey and Bacchus vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) takes the lead, with the rest Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of graphite, savory herb and red and black fruit are followed by refined fruit flavors. It shows a sophisticated sensibility, bringing a sense of texture and vibrancy, along with a lingering finish.
Produced at the classed-growth Sauternes estate, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc comes from a 17-acre parcel. It has plenty of herbal flavors while also having a riper, yellow-fruit tinge. Lightly oaked, the wine is ripe from this warm vintage and ready to drink.
Lovely aromatics suggest wet stone, raspberry and pomegranate. This is a sleek, subtle wine. Its winery notes suggest it is a “slow bloomer” in the glass, which proves out if you give it that chance. It's balanced and resonant, with the promise of further improvement with another few years of bottle age.
Crafted principally from estate-grown fruit, this has the complexity and downright panache of a far more expensive bottling. Mixed brambly red fruits combine seamlessly, punching through to a lingering finish etched in minerals. What a terrific value!
Compostable earth marks the entry of this clonal exploration—a robust, full-bodied and ripely warm wine.With mint, pine and black tea accents, it offers wild raspberry and rhubarb fruit, bringing a homemade pie to mind.
The nose of this bottling is pleasantly earthy and rustic, with composting rose petal, forest floor, snappy cranberry and iron-tinged aromas. It's light in body yet has a compelling tannic grip, its pomegranate and white pepper flavors proving quite delicate and focused.
An outstanding value, the latest release of this wine dazzles with bold, black cherry and chocolate mocha flavors. The focus and definition throughout are exceptional also. This is a gem at a more than fair tariff.
To judge by the weight of the bottle, this wine is meant to be taken seriously. In fact, its wood aging is the only serious thing about this attractive, dense and fruity wine. It is finely structured with yellow fruits just supported by the toastiness. Drink the wine now.
Toasty aromas lead the nose of this bottling from the Parker family's own vineyard, with brioche, freshly peeled lemon and a slight walnut touch. The palate shows restraint, just barely allowing its crushed chalk, Asian pear, exotic white flower and chamomile flavors to shine through.
This blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 17% Syrah, 8% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc offers plummy chocolate and leather notes and dense, layered tannins. Toasty oak adds to the concentration and body, before a lift of acidity closes out the finish. This wine is available in three Halloween-themed labels all created for Flora Springs by CD-cover artist Wes Freed.
This dense, round, full-bodied red from a quiet appellation offers smoked plum and dark cherry flavors, with integrated oak and tannin.
Ripe jammy aromas of red currants and berries set up a linear-feeling palate that is ruled by zesty core acidity. This blend of Carignan, Garnacha and Mataro tastes of snappy saucy red-berry fruits, while the finish slings a bit of tomatoey tang. Drink through 2024.
The aromas are wound up at present, with notes of generous barrel spices, dried herb, dark fruit and pencil lead. The dark-cherry flavors are smooth and supple, backed by fine-grained tannins.
Syrah makes up just under two-thirds of this blend. Dark in color, it brings aromas of generous French-oak spices along with mineral, olive and dark fruit followed by a spicy top note. The palate is rich and dense, full of tightly wound cherry flavors that linger on the finish.
The best vintage to date for this wine, delivering sharp well-defined varietal character. It's tight, tart and focused, mixing lemon, orange and cherry fruit with a well-built finish. No new oak, just half neutral and half twice-used barrels, but the highlights of toast and mocha latte add a nice touch to the tannins.
Light in color, with depth and clarity, this wine shines with dusty black cherry and pomegranate flavors and an ethereal texture of tension and earthy acidity. Clove and orange zest touches dot the long finish.
This bottling named after vintner Bill Foley's mother shows apricot, gardenia and smoke aromas, accenting its underlying minerality that recalls hot sand on a beach. The clean and crisp flavors combine sea salt and lemon peel with Asian pear and a touch of honeydew melon.
This is a rich, fragrant and luscious-tasting dessert wine. Wonderful honey, orange blossom and peach nectar aromas waft from the glass, and concentrated, luxurious, sweet fruit and floral flavors wash over the palate. The mouthfeel is rich and viscous, leaving a long finish that echoes the sweet honey aromas.
This is 100% varietal with the fruit coming from Ciel du Cheval, Red Willow and Phinny Hill vineyards. Expressive but still wound-up aromas of exotic spice, French oak, chocolate and dark fruit are followed by pitch-black fruit flavors and tightly wound tannins. It's not yet ready to fully reveal its charms but has the stuffing to go the distance.
When first opened, this seemed a bit shallow, but it blossomed with breathing time into a lovely brambly berry-soaked wine with a full-bodied palate. Streaks of cola and molasses come up also, lengthening the finish and adding texture and detail.
Named after the dovecote on the Vesuvio estate, this wine comes from low-yield vines. It is certainly concentrated while preserving plenty of open fruit. The black-cherry and blackberry flavors are combined with some firm dry tannins that will allow the wine to age further. Drink from 2019.
Sourced from several appellations, including the producer's heritage Russian River Valley site, this wine offers smoky oak, bacon and blackberry jam flavors. Thick and florally perfumed, it balances its brawnier side with spice.
Plummy cinnamon and grape notes highlight this well-made, full-bodied wine's lush, soft-textured expression. It boasts integrated oak and compelling concentration, finishing in a plume of smoke.
The fruit from this cool-climate AVA brings flavors of citrus rind, wet stone and green apple. It's a wine with finesse, barrel fermented and put through partial malolactic. The mouthfeel is lively, and the finish carries a hint of fresh brioche.
This has a medium-garnet color, not overly dark, and the aromas are a bit restrained. However, the flavors ring out and range from higher notes of raspberry and cranberry to a bass note of black cherry for a whole octave of fruit. Classic firm acidity and tannins provide textural backbone and the finish, though lean, lingers.
Aromas of crushed violet, dried rose petal, underbrush, ripe berry and a balsamic note lead the nose on this classically crafted Nebbiolo. The firm palate delivers dried black cherries, raspberries, licorice, clove, mint and tobacco alongside assertive but polished tannins and bright acidity. It's still young so let this fully develop. Drink 2019–2029.
Oaky, inky aromas of blackberry and vanilla are pushy and potent. This blend of 50% Tempranillo and 50% Syrah is rubbery and pinched on the palate, while toasty, rooty flavors of black fruits blend with herbal berry and coffee notes. A narrow finish is herbal in flavor and weighty. Drink through 2020.
This bold and full-bodied wine has fragrant fruit aromas and oodles of berry flavor, plus a firm texture created by ample fine-grained tannins and supportive acidity. What makes it special is how the grippy texture wraps around the opulent blackberry and boysenberry flavors for great balance and a sense that it will age well through 2022.
The Roserock cuvée is notably dark and concentrated, with loads of ripe black cherry fruit. The nose is spicy, and flavors are saturated with luscious mocha. This is a fine example of the vintage, ready to enjoy immediately.
This full, ripe, balanced Priorat is a touch oaky and creamy up front, with schisty berry scents resting below the surface. Medium but nice on the palate, this offers cherry, currant, plum, coconut and marzipan flavors prior to an oaky, rooty tasting finish with ripe berry flavors. Drink now through 2021.
This fresh, savory blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese offers a bouquet of blue flowers, cedar, wild berry and light cooking spices. The vibrant, focused palate doles out juicy wild cherry, ripe red currants and white pepper alongside silky smooth tannins and bright acidity. Drink through 2020.
Herbal blackberry, raspberry and leather aromas are solid and inviting on the nose. The palate is juicy and lithe, with a springy, bouncy mouthfeel and lightly herbal, earthy flavors of cassis and raspberry. Drink through 2019.
Rooty berry aromas vie for attention with molasses, graphite and earth notes. This Toro is stout and creamy in feel, with bracing acidity and firm tannins. Baking spice, roasted black-fruit and molasses flavors are typically ripe, while the finish is hot, with punchy acidity. Drink through 2020.
This has a vibrant yellow-gold color and aromas like fresh herbs and sliced celery. Almost electric acidity pulses in the crisp grapefruit, lime and melon flavors that lead to a lingering finish. The vivid freshness and tangy texture sets it apart from the crowd, and it will work wonderfully with foods from raw oysters to roast chicken.
Firm and flavorful, this brings well-ripened raspberry and black cherry fruit into focus. The wine spent 17 months in 60% new French oak, wrapping the fruit in layers of coffee, maple syrup and brown sugar. It's tasty and substantial, best now through 2020.
Made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 25% other varieties, this offers aromas of dark fruit, blue flowers, sweet spice, pipe tobacco and cedar. The mature palate shows raisin, licorice, mint, menthol, grilled herb and dark chocolate alongside smooth, polished tannins. While it's already accessible, this should hold well for another four or five years. Drink through 2020.
Coming from high terraces above the River Lot, this wood-aged wine is cool, collected and stylish. It has ripe blackberry and currant fruits along with just the right amount of firm tannins. Acidity keeps everything fresh and fruity while guarding the structure. Drink from 2017.
From a leading small domaine, this blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah is sure to make virtually any lover of Rhône wines smile. Crushed thyme accents ripe cherry fruit in this full-bodied, moderately rich wine that ends with a dusting of velvety tannins. Drink now–2018.
One of a series of wines made from individual parcels, this ripe, lightly wood-aged wine is both perfumed and spicy. While rich, it is not overwhelming, having freshness as well as ripe tropical fruit flavors. Drink this wine now.
This is a very pale rosé from a relatively high elevation site, so it shows ample crispness and elegance. Delicate aromas of herbs and citrus lead into flavors of peach and lime, with a bit of wet stone on the long, refreshing finish. This is well balanced and long, not a simple fruity rosé.
Honey-roasted almonds, seared lemon vinaigrette and honeydew melon show on the delicious nose of this off-dry wine from an extreme coastal vineyard above Cambria. Though slightly sweet, it remains rich and intriguing, with lots of citrus peel, grapefruit pith, squeezed oranges and touches of petrol.
Grapes from three vineyards (estate, Hyland and Durant) and seven different clones are blended here, then aged for 14 months in 40% new French oak. At first sniff it's more steely than oaky, with chunky flavors of red fruits firmly underscored with highlights of earth and stem. There's a vein of black licorice also, and the wine leaves the impression that waiting until 2016–2017 will help bring out its best.
Lightly honeyed, this off-dry wine is complex while also fruity. Intense flavor fills the mouth with spice, yellow fruits, pineapple and a touch of mango. The fruits are balanced by the more nuanced honey and spice character that is finished with acidity. Gros Manseng, a native grape of this region, is worth getting to know. Drink this delicious wine from 2016.
Succulent yellow plums and cherries burst from each sip of this gloriously honeyed Riesling. Semisweet in style, it juxtaposes a densely packed core of stone fruit against dazzling lemon-lime freshness. Layers of mineral, earth and pollen lend nuance to a long, ambling finish. Drink now, but also hold a few bottles back to mature through 2025.
Bracing lemon and lime flavors are offset by streaks of luscious white peach and wildflower honey in this mouthwatering kabinett. While off dry and racy in style, it finishes long, enriched by creamy, lingering touches of hazelnut and cashew. Drinks gorgeously now, but has enough complexity and structure to evolve well through 2020.
Not too deep in color or overly effusive in aroma, this nevertheless full-bodied wine has fresh red cherry and plum flavors backed by firm acidity and tannins. Its relative restraint and balance will make a great accompaniment to grilled quail or chicken or even roast venison.
Oak, toast, menthol and a whiff of purple flowers lead the nose on this blend of Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentrated palate delivers dried black cherry, chocolate, vanilla and dried sage alongside tightly-packed tannins. A clove note signals the finish.
Very yeasty and slightly clouded in the glass, this wine by regional bubbly pioneer Norm Yost shows buttered plums, rising sourdough bread and freshly picked scarlet red rose petals on the nose. The mouthfeel is noticeably creamy, with more bready yeast, citrus peels and hints of hibiscus and jasmine.
Toasty, warm, charred aromas accent earthy, enticing plum and prune scents. This ripe, round, well-structured Rioja is moderately deep on the palate but also bouncy and elegant. Earthy baked-plum flavors come with leathery accents and savory oak, while the finish is lasting and balanced. Drink through 2018.
Termes always delivers a full taste of Toro at an affordable price. This vintage smells deep, cool and full of cola, rooty blackberry and fine herbs. A flush mouthfeel is tannic but manageable, while ripe, baked flavors of blackberry are savory on the backside and finish lush and deep, with lasting hard tannins. Drink through 2020.
There's a honeyed, mead-like character on the nose of this Steve Clifton wine. It also shows buttered brioche, lemon curds and an underlying white rock minerality. Ruby-red grapefruit flesh and ripe nectarine flavors arrive once sipped, and a chalky grip ensues, making for a very dynamic and intriguing wine.
This smells as vivid as fresh-picked and crushed grapes, combining cranberry, raspberry, cinnamon and other spices. Flavors suggest black cherry, blackberry, and attractive spicy oak. It is full bodied, smooth but a bit tight in texture due to great, firm tannins and lively acidity. A nice touch of sweet-seeming oak marks the lingering finish.
This wine has a bright, crisp character that is reminiscent of Chablis. It has refreshing lemon and apple flavors, and it's ready to drink.
Yeasty, sweet pastry notes are enticing on the nose of this intense, juicy, off-dry Riesling. It has a delicate structure and a creamy texture, and it balances brisk, lemony acids with ripe yellow-peach and grapefruit flavors.
This bears apple and pear flavors that are set amidst buttery, toasty accents. It's smooth and easy to drink, and the mouthfeel has a certain oiliness.
Ripe and fruity, this is a round, soft wine that shows the jammy character of Pinot Noir. It has a straight line of acidity that cuts through the fruit, which makes for an attractive, light finish.
Light and fruity, this has flavors of creamed apple and ripe Williams pear. The wine is crisp and tangy, and it's shot through with lemon zest and acidity. Ready to drink in one year.
The 2010 vintage of Te Kahu is 80% Merlot, with only single-digit percentages of the other varieties. It's a darkly fruited wine, with notes of black cherry and blackberry that are impeccably clean and precise. Drink this silky-textured, medium-bodied wine over the next five years.
Despite having a lovely, silky texture, this wine is slightly disappointing given its pedigree. It's already bricking in color, and it offers evolved notes of earth, leather and charred beetroot and a lingering finish. Drink now.
This is a lightweight Pinot Noir with seductive aromas of pie cherries and dusty roses, and a delicate, almost lacy, texture. It's the kind of pretty, silky Pinot that would be at home with chicken and fish dishes. Drink now.
Fresh and floral on the nose and palate, this has loads of white flower and Meyer lemon tones. Dry in style, it builds in intensity on the palate, with hints of honey, wax and saline-like minerality that linger on the finish.
Drawn from the Awatere Valley subregion, this is a chunky, full-bodied Pinot Noir. Oak is prominent, in the form of toast, vanilla and graham cracker notes, while the fruit is grapy. This wine shows decent length; the finish is cushioned by soft tannins and is pointed up by tart acids. Drink over the next year or two.
Thick, rich and almost cordial-like, this has generous fruit and oak components. It's ready to be paired with a peppered steak.
Think Crozes-Hermitage and you'll have a reasonable idea of what this wine is about: White pepper and cherry aromas and flavors, medium body without being overly rich or textured and a crisp, peppery finish. Drink it over the next couple of years with burgers and the like.
Despite possibly being the least complex of Saint Clair's 2010 Pioneer Block Pinots, this medium-bodied wine has crisp acids and mouthwatering flavors of black cherries and fresh herbs. It's fresh, clean and invites sip after sip. Drink now–2016.
A darker expression of Pinot Gris than the winery's new Marguerite Vineyard bottling, this wine, which is made from fruit grown at lower elevation, sees no oak, and it's crafted without malolactic fermentation. Pronounced notes of almond and vanilla are layered over touches of peach and melon.
Nicolas Potel's entry-level Burgundy is an elegant, fruity wine, with soft tannins, rich strawberry fruit and a ripe feel. It is ready to drink.
The bouquet on this blend from the Limarí region is perfumed, floral and slightly exotic, with spunky red-fruit scents and graphite. The palate is full and mouthfilling, with lightly herbal blackberry, plum, pepper and spice flavors along with mild heat and a toasted note. Despite showing a hint of burn, this is a serious wine with short-term aging potential. Drink now–2017.
Along with the other top cuvées in the Charles Joguet range, this is a fine an expression of Loire Cabernet Franc. It has all the perfumes, smoky character and intense black currant fruits. all concentrated into a tight, coiled tannic structure. It shows every sign of aging well, so drink after four years.
With new wood dominating this still young wine, it is concentrated and full bodied, packed with firm tannins and dark fruit. There is a brooding character, the wood and tannins still right up front. Give this structured wine at least five years.
The top cuvée from Thomas (you can tell by the heavy statement bottle), this is an almost opulent expression of Sauvignon Blanc. It builds on its texture, gained from the chalk soils of Sancerre, with intense tropical fruits, pineapple as well as citrus and grapefruit. It is structured, dense and impressive.
There are many things to love about this blend of Carignan, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon. To begin with, it's properly schisty and spicy on the nose, with mature, slightly herbal berry-fruit scents. This feels dynamic despite showing roasted flavors of red berry, pepper and wild herbs. For under $50, this delivers a lot of quality. Drink now–2016.
Now mature, this rounded, ripe wine has yellow fruits, mango and a soft, opulent texture. It's an impressive example of how well Sauvignon Blanc can age in Pouilly Fumé, a style that doesn't quite forget the herbaceous edge of the grape while rounding it out deliciously.
A beautifully structured, ripe wine that's full of juicy blackberry flavors, ripe tannins and a dense texture. The concentration from old vines is a particular character of this firm wine. Age for at least four years to get the full benefits.
Made in a somewhat restrained, focused style, this wine features hints of smoke combined with peach and pineapple notes to create the impression of grilled fruit aromas and flavors. It's linear and crisp on the palate, with admirable length and mouthwatering citrus notes on the finish. Ready to drink now.
Cullen's Kevin John remains one of Margaret River's (and Australia's) benchmark Chardonnays. Scents of grilled peaches lead into flavors of pineapple, vanilla and smoke, but more importantly, the palate is balanced just right. It's not too broad, not too lean; not overly sharp, but not soft. The finish is long and harmonious.
The bouquet on this blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah is toasty and elevated, a clear invitation to dig in. In the mouth, the flow is silky smooth and just snappy enough, with finely etched acidity pushing raspberry, plum, herb and cocoa flavors. This is excellent in every way; drink now–2018.
Robert Brittan oversees this project. This first release is a cuvée assembled from a selection of barrels he had vinted at the Carlton Winemakers Studio. Silky and dappled with details of underbrush, bramble, black cherry, cassis, smoke and clean earth, this is a lovely blend with elegance to spare. The low alcohol in no way means this is a thin or shallow wine.
This defines small-production, high-end Priorat. Leather, tomato, spice and tobacco are draped all over subdued plum and cherry aromas. The palate is silky in feel, with peppery spice, mocha and red-fruit flavors. On the finish, anise and mild herb flavors dominate. Drink now–2017. Only 250 cases made.
After years of tasting Don David Malbecs, here's one that rises above the rest. This is jammy and stacked with brawny black-fruit aromas. The mouth is bulky and bullish, but balanced, with blackberry flavors that are coated with copious oak and end in a tornado of coffee, mocha, mint and oak. Drink now–2016.
Bolinas-based Sean Thackrey's new project, Cassiopeia is centered on one block from a single Anderson Valley vineyard. His quest was to see what four different Pinot Noir clones on one rootstock, all the same age, and treated otherwise similarly, could become once turned into wine. This, the 114, is lightly rendered, though deceptively full and meaty, tasting of dark cherry and herb.
This is another outstanding vintage for Seven Hills Malbec, clearly one of the best in the Northwest. Dark, concentrated and impeccably focused, this mixes raspberry and cherry fruits with threads of smoke, espresso and dark, roasted wood. The tannins are gorgeous—smooth, powerful and stylish to the point of silkiness. Licorice and dark chocolate put the bow on the finish.
Crafted from the oldest vines in one of the oldest vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, this displays lovely aromatics of leaf, herb, earth and wild berry. Tight and contained, it opens into a focused, lively wine with great acidity. It has the potential to age well for a decade or more.
Gold color, this is a delicious ripe wine from the small section of the Layon valley that also has the Quarts de Chaume vineyard. The honeyed character is cut through with dry botrytis, baked apples and brown sugar, balanced by intense acidity.
A structured, ageworthy wine that has fragrant, smoky black currant fruits, layered with firm tannins. It is finely balanced, elegant, its acidity just the right balance to the developing rich fruits. For aging over 3–4 years.
The massive 2009 vintage has produced a rich, full-bodied wine. Wood aging shows in the smoothing of the tannins, which are joined by concentrated blackberry fruits, a smoky, just burnt wood character and a dark character that will need several years to open up.
The Stiftsbreite vineyard has a claim to fame: It is the largest St. Laurent vineyard in the world. This fruity wine sums up the grape with ripe red berry and spicy black cherry flavors, just bursting with juice and bright acidity.
Spunky and bright in terms of its aromatics, with musky lime and mineral notes. The palate is both juicy and round, with lemon, lime and piercing, pithy citrus flavors. Citric, sheering and foxy on the finish, and exceedingly cleansing.
Tight acidity and grassy herbaceous character, the wine has crisp fruit, a flinty structure and a brittle apple skin texture. For fresh aperitif drinking.
A bold, aggressive wine that lacks a bit of elegance, the 2008 Galvo Garage is a big mouthful of cassis and cedar. In another few years it may settle down, but for now the overall impression is of a rather rough customer that's best suited to be poured alongside grilled steak.
This is a fresh and easy to drink white that's perfect for pairing with salads or citrus-based grilled fish. Medium weight with prominent tart flavors of lemony citrus and green berries, and the finish offers a hint of fresh hay.
Though labeled simply Columbia Valley, the grapes are single vineyard, Rattlesnake Hills AVA fruit. The best of the Girly Girl lineup, though the promising beginning (cassis and berry, scented with black olive and herb) quickly fades into a forest floor finale of decaying leaves.
The first Bishop Creek designation from Erath, this dark-toned, deep and concentrated Pinot Noir is one to cellar. The fruit is seamless, sappy and dense, suggesting a mix of ripe berries. Fourteen months in French oak, about 40% new, seems just right, as the barrel notes of toast and coffee dance around the juicy berry flavors without smothering them.
This is essentially DDO's reserve Pinot Noir; it requires some patience at first, because it is quite tight, almost inscrutable. With many hours of breathing it fleshes out and opens up, revealing a wine with interesting nuances of cured meat, mushroom and light earth. The fruit is a notch more concentrated and full than the regular DDO, but retains a sense of tart berry and light cherry rather than being sweet or jammy. This absolutely must be decanted well in advance.
Dense and powerful, this is an impressively concentrated and intense wine. It brings out rich tannins, equally rich black plum and spice flavors, a layer of smokiness plus a strong slash of minerality that cuts across the texture. For aging 5–6 years.
Ripe and spicy, this is an impressive, solid, new wood-dominated wine. The tannins come from high toast as well as the concentrated blackberry juice fruits. That makes it dry, a wine that needs to soften. But it has all the intensity that are the hallmarks of top Douro wines, so try it again in a year.
The flagship wine from a relatively new Barossa producer, the 2004 Benno features smoky, savory, spice- and meat-driven aromas that easily move into complex and well-integrated flavors of spice and dark berries. Despite its labeled 15% alcohol, the wine isn't heavy, instead offering medium body and a creamy smooth texture. Finishes long, with lingering dark fruit flavors. Drink now–2020.
Savory aromas of black pepper, teriyaki-glazed steak, charcoal and elderberry jam converge for a compelling nose on this bottling. There is a strong soy richness to the sip, with grilled black plums and alder smoke flavors. It's the perfect barbecue wine.
This wine's vanilla, woodspice, black cherry and dried herb aromas lead to tightly wound fruit flavors with hefty tannins. Oak plays prominently, but it largely works, needing only additional time in the bottle or a short decant to strut its stuff.
A very streamlined Chardonnay, this bottling from a vineyard southwest of the Sta. Rita Hills shows aromas of chalk, Meyer lemon slices, white flowers and apple pie crusted with almond and coconut flakes. Persistent acidity carries the palate into flavors of gravel, lemongrass, lime and lemon-lime.
A ripe, balanced wine that has juicy red strawberry and raspberry fruits and fine acidity to balance. It is warm and rounded, full of dense fruits, with its tannins surrounded by the cushion of the fruit. Drink this already delicious wine from 2021.
This blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc shows prominent blue fruit aromas, with plum, mountain blueberry, herb and spice notes to round them out. The flavors are concentrated and texturally rich, providing a lot of appeal.
Bay leaf, tomato leaf, green peppercorns, loamy mud and a slight touch of pasilla chile show on the nose of this blend of 48% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Peppery spices dominate the palate, including hints of Mexican mole sauce, making for a very intriguing and elegant wine.
While lavishly oaky and luscious in feel, this barrel-fermented Chardonnay maintains balance and levity. It's a ripe, plump wine, but fresh in acidity and delicate apple, lemon and spice flavors. A kiss of vanilla lingers nicely on the finish.
Structured and firm with fine red fruits and acidity, this is a wine that brings out all the structure of the appellation. It has acidity and red cherry and berry fruits that are shot through with a crisp texture. Drink from 2020.
Floral cedary aromas and big berry-soaked flavors come together on a smooth but appropriately tannic texture as this full-bodied wine drenches the palate with blackberry and boysenberry richness. It combines power with complexity and has the grippy texture needed to carry all that ripeness. It was blended with 11% Petite Sirah and 5% Barbera.
There's not a lot of embellishment on this steely, tightly structured Chardonnay but its transparency is quite enthralling. The palate is bracing and mineral, offering zesty lemon and green apple flavors that seem to build in concentration and density in the mouth. The finish is long and saline.
From Quinta Santa Rosa Vineyard, this blend of three clones shows plump red-plum and hibiscus aromas on the nose as well as sharp cinnamon, cola and sumac spices. That tangy sumac character extends to the sip, where tart raspberry makes the eyes water. Also present are fine-grained tannins and a slight touch of Early Grey tea.
Classic Petite Sirah aromas leap off the nose of this bottling, including dense black rocks, crushed gravel and lava rocks, a touch of espresso bean and a light brush of purple flowers. The palate starts juicy with ripe blueberry then grows complex through charred meat, tar and coffee. The tannins are still stiff but will mellow slowly.
Orange peel, fresh flower, black olive, moist earth and tire rubber aromas lead to intense, palate-coating fruit flavors in this Syrah. It doesn't seem to have fully blossomed yet but has all of the stuffing to suggest a long life ahead, with floral accents on the finish.
This is a beautifully balanced and well-rounded wine that has light spicy aromas and generous fruit flavors. Made from nearly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the mouthfilling texture boasts tiny bubbles, good acidity and excellent fruit concentration.
Bold proportions of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meuniere in this traditional-method sparkling lend sweet-tart bursts of raspberry and blackberry from nose to palate. It's a deeply concentrated wine, with fine, piercing bubbles and a lingering finish.
Baked blackberries meet with caramel, vanilla, forest floor and a tart plum skin touch on the nose of this bottling by the Paso Robles-based Tooth & Nail team. It's smooth and soft on the sip, with black currant, elderberry, pepper dust, charcoal and rosemary flavors. It's ripe but with a very dry edge.
Elegant and nuanced, this penetrating Cabernet Franc offers bold strokes of blackberry and plum tinged with hints of wet soil, crushed mineral and spice. It's bold and lusciously composed but there's a puckery-fresh brightness of acidity that's delightful. Released with extended cellar aging, its soft, feathery tannins are approachable already but it's still structured enough to improve well through 2025.
Primary, concentrated raspberry and cherry flavors pierce through the core of this rich, fruity Pinot. Subtle oak aging lends delicate vanilla, spice and nut tones, but it's an elegant, finely structured wine with crisp acidity and fine, persistent tannins. Drinks well now but should improve through 2021.
Savory, mature aromas of woodspice and earthy berry fruits form the greeting on this gran reserva that's more lively than subdued or silky. Spicy, oaky berry flavors have a ripe, rooty component, while there's just enough pop to a bold, baked, chocolaty finish. Drink through 2026.
Malbec and Petit Verdot each make up 37% of this wine, with the balance in Cabernet Sauvignon. The Malbec pops aromatically, suggesting clove, spice and plum. The palate is well balanced, with supple black cherry flavors and a persistent finish. It brings a lot of appeal.
The only varietally labeled Barbera from the Rocks District, this offers intriguing notes of currant, savory herb, pipe tobacco and moist earth. The palate is light in body, with a mix of fruit and savory flavors that carry through to the cranberry-inflected finish.
From one of the highest of the Mercurey premier crus, this wine has a crisp edge to its otherwise ripe red fruits. It has a fine line of wood as well as the juicy fruitiness and acidity. The wine is already balanced, likely to develop easily and quickly. Drink this from 2019.
Black pepper and grilled beef aromas lead to ripe and almost-sweet flavors that segue from dried plum to roasted walnut and toffee, for a fascinating savory personality. Made with equal amounts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the wine has firm tannins and brisk acidity to balance a good rich viscosity that helps the finish linger.
This ripe, generous wine is full of the bold red fruits of this fine vintage. It also has structure, spicy wood flavors and a rich, full character. With its juicy acidity in the background and its impressive density, the wine is going to age a little longer. It will be best from late 2018.
Dominated by its young tannins, this perfumed wine is bright with acidity. It has spice, an intense, crisp character and the need to age for a considerable time. Drink from 2023.
This is a single-vineyard wine which is beautifully rich and already soft and smooth enough to drink. To be sure, it will age further and mellow with time, but for now it is the ripe red-berry fruits and generous tannins that are so attractive. Drink now and until 2026.
A tropical Chardonnay with a full-bodied personality and aromas of vanilla and caramel. Priced fairly, it'll please California Chardonnay fans who like a bigger style.
This lightly oxidized Chard is powdery but not entirely fresh, as it shows aromas of pool water and mealy melon. The palate is chunky and just O.K. in feel, while fleshy flavors of melon and peach end briny and mildly bitter.
Oxidized cherry and strawberry aromas settle on heavy and candied upon airing. This is thick and plump stuff, with sweet red-fruit flavors and seemingly a lot of residual sugar. This needs more spine and structure.
Lightly sweet, this is a soft, gently fruity wine with a prickle on the tongue and fruit-drop acidity. Screwcap.
This is dark in color and leafy smelling, with aromas of forest floor and herbal black fruits. The mouthfeel delivers a hard belt of acidity and not much else, while flavors of oaky spice and tart berry fruits are adequate but unspecial.
Blended with 10% Malbec, this has notes of Maraschino cherry, red vines, and Band-Aid. The tannins are dry and gruff; the concentration is wanting.
This aromatic wine has notes of raspberry jam, seabreeze, green olive and smoked meat. The flavors are light and lacking in structure and definition.
The nose on this clunky Torrontés suggests apricot juice and talcum powder. The palate is flat in feel, with bitter, pithy citrus flavors of grapefruit and nectarine. Beyond that there's little to it.
Chunky berry and cured meat aromas turn sweaty and herbal with airing. In the mouth, this is wholly basic. Flavors of soupy, herbal berry fruits lack definition, while the finish deals molasses and peppery bitterness.
The aromas smell disjointed, with notes of barrel spice, vanilla and maple syrup. The palate is quite sweet and ripe, with abundant baking-spice accents.
This simple white has subdued aromas of white spring flower and white stone fruit. The no-fuss, rather diluted palate offers hints of white peach, green apple and a whisper of white almond.
Blending Touriga Franca, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, this is an attractive young wine. With both acidity and tannins already integrated into the ripe black fruit, it is a wine to drink young.
There's a funky, foxy note and a sour edge to this wine, which seems disjointed, or perhaps still showing a little bottle shock. Component flavors include sour plum and wild cherry, and the finish is leathery and tannic.
Smoky char takes on a grilled meatiness in this wine, a fatness of bacon and blackberry jam emphasizing the intense ripeness and grip of it all. Blackberry jam and vanilla sweetness underscore its big personality.
With the smooth Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz making up the body of this ripe wine, it has a generous, fruity character. The tannins are a support to this fine fruit and rich aftertaste. Drink this young wine now for its fruit or wait until 2018 for it to soften and round.
Named after the crickets, or cicadas, whose song fills the summer nights, this soft and lightly perfumed wine has citrus and apple fruit flavors, a tangy, flinty texture and plenty of acidity. Drink now.
This wood-aged reserve wine has structure and fine dry tannins. Under that the black fruits are still developing. Give it another year in the cellar before drinking.
A blend of Zinfandel with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Merlot, this wine takes on a heady mix of herbal cedar, tobacco leaf, tar and subdued blackberry within a context of charred oak and dense body.
There's a light whiff of nail polish remover here, and little evidence of ripe fruit. Some flavors of stem come up with the tannins, and overall this is a wine best drunk soon.
Cherry and plum aromas come with a note of rubbery latex, like a Band-Aid. This feels compact and dense, as if the palate were balled up. Medicinal black cherry and chocolate flavors finish in a bunched blocky mass.
Merlot needs more concentration than this in order to really shine as a stand-alone varietal wine. This is thin, green, and simply generic. Pomegranate fruit peeks through, quickly overlaid with weedy tannins.
Briny aromas of green olive and popcorn lead to a flat wide palate. This tastes salty, oaky and short on fresh-fruit flavors. A plump chunky palate, much like the nose, comes across flat and low on pulse.
The aromas are extremely tight on this bottling, even after hour so being opened, with just the hint of black plum emergent. Chewy tannins show most strongly on the sip, which is also so restrained that not much more than dark fruit and dense coffee shows.
Once past a distracting note of tire rubber, this rosé of Grenache offers aromas of wet stone and watermelon rind. Berry fruit emerges on the palate, while the dry finish picks up hints of chocolate. Drink now, but maybe give it a quick splash into a decanter to see if that improves it.
On the nose, this gold-colored Viognier is gritty and burnt smelling, like a field or haystack on fire. Flavors of pithy citrus peel and oak resin include tropical notes as well as mild bitterness. On the finish, this tastes of nectarine, the skins and pit included.
Low in oak and high in acidity, this wine shows an earthy underbelly of lemon met by more nuanced vanilla.
This soft and cushiony wine has light red cherry fruit, gentle tannins and an attractively soft, fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
This fruity wine, free from any oak aging, revels in its attractive tropical flavors. It's as ripe and rich as the vintage suggests, with light, balanced acidity. The aftertaste is soft, keeping up the fruitiness. Drink now.
A yellow tint and aromas of papaya and melon result in a neutral opening with little pop. Consistent with prior years, this SB feels soft, without a focal point. Flavors of creamy white fruits include a note of vanilla. It's plump on the finish.
Made from a majority of 8% Merlot, the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon, this proprietary red is dry in severe acidity, with dusty tannins that overpower on the palate. Firm and ultimately light-bodied, it lacks in fruit.
Candied, slightly volatile red-berry aromas are topped with chocolaty oak. In the mouth, this is simple and medium-bodied. Salty berry and plum flavors are just ripe enough before this falls off on the finish.
This is woody and creamy on the nose, with oak-based spice, balsamic and earth aromas. The palate is overflowing with tannins, such that things feel dry and clampy. Oaky flavors of maple, resin, molasses and mocha finish with roasted berry flavors and lasting grab. The blend is Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Citrus blossom and ripe green apple and lime are what this crisp Lodi white offers, another example of the region's ability to do good things with white wines. It's a refreshing wine to enjoy on a warm autumn's night or as a respite from winter, a plate of oysters near at hand.
The nose of this Lemberger is austere, with just a whisper of black plum and sweet spice. The palate is more buoyant, with a rich, deep, black cherry-and-plum profile marked by reverberating acidity and layers of fine, velvety tannins.
Pencil eraser, blueberry, olive and peppery notes are what you draw off the bouquet of this ripe yet basic Cab. In the mouth, this feels rubbery and tannic. Flavors of ultraripe black fruits taste sweet and come with licorice and espresso bitterness on the finish, which is mossy, heavy and choppy.
This is a simple but delicious Barbera loaded with ripe plum and black cherry flavors punctuated by licorice and pepper notes. Soft and round, this is ready to enjoy now. Pair it with pasta topped with cream sauces or grilled chicken dishes.
A fragrantly floral Primitivo laced with pepper and a depth of wild raspberry flavor, this is plenty structured and easy to like. Pair with standard Italian fare and most definitely, pizza.
This blend of Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Canaiolo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon presents violet, wild berry and spice aromas. The savory palate offers up wild cherry, raspberry and cinnamon-spice flavors. It has a simple, pleasant structure made for easy drinking.
Tomato, chili pepper, saucy notes and roasted berry and plum aromas give this a traditional nose. The body is rich and round, with an extra layer or two of structure and tannins. Flavors of baked, stewed berry fruits and herbs provide a salsa-like component, while dryness and herbal flavors drive the finish.
Aromas of cornbread, hay stack and tropical fruits are fairly standard for Chile. This feels round, with good acidity keeping things on an even keel. Flavors of melon and apple are a bit stalky, while oak flavors transition to mild bitterness on the finish.
An enjoyable easy drinker with notes of pear, mineral and a whiff of tropical fruit. It's broad in feel with a touch of sugar to sweeten the finish.
Marianne's is made from Syrah grapes grown in the vineyard of the same name, the grapes pressed and resulting juice fermented on its own, making for a relatively meaty style of rosé, dry, with aromas of tart raspberry and an almost apricot fuzz, Sauvignon Blanc quality. Pair with stinky cheeses.
A pretty, floral wine, bright with melon and honey, straightforwardly lean and ready to drink at your next picnic, hike or ski trip, a great value for a solidly well-made wine with texture to pair with charcuterie, falafel or spiced chickpeas.
This light, fruity, strawberry-flavored wine has good acidity, soft tannins and just a touch of softness from ripe fruit. It's ready to drink, but will be best from 2015.
This wine has firm tannins certainly. However its main character is the delicious, juicy fruit that just bursts out of the glass. A fresh character suggests this wine will develop quickly, despite the tannic background. Drink from 2016.
Aromas of red cherry and a whiff of baking spice emerge from this bright blend of 70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The aromas carry over to the fresh, easy-drinking palate along with a crushed raspberry note. Enjoy through 2016.
Despite this having a distinctly green nose, there's enough cherry and currant character along with overall brightness to make this an enjoyable Cab. Oaky flavors of vanilla and cream accent cherry and red plum. The finish is oaky yet bolstered by firm acids.
From the owner of Domaine du Pégau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is a négociant-style Côtes du Rhône. It's medium-bodied and crisp, with bright red fruit reminiscent of raspberries and cherries and a touch of herbes de Provence.
A blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 30% Syrah, this has aromas of red currant, cedar and a whiff of white pepper. The straightforward, easy-drinking palate offers black cherry, clove, coffee and licorice alongside polished tannins. Drink now.
This wine is from Alain Dominique Perrin's Lagrézette estate in Cahors, although it is not labeled as such because the Cahors AOP is only red wine. Made from Malbec, it has the palest rosé color and elegant texture, with strawberry fruitiness and lively final acidity. Drink now.
Baked plum, brick dust, stewed tomato and leather aromas are rugged but good. Chewy and only moderately tannic, this basic Monastrell delivers raspberry and plum flavors sweetened by hints of brown sugar and molasses. A lasting, chocolaty finish is easygoing, with a shot of acidity for balance.
This is an apple-fresh sparkling wine with a lively mousse. It crisp, refreshing and clean, with attractive fruitiness.
Mild, clean aromas of dusty apple, lees and peach set up a creamy, full palate with low acidity and moderate definition. Papaya and melon are the lead flavors, while the finish is melony and oily, with low acidity and not much, if any, minerality.
Auxerrois, a grape variety rarely seen in the United States, shows it's fresh white grapefruit and pear flavors well in this brisk, revitalizing wine. Dry in style, it's a zesty, straightforward wine intended for early consumption.
Muskateller is a powerhouse Muscat grape, chock full of buoyant stone fruit, melon and floral aromas. It's an unabashedly fruity, flamboyantly forward grape, but this off-dry example is brisk and balanced.
Savory, slightly saucy aromas of plum, berry, tomato and leather come with a hint of oak. This is a bit choppy and tannic, with savory, roasted flavors of tomato, plum, currant and spice. A touch of saltiness and raw-oak flavor rise up on the finish.
Darkly colored, this comes from the slopes above the small town of Buzet. It has structure and layers of black currant fruit and juicy acidity. With its firm tannins and ripe fruitiness, the wine will age. Drink from 2016.
Because of the cool Atlantic climate, the Gascogne region is home to many bright, crisp wines. This is fruity, fresh and utterly crisp while also having some hints of melon and peach flavors. A touch of attractive minerality gives the wine texture. Drink now.
Ripe, oaky and showing aromas of coconut, vanilla, raisin and prune, this easily approachable Monastrell is full, dark and stretched wide, with proper acidity keeping things fenced in and focused. Sun-baked black-fruit flavors finish spicy and peppery, with mild heat.
No two ways about this, it's stalky and earthy on the nose, with mulchy, herbal notes. This feels pinchy and tannic, with roasted red-berry flavors that finish extremely earthy. Good mouthfeel and textural balance are saving graces.
Bubble gum and cotton candy aromas come across as slightly confected at the moment, but they should settle down into cherry-berry notes after 6–9 months of cellaring. Like most Tavels, this should be at its best about 18 months after the vintage.
Rubbery and gaseous smelling, this Bordeaux blend also sports plum and berry scents. The palate is solid but somewhat lean, hollow and acidic. Flavors of tomato sauce, red currant and briny berry fruits finish scratchy, with high acidity.
Always attractive, this light and fruity wine is crisp with lemon acidity and tart green apples. There is an attractive tangy character that gives the wine extra freshness. Drink now.
A severe edge of dried herb and savoriness in this single-vineyard Cab evolves into juicy black currant and cassis midway through. The tannins remain tightly wound and thick on the palate, before the wine finishes dry and concentrated.
This is a solid, well-made white from the Southern Rhône, offering aromas and flavors of wet stone and melon. Despite boasting ample weight on the palate, it finishes on a crisp note of underripe pineapple.
Dusty cherry and red-plum aromas are simple and clean. A fresh, tight, normal feeling palate gets the job done, while flavors of cantaloupe, red plum and nectarine wrap up with pithy citrus notes and a hint of bitterness. Drink this year.
This medium-bodied red offers ample cherry and leather flavors but not much richness or depth. It's clean on the finish, with modest tannins and mouthwatering fruit.
Oak, ripe pear and caramel dance to the fore of this wine's bouquet, followed by thick, textural layers of lingering vanilla cream. The oak remains pronounced throughout the glass, giving the wine a sweetness on the finish.
Shy on the nose, this wine has dry, sticky tannins that cling to a wall of high-toned red fruit, mostly plum, forming a medium weight on the palate. Softening out as it goes, it leaves black pepper on the finish.
Scratchy berry and cassis aromas are earthy but perfectly presentable. This feels full and chewy on the palate, with firm tannins. Flavors of plum and berry come with dried spice notes and raw oak, while the finish is spicy, dry and mildly herbal.
On the nose, this presents itself as borderline overripe, with raisin, prune and licorice aromas. A chunky mouthfeel housing chewy tannins is—based on the bouquet—expected, as are blackberry, raisin and chocolate flavors. A lasting, heavy finish with moderate acidity closes out this ripe, chunky Syrah.
Big, firm tannins frame this wine, blended with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Black olive, black pepper and tar provide a savory density and complexity, softened by earthy plum and black cherry.
This combines the sweet spiciness of oak with the apparent sweetness of the grapes in a full-bodied, extreme-flavored package. Aromas suggest charred wood, vanilla, maple syrup and cherry juice, while the flavor conveys blackberry jam.
Floral aromas of buttercup and peach blossom are true to the variety. This is also correct in its full, round, peach-driven palate. Apricot and mango flavors creep toward an astringent and salty finish.
If you want to taste a true cool-climate SB with chiseled aromas and tons of cutting acidity, this is it. Aromas are lightly vegetal but also include citrus and passion fruit. Flavors of tangerine, passion fruit, rosemary and thyme finish citrusy and zesty. This is so linear it will cut through almost any kind of food.
Already showing good focus and pinpoint acidity, th is wine brings green berries, kiwi and lime fruit flavors to the front. The bracing acidity keeps it lively across the palate, and the extra depth of the finish rewards your attention.
A blend of 60% Pinot Bianco, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon, this elegant wine opens with mature yellow apple, Bartlett pear and citrus that all continue on to the palate. The creamy flavors are brightened by crisp acidity.
Multifaceted and sophisticated, this nearly dry Riesling packs in crisp apple and ripe peach notes. Deft balance and a lingering finish mean there's a lot to like.
Heady aromas of very ripe passion fruit as well as crackling, zingy acidity combine here to great, refreshing effect. Intense and very long with quintessential varietal character, it delivers a real dash of tropicality.
Juicy with ripe tannins, it tastes lovingly hand-crafted, detailed and focused in black currant, berry and leather. Though rich and luxurious it retains ample natural acidity to buoy its way through a meal or through several years of aging.
Not afraid to wear high alcohol and toasty oak on its sleeve, it kicks off with a marshmallow, whipped cream and macadamia-nut nose, making it perfect for those who love the California cocktail style but are seeking nuance as well. On the palate, the wine is soft and buttery, with a long buttercream finish. Pair with oven-roasted chicken.
While fairly neutral on the nose with aromas of lemon and pressed apple, this off-dry wine is chock full of concentrated yellow-cherry, peach and nectarine flavors. Piercing citrus acidity jolts the palate, driving a long, honey-touched finish. Refreshing and invigorating.
Whiffs of earth and spring ramps subside, exposing sunny peach and floral notes on this medium-sweet wine. The palate is satisfyingly juicy with honeyed peach and pear flavors, but anchored with a deep, savory complexity. Finishes long with sweet-tart citrus flavors and a murmur of dusty minerals.
Lifted lemon purity, cushioned by riper stone fruit, especially yellow plum and greengage, makes this a complete and super-refreshing, fruity number.
Juicy in blueberry and explosive blackberry fruit, this offers the right succulent mix of dusty spice and well-mannered fruitiness. For pairings, aim for the usual barbecue but perhaps also a risotto or finely made pizza.
Sourced from a 35-year-old vineyard with views of the San Francisco Bay, this wine offers aromas of toasted oak, marshmallow, green pear and wet rock. The wood is quickly wiped out by brisk acidity on the palate, but then emerges again on the creamy finish. Given the acid levels in this cool vintage, this wine will evolve through at least 2019, but it's fine now.
Initial aromas of latex and iodine give way to herbal cassis, blackberry and olive scents. This is full, chunky, broad and balanced in the mouth, with woodsy flavors of olive, herbal berry and hard spices. Roasted berry and licorice flavors ride prominently on the finish. Drink through 2019.
Whiffs of blossom accent fresh apple aromas on this just off-dry Riesling. The palate is intensely fruity with ripe, rich apricot and white peach flavors yet cut with bristling lime acidity. Refreshing yet deeply satisfying.
Another of Borra's inventive blends, this one brings together 60% Kerner, 20% Riesling and 20% Gewürztraminer. It opens aromatically with full-blown Riesling petrol. From there, the midweight texture turns to floral notes, grapefruit and herbs, along with minerality.
A full and rich wine, it is packed with pepper and spice flavors as well as the crispest apple fruits. A young wine that could age, it is still tight and mineral although showing a fragrant character.
Lifted lemon purity surrounded by white summer blossom make for a fresh Riesling with wonderful balance, concentration and poise. It offers that quintessential acid streamline that Riesling-lovers always look for.
It conveys the purest scent of cut green pears, a crisp but cushioned body, and zesty, citrusy freshness. It's very complete and for immediate consumption.
Polished and crisp, this opens with aromas of exotic fruit accompanied by whiffs of celery, slate and hay. The juicy palate delivers creamy white peach and green melon accented with mineral notes and balanced by fresh acidity. Omniwines Distribution, Astor Wines.
Richly perfumed with layers of plum and clove, this is a soft, fully developed Cab Franc. Textured and subtle in herbs, it delivers a long, peppery finish. Generous and satisfying in terms of mouthfeel, it'll serve nicely on its own or with an herb-dusted roast chicken or Liberty duck.
This still needs a little time to come into its own but all the principal features are present. A concentrated palate provides texture framed by fresh acidity, linear length and fleshy fruit, hinting at ripe pears and yellow plums.
Young, tart and compact, this is still in the primary fruit phase of its development. Clean, impactful and nicely structured, its flavors run from cranberry to raspberry to light cherry, all running deep enough to suggest tucking it away in the cellar for a few more years.
This blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio opens with intense aromas of lemon blossom, pear, apple and flint. The linear palate delivers succulent white peach, green apple and lemon-lime alongside bright acidity.
A beautifully rendered, light and detailed Oregon Pinot Gris, this is redolent of spring flowers and citrus peel, flavored with an elegant blend of pineapple, Asian pear, jicama and white pepper. Very fresh and spicy.
Thistle makes a spicy, herbal, earthy style of Pinot Noir, so don't look for sweet, ripe, jammy flavors. The fruit tastes like the tart, wild berries of the Northwest, and it's backed with tart acidity and chewy tannins. But the concentration, focus and detail of the wine elevate it, and it persists in the mouth far longer than you anticipate.
As in earlier vintages, this is three quarters Cabernet, one quarter Merlot, from McClellan Estate, Lewis and Seven Hills fruit. You will find a clear and varietal flavor mix of cassis, herb and bark, with some spice and chocolate accents from barrel aging in half-new French oak. Good balance and persistence.
A light, almost delicate wine, with pretty pear fruit and a hint of sweetness. The balance is just right, and the wine shows some added flair as it wraps into a finish that seems to gather strength while adding floral and lightly honeyed highlights.
Roasted and charred, with a a clear and present barrel influence along with thyme, herbs and tomato leaf. In the mouth, it's sweet and ready, with ripe berry flavors touched up by cocoa. Toasty and a little minty on the finish, but flavorful and perfectly good as a whole.
Alconte is the new second wine from Montecastro, but it doesn't take a back seat to anything. It's powerful juice, with a strong mineral/floral element on the bouquet. Aged only a year in oak, it maintains a crisp, charred character and shows tight raspberry flavors, chocolate and pepper. Features all the right stuff for a debut wine from a strained vintage.
Clean lines and fresh, oak-tinged aromas is what this Viura (with 10% Malvasia) is all about. The nose starts with lemon, green apple and a spot of vanilla, while the juicy palate brings bright white fruits, toasty oak and smoke. Not overly complex but not rudimentary or dull. A nice food wine and probably the best barrel-fermented white from Muga we've tried.
A blend of two-thirds Shiraz, one-third Grenache, Kilikanoon's entry-level blend is a soft, easygoing combination of blackberries, cola, brown sugar and cinnamon. Drink it over the next year or two.
Not sure which vineyard sourced the grapes, but this is a flavorful, ready-to-drink bottle of wine. There is substantial evidence of aging in expensive new oak barrels, with a lot of coconut flavor over toast, chocolate and cherry. Tannins are soft and the fruit is round and luscious; except for a slight fall-off in the finish this could be from any one of a number of well-known Walla Walla wineries.
A toasty, yeasty, organic grape Cava with butterscotch, vanilla and baked fruit aromas. The palate has good balance, while the flavors are citric but not sour, with pineapple and orange leading the fight. Clean and not complicated, but more elegant than the average Spanish sparkler.
Floral and fruity, with clean aromas. In the mouth, it's saturated and intense as if offers up a meaty set of dense fruit flavors. Doesn't show as much complexity, layering and variety as we might like to see, but it's pretty flashy and good for a 2007, a vintage that was problematic in this region.
From the original Kiona vineyard planting in 1975, this big, lush Chardonnay fills the palate with ripe banana and stone fruit flavors. It was barrel fermented, then moved to stainless, and put through partial malolactic. Good definition, acidity, and a hint of minerality.
This is a standout in this price range. The well-defined cherry/cranberry fruit is wrapped in fresh rosemary and tarragon spices; the tannins are polished and there is an intriguing scent of pine forest that permeates the finishing flavors also. Such complexity is not always found in wines twice as expensive.
The 60% Grenache shows in this wine's red-berry aromas and flavors, while the 20% Mourvèdre imparts a slightly horsey, leathery note. It's full-bodied and lushly textured, it just doesn't seem quite as harmonious at this stage as some earlier vintages.
Auxerrois, a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, creates an aromatic, lively, citrus and pear fruit-flavored white wine with a delicious mix of fruit, spice and even a hint of white chocolate. Fresh and more interesting than many Chardonnays, this is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser at any picnic or barbecue.
This medium-bodied Pinot Noir is oaky. It starts off with smoky, meaty, hickory notes and never really incorporates them smoothly into the modest cherry fruit, and it adds a mocha note on the slightly tough finish. A grilled steak might help bring out the wine's fruity side.
This red is a hunting lodge in a glass, with aromas of leather, game, cigar and cedar on the nose, followed by flavors of blueberry, cigar box and vanilla on the palate. Pair this with earthy fare, such as steak, grilled duck or dried sausage.
Sweet and tart notes—think maraschino cherry and citrus—start this opulent sip. Sweet-tasting cherry and strawberry flavors follow. Not overly complex, but a fun summer wine.
Light and accessible now, this single-vineyard Pinot offers delicate notes of red currant and strawberry hull on the nose and in the mouth. Soft, with low tannins and an easygoing structure.
There is a curious petrol aroma to this wine. Even so, the red berry flavor is attractive and fresh, and the acidity is lean.
From one of the region's pioneering producers, this is an entry-level bottling that manages to provide a glimpse into the Martinborough style. It favors leafy, savory elements over overt fruitiness, offering hints of sun-baked brick, bracken and cracked pepper that are layered over modest cherry fruit. Although silky in texture, it lacks length. Drink now.
Flavors of rose petal, cherry and a touch of spice characterize this rosé. A backbone of lively spice carries the sweet-tasting cherry flavors on the palate. Pair this with fruit salads or creamy cheeses.
Blue flowers, dark berry and allspice aromas unfold in the glass. The palate offers black currant, black cherry, peppercorn and espresso alongside drying, angular tannins.
This offers strong oak and smoke aromas, plus ripe black cherry, chocolate and plum flavors. Full body and firm tannins make it assertive. Not a cocktail wine, this needs to pair with some heavy meat.
Cherry, violet and herbal aromas introduce a tangy, angular palate with sharp acidity. Quick-hitting, fresh flavors of pie cherry, red currant and raspberry finish grabby, with scouring acidity. Drink through 2020.
This bottling utilizes fruit from the winery's original 1975 plantings. Aromas of jasmine, flowers and lime lead to off dry, lightly spritzy stone-fruit flavors that linger.
Aromas of violet and red currant lead the nose on this bright, fruity red. The simple, vibrant palate delivers blackberry, cranberry and ground pepper alongside lithe tannins. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon.
Still young, this is tight, tangy and herbal. It has intense lemon juice, very fresh acidity and a touch of orange zest. It's crisp, fruity and needs another year. Drink from 2016.
Sharp lemon and lime accent crisp peach and apricot flavors in this nervy dry-style Riesling. A touch of savory wheat contrasts fresh citrus and stone fruit, but overall, it's a refreshing, easy quaffing wine, ready to drink now.
A perfumed whiff of citrus blossoms introduces this crisp, light-footed Riesling. Subtly semidry in style, the palate contrasts ripe, rich honey and nectarine flavors against a backdrop of sharp, lemon-lime acidity. Touches of savory nut and earth tones lend contrast to the moderately long finish.
Underbrush, dark berry and tilled soil aromas come together along with a whiff of iris. On the brisk palate, dried sage, anise and orange peel accent the tart cherry core. Bracing acidity provides the backbone.
Aromas of fynbos, fresh hop flower, lime leaf and lemon verbena abound in the herbal bouquet of this Chenin. Notes of Anjou pear and green apple form a fruity core to ground the assertive herbal characteristics, while hints of dried herbs and honeyed spice unfold on the close.
This rare bottling of this variety displays aromas of pear and spice along with whiffs of tropical fruit. It's on the lighter side of medium bodied with a creamy, slightly unctuous feel.
Subdued aromas of red apple and melon are followed by a dry, medium-bodied palate with a tart, drawn-out finish.
This wine packs a big wallop of superripe flavors, so it doesn't taste as petite as its name. Aromas like raisins and rhubarb lead to deep, overripe fruit flavors recalling prunes and dried cherries. An overall feeling of full body persists, but without much tannin to support it.
Stylish oak aromas combine with rich fruit flavors in this full-bodied, velvet-textured wine. It smells like ripe black cherries, vanilla and caramel, with a fruit-forward palate. Made by the Lange Twins Winery.
This wine is equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon fermented and aged in stainless steel. The aromas and off-dry flavors of grass and fig seem a bit muddled but still bring enjoyment.
Made with 75% Sangiovese, with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera, this wine has aromas of barrel spices, coffee, dark raspberries and herbs. It's medium bodied with plump fruit flavors, tart acids and a lightly chalky feel.
This is a bouncy, fresh, fruit-forward wine. Cherry-berry fruit shines from start to finish, ending with just a hint of cocoa. Drink now–2017.
This wine has a strongly tannic, dry character from the Malbec-inspired blend of 52% Merlot, 31% Malbec and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. However the ripe blackberry fruits are match enough, giving ripe flavors with a squeeze of acidity and richness at the end. Drink from 2016.
This 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon blend is a green, herbal wine full of acidity and citrus flavors. A lemon-zest tang gives it a crisp texture and bright acidity. Drink this fruity wine from 2016.
In this broad wine, the grapes have been harvested ripe and juicy. It has a fresh acidity typical of the vintage. The red berry and black currant fruit flavors are forward and well balanced, with a crisp aftertaste. Drink from 2016.
From an estate to the east of the town of Saint-Émilion, this rich wine shows its alcohol in the pepper edge that cuts through the fruit. It tastes firm still and has extracted bitter flavors. The acidity does give the wine a lift and lets the black currant fruit come through. Drink from 2018.
This light-bodied wine brings enjoyment at a very low price. Attractive grapefruit and dried herb aromas followed by citrus and savory flavors make it appetizing and enjoyable. It tastes dry, fairly crisp and well balanced.
Asphalt and spice aromas are herbal and gritty. This shows a moderately full body and solid structure along with plum and herbal flavors. A dry, peppery finish is slightly rubbery in feel but fresh.
Stalky and tannic, this wine's structure is balanced by red berry-fruit flavors. It is smoky, typical of Cabernet Franc, giving a young character that should broaden out. Drink this fruity while structured wine now, or better from 2016.
This off-dry wine offers fresh acidity and delicious hints of honey and yellow fruits. It is fruity, rich while still full of the typical freshness of young Chenin Blanc. Let the wine round out and drink from 2017.
The palest color leads to a perfumed, very ready-to-drink wine. It is crisp with fruit that is now softened by a year's aging, offering a touch of caramel along with crushed strawberry flavors. Drink now.
From a single, high-elevation block of the Alden-Ellis Vineyard, this is somewhat muted aromatically, preferring to present itself in waves of oak and cigar box. Big tannins and weight surround a soft, approachable palate that's ready to enjoy now.
An assertive and substantive wine, this has very peachy aromas, vivid and ripe peach and apple flavors, and a texture that's energized by good acidity. It is light to medium bodied and nearly dry.
Golden-hay in color, this has a luxurious toffee-caramel imprint accompanied by apple and pineapple notes. Soft and medium in acidity, it's a bright, layered wine that follows through in flavor and tone on the finish.
A 100% Merlot aged 18 months in French oak, this hearty wine is rich in cinnamon toast, bittersweet chocolate and dark, black fruit. It's walled in tannins, so let it open a bit and it'll reveal subtle herbal tones.
This aromatic wine brings a potpourri of freshly rubbed sage, Dimetapp, bay leaf and sweet tobacco. It's broad yet light in feel with a pretty sense of elegance and restraint.
There are very savory aromas on this wine, with campfire smoke and herb-crusted game dominating the boysenberry fruit in the background. The tannins are edgy, and toasted oak flavors persist in a pleasant way, with black cherry and licorice present as well.
Aromas feature underbrush, dark berry, tilled soil and allspice. The dense, straightforward palate delivers ripe blackberry, spicy blueberry, clove and black licorice alongside hearty tannins. It closes on a tobacco note.
Pure varietal and surprisingly light for this often tannic grape, this leads with pretty raspberry and cherry fruit set in sweet baking spices, and finished with a lick of chocolate and a frame of toasty oak. It's balanced and proportionate, though definitely on the lighter side.
The bouquet of this wine starts off subtle and dainty, needing time to become more expressive and reveal scents of cured meat, sweet smoke, violet and small red berries. Gamy notes are at the forefront of the medium-weight palate, with underlying flavors of red cherry and currant. A smoky, savory and spicy selection; drink now–2017.
This intriguing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Cabernet Franc (40%) and Merlot offers green herbs, dark plum, savory notes and chocolate. It's full and supple in feel with soft tannins and well-framed acidity.
Aromatically appealing, this suggests black raspberries, tart cherries and herbs, with light citrus and barrel accents. It's tart and quite restrained for the variety with plumy fruit flavors and a slightly chalky feel to the tannins that may resolve with some additional time in the bottle.
A distinctive mint character comes up in the aroma and carries through the flavors of this fruity and full-bodied wine. A firm texture, ripe cherry and plum flavors and good fresh acidity keep it lively.
Darker notes of espresso and dried herbs contrast with fragrant blossom and cherry aromas on this plump, full-bodied wine. Supple like silk, it's rich and ripe with cherry and plum flavors blanketed soft, chalky tannin.
Yalumba has been working hard at this style of rosé, and the 2012 is very successful. It's medium in weight, with pretty red-fruit aromas and flavors of watermelon and strawberry. An undercurrent of minerality rides through the palate and finishes slightly chalky. Drink up.
This is a full-bodied and soft wine. Full of juicy red fruit flavors and rounded tannins, it's fruity and ready to drink, with delicious acidity at the end.
This succulent wine opens with an intensely spicy nose of white and black pepper accented with ripe berry. The sleek, savory palate delivers juicy black cherry and cooking spice framed in solid but refined tannins. It's made to be enjoyed young and paired with everyday fare.
A thread of dusty mushroom underlies some pretty raspberry and cream notes in this full-bodied Shiraz, adding an astringent note to the finish. Drink now–2025.
Dusty raspberry and plum aromas are spicy, dry and attractive, leading to a fresh palate with kick. Flavors of spiced plum, raspberry and red cherry are a touch briny, while the finish has length and a pleasing texture.
Warm, earthy, dusty aromas of red plum and smoky oak turn toastier the longer this sits. A fresh but balanced palate offers equal amounts of snappy acidity and creamy weight, while tart plum and spice flavors finish toasty and charred, with crisp acidity generating length.
Oak, roasted coffee bean and coconut aromas lead the nose. The palate offers dried black cherry, exotic spice, oak extract and espresso alongside astringent wood tannins that dry out the mouth. There's not quite enough fruit richness to stand up to the oak.
This bottle is quite unusual for a Washington Malbec with abundant notes of freshly squeezed Meyer lemon, plum and herbs. Still, it's well constructed with tart, plush plum flavors that keep you coming back to it.
With Merlot softening the power of Brau-col, this is a full-bodied while rounded wine. Juicy acidity gives a fresh character, and red berry fruits dominate the firm tannins. Balanced and concentrated, it will repay some good aging. Drink from 2017.
Earthy blackberry aromas come with a leafy note and rusticity. The palate on this Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend is crimped and pinched, with linear flavors of boysenberry and herbs. On the finish, this tastes a bit green, with blueberry sweetness helping to balance things off.
This wine offers notes of vanilla, coconut, chocolate and cherry candy. It's richly flavored with a core of dark fruit backed by lightly grippy tannins.
Vibrant, tart gooseberry, plum and lime aromas are upfront on the bouquet, with additional hints of sweet grass and honeysuckle dancing in the background. The palate offers bright acidity and crisp citrus flavors. Drink now.
Very tasty, this medium-bodied version puts forward bright raspberry and ripe red cherry aromas and flavor. Not too big or bold, it's well-balanced with acidity and moderate tannins to bolster the fruit flavors.
Oak, menthol, mature berry, dried sage and coffee aromas lead the nose. The palate offers black cherry, crushed raspberry, black pepper, licorice, espresso and a balsamic note alongside bracing, teeth-coating tannins.
For the price, this Merlot packs a delicious punch, offering soft, persistent layers of chocolate, tar and leather, the tannins present yet well-managed. Red fruit and smoke intermingle on the palate, playing well together.
This appealing wine features notes of woodspice, herbs, mint, coffee and jammy red fruit. It's full bodied in feel with coffee and red fruit flavors that linger.
This is an earthy and somewhat savory wine, buoyed by level acidity. It offers stewed lemon and fennel around a feral nose.
Smells bland, with a bit of apple. The palate is candied and soft, with sweet orange, mango and other tropical flavors. Finishes honeyed and lazy, with sweet, simple flavors of honeydew and apple juice.
A solid, all-purpose wine, this has some toast and vanilla components, along with straightforward fruit that hints at green apple. There's a little spice and butter in the aromas also.
Features charred and herbal overtones, but otherwise pleasant cherry fruit and a weightiness borne of moderately high alcohol (14%). The fruit fades a bit quickly on the finish, leaving some drying tannins behind, so serve with rare beef or lamb.
An austere, stalky wine, showing its dry tannins and woody black currant flavors. It has a bitter edge to it, with its lean, dry tannins.
Light in color, with transparency, something you usually don't see with Malbec. The nose is rubbery, saucy and a touch grassy, while the palate is tannic and grabby, with stewy, rustic, roasted berry flavors. Finishes with the taste of barbecue sauce.
A slightly confected, slightly herbal Cab, with sweet cherry fruit that finishes tart. Still, it's nicely creamy in texture and while simple, is pleasant enough for a midweek quaff. Drink now.
Salinic upon opening, with thick, candied blackberry aromas along with orange peel. The wine is sincerely syrupy and rich for a value-priced Malbec, but it struggles with balance and comes across heavy, roasted and loaded down with candied berry and milk chocolate flavors.
Juicy and fruity, with red berry fruits and a strong element of acidity. This is refreshing Bordeaux, soft, supple and light in the mouth.
Aromas of mocha, coffee and berry fruit are regular but decent, while the palate is astringent but lively, with herbal red-fruit flavors and a touch of green. Finishes lemony, tangy and grabby, with weight but a slight stickiness.
Black cherry pie, milk chocolate and lilacs combine for a very accessible and rather lavish nose on this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. It's easy to like on the sip, with candied purple fruit and licorice spice flavors, proving very fruity, lush and quaffable.
Grass, wet concrete, bitter orange rinds, wet hay and rosemary elements show on the nose of this single vineyard bottling. There is a firm, cement-like texture to the sip, much like licking rocks, with fresh lime peel flavors. It retains freshness days after opening.
Now perfectly ready to drink, this wine from vines close to Pouilly-Fuissé is ripe with yellow fruit, juicy acidity and a smooth texture. It has plenty of minerality to keep it bright and lively. Drink now.
Zesty lemon and grapefruit aromas awaken the senses in this sunny, dry-style Pinot Gris. Plump and pleasantly clingy on the palate, it's balanced with crisp, tangerine acidity and a bite of astringency on the finish. Drink now through 2019.
This is labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, but be realistic about your expectations: This is 94% Cabernet, with only 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Cedar, cassis, sage and bay leaf notes are classic Margaret River expressions, as is the wine's medium body and streamlined feel. It's a harmonious if not particularly flamboyant wine that will be at home with a variety of dishes. Drink now–2025.
Yalumba has been pushing the organic envelope in recent years, and this Shiraz is a winner. It's full bodied and supple nearly to the point of creaminess, but delivers mixed berry, vanilla and baking-spice flavors, all with a certain amount of elegance. Drink now–2022.
This late release offers a good look at how the better Oregon white wines can improve with a few additional years in the bottle. Smooth and rich, it mixes pineapple, Asian pear and honeysuckle scents and flavors. Good verve and a light, pleasant hint of fresh herb.
This cuvée is principally from the estate (Appassionata) vineyard. Lush, spicy and spread broadly across the palate, it pleases with strawberry-raspberry fruit, milk chocolate and a dusting of cocoa powder. The wine does seem to lighten up rather quickly at the finish, but further bottle age may fix that.
This is a well-made wine from a specific site, seamless in full-bodied texture and sumptuous flavors of golden honey, baked apple and pear. Dottings of nutmeg provide additional punch and intrigue, while a lifted braid of acidity shines on the finish.
Thick and lemony, this is a juicy fruit-powered style. It places its power squarely on plush fruit flavors of Meyer lemon, candied orange peel and candied pineapple. It saw no oak and needed none. Drink while it's at its freshest.
This is sourced from a steep site on the southern end of the appellation, a sunny location that provides concentration and weight to the wine. Smoky, herbal and earthy, it offers a wealth of rounded tannin and approachable texture that's complemented by dark cherry, blackberry, clove and vanilla.
Feral earth and forest highlight a plush, lush texture of full-bodied ripeness and voluptuous personality in this wine from the famous site. Baked strawberry, raspberry and cherry meet cola and cardamom as buzzing acidity cuts through on the finish.
Aromas of spiced plum, vanilla, French oak and blue flower lift from the glass. The firm palate offers the taste of espresso, coconut, star anise and wild cherry set against bracing close-grained tannins that give the finish grip.
Mature plum, nutmeg, new leather and thyme aromas lead the nose. On the chewy palate, notes of licorice and clove accent a juicy core of ripe wild cherry while tightly knit polished tannins lend firm support.
While the nose is austere, suggesting more stone than fruit, the palate of this dry-style Riesling offers loads of juicy, sunny peach and apricot flavors. It's an approachable yet elegant wine with cutting acidity and a lime-pith finish. Drink now through 2021.
Dusty pencil shavings mark the nose of this fulsome, generously ripe wine, thick and soft in integrated layers of black licorice, sage and dark chocolate.
This off-dry Riesling's honey-kissed peach and nectarine flavors are lip-smackingly sweet. Its light, sprightly texture and high-toned acidity lend balance and refreshment. Brisk and easy-drinking, it offers loads of quaffable appeal.
Reduced on the nose, this massively intense and tannic wine is big, dense and juicy, broadly etched in leather, blackberry, currant and black licorice. Full-bodied and oaky, it shows the concentration of the vintage and the ripeness of the appellation and style.
Subdued on the nose, this is a thick, juicy red made in small amounts that offers affordability within its bright streak of cassis and currant. A backbone of tannin provides strength and concentrated power.
This wine sources from both Montecillo Vineyard in Sonoma County and Georges III in Napa, bringing together one barrel of each for an herbal, savory and edgy experience. Cedar, clove and a healthy dose of fresh herb make it compelling in a classical sense.
Tasted blind, this wasn't particularly different from the other Rieslings in its flight, which were predominantly South Australian. It's got those same wet stone and citrus tendencies and is made in the same medium-bodied, dry, high-acid style. There's a touch of pineapple as well, plus a long, dry crisp finish.
On first take, this small-batch blend of País and Cinsault is overtly oaky, with earthy berry and plum notes lurking in the background. A drawing tannic palate lets you know that País is in the house, while this tastes of oaky berry and plum. On the finish, this is more resiny and woody than toasty. Only 235 cases made. Drink through 2021.
Earthy, lightly herbal and stewed aromas of spiced plum, prune and raisin lead to a grabby, tannic, somewhat abrasive palate. Given that this is now seven years past harvest, it's interesting how ripped, gritty and lively it feels. Herbal chunky flavors of spiced berry fruits and residual oak close with energy. Drink through 2022.
This single-vineyard wine is rich and crisply fruity. It has the bright, tight texture of the vintage, giving a tense character while retaining the lush, poised fruit of the vintage. It's delicious now and ready to drink.
Produced from old, low-yielding vines, this delicious wine balances crisp acidity with intense white fruit. It's poised and stylish, with a cool character expressed in its acidity and lemon zest-like aftertaste. Drink now.
Subdued red fruit is kept fresh by moderate acidity in this boldly dense and grippy wine rich in violet aromas. Soft, integrated oak adds a spiciness of black pepper and vanilla, while the overall experience is balanced and relatively lean.
The nose on this Crianza is front-loaded with oak and related aromas of spice and vanilla. In the mouth, this is tannic and resiny. Similar to the nose, this tastes woody, with barrel-related side notes of cinnamon and clove. A dry pulling tannic finish suggests that another year or two in bottle is in order. Drink through 2024.
Wonderful cedar and tobacco aromas, sophisticated cinnamon and dark-fruit flavors, lavish tannins and full body create a gorgeous taste experience. This wine is plush and generous in texture, and exotic and delicious in flavor. It should age well through at least 2020.
Because it is crafted from old vines from a single parcel, this wine has been released a year later than usual for Muscadet. The result is a wine that has lost its puppy acidity while gaining ripe fruit and a soft texture. The wine was aged for 18 months on lees, which also contributed to its richness. Drink this delicious wine now.
This ripe wine offers flavors of Williams pear and honey as well as citrus and herbal characteristics. It is full while cut with orange zest and spiciness. The wine is refreshing, sophisticated and likely to age well. Drink now and until 2020.
From the northernmost appellation of the Côte de Nuits, this firm and solidly tannic wine comes from one of the vineyards on the list to get Premier Cru approval in the near future. Its tannins are well balanced already with the red-berry fruit and bitter-cherry flavors that are shot through with acidity. Drink from 2018.
From a biodynamic vineyard in the heart of Sancerre, this wine is tight, mineral-driven and very young, well balanced between herbal and citrus flavors. These are lifted and filled out with the ripe Rocha pear flavors that give an extra juicy element. The wine will age well and will be better after 2018.
There's a feral quality to this single-vineyard bottling, with dried rose petals, damp pine needles, dehydrated shiitake mushrooms and touches of violet, potpourri and dried ginger on the nose. The mouthfeel is velvety, with lilac and lavender decorating a base of cranberry and boysenberry fruit.
Intensely floral, this opens with aromas of blue iris, crushed violet, ripe berry and a whiff of baking spice. The elegantly structured palate doles out juicy plum, ripe wild cherry, vanilla, cinnamon and mocha accompanied by fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2021.
Attractive scents of ripe plum, blue flower, eucalyptus and baking spice spill out of the glass. The round, rich palate doles out juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and a hint of chopped herb. Velvety tannins provided polished support. Drink through 2021.
Ripe black-skinned berry, truffle, scorched soil, violet and a potpourri of kitchen spice are some of the aromas that emerge on this polished red. The smooth, delicious palate doles out juicy black cherry, black raspberry, licorice and chopped mint set in a framework of silky, supple tannins. Enjoy through 2018.
A consistent standout for this winery, the new vintage does not disappoint. Jazzy and jammy red-fruit and spice aromas are followed by rich, plump, beautifully balanced fruit flavors followed by an extended finish. It only ramps up over time. It's a prototype of the variety and about as good as it gets from the state.
This is an unusually perfumed commingling of varieties not always seen together, including 45% Tannat, 44% Syrah and 11% Counoise. But it works. Black cherry, black tea and orange peel come together seamlessly on the nose and palate, with a high-toned acidity balancing the 60% new French oak and healthy proportion of whole-cluster fermentation.
Muscular, earthy aromas of dark-berry fruits and raisin are savory and attractive. A sinewy, tightly wound palate features plenty of creamy oak, while savory, meaty berry flavors are up to the wine's vanilla-and-cream element. Quality berry flavors carry over to a chewy finish. Drink through 2021.
Like the La Louvée, this wine is plummy and superripe, wrapped in toasty, cedary oak. It's savory as well, with meaty notes carried along by waves of richness. The finish is lined with mouthcoating tannins, suggesting a few years of cellaring are warranted. Drink 2018–2030.
Like its brothers Veraton and Aquilon, this modern Garnacha opens with hickory, savory berry and balsamic aromas. While it's stout in feel, there's freshness amid the saturation. Flavors of toasty oak, licorice and blackberry finish long, blackened and savory. Drink through 2021.
Sourced from the Kuleto Estate Vineyard near Pritchard Hill, this wine is quite intense in golden caramel oak and honeyed power. Nonetheless, it explodes in lemon and flint, remaining bright and balanced, with a bite of apple pie on the long finish.
With all the freshness of the vintage, this fruity wine shows good balance between tangy acidity and crisp apple and green-plum fruits. Subtle touches of wood give a spicy, nutmeg flavor to complement the bright fruitiness. Drink from 2018. The vineyard is next door to the Grand Cru Montrachet vines.
This makes a great showing for Boatique's first review. A deep color, superconcentrated flavors and a big but agile body set this wine apart. It smells like ripe blackberries and tastes like cherries and blueberries dusted with very dark chocolate. This wine is is dry, refined and very young, so cellar it until at least 2020 if you can wait that long.
Aromas of truffle, ripe dark-skinned berry, baking spice and grilled herb unfold on this structured red but accessible red. The ripe, chewy palate doles out fleshy wild cherry, raspberry jam, cinnamon and clove. Well-integrated tannins lend an almost weightless quality. Drink 2018–2023.
The power of smoky oak shows strongly on this wine. Black-cherry fruit aromas are woven in with caramel, fudge, vanilla and cappuccino scents. A strong tannic structure frames the palate, with juicy black-cherry and blueberry flavors enhanced with milk chocolate and more caramel. Drink 2017–2033.
Spicy and full-bodied, this opens with aromas that suggest sunbaked earth, leafy underbrush, baking spice and a whiff of leather. The smooth, chewy palate doles out ripe Morello cherry, fig, cinnamon, tobacco and star anise alongside solid, velvety tannins. It's already surprisingly approachable and offers fine near- and mid-term enjoyment. Drink 2017–2025.
Still firm and tannic, this dense wine will need some time to develop. It has dark tannins and concentrated red-plum and berry flavors. A smoky background from the wood aging will soften over the next year. However with the tannins, the wine should not be drunk before 2020.
Highly reputed for its red wines, Vacheron continues to display its skills with this latest vintage. The wine is rich and full with a combination of bright red fruits and a firm, integrated structure. It is a fresh wine now and one that should age. Drink from 2018.
Underbrush, grilled porcini, chopped herb, tilled soil aromas and a hint of stewed fruit unfold in the glass. The developed palate doles out layers of mature black cherry, raspberry compote, chopped mint, tobacco and anise set along against a backbone of fine-grained tannins. It will be even better in a few years but it's not built for long-term cellaring.
Decadently rich in caramel and vanilla on the nose, this vineyard-designate evolves into more delicate floral elements, with a depth of spicy oak and baked apple and pear. Throughout the medium body and medium acidity is a freshness of lemon and lime, with a slight twist of tangerine.
Aromas of sunbaked earth, underbrush, grilled herb and mature black-skinned fruit lead the nose along with a whiff of worn leather. The chewy palate offers ripe wild cherry, cinnamon and anise framed in velvety tannins. Drink 2018–2025.
Dark-skinned berry, menthol toast and tilled soil aromas come together in the glass. Full-bodied, ripe, velvety tannins underscore flavors of mature black cherry, licorice, tobacco and clove. Drink 2018–2028.
Intensely dense and feral, this wine opens with a thicket of tart cherry and strawberry, followed by leathery black pepper and lavender. Medium in body and acidity, it works for the table, finding balance as it goes, before a rich taste of toffee finishes things off.
Intense red berry, cake spice, new leather and sunbaked earth aromas meld together. The big, chewy palate delivers fleshy black cherry, toast, coffee, anise and grilled herb alongside solid, ripe tannins. You'll also get a nod of alcohol on the finish.
This is minty, crusty and frankly a bit harsh on the bouquet, where aromas turn charred and burnt. It feels roasted and chunky, with hickory-smoked flavors of clove and berry. The finish vacillates between being oaky and herbal.
Vanilla, popcorn and baked apple aromas create a good but one-dimensional nose. In the mouth, things run tight and acidic, with a puckering, lemony feel and austere flavors of dry apple and spice. Finishes tangy and lemony.
This Cabernet Sauvingon includes 6% each Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. It's herbal and austere, though not at all tricked up with vanilla flavor. Short and to the point, it's a good every day red for heartier meals.
Ripe and spicy, this is an attractive package of warm tannins and red berries. This wine has a solid, dry core, but it will develop fast—delicious within a year.
This is a bright, fruity, rounded wine with a soft texture. It's full and ripe, with melon and green plum notes, plus a touch of bitterness on the finish.
Ripe and juicy, this wine has good acidity that accompanies the attractive, seemingly sweet tannins. Concentrated, it needs several years to broaden out.
Fruity and rather soft, this already shows maturity. It's an attractive, red-fruited wine that's light and fragrant. Not for aging.
This is tight and closed, with bitter tannins. It takes a while for the red berry flavor to surface, offering a wine that has potential for richness in 3–4 years time. It will always have a final, mineral-driven tautness.
Here's a wine that, while expressing the structure of the vintage, brings warmth and a rich blackberry flavor as well. It has a fine texture and a firm, upright feel. Ready for drinking in a year.
Foresty, rubbery and brash, this has toasty, woody, cheesy and berry-driven aromas. It feels creamy and heavy, with herbal and salty flavors that finish with a roasted, meaty taste. Warm, heavy and ponderous.
A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Tavola Rosso is a wine that seems to be in search of a distinct identity. Tannic, drying and vanilla soaked, it has a red fruit flavor that vanishes all too quickly.
This wine is characteristic of Salta in its initial hit of patented leafy, earthy, roasted aromas and subsequent entrance of brash, grabby tannins. Nutty, roasted flavors of baked berry, toffee, coffee and earth come next.
This wine is messy on the nose, where compost, gas and animal aromas blend with jammy berry scents. It feels tannic and clampy, with baked and rooty berry flavors. The wine remains roasted in style and rooty on the finish.
Warm and rounded, this is a soft, ripe rosé. The flavors of plums and red berries roll easily around the mouth, producing a wine that is full, rich and soft.
This is a structured wine, with dry tannins and notes of berry and red cherry. The fruit comes through the smoky character, bringing sweet-tasting acidity. Give this wine 3–4 years to age.
Perfumed and fragrant, this shows wood and fruity perfumes in harmony. It's attractive, forward and ready to drink.
Smooth and supple, almost silky, this dense and delightful Syrah begins with a smoky, meaty run of sweet cherry and berry flavors, then quickly adds interesting nuances of herb and leaf and earth. The cherry fruit triumphs, along with cut tobacco and a whiff of clove, as it weaves through a long finish.
Smooth wine, the wood aging underlaying the cherry and ripe plum fruit flavors. It is powerful, yes, although there is a great sense of style from the ripe fruit integrated into rich tannins and final acidity.
A firm wine, based on dry tannins and some dense fruit. It has acidity, driven by black berry flavors. The core of the wine is dry, both from wood and acidity, and it will benefit from 2–3 years' aging.
Meandro, named after the horseshoe bend on the Douro that surrounds the Vale Meão vineyard, is the second wine from this quinta. In its own right, it is a fine wine, solidly based around smooth, rich black berry fruits and spice. Age for 5–6 years at least.
Juicy, ripe wine, perfumed with sweet fruit. Black berries and bitter chocolate mix with sweet plums and final, lively acidity.
A dense wine with great spicy fruit, open and generous. This is a wine that feels powerful, structured and concentrated. It needs aging for at least 3–4 years.
This was an interesting showing for Dry River's 2008 Pinot, which seems to be showing more structure now than when I first tasted it last November. Now it's a bit blockier than I remember it, with potent cherry-berry fruit, a bit of vanilla and an long finish that ultimately smooths out and turns silky. Try 2013–2020.
Lean, bitter chocolate-flavored wine. The structure dominates, pierced with acidity and tight tannins. Firm, structured and dry, it has weight enough to suggest it will age.
This is an approachable, lightweight Sauvignon Blanc with upfront tropical fruit aromas. The mouthfeel is clean and mild, while flavors of white grapefruit and lime finish sweet and easy, alongside notes of dried pineapple and mango.
Fresh and fruity, it has aromas of red currant, cranberry, plum and orange peel. These are followed by medium-bodied fruit flavors with cranberry-like acidity.
This is a basic but nice Chardonnay with lightly oaked aromas of pear, apple and tropical fruits. The palate is fresh and healthy, while apple, mango and peach flavors settle with a hint of bitter matchstick and leftover tropical notes.
Soft tannins and bright acidity give a wine that's ready to drink. Juicy red berry fruits dominate, with tannins just in the background.
Scents of plum, orange rind, banana and a touch of mentholated herb unfold on the nose, while the palate offers fruit-skin flavors of plum and cherry, lending a slightly tannic structure.
This standard-issue Malbec is attractively priced and cohesively fruity without too many rough edges. The fruit tends more to red than dark with just a hint of vanilla on the finish.
Offering a more traditional California Zinfandel style than some of the other 2011s, this takes off with scents of a warm, butter-crusted cherry pie, unfolding on the palate with cranberry jelly. There's a slight herbal character and quite of bit of tannic grip, so expect this one to improve in the years to come.
Comprised of 66% Zinfandel, 20% Barbera and 14% Primitivo. Brutocao has gone in a different direction than most of its 2010 Coro counterparts. It mixes in Barbera, presumably for acidity and freshness, to the bigger boned personalities of Zin and Primitivo. In the end, the fruit and acidity are dulled by the toffee and oak and grippy, grizzled leather in this wine.
Quite light, in both mouthfeel and flavor, this has simple, rather generic fruit and a bit of butter.
Smooth and ripe, this is a softly textured, caramel-flavored wine. It does have a dry element, but the main thrust is full of juicy acidity. Ready to drink now.
This soft wine has a roasted fruit quality to it. Layers of jammy berry and plum show amidst a savory profile of tamed tannins and earth.
The fruit is soft and faded in this wine, which is otherwise soft-medium in body,. It's made by a longstanding producer of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Mild apple and mango aromas are a fair set-up for a round, peachy palate with flavors of nectarine, melon and citrus fruits. This feels tropical and melony on the finish, with an oily, slightly bitter aftertaste.
A tasty, satisfying everyday red with an easy-drinking style and an affordable price. Light in texture, it's marked by jammy aromas, berry and herb flavors, and a soft finish.
Mouthfilling and slightly jammy, this blend of 35% Syrah, 25% Primitivo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc is showing its age. Hints of smoky, savory fruit and earth just barely linger on.
Roasted berry and a strong blast of rubber and black olive aromas set up a round, bouncy palate with resiny oak and loamy, generic berry flavors touched up by green herbs and spice. This is warm, oaky and regular on the finish.
Floral aromas and flavors mingle in a sweet, slightly soapy midpalate. The fruit is nondescript; what is most noticeable are the brown, sweet spices.
Firm and concentrated, it has dense tannins that bring out a bitter, chocolate edge. Wood gives a dark toast character. With all these conflicting elements, it's hard to see the wine's future.
Waxy apple and pear aromas come with butterscotch and dusty scents. The body on this barrel-fermented Viura rates as round and full, while flavors of apple, peach and spiced citrus finish yeasty, long and slightly oxidized.
Black-fruit aromas are matched and ultimately outweighed by oak-based chocolate and vanilla. This feels grabby and rubbery, with oaky flavors of plum, raspberry and vanilla. A creamy, resiny finish with chocolate and spice flavors wraps things up.
A fruity and fragrant selection, with upfront aromas of ripe strawberries, banana and peaches and cream. There's a bit more tension on the palate, with bracing acidity and flavors of small, tart red berries and white cherry.
The merest prickle on the tongue adds to the freshness of this crisp, clean, lightly sweet wine. Very fruity, it conveys apples and citrus, with a soft, fragrant aftertaste.
Savory, citrusy and pear-scented, this is fresh, crisp and light, making it ideal for a party.
Olive and meaty black-fruit aromas control this wine that feels tangy and a bit high in acidity. Berry, plum and herbal flavors finish moderately oaky, with notes of salty brine and peppery spice.
Hard plum and berry aromas come with brushy herbal scents and a strong whiff of asphalt. The mouthfeel is forward and direct, with loud acidity. Blackberry, plum, herb and spice flavors dominate, while the finish is peppery and tastes of minty oak.
Bottled in a decanter (thoughtfully supplied with a stopper), this is De Venoge's homage to King Louis XV, who first decreed the bottling of Champagne in the region to preserve the bubbles. This shows toasty, petrol richness, but has preserved much of its original freshness, leaving a good few years' potential.
Piattelli is an under-the-radar label that makes very good to excellent Malbec from old vines in Luján del Cuyo, Mendoza. And the prices are more than fair. This wine is big and focused, with intense blackberry, chocolate and espresso qualities throughout. And the finish is midnight dark. Good through 2012.
It's a shame to release this wine so young, because its constituents are individually impressive. It will need a few years for the acidity to come together with the ripe melon and grapefruit flavors, the soft texture and the bright vivid character.
There are few 2003 vintages-wines—the year was so hot and the wines can lack acidity. But while this wine is certainly full-bodied, it has an impressive tannic structure with tight acidity giving a lift to the pear juice weight.
Cherries and strawberries abound in this elegant wine. Old-vine fruit was fermented and briefly aged in neutral barrels that somehow lend a subtle hint of apple-pie spices to the wine. A perfect late summer sipper.
Fresh and vibrant aromas of dark cherry and purple flowers get serious weight from a touch of tar on this very balanced, tighter Cabernet. Dark red fruits, sweet plums (and their more tart skins) and even blueberry show on the palate, which is equally acidic and tannic. It's neither lean nor lush, but right down the middle.
Aromas recall freshly chopped herbs such as thyme and parsley, with a very likable hint of pine tar as well. That mix of tree resin and Italian herbs comes through on the palate too, making for a flavorful and stand-out wine.
Aromas of coffee, espresso, toast, black plum, vanilla and berry fruit open this wine. The straightforward palate delivers rich black cherry accented with vanilla, chocolate and licorice alongside tight tannins that leave an astringent finish. Drink after 2018.
Traditional Rioja aromas of leather, vanilla, dried red fruits, spice and dill turn earthy with airing. This is healthy but mature on the palate, with oaky flavors of vanilla accenting core pie cherry, red plum and raspberry. Oak spice and acidity reverberate on the finish. Drink now.
The husband-and-wife team behind this label deliver a well-balanced, approachable but serious wine in this bottling. Aromas include red rose, dark violet, pomegranate, limestone and clove. On the palate, there is luscious black cherry fruit, with slate and acidity to stand it up straight.
It opens with pretty aromas of red rose, wild cherry, leather, earth and balsamic notes. The palate delivers juicy black cherry accented with black pepper and licorice, with brawny, teeth-coating tannins. Drink 2016–2021.
Surprisingly ripe and dense for the vintage, this opens with aromas of plum, vanilla and chocolate that carry over to the palate along with espresso and coffee. It has a forward nature with tame acidity and soft tannins that make it already accessible. Drink 2015–2025.
A lightly funky whiff of the chicken yard underlies the aromatics, but for most tasters it will be an asset, as it does not block the pretty cherry fruit. These forward, appealing cherry flavors, matched to natural acidity and lengthened with that whiff of funk, make for a delicious and value-priced effort.
Pinot Gris from 2013 is looking very good in the Willamette, with crisp, concise, complex flavors. Here it's a mix of lemon, lime and pineapple, with refreshing minerality.
Full-bodied, structured and leathery, it's characterized by a combination of plum and gamy meat, accented by a taste of black olive tapenade. It finishes smooth and toasty.
With 4% Petit Verdot added for body and color, this Cab is otherwise on the brighter side of red fruit and acidity, nicely balanced and approachable in cranberry, cassis and a wink of violet. It's not as meaty and robust as the winery's Morisoli, a tamer version of a similar beast.
This lovely wine shows perfect physiological ripeness, with high acidity intact. Melon and white peach fruit flavors anchor a snappy, fresh, all-stainless style.
Holding its wines in barrel and bottle longer than most before release, En Garde's Cabernet shows ample, leathery tannin that will benefit from further aging, in addition to being hedonistically enjoyable now. Cinnamon and clove are the most pronounced aromas and flavors, followed by black currant.
The nose is still a bit closed, but the palate is more expressive and accessible. It delivers ripe black cherry, sweet raspberry, subtle oak, vanilla and espresso flavors alongside firm tannins. It's good now but will be better after 2018.
The wine is round, full in the mouth and rich. With yellow fruits as well as red apple flavors, it's ripe without missing out on a more steely, cool and herbaceous backdrop. Drink now.
This wine's plum, mocha and cedar notes are carried by ample body and a silky texture. It's a round, supple blend of 59% Shiraz, 31% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre that finishes long, reverberating with fresh acids and mocha shadings. Drink it over the next several years.
A solid, tannic wine that has both great rich fruits and a dry core that needs to soften with age. It tastes powerful without sacrificing a perfumed and floral elegance. This is a serious wine, with a dense texture and potential. Drink from 2016.
It pulls together toasty oak sweetness in the aromas and delicious ripe cherry and cranberry flavors with bass notes of black plum and clove. Full-bodied, it has firm but not tight tannins that add to the velvety texture.
Brilliant pink with a touch of orange, this refreshing and light-bodied wine tastes fresh and strawberrylike. It has an appetizingly crisp texture and clean fruity finish.
This is a simple North Coast Cabernet with herbal and green olive and pepper tones.
Dry berry, leather and spice aromas lead to a juicy, high-acid palate, with red cherry, tart plum and pepper accents. It remains zesty, clean, simple and sharp on the finish.
This opens with a familiar taste of artificial, roasted char, then it moves on to soupy berry aromas. It feels scratchy, with flavors of hickory, baked plum and berry.
Fiery, hard and closed on the nose, this has a chemical hint. It feels acidic and sappy, with a weird mix of flavors that run from fish and fake butter to earthy, leathery raspberry. Stalky on the finish.
This smells of funk, yeast and cured meat. Tangy and acidic in the mouth, it has peach, citrus and ham flavors, finishing a bit mealy.
Soft and just off-dry, this has a dominant flavor of red cherry, with a gentle touch of acidity. Drink now.
Crisp plum and raspberry aromas set up a snappy, tight palate with green flavors of plum, raspberry and herb. It tastes vegetal on the finish, with cutting acidity.
This unusual Cabernet, which includes small percentages of four different Rhône red grapes, doesn't show much of anything in the way of Cabernet flavor. Stemmy and tannic, with green tea on the finish, it registers high in alcohol but is green on the palate.
This is fairly mulchy on the nose, with an earthy prune aroma. It feels grabby and lean, with cranberry fruit flavor, bitterness and an herb accents. The finish stays murky, tart and mildly green.
The fruit that was used to make this Pinot Grigio was sourced from a High Valley vineyard situated at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The resulting wine is full of citrus and green apple aromas and flavors. The finish shows a touch of sweetness.
This Chardonnay is minerally and dry, and it has taut acidity and structured quince fruit. The finish is crisp.
This entry-level offering from Seresin offers a pleasing blend of root veggies and mushrooms, with cranberry and raspberry fruit. It's crisp—almost lemony—on the finish, and it has a dusty layer of tannins to ensure that it lasts for at least a few years.
By “Old Vine Cabernet” the winery refers to vines that were planted in 1973. But somehow the fruit doesn't express old-vine character. Instead, it's a mix of sweet-tasting strawberry and bitter stem flavors that lack focus, with a peppery highlight.
Ripe red-cherry and sweet pastry notes are fragrant on this bright, easy-drinking Pinot Noir. On the finish, hints of smoke and ash add savory tones that would be pleasant alongside duck- or pork-based dishes.
Loaded with vibrant jammy fruit, this is a bright Zinfandel that has a smoky grilled-meat note on the finish. Pair this with meaty dishes.
At 50,000 cases imported, this must be one of the most ubiquitous New Zealand Pinots in the United States. It's medium bodied and tightly wound, with a crisp core of mouthwatering acidity that adds zest to the flavors of dark cherry, earth and leather. Drink now.
This is a pretty solid value for the price, as long as you don't mind plenty of oak influence. A cedary note dominates the nose and casts a long shadow across the cherry-stained palate, imparting a vanilla flavor and some drying tannins along the way. Despite that, there's ample length and a mouthwatering quality to the finish. Drink now.
Light in weight and lacy in texture, this is a savory, subtly flavored Pinot Noir that's ready to drink. Notes of smoke, mushrooms and dried herbs intertwine with tart fruit.
This off-dry Riesling has exuberant aromas of orange blossoms and ripe red berries. It balances concentrated apple and honey flavors with flashes of green herbs and brisk, lime-tinged acidity. So light and dainty, it's easy to drink.
Toasty and oaky, with wood-grilled peach and roasted apple-skin aromas unfolding on the nose. Melon and pear flavors flesh out the medium-weight mouth, and linger alongside hints of sweet spice and charred wood on the close.
Bright and juicy, this wine offers upfront fruit aromas and flavors of blueberry, black cherry and plum. Hints of fudgy brownie and berry preserve add depth and decadence to the palate, and stay well into the medium-length finish. Drink now.
This bold red made from Argaman—a cross between Souzão and Carignan—offers upfront notes of boysenberry and black plum, accented by hints of bark and spiced chocolate. It's inky and dark, but with a good acidic cut that keeps the finish fresh and the wine approachable now.
Here is a straightforward Malbec that offers the expected mix of berry and herb flavors, plus a suggestion of minerality and a whiff of sweatiness. It's a good companion for a burger or a steak.
Toasted nut, rhubarb, pepper and spice box aromas abound on the nose of this plucky red. Black cherry, spice and pepper flavors follow. Clean, spicy and food friendly, this selection is ageable and assertive.
This is a dry, slightly understated version of McGregor's standard label Gewürztraminer. It's elegant and fruity, with flavors of fresh lychee and peach that are peppered with a dash of exotic spice. Full bodied, but refreshingly quaffable.
The nose of this juicy wine conjures plum and raisin cake, and the palate follows with explosive red cherry and clove and cinnamon seasonings. Big and brawny, it's also softly textured and layered, winning one over in its head-on hedonism.
Coming from the original plantings at this esteemed vineyard, this wine brings brooding, high-toned aromas of savory herbs, exotic spice and cherry. The palate is all about sophistication and delicacy of flavor, showing nuance and detail, particularly considering the warmth of the vintage.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Cabernet Franc (34%), Merlot (15%) and Malbec. Aromas are fresh and fruit filled, with notes of raspberry and black cherry, along with abundant spice and herb accents. The palate is vibrant and flavorful, delivering hedonistic appeal as well as freshness. The emphasis is on elegance.
Plummy cinnamon notes meet fruity coconut depth in this ripe, soft and brightly constructed wine that's rich and full-bodied.
A high level of char introduces this saturated, high-energy Rioja, which also shows animal and wild herb aromas. Oak and vanilla flavors share space with plum and blackberry fruit on the palate, a mocha note echoing on the strong, acid-driven finish. Drink through 2027.
Fermented in a concrete egg, this is a texture-based style with subtle penetrating minerality. The fruit flavors suggest peach, pear and Meyer lemon—not big and rich, but elegant and satisfying.
This wine's restrained aromas take time to come around, showing a mix of dust and black pepper before waves of juicy red fruit and soft tannin and oak mingle together seamlessly on the palate. Toasted oak and vanilla notes mark the long finish.
Savory and bright, this has classic varietal aromas of grapefruit, tropical fruit and an herbaceous note reminiscent of crushed tomato vine. The vibrant palate delivers green melon, kiwi and dried herb alongside tangy acidity and a hint of stony mineral.
Aromas of grapefruit, tropical fruit, citrus zest, a whiff of graphite and an herbaceous note take center stage on this expressive yet elegant white. The round medium-bodied palate delivers ripe pear, yellow apple, lemon and a quintessential note of bitter almond typical of the variety.
This is an impressive bottling of well-distributed wine, blended with smaller percentages of all the major red Bordeaux varieties (plus 1% Tannat). Spicy clove, leather, cedar and herb hints highlight its subdued red fruit. The tannins are grippy and oak quite present, but both provide welcome structure and strength.
Lusciously ripe apricots and yellow peaches are electrified by racy streaks of acidity in this dry Riesling. It's light in body yet creamy and expansive on the palate. The finish is long and crisply mineral.
Velvety blueberry and blackberry notes highlight the moderate structure of this blend of 35% Grenache and 32% Syrah with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah, Carignane and Counoise. Lightly spiced with nutmeg and white pepper, it's balanced and food-friendly, with a soft, round texture.
An excellent effort, this deserves its “limited” designation, and not just because it's a three-barrel selection. Dense raspberry and black cherry anchor a substantial wine with plenty of well-ripened tannins. Spending 22 months in one-quarter new French oak adds streaks of dark chocolate and espresso. The acid-tannin balance is spot-on.
This new family-run enterprise offers exceptional value among a tight portfolio of Rieslings and Pinot Noirs. This pretty fruit-powered wine used native yeast, received minimal handling, and was aged 18 months in 10% new oak. Orange slices and sweet cherry juice combine in a fresh and forward effort perfect for summer sipping.
Pristine white grapefruits, tangerines and limes abound in this revitalizing, light-bodied Riesling. Just a touch sweet and refreshingly mineral on the palate, it offers loads of thirst-quenching enjoyment with a lingering, salty finish.
This is an intriguing offering, with aromas of crushed flower, herb, orange peel, blue fruit and wet stone. The palate is loaded with fruit and savory flavors that show a delicate styling. The balance is downright impressive.
Delicate alluring scents suggesting ripe orchard fruit and Spanish broom lead the nose on this subtle elegant white. On the bright balanced palate, notes of beeswax and mineral underscore Bartlett pear and yellow apple. It boasts impressive harmony and freshness for what was an extremely hot vintage.
Mushroom and forest floor notes provide a welcome and rich earthiness on the nose of this wine, which delivers juicy acidity beneath its denser savory tones. Tobacco leaf and black currant and clove add underlying seasoning.
This barrel selection brings bright flavors of salmonberry and raspberry, with highlights of citrus peel. It's precise and tart; less ripe than many wines from this warm year, but balanced and focused.
This wine tastes concentrated and powerful, from the first whiff of spicy cedar and black pepper to the smoky, dried fruit flavors and mouth-coating texture. It owes its savory, smoky character to its exceptionally long 30-month oak ageing. Yet while bold and assertive, its alcohol is restrained.
The Daou brothers aren't known for subtlety, so it's no surprise that this Sauvignon Blanc is rich and plush with oak-kissed peach, smoked apple and toasted nut aromas. There's good energy and grip to the palate, with tangy Meyer lemon rind flavor and that powerful oak smoke that's uncommon for Central Coast whites but befits the house style.
Lemon and mirabelle are hinted at on the nose. The palate shows them fully and brings their juicy, fresh and ripe fruitiness to the fore. The body is light and slender but brims with freshness. The finish is clean and appetizing with lovely lemon.
Promising juicy ripeness of peach and mirabelle appears on the nose. The palate takes this rounded fruitiness and frames it with intense lemon freshness. The palate is concentrated and fluid, shot through with freshness and verve. Dry and refreshing.
French and Hungarian oak cradle the dusty juice of old vines in this soft, integrated wine, brawny in strawberry, orange zest and cheese rind. Black pepper and a note of leather close out the lengthy, spicy finish.
Oculus is 71% Merlot, with 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc finishing the blend. As with Mission Hill's other high-end red blends, it's almost jet black in hue, with scents of smoke and char around blackberry and black cherry fruit. Chocolate and espresso flavors come through strongly, and the tannins are quite drying. It's a style ready-made for a thick, juicy steak.
Seductively tart in lemon pith, cranberry and pomegranate, this refreshing, light-bodied quaff is infinitely enjoyable, both on its own or at the table. It continues to expand on the palate into an increasing array of fresh flavors, finishing in cherry and orange.
This is a lovely expression of this vineyard site, sometimes classified as Sonoma Coast. It captures the cool-climate province of the vines in crisp, classic ways, allowing elegant layers of pear, guava and lime to express and coalesce, finishing with a tease of voluptuousness.
A proportion of the grapes in this wine, accented with 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, comes from the Lewis Vineyard, a respected site in the heart of the appellation. It contributes to the magic, putting forward red currant, sage and crisp red fruit around a strong body, texture and tang of tannin.
A blend of four of the best parcels from the Saget estate, this is a rich and structured wine. Its apple, citrus and yellow fruit flavors are just beginning to integrate with the tight, steely texture. Drink this wine from 2018.
This juicy cuvée is aged entirely in French oak, blending Mourvèdre with Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault to good effect. High acidity marks the palate, giving it freshness amid the earthiness of blueberry and leather.
This wine is mostly Grenache (70%) along with Mourvèdre and Syrah. The aromas of raspberry and peppery spices are light and pure. The red-fruit and plum flavors are elegant yet sumptuous in feel, with the oak pulled back. It's unabashedly appealing and a great value to boot.
Herb aromas mix with notes of blue and black fruit and sweet barrel spices on the nose, showing smoked meat in the background. The dark fruit flavors are broad in feel and linger on the finish.
This bottled-aged beauty, made by Syrah expert Andrew Murray, is redolent on the nose with lavender, violets, dense black fruit and a touch of tar. Great depth and structure show on the chewy palate, with black flavors of tar, espresso and nearly fudge complementing the rich yet tangy red-cherry fruit.
Like all Alto Moncayo Garnachas, this opens with a big, loud crust of toasty oak and campfire smoke on top of blackberry aromas. The palate offers depth and body, while charred, toasty black-fruit flavors finish peppery and with tolerable heat. Drink through 2021.
Loaded with underbrush sensations, this opens with aromas of porcini mushroom, truffle, charred soil and a whiff of baked plum. The big, generous palate offers fleshy black cherry, vanilla, a confectionary note and a hint of game alongside ripe tannins. The fruit richness seamlessly supports the hefty 15% abv. Drink 2016–2020.
Not many white Riojas reach these heights. This youthful Garnacha Blanca opens with tropical aromas of papaya, melon and honey. The palate is whole and fleshy, with welcoming balance. Flavors of spicy oak, lees, vanilla, white peach and melon end long, leesy and with complexity. Drink through 2018.
All varietal, aromas of crushed rock, black licorice, barrel spice, green pepper, pink peppercorns and savory herbs lead to a well-balanced palate backed by firm, lightly grainy tannins. It needs time still to fully come together but has more than enough stuffing to go the distance.
From chalk soil, this wine is touched with minerality, crisp acidity and a texture that promises an ability to age. It has green plum and sliced apple flavors, fresh while also tangy. A complex wine, it will be better from late 2017.
This rich, full wine shows a strongly mineral character as well as ripe green-plum and citrus flavors. It has concentration, spice as well as fresh final acidity. The name of the wine comes from the Roman name for the producer's village, Sury-en-Vaux. It will be better if aged for a few months, so drink from early 2017.
This wine is crisp, with a mineral texture that is tight and allows for considerable citric acidity. A riper background conveys rich apple flavors and a taut, nervy, steely character. Drink this concentrated wine from 2017.
This is a ripe wine, with wood aging that has smoothed the fruit intensity while keeping the rich apple and pear flavors. An unmistakable tang of minerality comes from the youthful texture. With its dense character, it's a wine to age. Drink from 2017.
Mourvèdre (39%) takes the lead, followed by Grenache (36%), Syrah and Cinsault. Pitch-black blackberry aromas are brightened by notes of raspberry jam, graphite and herbs that enchant the senses. It's fruit forward and flavorful with a fine sense of balance and an undeniable, warm vintage appeal.
This is the top wine from Balland, who is based in the Coteaux du Giennois further north. Taking its name from the limestone pebbles in the vineyard, it is textured, mineral and zesty. Crisp lemon and warmer green plums give it tautness and add a richer element. Drink from 2017.
A promising start for Empire Estate's first bottling, this perfumed dry Riesling is marked by lifted aromas of orange blossom and citrus peel. Concentrated tangerine and honey flavors have an electric vibe, balancing a nervous edge of lemon-lime acidity against a honed, steely polish.
Produced on flinty soil and aged in large wood barrels, this is a complex, rich wine. Ample apple and pear flavors are lifted by the smoky flavor and the concentration from aging on lees. The wine needs to age; drink from 2018.
Aromas of tilled soil, herbs, flowers, olive, black pepper and orange peel lead to fresh, elegant smoked meat flavors with spot on balance. It's a unique expression of the variety from the state that keeps you coming back for more.
Black-cherry compote rises on the entry of this wine that's medium in acidity and use of oak, with a punchy sense of sleek, savory fruit and baking spices. Friendly and fleshy, it's a meatier exploration of the variety by the producer, with a rounded, lengthy finish.
Elegant and in balance, despite its powerful mix of ripeness and tension, this wine offers cranberry, thyme, oregano, graphite and tar. All combine for a savory succulence of intrigue and deliciousness, finishing in a length of black pepper.
Plum, truffle, tilled earth and a hint of mocha lead the nose while the ripe, round palate offers fleshy black cherry, crushed raspberry, baking spice and pipe tobacco. Velvety tannins support the savory flavors and carry through to the chewy, licorice finish. Drink through 2020.
Foresty blackberry aromas come with a cola note and a dash of char. This feels full and rich, with wall-to-wall tannins. A mix of baked berry fruits and soy sauce flavors finishes with mild leather and lasting savory notes. Drink through 2022.
This intriguing red begins with cinnamon, leather and pepper aromas, followed by a nice balance of warming spices and rich red fruit. Good complexity with tannins that allow for some aging. Pair with grilled meats, robust cheeses.
A wine that seems to be all tannin, all wood, with only a feel of black currant fruits underneath all this dryness. These flavors suggest high extraction, giving spice, a high toast wood character, all too much for a delicate 2007.
Simple, regular peach and pear aromas lead to a palate of sweet apple flavor and mild citric bite. This is the ultimate in basic Chilean Chardonnay: it's clean, a little dull and melony, and sweet. Drink soon.
Strawberry and tomato aromas are hot and edgy. The palate is snappy and not short on acid, while it tastes of spiced red plum, tea and herbs. Peppery and herbal on the finish, and zesty all the way through.
Hot and volatile, showing some browning around the edges, with chocolaty/pruney aromas. Consistent style—over-ripe, oxidized, a bit flat in the mouth, still shows some green herbal tannins.
Chunky and a bit dull smelling, with apple, melon and peach aromas. Papaya and green melon flavors seem to be flattening with age, and the finish is long but nondescript. Drink now or wait for the '09. Imported by Alamos USA.
This tastes lean, the fruit buried deep beneath hard, dry fruit tannins. There is an old style austerity here that demands food. The final juicy acidity does leave a welcome relief.
This Greek Sauvignon Blanc is both fruity and dry with a crisp, fresh nose and simply good lemon and spice flavors. Clean with a medium body. A good everyday white for lighter dishes.
Spicy, herbal and toasty on the nose, but the palate fails to meet the promise of the aromas. It's acidic and sharp at its center, with grabby tannins along with regular plum and boysenberry flavors. A big-bodied red with rough tannins and outsized acidity.
A blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this conveys aromas of wood shop, mature plum, mint, crushed violet and scorched earth. The palate offers dried black cherry, sensations of cured meat and roasted coffee bean alongside raspy, drying tannins. This is already quite evolved.
Sanguine and floral, this soft wine exudes waxy plum and cherry around a midweight core of earthiness. Shy in fruit, it finishes with a somewhat diluted character.
Shades of earth and mineral take center stage in this dry, refreshing Pinot Noir rosé. It's delicately concentrated, just barely kissed by tart red cherry and strawberry flavors, but a zesty, fresh summer pick-me-up.
This bold, fruit-forward Merlot is voluptuously ripe and chock full of rich, luscious blackberry and blueberry flavors. It's dense and a bit jammy in texture, but brightened by crisp red-cherry acidity and the faintest shroud of gossamer tannins. Drink now.
Ripe, fruity and full of spice, this is a fresh wine. With its light color, it is a perfect summer quaff, crisp with red currants and with a light, fragrant aftertaste.
Fleshy red currant on the nose turns into denser, less focused red fruit on the palate. This is simple, medium-boded and fruit driven. Drink now for its freshness.
Funky and slightly sweet, this wine is somewhat flat on the palate, between soft and spicy layers of classic Russian River Valley cola-cherry and black tea. It finishes on the same theme, without much in the way of acidity.
This easy-drinking wine offers ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and a touch of Mediterranean herb alongside round tannins. It's made to be drunk young, so enjoy soon.
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.
Deliciously tangy as well as ripe, this is a textured, red fruit and vanilla-flavored wine that also has a touch of tannin. Acidity and a rounded aftertaste make this instantly drinkable. The blend is Syrah (40%), Grenache (30%), Cinsault (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%).
Tight and tannic, this wine is still young. The stalky fruit is cut with intense acidity coming from the crisp black currant flavors. It's a wine that needs some aging although it will probably remain dry and stalky. Drink from 2016.
This is a perfectly formed rosé, from its pale-pink color to its crisp acidity and light tannins. It is balanced and delicious to drink now.
This is a bright and lively selection, with inviting aromas and flavors of Anjou pear, green apple and orange that finish fresh and clean. Drink now.
Underripe melon meets butterscotch on the nose. The round palate shows banana-lemon yogurt with streaks of caramel, leading to a toasted vanilla finish.
Cherry jam notes are bright on the nose, showing sawdust and menthol tones in the background. A smooth palate with little tannic grip is driven by juicy red currant, accented by a sprinkling of black pepper.
This wine seems fully mature. Caramel, dried fruit, scorched earth and underbrush notes are backed by tart acids, yet this Pinot still comes across as attractive enough for casual drinking.
Gibbston Valley is one of the coolest parts of Central Otago, so its fruit is often blended with that from other regions. This medium-bodied wine is all Gibbston—tart, wiry and herbal, with pie cherry fruit and lemony acids on the finish. Despite all that, the tannins are nicely ripe.
Light in color and rustically earthy on the nose, this wine offers ripe black cherry and licorice, with a touch of tartness on the finish. It takes on weight and body as it goes, peaking as the wine hits the back of the tongue.
Bold, jumpy, reduced aromas of plum and berry fruits show little to no oak. This is chewy and jammy in feel, with standard berry flavors and almost no complexity as it heads toward a finish with mild animal and herbal notes.
Lifted aromas of cherry Jell-O, spicy raspberry and a kiss of anise show brightly on the nose. The palate offers a slight tannic grip, with strawberry and cherry flavors leading to a lightly peppered finish.
Fragrant aromas of apple blossoms swirl with a buttery croissant yeastiness on this bottling from Paso's Eastside. The palate tastes of green banana, with dried apples and apricots as well as ripe cantaloupe and a slightly buttery finish.
Slight notes of green beans mix with faint cherry fruit on this light, easy-drinking red. In summer, it can be chilled and would work well as a picnic red. The Zweigelt spice adds more interest.
Corinne Guisez scored a great success with her 2000. The wine is finely polished, shining, with its generous, deeply concentrated fruits and fine perfumes. The tannins show through the fruit, while the wood flavors hide much more discreetly in the background.
If Margaux is the most delicate of the Médoc wines, then this is the epitome of Margaux. It is light, poised and attractively perfumed. The fruit is elegant and fresh with a fine streak of acidity.
Thanks to the total dedication of owner Jean-Luc Vonderheyden, Monbrison continued to perform outside its class in 2000. Fragrant, perfumed aromas with suggestions of vanilla and lavender make this wine immediately attractive. It is soft, which suggests its aging will be fast, but the liquorice fruit flavors and ripeness will give pleasure after five years.
A solid, chunky structure is the hallmark of this big wine. The fruit is black, full of dark tannins. Perhaps it lacks subtlety, but that is replaced with great power and potential.
Head-trained, century-old vines, provide intense scents with old vine herbal, herbaceous accents. Watermelon, hay and strawberries, intensely extracted and 17.5% alcohol. This is over-the-top winemaking, with powerful old vine fruit, and a big, extracted finish, with lingering toasty, hazelnut and vanilla highlights.
There's 19% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah blended in, making for a succulent wine, with spicy, lively fruit leading the charge. There's enough acid to give it structure and balance, but not so much that the wine seems edgy or sour. Full bodied, mouthfilling, flavorful and distinctive.
A vineyard blend that includes 16% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignane, 4% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet. Meaty, funky and ripe, with intense fruit, lots of earthy, barnyardy accents, and a long, tannic finish. This is old style Zin, no holds barred, with full-throttle flavors for aficionados.
Soft, rich fruit, with layers of plum, cherry, berry and accents of toast and vanilla. Smooth, seductive style, plenty of acid, good balance and the fruit is pure, clean and ripe all the way to the lingering finish.
Toasty nose, bright fruit, makes for a classy, creamy, zippy Zin. This is really a pleasure, balanced and forward and full of life. There are some nuances of tar and spice in a balanced, exceptionally lively, seductive wine.
A bit closed at first, then swirling, characteristic Riesling aromas of pears, golden delicious apples and superripe peaches appear. Thick and intense, it's almost overwhelming in its honeyed richness. Sweet enough to pair with many desserts, but try it with blue-veined cheeses for a special treat.
Extracted, tannic, dark and dense, with briary, jammy fruit and thick tannins. Blackberries and chocolate, set off with lots of acid. It's a sensational, balanced, bold, ageworthy Zin.
Fat fruit, juicy and ripe, brimming with wonderful fruit flavors. The wine is unctuous, sinfully lush, and still balanced with berries and spice and some good toasty oak. Young and hard, but good stuff with a nice life ahead.
Intense, alcoholic, and wonderfully complex, with layers of toast, spice and fruit. The vines range from 50 to 80 years old or more; the wine is robust, balanced and muscular. St. Francis makes a flat-out wonderful Zin year after year, vintage after vintage, big and bellisimo.
Young, tight, firm fruit, with nuances of blueberry dominating. Tannic, dry and tight, it's well made with excellent structure and balance. Tight right now, high-toned and tart, but with a good, long life ahead.
Well-made, with clean, bright fruit and lots of pretty new oak. The wine is beautifully balanced, elegant with a long, rich, toasty finish. Fairly light fruit in this vintage, but well handled and perfectly showcased.
Big, fruity wine, with layers of fruit, earth, toast and oak. Spicy cranberry/raspberry fruit leads into toasty, dry tannins. There is a lovely density, buttressed with new oak, but anchored with ripe, firm fruit. Lovely winemaking.
Firm, ripe and fruity, with a nice mix of plums, berries and earth. The mountain fruit shows good acids, some mineral elements, and a long, complex finish with a fair amount of earth and barnyard. A distinctive, earthy style.
Good color, tight, firm fruit, with some heft to it. There's cassis as well as cherry, and the wine has the weight of a Sonoma Zin, with good acids to give it lift. This is the first estate bottling from this exciting new winery. Unfortunately, just 28 cases made.
Old vine clone, with brambly, gamy notes throughout. Lifts up the palate with lively, bright flavors. Good concentration, balance and follow-through.
Ripe, round, toasty wine, with rich, plummy fruit and a full-throttle palate feel. Nicely made and surprisingly evolved; jammy and pleasure-packed. Finishes with a pleasing fruit sweetness.
Blackberries are the story here, boatloads of rich, ripe, jammy blackberries. There is just a whiff of volatile acidity, then a wonderful mouthful of fruit with some stony earth underneath. Shows a light touch with the oak, good acids and a deft handling of the tannins.
This is the 33rd vintage of this landmark Zinfandel, which, since it's a blend that includes just 74% Zinfandel in it, isn't technically Zinfandel at all. Whatever. It's just plain delicious, old-vine, succulent juice. Jammy, juicy, vibrant and tight, it has a long life ahead.
Full bodied and well-oaked, this full-throttle Zin comes on with intense blackberry and vanilla aromas and flavors accented by cinnamon and chocolate notes. Ripe and even on the palate, the handsome fruit plays out on the lengthy finish with tart, dark berry and pepper notes.
This is a crisp, high-wire-walking wine, just so poised. Its youthful red fruits, laced with citrus, taste so fresh, with a strawberry bite. At this stage, it is intensely enjoyable as young Champagne, but it does need to age for several years.
Rich, concentrated, and loaded with smoky, dark, spicy fruit flavors, this is a full-on Bordeaux blend, with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. There's plenty of barrel influence, from 70% new French oak, but it's welcome, and appropriate, perfectly matched to the power of the fruit. An underlayer of woodsy earth and mushroom adds further complexity.
This famed single vineyard on its steep slope above Mareuil-sur-Aÿ produces a warm, always elegant wine. This 1999 is softer than some vintages, while still having a power and texture to go with fruit that is now maturing, giving a yeasty final character. Drink now, or age another few years.
Rich, almost unctuous, with a lush, lanolin mouthfeel, this is a passionfruit creamsicle of a wine. The fruit is a seductive and generous mix of peach, Asian pear and tropical; the alcohol a full-bodied 14.5%. The Roussanne part (58% of the blend) is barrel fermented; the Viognier done in stainless. Blended together they harmonize beautifully.
This is a pretty, delicately perfumed Pinot Noir, with elegantly intertwined cherry and herb notes. It's light to medium in body, with a finish that shows just a touch of sinewy intensity. Drink it over the next year or so.
This reserve is the best of Kason's 2007 releases, with cranberry fruit, minty spice, moderate tannins and overall balance. The thinness of the vintage shows through, and this will need to be drunk now, rather than cellared. Aging in 80% new French oak puts some toast into the finish.
A firm but fresh wine, the black currant fruit flavors right to the fore. Tannins are solid, dry, but fit well with the fruit profile. There is final fresh acidity.
Comes across a bit baked, syrupy and sweet on the nose, with a hint of stalkiness and stem. The palate has a lush early feel, but further inspection unveils a hollow core. Flavors veer toward earthy raspberry, while the finish is chunky and properly reflects what came before it.
Though picked at 23.6 brix, this Riesling reaches 14% alcohol and 1% residual sugar, an interesting combination of data. It's plenty concentrated, with a flavor mix of flower, sugar, honey and peach. A mouthful to be sure, substantial and packed with flavor, though a little heavy through the finish.
This is a fine entry-level rosé from this Provence classed-growth estate. It has fresh red fruits and a light texture that is rounded out with some concentration and almond flavors. Drink now.
Crisp and fruity, this wine demands to be drunk this summer. With bright red fruits, a light smoky texture and lime zest flavor, it is light, fresh and fragrant at the end.
While the wine is full bodied and rich, it is also deliciously fresh and with lively fruitiness. There is great acidity here, a bright layer of red currant fruits and wild strawberries, making it a good food rosé.
This wine's bracing acids and dry finish suggest it's anything but a cupcake. It's a medium-bodied, vibrant mouthful of Sauvignon Blanc, boasting hints of nectarine and tomato leaf layered over a core of gooseberry fruit.
A fresh and crisp wine, it is softly fruity with intense layers of acidity. It's immediately appealing with red fruits and crisp citrus at the end.
Dry and medium in body, this Cab from a warm vintage is simple but friendly, with nice cassis and raspberry aromas. Juicy and lively on the palate, it holds red-fruit flavors accented by spice and herbs, particularly mint. A mild finish makes it an easy drinker.
This barrel fermented and aged blend of Fiano and Greco opens with attractive floral aromas that recall Spanish broom and acacia with a whiff of beeswax. The austere palate offers green pear, citrus and mineral alongside fresh acidity.
Gold in color, with mineral, toast, baked apple and stone-fruit aromas, this Albariño is plump and mature on the palate. Flavors of peach, papaya and minerals finish long and peachy, with baked apple and minerally notes to the finish. This is showing its age; drink immediately or  wait for the 2012.
Hard, charred oak and cedar are the lead aromas on this woody Malbec, which also shows lemon peel and blackberry on the nose. The palate is tight and pushy, mixing flavors of toasty black fruits with raw oak resin and bitter chocolate. On the finish, there's heat and even more oak.
Polished and sleek, this wine opens with tropical fruit and citrus aromas. The steely palate offers grapefruit, lemon zest and nectarine alongside energizing mineral and fresh acidity. It has a clean, refreshing finish.
This garnet-colored wine conveys aromas of cranberry, black cherry and bramble. Flavors of dark cherry, cranberry and black plum have a strong acidic backbone and a long finish.
The 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend adds extra muscle to this toasty, sleek wine. It's light but polished, with pretty scents and flavors of rose water and raspberries. The generous acidity of the grape keeps it lively and fresh.
With minerally, clean aromas of lemon-lime and seashell, this is ready for summer sipping. A tangy, citric palate offers pure orange, tangerine and lime flavors, with mango thrown in for moderate sweetness. A citrusy, cleansing palate is exactly as it should be.
A crisp, clean and direct selection, this offers great purity and definition. Bright aromas of lime, white melon and apple carry through to the brisk, well-balanced palate, with faint hints of hay and ginger-like spice on the close. Drink now.
This savory wine is made with the native Pallagrello Bianco grape that's making a comeback in Campania. It's loaded with citrus, tropical fruit, juicy Bartlett pear and almond sensations accented with aromatic herbs. Smoky mineral gives a linear character.
Fresh black cherry and plum aromas are pristine and primary, accentuating flavors of spiced cherry pie in this approachable wine. Juicy and ripe on the palate, it's also elegant with soft, finely-grained tannins that linger on the finish.
With almost a quarter-million cases imported, this wine will provide a solid, medium-weight introduction to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Herb and cut-grass notes accent the fig and melon fruit, backstopped by a lime-ridden finish.
Deep ruby pink in color, this wine begins with a nuanced nose, mixing the fun of grape soda with the elegance of purple flowers. On the palate, it's a tad boozy for pink wine, but the flavors of cherry and currant stand out in front of the alcohol. It would make a nice companion for a dish with ample flavors and actual warmth, such as chicken soup or a tuna melt.
Light salmon in color, this herbal rosé dances on the palate with a slight effervescence and 5% residual sugar. It offers a bouquet of robust red fruit and rose petal aromas, and saw no oak.
Big aromas of blackberry and raspberry feed into a full, fresh and ultimately standard palate with grapy blackberry flavors that show a controlled herbal side. Toasty and a touch bitter on the finish, it has a minty aftertaste.
Blueberry and boysenberry aromas are deep and slightly reduced in nature. This is a chunky, wide-bodied wine with wiry acidity and more power than elegance. Flavors of roasted, toasted black fruits finish blocky and with espresso-like bitterness.
Pristine black cherry and plum flavors are layered in swathes of savory dried herbs, char and coffee on this bold, big-bodied red. Juicy red-fruit flavors are unabashedly forward on the palate, but reined in with a shower of revitalizing acidity. It finishes with soft tannins.
Still young, this wine has a tight character that needs to open up. Since there is plenty of fruit along with perfumed acidity, it will happen. Tannins and a bitter edge need to be softened, so wait until late 2016 for this wine's potential to really show.