index
int64 1
130k
| country
stringclasses 8
values | description
stringlengths 34
829
| points
int64 80
100
| price
float64 4
3.3k
| province
stringclasses 21
values | variety
stringlengths 4
26
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
122,158 | Argentina | Full berry and hickory aromas come with a hint of burnt rubber. The palate is regular, if a bit gritty, with generic berry flavors and a spot of bitterness. It finishes quick, tannic and solid, with a lot of fruit character. | 86 | 11 | Mendoza Province | Cabernet Sauvignon |
58,361 | France | The superb palate boasts richness, with honey and orange zest notes. It shows fine balance between the flavors of orange jelly and the intense botrytis-driven notes. It has a light, delicate texture and acidity. | 96 | 126 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style White Blend |
81,635 | US | Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, this Bordeaux-style blend is very rich in chocolate, blackberry and cherry fruit. New French oak adds notes of sweet toast and vanilla. That famous Napa structure of tannins and acids lends elegance to the ripeness. Drink now–2017. | 92 | 65 | California | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
43,881 | US | Richer and more austere than the regular brut, and bone dry, it has a steely elegance. The aromas are delicate but suggest citrus fruits and a touch of strawberry. It’s very well balanced, with crisp acidity. There’s just the slightest hint of fruit on the finish, and then it turns dry and austere again. | 87 | 35 | California | Champagne Blend |
5,244 | US | This wine is principally Merlot (57%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) along with pinches of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Dark fruit, fresh herb and abundant barrel-spice aromas are followed by bountiful, restrained black-fruit flavors that carry through the finish. | 91 | 45 | Washington | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
86,016 | US | Its acidity turned up high, this structured Barbera has a savory profile, smooth in woody, toasty flavor, earthy and peppery. Since it's built to age, give it an hour or two in a decanter or open it on subsequent nights to enjoy its evolution. | 88 | 35 | California | Barbera |
115,640 | Italy | Fragrant and fresh, this opens with aromas of yellow field flowers, peaches, pineapple and citrus zest. The vibrant palate offers pear, lemon drop and lime alongside lively acidity. The clean, lingering finish closes on a white almond note. | 91 | 20 | Tuscany | White Blend |
25,455 | US | Grown in Rutherford, this 100% Cab may strike some as old-fashioned. It's bone dry, firm in acids and tannins, and the grapes evidently were not left on the vines until they were partially shrivelled. You can tell, because there's an earthy, green olive edge to the blackberry fruit flavors. But that's what makes this wine so fine and food-friendly. | 91 | 30 | California | Cabernet Sauvignon |
75,894 | US | Vibrant and concentrated, this light-bodied wine is one of the best of the flamboyantly packaged La Catrina line so far. Packed with vivid fruit flavor, it's lightly sweet but nicely balanced by fresh acidity and flavors like citrus and apple. | 87 | 12 | California | Chardonnay |
6,853 | France | This bright elegant Champagne is from a family firm now run by three sisters. With its balance between acidity and ripe apple flavors, it is poised between bone dry and a richer Brut style. The wine is fruity although with a crisp mineral aftertaste. Drink now. | 89 | 65 | Champagne | Champagne Blend |
127,892 | France | This is a wine on the cusp of being mature. The red-berry flavors are dissipating into a secondary aromatic character. The tannins, though, are still there—very firm and showing no sign of budging. Wait and see, or decant before drinking. This is part of a single-parcel (lieu-dit)single-varietal range. | 87 | 40 | Bordeaux | Merlot |
44,537 | France | The appetizing perfume is a perfect fusion of lemon zest and tart apple. The palate also pitches that same, ripe freshness against zingy tang. The palate is dry, textured and juicy and thus very moreish. This is very alive and appetizing with a super-clean, lip-smacking finish. | 91 | 50 | Alsace | Riesling |
78,383 | US | Robust and fruity, this big Syrah floods the mouth with blackberries, currants, bacon and black pepper. It's a delicious wine, wrapped into firm tannins, and ideal with a nice charbroiled steak, with salt and pepper to echo the wine's spices. | 90 | 27 | California | Syrah |
108,229 | France | 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. | 92 | 38 | Loire Valley | Pinot Noir |
115,712 | France | A deliciously dry wine, evoking flavors of crisp green-apple skins and white currants; this is elegant despite its weight and body. It has freshness, certainly, and needs some bottle age. The style is ripe, but the dryness gives some opening austerity. | 90 | 54 | Champagne | Champagne Blend |
90,056 | US | Bright and balanced, this is a fine wine from an exceptional vineyard site that coaxes a lovely combination of elegance and complexity from the grapes. Opulent on the nose in caramel and quince, it's layered and lengthy, even viscous toward the finish, ending with depth and a touch of vanilla. Drink now through 2021. | 92 | 55 | California | Chardonnay |
1,578 | France | Minty new wood aromas on a wine that shows both great tannins and sweet wood. The fruit is still to show, but promises fresh plum flavors that will be delicious and juicy. This is a ripe, concentrated wine. | 96 | 75 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
52,297 | US | Made in a leaner, racier style than most California Viogniers, this has mineral, tangerine and apricot flavors, with considerable acidity. | 87 | 24 | California | Viognier |
99,113 | Germany | Fresh orange peels lend a zesty vibe to summer melon and peach flavors in this decadent, sun-kissed Riesling. It's so delicate in texture, it's as if gossamer layers of acid and sweetness could dance on the palate, but the finish lingers long with a streak of honey, wax and lanolin. Delicious now, but it's components should meld gorgeously from 2017 and on. | 92 | 55 | Mosel | Riesling |
17,124 | Spain | With savory, leafy, balsamic aromas, this is good but sedentary on the nose. In the mouth, it's full but a little flat, with a mild pulse and meaty, balsamic flavors of earthy berry and prune. A short, earthy finish closes it out. | 87 | 40 | Northern Spain | Tempranillo Blend |
123,956 | Australia | Only released in top vintages, this is Jim Barry's luxury cuvée of Cabenet Sauvignon. It does see plenty of oak, so it shows impressive notes of baking spices, vanilla and brown sugar, but it backs those with ample dark fruit. It's elegant despite its size, with a fine-grained tannins lingering on the finish. Drink now–2025, and possibly beyond. | 93 | 83 | South Australia | Cabernet Sauvignon |
26,447 | France | Steely and tight, this is a mineral-driven wine. With its vibrant acidity and tense texture, it is a classic Chardonnay that will fill out slowly and evolve favorably with time. Beneath the tension and forward acidity is a rich wine, though it needs time to show it. Drink from 2020. | 94 | 171 | Burgundy | Chardonnay |
13,315 | US | Deeply orange-mauve in color, this wine tastes much like the Pinot Noir it came from, with rich aromas of buttered cherries, clove and allspice. A similar familiarity carries through the sip, with dark raspberries, red cherries, brown spice and sandalwood elements, perfect for Pinot-philes. | 90 | 23 | California | Pinot Noir |
26,892 | US | An offering meant to toast all manner of celebrations, this wine wows, blending 78% Pinot Noir with 22% Chardonnay in a near-perfect union. Dry and beautifully floral, it opens in a bouquet of marzipan, peach and honey. The mousse is fine, while supporting acidity lends a lemon peel and grapefruit lift. The memory imprinted on the palate will linger long after all the toasts to the happy couple—or whatever else you're celebrating—have been made. | 96 | 44 | California | Sparkling Blend |
2,959 | France | A ripe, crisp, very fresh Chablis bursting with green fruits, with a light layer of caramel and green herbs. Delicious now. | 86 | 22 | Burgundy | Chardonnay |
104,573 | US | A generous expression of mountain Cab, accompanied by 14% Malbec, also estate-grown, this rich, soft wine is remarkable for its texture and mouthfeel, which is velvety and smooth. Peppercorn, dried herb and chocolate pronounce themselves on the palate, provoking thoughts for a similarly accented meal. Enjoy through 2021. | 90 | 90 | California | Cabernet Sauvignon |
116,583 | Germany | Racy and revitalizing, this delicate off-dry Riesling balances a core of fresh white peach and citrus flavors with savory smoke and nut tones. Fresh and easy going in style, it's a likely to please a wide audience. | 88 | 13 | Mosel | Riesling |
21,914 | Italy | This opens with aromas of violet, ripe berry, orange zest, toasted oak and a whiff of Mediterranean scrub. The structured palate offers mature cherry, white pepper, licorice, well-integrated oak spices, vanilla and grilled sage alongside firm, polished tannins. Showing the heat of the vintage, it's a bit warm on the midpalate but it still retains finesse. | 89 | 50 | Tuscany | Red Blend |
99,251 | France | This structured wine has 25-year old vines as its basis. It is concentrated and dense as well as bringing out the ripe berry fruits that are typical of 2012. With the structure and acidity well in place, this wine will age. Drink from 2017. | 88 | 10 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
18,320 | France | It's the 100% Merlot that gives the alcohol and superripe fruit to this wine, redeemed by the acidity. Licorice and dark chocolate flavors go with the sweetest plums and spice. Age for 3–4 years. | 91 | 48 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
88,583 | Italy | This straightforward Barolo opens with classic Nebbiolo aromas of black cherry, violet and underbrush. The bright palate offers up dark red cherry, black pepper and licorice alongside firm tannins and brisk acidity. Drink 2018–2028. | 90 | 40 | Piedmont | Nebbiolo |
71 | US | Big oak defines this robustly dense and extracted red, swimming in vanilla and cherry flavor. Full-bodied and gravelly in texture, it's a rustically pleasant wine for pizza nights and crowds. | 86 | 40 | California | Cabernet Sauvignon |
698 | US | Aromas of dark chocolate, dried and fresh herbs, raspberries and black cherry predominate on this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Creamy, rich and focused, it has a pleasing sense of texture and vanilla flavors that carry across the finish. It's truly a standout wine at this price. | 91 | 20 | Washington | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
22,128 | Italy | This shows tight lines and pretty aromas of wild cherry, spice, sweet fruit and blue flower. The palate delivers power and elegance. | 91 | 55 | Piedmont | Nebbiolo |
33,979 | France | Lime, fig and taffy flavors mark this successful light white. There is even a bit of subtlety in the chalk and spice notes on the back end, and a slight honey note from the 35% Sémillon in the blend makes this a very clean and attractive wine at the price. | 85 | 7 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style White Blend |
61,529 | US | Made to benefit the Wente Foundation for Arts Education, this wine is made in small quantities. It is juicy and leathery, soft, structured and medium-bodied with a long finish of tar and tannin. | 86 | 100 | California | Red Blend |
17,419 | US | This red wine named simply Blend is – guess what! – a mix of Columbia valley grapes, including Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Grenache. This is bigger and spicier than Sineann's other blend, called simple Red Table Wine, and shows more concentration. The acids and tannins are in a stand-off at the moment, but throw a steak into the mix and you'll have a party. | 87 | 24 | Washington | Red Blend |
47,215 | Italy | You'll find aromas of violet, iris, red berry and baking spice on this savory blend of 90% Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah. The vibrant palate doles out wild cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and a hint of tobacco alongside polished tannins and bright acidity. | 89 | 25 | Tuscany | Red Blend |
67,091 | France | This is massive, hugely concentrated, topped with wood and intense tannins. Flavors of bitter chocolate are dominant, heavy fruits, blackberries and texture that fills the mouth with dark, dense flavors. Big in all senses. | 94 | 190 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
116,221 | US | Oodles of fresh raspberries, cherries and spices in this zesty young blush wine. It's elaborately rich but oh, so dry and crisp. Just a delight, one of the best rosés of the vintage. | 90 | 18 | California | Rosé |
120,771 | France | The master of Savigny-lès-Beaune, Bize has produced a powerful, expressive wine from this small single vineyard. It has serious structure, although the sumptuous black-fruit flavors are already showing. Concentrated, rich and fruity, this will age for at least five years. | 92 | 46 | Burgundy | Pinot Noir |
80,721 | Italy | This classically styled Barolo from one of the denomination's most storied houses shows archetypal Nebbiolo scents of dried rose petal, eucalyptus and hints of leather and berry. The palate delivers cassis and truffle notes, with layers of Alpine herbs. While tannic, the wine is surprisingly forward. | 93 | 55 | Piedmont | Nebbiolo |
114,549 | US | Supple and silky, this expressive, seductive wine offers ripe plum and cherry fruit matched to polished tannins. It's finished with tasty barrel flavors of coconut, butter pecan and toast, and it is thoroughly, irresistibly delicious. | 92 | 50 | Oregon | Pinot Noir |
67,874 | US | With pert acidity and candied pineapple and lemon flavors, this wine has the taste of a sweet-and-sour cough drop. It straddles the line between dry and off-dry. | 85 | 32 | California | Sauvignon Blanc |
106,231 | France | This delicious, fruity wine is full of acidity and crisp fruit. Light, bright and dominated by green and citrus fruits, it is ready to drink now. | 85 | 11 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style White Blend |
116,398 | US | Softly floral and sculpted in red berry and leather, this extracted and somewhat reduced wine may need time in the glass, if not the bottle, to open. The brawnier tendencies reign in full dominance and weight. | 88 | 75 | California | Syrah |
41,865 | Italy | On this brisk informal wine, a hint of medicinal herb joins apple and citrus-peel flavors. It's vigorous, with firm acidity and bracing bubbles. | 85 | 19 | Veneto | Glera |
32,760 | US | This is a pretty basic Zin, fresh and tart in blackberry jam flavor. In its favor, it displays robust full-bodiedness and plenty of Zinny spices. At this price, it's fine with burgers, tacos, ribs. | 84 | 8 | California | Zinfandel |
42,407 | US | Very rich and smooth in texture, like pure velvet, this Bordeaux-style blend has lots of tannins that are soft, ripe and easy. It offers extraordinary waves of blackberry, black currant, dark chocolate and caramelized oak flavors. Drink soon for maximum enjoyment. | 93 | 75 | California | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
78,661 | US | Lutum is a project from Santa Barbara vintner Gavin Chanin. The brand sources fruit from well-known vineyards, in this case Rinconada, situated in a favorable terroir in the southern part of the appellation. The wine is quite pale and the alcohol level is low, giving it great delicacy. But it's potent in raspberry, red currant, spicy red licorice and softened cola flavors. Delicious now, it will age well until at least 2022. | 92 | 50 | California | Pinot Noir |
25,830 | US | This Riesling is right on the borderline of dry/off-dry (just under 1% RS). The fruit, from cooler Willamette Valley vineyard sites, has been fermented in stainless steel and aged on its lees, yielding a wine that is thick, almost meaty. It's as sappy as a fresh peach, and finishes with crisp peach-skin phenolics. All-in-all this is a surprising wine, neither simple nor plain, but full-flavored in the comforting style that seems almost to have vanished from the Northwest. | 89 | 14 | Oregon | Riesling |
50,073 | France | Earthy notes and yeasty richness swing along the aromatic lemon bouquet. On the very slight, slender palate these flavors appear linear and leave a feeling of near weightlessness. Savory tones of yeast make themselves felt on the long, gossamer finish. | 90 | 14 | Alsace | Riesling |
4,094 | US | Similar to the winery's regular Pinot Noir, this is moving quickly along the aging curve. Hints of strawberry fruit are cloaked in barrel flavors of mocha and cracker. Drink soon. | 86 | 39 | Oregon | Pinot Noir |
67,792 | US | This has lots of ripe, jammy raspberry and cherry flavors, with a spicy finish. But it's too soft and glyceriney sweet in high alcohol. | 83 | 50 | California | Syrah |
14,838 | US | A virtual fruit salad with bubbles, this wine gushes cherry, apple and banana aromas. It has equally ripe flavors and a broad, almost soft texture punctuated by lively effervescence. | 88 | 30 | California | Sparkling Blend |
129,472 | France | The aroma of this wine shows strong signs of the wood aging, although red fruits do show as well. There is a minty character from the new wood, berry fruit flavors and the juicy acidity of the vintage. The wine is going to age well over the medium term, so drink from 2015. | 88 | 18 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
67,631 | Spain | The nose on this brut is a touch grassy, with apple aromas. On first take, it feels foamy, but with time it settles down. Flavors of sulfur, apple and saline finish with pithy citrus notes and flavors of spiced apple, rhubarb and mild bitterness. | 87 | 27 | Catalonia | Sparkling Blend |
45,739 | Italy | Vibrant and balanced, this luminous wine offers alluring scents of rose, red berry, baking spice and a delicate whiff of new leather. The fresh, elegant palate is loaded with juicy strawberry, wild cherry, white pepper and star anise alongside firm but ultrarefined tannins. Drink 2018–2025. | 90 | 20 | Piedmont | Red Blend |
29,830 | US | Despite its moderate alcohol, this dry, full-bodied Pinot Gris feels quite plush and plump. Ripe white peach and apricot flavors are honeyed in tone, off set by fresh acidity and a slightly steely finish. | 88 | 15 | New York | Pinot Gris |
11,752 | US | Fills an important niche in California whites, a bone-dry, tartly crisp, minerally wine that gets the mouth watering. With pleasant citrus, floral and peppery spice flavors, it's perfect as a cocktail sipper with appetizers, like puff pastries, grilled veggies, toast rounds with goat cheese. | 89 | 11 | California | Sauvignon Blanc |
66,897 | US | Aromas of rose petals and fresh-hoed earth come to the fore as this wine opens, followed by fine-grained, intense tannins and savory wooded notes. Black pepper, red cherry, sea salt and dried herb pop at different times. It's still tight, so let this wine open in the glass or decant; better yet, cellar through 2023. | 92 | 54 | California | Pinot Noir |
126,617 | Italy | Partly fermented in oak casks, this linear white offers aromas of white flower, pear, crushed rock and a delicate whiff of oak-driven spice. The elegant palate offers creamy yellow apple, vanilla and mineral alongside fresh acidity. | 89 | 25 | Northeastern Italy | Pinot Grigio |
121,171 | US | Cab specialist Surh Luchtel has had some years to figure out how to make their Page Nord Syrah, and judging by this '05 bottling, they're right on track. The wine is firmer in structure than the soft '04, but the flavors are no less startling. Blackberries, cherries, currants, chocolate and pepper flood the palate, wrapped into sumptuous tannins. Best now and for a few years. | 92 | 30 | California | Syrah |
29,816 | US | This is a tight, dry, tannic wine, showing all the hallmarks of ageabiity. Winemaker Philippe Melka has done a good job of blending fruit from Yountville, Atlas Peak and St. Helena to produce a seamlessly integrated Cabernet. The mouthfeel is soft, yet with fierce tannins that frame superb blackberry, cocoa, herb, mineral and cedar flavors. This continues a string of successful Cabernets that have been modestly priced, by Napa standards. Hold until 2018, at the very least. | 93 | 60 | California | Cabernet Sauvignon |
56,988 | US | This tangy, all-stainless, lightly grassy, dry Sauvignon Blanc is a pure and definitive elaboration of the grape's varietal character. Penetrating and crisp, it would be hard to ask for more from a $9 wine. | 91 | 9 | Washington | Sauvignon Blanc |
34,427 | US | This big blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese presents a potent purple-flower aroma on the nose as well as boysenberry, tar, dried oregano, pepper and leather. The bone-dry palate is wrapped in a chalky silky texture, with nettle, oregano and blackberry flavors. | 89 | 26 | California | Red Blend |
84,852 | US | A strong smoky aroma, spicy oak flavors and a blast of ripe fruit make this a boisterous wine. It's full bodied, with heat on the palate. A little berry and cherry concentration comes through on the finish. | 86 | 50 | California | Pinot Noir |
65,910 | US | Cocoa, herb, raspberry, vanilla and spice aromas are out front on this wine. The blue and red fruit and barrel flavors are creamy in feel and carry through the finish. | 88 | 21 | Washington | Merlot |
107,725 | US | Big, bold, and buttery, with plenty of oaky micro-popcorn flavors. Don't look for subtlety, but you get plenty of flavor. | 86 | 11 | Washington | Chardonnay |
89,869 | Italy | Lovely floral scents of violet and iris mingle with dark fruit and a whiff of exotic spice. The elegant, structured palate offers fleshy black cherry, ripe raspberry, white pepper, anise and chopped mint alongside fine-grained tannins. A hint of mocha closes the finish. It's already tempting but hold to let this unwind and fully develop. Drink 2019–2026. | 93 | 80 | Tuscany | Sangiovese |
105,196 | US | This is pure Cabernet from older vines, and has a meaty, herbal power to it. Streaks of tar and some lively cinnamon spice add life to the fruit, which is solid and earthy. I pick up black licorice, vanilla cream, and still more interesting flavors wrapped into the tannins, which seem dusty and smoky and a bit grainy. This has some real substance to it, and shows some of the herbal side of the grape. The best so far from SYZYGY. | 92 | 32 | Washington | Cabernet Sauvignon |
510 | US | Flint and smoke aromas show strongly on this bottling, alongside hints of lemon balm and a rustic apple cider vinegar savory kick. Tangy smoked tangerine flavors show on the energized sip, where a unique sandalwood smoky quality plays with more cider-like tang. | 91 | 48 | California | Chardonnay |
89,361 | US | Nice and dry, with a good cut of acidity balancing out the ripe black cherry and cola flavors. Fully drinkable now for the soft tannins, it's a pleasant wine that wants pairing with a grilled, salted and peppered steak. | 87 | 38 | California | Syrah |
54,788 | US | Young and very much still developing, Sentinel Oak is Terre Rouge's single-vineyard Syrah, a spicy, smoky concoction of great depth, intensity and beauty, concentrated and eager to mature. This wine has a pronounced meaty quality to it, and will pair accordingly, particularly with smoked meat, which will accentuate its own smoky allure. | 92 | 40 | California | Syrah |
97,496 | US | Subtle hints of toast, vanilla and spice add warmth to succulent black-cherry and blackberry flavors in this crowd-pleasing Bordeaux-style blend. It's boldly structured and textured on the palate, but balanced by brisk acidity and a veil of soft, finely-grained tannins. | 88 | 24 | New York | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |
83,627 | US | The deep, brooding nose blends dark purple fruit with black licorice and Chinese black pepper sauce. Sage bark and anise contribute herbal tones to the palate—likely thanks to the inclusion of 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc—and blackberries rule the fruit profile. | 90 | 56 | California | Cabernet Sauvignon |
104,664 | France | A rich blend of dried pear, baked vanilla and shortbread on the nose suggests the richness of this evolving Pinot Gris. Dried pear and apple give more aromatic nuance to this spicy, vanilla-scented white that has an oily and rich palate despite being just off dry. This will shine with food. | 91 | 38 | Alsace | Pinot Gris |
77,667 | France | A wine that is mature already, this Grand Cru has some weight and richness. There is a perfumed character and flavors of white fruits. The wine has intense acidity that gives it a steely, tight character on the finish. Drink now. | 88 | 30 | Alsace | Riesling |
82,349 | US | Fresh and lemony, this medium- to full-bodied wine starts out crisp and citrus-driven, growing a rounder and more substantial with each sip. The vibrant flavors and zingy acidity keep it lively through the finish. | 90 | 18 | California | Sauvignon Blanc |
60,380 | US | Marginally riper and plusher than Rusack's other two Pinots, but not by a lot. This is still a lean, earthy wine, short on flavor and long on acidity and tannins. Sift through the herbal, bay leaf and sage tastes and you'll find a note of cherry. Aging may help. | 86 | 32 | California | Pinot Noir |
81,044 | Spain | Put this wine through its paces and see if you also find overdone oak and salty resin as well as tangy but bulky fruit, herbal hints and bouncy acidity. It gets better with airing, which leads us to believe that this wine's best days are still ahead of it. | 89 | 147 | Northern Spain | Tempranillo Blend |
44,320 | US | The winery's signature sparkler, this blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with touches of Pinot Gris and Pinot Meunier, dazzles in rounded oak and a soft texture marked by grapefruit zest and fresh nectarine. Crisp and vibrant, it becomes richer on the finish, showing a spark of honey-baked brioche. | 91 | 22 | California | Sparkling Blend |
7,553 | US | Made in a more forward style than it used to be, Calera's '07 Jensen appeals for its lush raspberry, cherry, bacon, vanilla and sandalwood flavors. The acidity is just fine, and the tannins are soft and intricate. Lovely now, with a brief decant, and should develop for 6–8 years. | 91 | 70 | California | Pinot Noir |
53,419 | US | This 100% varietal wine shows notes of raspberry and chocolate sprinkled with oak spices from time in 50% new French barrels. It's wound up tightly at present, packed to the brim with red fruit flavors and firm, slightly gritty tannins. | 91 | 58 | Washington | Merlot |
73,136 | US | Pears, white rocks, gray slate and lime juice show on the nose of this appellation blend from the iconic Santa Rosa Road winery. Similar flavors also show on the palate, primarily a grippy chalk, more lime and a Meyer lemon pith element, with the faintest hint of struck match in the background. | 90 | 32 | California | Chardonnay |
5,293 | Australia | Katnook's top Cabernet is always oaky, and the 2006 is no exception, featuring plenty of brown sugar and caramel aromas. Vanilla and cedar dominate the palate, forming an attractive wooden shell over cassis fruit. Drink it now if you like that sort of full-on youthful oak, or hold it a decade until it develops a soft, rich patina of age. | 88 | 43 | South Australia | Cabernet Sauvignon |
69,749 | Spain | Fresh plum and berry aromas are the greeting, with loamy earth and dried cheese accents making an appearance on the nose. This is a bright, healthy, fruity red with plum, wild berry and a touch of oaky vanilla on the flavor profile. A chunky, chewy, plump finish with a toasty note closes it out. Drink through 2018. | 90 | 18 | Northern Spain | Tempranillo |
58,742 | US | This is a memorably refreshing and reasonably complex effort, a crisp, delicious mix of tangerine, grapefruit and fresh strawberry made by the saignée method. Meaty, with texture, it's round, balanced and dry. Stock up. | 91 | 20 | California | Pinot Noir |
84,831 | France | Ripe and full of red berry aromas and flavors, this is a generous, warm wine. It has great swathes of juicy acidity and an attractive touch of toasty, spicy wood that is integrating well with the fruit. The tannic structure offers good support for the bright acidity and rich fruitiness. Drink from 2020. | 94 | 89 | Burgundy | Pinot Noir |
57,092 | Argentina | Classy aromas of pear, stone fruits and resiny but controlled oak lead to a pure, moderately woody and balanced palate that delivers ripe apple, melon and peach flavors along with oak backing. Vanilla and walnut flavors grace a nicely textured, creamy yet lively finish. | 90 | 50 | Mendoza Province | Chardonnay |
28,843 | US | Light aromas of apple, pear and petroleum jelly are followed by crisp acid-driven flavors. Put it on the dinner table to see it at its best. | 86 | 17 | Washington | Pinot Grigio |
17,857 | US | Alcoholic, volatile nose, with some pickley edges to it. The wine is smooth and fruity, with a quick, hot, alcoholic finish and very dry tannins. | 85 | 18 | California | Zinfandel |
52,851 | US | Vanilla, green wood and dark fruit aromas lead to sweet black currant and baking spice flavors. The wood is somewhat prominent at times but it still provides a lot of appeal. | 89 | 34 | Washington | Cabernet Sauvignon |
51,015 | US | Baked red cherry, rose petal, star anise and cinnamon sauce show on the spice-laced nose of this bottling from Rhône grape specialist Jaffurs. More cherry and deep raspberry flavors pop on the palate, meeting with lilac and violet notes, all polished by more cinnamon spice. | 92 | 34 | California | Grenache |
91,968 | Argentina | Fairly brambly and a little sour on the bouquet, with prickly fruit aromas. The palate is just as sharp and angular, without much cushion to fall back on. Flavors of cherry and raspberry are slightly herbal and tart, while the finish is more of the same. Not as round and ripe as you'd expect for an $18 Malbec. | 84 | 18 | Mendoza Province | Malbec |
60,492 | France | The wine has ripe yellow fruit flavors that are soft and full. Spice and a generous texture give a rounded wine that is full bodied and ready to drink. | 84 | 15 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style White Blend |
95,391 | US | Don't discount this Pinot Noir because it's in a screw top and the price is under $20. It's quite a nice wine, dry and silky. Made in a lighter style to be opened now, it has pleasant cherry, cola and sandalwood flavors. | 86 | 18 | California | Pinot Noir |
5,918 | US | Bright black cherry and raspberry flavors take center stage in this unoaked Cabernet Franc. Juicy and ripe, it's best enjoyed now through 2016 to appreciate its forward, fruity exuberance. | 88 | 20 | New York | Cabernet Franc |
100,118 | US | There is an interesting floral component—white blossoms—coming through in the nose, and sailing along on top of flavors of buttered nuts. A somewhat oily mouthfeel is lifted by moderate acids, and the overall length and follow-through make this one of the better vintages of this affordably priced wine. | 90 | 20 | Oregon | Chardonnay |
103,242 | US | Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot make up three-quarters of this blend. Subtle aromas of baking spice, vanilla and cherry lead to tart well-proportioned pit-fruit flavors. It shows a fine sense of balance. | 91 | 48 | Washington | Bordeaux-style Red Blend |