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Austria | 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. | 93 | 19 | Wachau | 19Riesling
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US | ). Savory on the nose with scents of pressed apple and honey comb, this fairly dry Riesling is surprisingly round and rich on the palate with a lush, floral profile balanced by hints of wax and lanolin and a tart lime juice acidity. | 85 | 16 | New York | 19Riesling
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US | A Syrah for all the California Zin lovers out there, this is heavy and brimming with dark cherry flavor amid a wall of tannins, leather and earth. | 87 | 20 | California | 25Syrah
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US | Made from the Dijon clone called 777, this wine is pretty on the nose, floral in black pepper and clove, a solid, softly textured effort from two vineyards, Leras and Pleasant Hill. Forested in pine, dried herb and cola, it closes out in round waves of juicy acidity. | 90 | 59 | California | 14Pinot Noir
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France | Rich and rounded with a creamy texture, this wine is ripe with apricots and has a strongly mineral character. Full of fruit, the wine also has a texture that means it needs to age. Drink from 2021. | 93 | 90 | Burgundy | 5Chardonnay
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US | A substantial and imminently structured wine from a coolish vintage, this blends 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec to impressive effect. Leathery and intense it will benefit with time, its black pepper, red cassis fruit and flowery anise layers commingling in complex ways. | 91 | 75 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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France | This is a deliciously refreshing wine. It's acidity and red-currant fruits are bright, crisp and right up front. The rounder, caramel and spice backdrop to all this fruitiness makes it just right for the table. | 88 | 15 | Provence | 20Rosé
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Italy | This opens with aromas of ripe black plum, underbrush and a whiff of cassis. On the concentrated palate, notes of tobacco, mint and thyme accent a black cherry core while polished tannins provide the framework. Drink 2018–2024. | 91 | 130 | Tuscany | 21Sangiovese
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Italy | Sweet pipe tobacco and red cherry open the nose of this plush Syrah from Maremma, Tuscany. Soft, chewy tannins make this inky red wine appropriate to pair with grilled porcini mushrooms or veal in cream sauce. | 90 | null | Tuscany | 25Syrah
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France | This is as perfumed an example of Syrah as you'll find from the Southern Rhône. Hints of herbs, spice and violets accent blueberry fruit in this charming wine. It's medium in body—not that rich but or layered but supple, silky and easily accessible. Drink this through the end of 2015. | 90 | 15 | Rhône Valley | 25Syrah
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Spain | After it oozes rubber and bacon on the nose, berry fruit and mild medicinal aromas settle in. Feels full, tight and structured, with meat, black cherry and wild berry flavors. Finishes warm, chocolaty and lightly roasted. Well-made, and impressive for the price. | 91 | 20 | Northern Spain | 26Tempranillo
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US | Tastes direct and a little rustic, offering plenty of blackberry, cherry and black currant fruit that finishes dry. A very good, rich wine, but somewhat linear now, especially for the price. | 87 | 48 | California | 0Bordeaux-style Red Blend
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US | Occasio has made a restrained and elegant Cabernet, alluring in its cola spice—almost sarsaparilla—aromas. Then the wine delves into dusty red and black fruit with ample structure, and a vein of minerality cradled into one delicious package. | 90 | 36 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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US | This is very appealing for the soft, sexy texture and drink-me-now black currant flavors, but it's lacking the acid-tannin structure that great Napa Cab needs. Drink now and for a few years. | 87 | 60 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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US | This marches in a completely opposite direction from the oaky, fruity, buttery style of modern Chardonnay. It's bone dry and minerally, with mouthwatering acidity and traces of oranges and limes. The minerality is like a lick of cold steel. What a great food wine at a great price, although production was a paltry 230 cases. | 92 | 25 | California | 5Chardonnay
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US | This is a nonvintage blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault. Well on its way to maturity, it's an easy-drinking quaffer, with a hint of bitterness on the finish. | 84 | 20 | Washington | 17Red Blend
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Portugal | Ripe fruit, touched by vanilla, layered with dark tannins: this is a winning formula, a wine packed with black jelly flavors, made more tense by acidity and smoothed with the hint of wood. | 88 | 12 | Douro | 15Portuguese Red
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France | Run by a mother and daughter team, this estate has produced a fruity, very accessible Chablis. It has the crisp apple fruitiness of the vintage along with a fine shot of fresh citrus. The wine has a lightly mineral character, finishing with refreshing acidity. Drink this wine now. | 88 | null | Burgundy | 5Chardonnay
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Portugal | Situated at the mouth of the Pinhão river in the heart of the Douro region, this vineyard has produced a warm, ripe, finely fruity wine. It comes from some of the oldest parcels of the vineyard and is fermented in old open stone fermenters. The wood aging has added to its richness. Drink this wine from 2017. | 90 | 40 | Douro | 15Portuguese Red
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US | 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. | 84 | 12 | California | 17Red Blend
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US | This larger-production wine is sourced from several single-vineyard sites, including Rodgers Creek, Sangiacomo and Gap's Crown. Together they find unity in fruit-forward flavors of blueberry, cherry and pomegranate, the oak persistent and powerful amidst a backdrop of tight-grained tannin. The concentration is pronounced. | 90 | 39 | California | 14Pinot Noir
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US | This is from a cool-climate 9-acre site divided into two blocks, cooled by afternoon breezes off San Pablo Bay. It shows off the site in its embrace of high-toned fruit flavors of plum, blueberry, cranberry and dried cherry, the background meaty in chewy tannin and concentrated oak. | 90 | 38 | California | 25Syrah
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Italy | This is an austere and masculine wine with tight tannins and bold aromatic intensity. There's a touch of ripe fruit, even a jam note, that gives the wine a soft, succulent mouthfeel. The concentration and the quality of tannins is impressive, so give this ample time to age. | 93 | 90 | Piedmont | 11Nebbiolo
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US | Here is a solid, widely distributed, well-priced, all-purpose Chardonnay. It's got plenty of buttery toast, soft and round fruit—lightly peachy—and unusual richness for a wine in this price range. It's a California style with a Washington twist—real acid. | 88 | 13 | Washington | 5Chardonnay
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US | Tar and black fruit emerge from the shadows of big tannins that pucker on the palate, begging for more time to soften. Robust and full bodied with a warm ripeness, it finishes flat. | 85 | 65 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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US | Lightly fined and unfiltered, it's slightly cloudy in appearance with notes of mineral, citrus, herbs and spice. Aged partly in neutral oak, with the rest in stainless steel, the flavors are light, with a creamy midpalate and tart, electric acids, that verge on sour. Pair this with shellfish to see it at its best. | 87 | 18 | Washington | 8Grüner Veltliner
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France | Light, crisp and fresh, this is the epitome of summer rosé apéritifs. It comes from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, bright and lively with just a hint of the typical caramel flavor of a Merlot rosé. Drink now. | 84 | 15 | Southwest France | 20Rosé
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US | This young release carries strong scents and flavors of cranberry, along with the sharp acidic attack that implies, which qualifies it as a good choice for many fatty dishes. It's rather simple, fruity, with no hint of new oak. Drink up while it's young and fresh. | 87 | 20 | Oregon | 14Pinot Noir
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Italy | Made with certified organically grown grapes, this value blend of Sangiovese (80%), Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon opens with jammy fruit tones of cherry or blackberry confiture and plush spice and tobacco notes. There's a moist, chewy quality to this wine and a subtle touch of sweetness, too. | 87 | 12 | Tuscany | 17Red Blend
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Italy | An alluring fragrance of rose, aromatic herb, dark berry and a whiff of new leather take shape in the glass. The firm palate delivers ripe, dark berry, grilled sage, mint and sweet pipe tobacco alongside austere tannins that need time to come around. It's well balanced, with a licorice finish. Drink after 2018. | 94 | 43 | Tuscany | 21Sangiovese
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Spain | 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. | 92 | 50 | Northern Spain | 17Red Blend
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France | This wine comes from the furthest west of the Chablis Premier Cru vineyards, and furthest from the Serein river. The coolness of its chalk soil reflects in its crisp, appley and tight mineral character. The fruit is bright, in accordance with the 2014 vintage. Drink now, or, better yet, from 2018. | 92 | 45 | Burgundy | 5Chardonnay
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Australia | This medium-bodied Chardonnay is plump without being heavy, featuring modest citrus aromas but greater depth of fruit on the palate, adding pear and melon flavors to the mix. It's fresh and lively on the finish, which should serve it well with a wide variety of dishes. Drink now–2013. | 89 | 45 | Victoria | 5Chardonnay
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US | This is a somewhat bitter and thin wine on entry. Lemon flavors are closer to skin and pith than ripe flesh, and there is little to suggest varietal specificity here. | 84 | 15 | Oregon | 7Gewürztraminer
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Australia | This is a clean and fruity Shiraz—and one that fits the Australian success formula almost predictably. Jammy blackberry and cassis fruit is framed by touches of oak-derived vanilla and spice, tannins are soft and the mouthfeel supple. It's well done, even if it lacks a certain degree of individuality. | 85 | 13 | Australia Other | 23Shiraz
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US | This wine is a blend of Syrah (45%), Mourvèdre (27%), Grenache (25%) and Cinsault. It charms with complex, pure aromas of boysenberry, white pepper, raspberries and herbs. The flavors are full in feel, with the judicious use of oak heightening the enjoyment. | 91 | 25 | Washington | 18Rhône-style Red Blend
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France | 89–91. Barrel sample. This is a juicy wine with so much ripe fruit, it lends the palate a soft, easy character. The tannins are gentle and warm, with lively acidity on the finish giving a fresh aftertaste. | 90 | null | Bordeaux | 0Bordeaux-style Red Blend
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France | Ripe fruit aromas show alongside an equally rich, creamy palate. This wine has attractive lemon and crisp apple flavors, touched by wood to give a smooth, rich aftertaste. Drink from 2018. | 88 | 20 | Burgundy | 5Chardonnay
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Austria | There's no question about the huge richness of this wine—it is there from the initial aroma. It is smooth, totally voluptuous, immediately appealing. The flavors are of the sweetest runny honey, matched with acidity to emphasize the ripe peach and dried apricot flavors. | 90 | 30 | Burgenland | 5Chardonnay
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US | Drinkable, but just barely, even at this everyday price. It's soft and cloyingly sweet, with raspberry and cocoa flavors. | 81 | 10 | California | 10Merlot
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New Zealand | The most recent of Palliser's Great Dog releases, the 2014 Ted is a full-bodied, muscular wine. Cola, cinnamon and thyme notes mark the nose, while the flavors feature dark cherries and plums, drawing to a lingering close with echoes of mocha and Mexican chocolate. Drink 2020–2028. | 92 | 63 | Martinborough | 14Pinot Noir
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France | This blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc is the most successful of the Baumard sparkling wines. It is fruity, very fresh and crisp while also having the potential for some bottle aging. Acidity and a tangy aftertaste contribute to its lively freshness. | 89 | 24 | Loire Valley | 24Sparkling Blend
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US | This medium-bodied wine is high-toned in red fruit and tannin, a mix of cedar, black currant and blackberry that broods in the French wood it spent almost two years resting within, 60% of it new. Small percentages of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc are in the blend. | 86 | 36 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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US | Pressed berries, plum flesh, toasted cherry pits and a charred cedar scent carry the nose of this bottling by a producer in Paso's Adelaida region. It's quite easy going down, with flavors of cracked pepper, blackberry fruit and a vanilla-licorice combo toward the finish. | 89 | null | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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France | An elegant wine, it manages to embrace its rich fruit and still show style. There is an opulent texture, driven by ripe Merlot, yet the wine is also fresh and crisp, full of black currant fruit. Drink from 2017. | 93 | null | Bordeaux | 0Bordeaux-style Red Blend
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US | A straightforward, nicely priced wine offering mid-weight texture amidst grapefruit, lime and peach flavors and aromas. It's an easy-to-like quaffer for summertime or to enjoy before meals. | 86 | 13 | California | 22Sauvignon Blanc
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US | Concentrate rose petals, crisp raspberries, and a rocky, black gravel—not quite as pungent as asphalt—pervades the nose on this wine from an extremely coastal, 13-acre vineyard planted in 1988. Flavors of freshly picked blackberry mesh with lots of fennel, licorice and anise-seed spice. | 93 | 35 | California | 25Syrah
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US | A full, rounded wine, this vineyard designate exudes a richness of juicy black cherry with savory pepper and meat aromas. The robust tannic structure contributes additional girth and depth, accentuating the darker, more brooding elements of the whole. | 92 | 27 | California | 25Syrah
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US | Aromas of freshly laid asphalt and boysenberry are of medium intensity, before turning chocolaty and toasty on the palate. There's plenty of acidity that gives the mouthfeel cut and drive, with modest tannins adding furry grip to the finish. | 84 | 25 | Virginia | 0Bordeaux-style Red Blend
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France | From a 17-acre Merlot-dominated vineyard, this is a dry wine, where the tannins dominate the fruit. The wine has a bitter edge from too much extraction. The hints of fruit are not quite enough. | 84 | 30 | Bordeaux | 0Bordeaux-style Red Blend
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US | Posh fruit aromas, gentle and ripe flavors and a very polished texture make this wine more fun to drink now than its big sister, the Ferrington single-vineyard Pinot. Delicious red cherry, cinnamon and cedar threads weave a complex and layered flavor, with a good underpinning of fine-grained tannins. | 92 | 35 | California | 14Pinot Noir
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New Zealand | This wine is initially marked by scents of charred oak and espresso beans. With aeration, the cherry fruit become more apparent. It's medium to full in body, with silky yet firm tannins that reflect the vineyard's clay soils. | 90 | 33 | Marlborough | 14Pinot Noir
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Australia | This pale salmon rosé is a reliable sparkling wine at a very good price. The latest NV release is toasty on the nose, then offers just faint hints of peach or berry flavors. It's lithe yet creamy on the palate, with a long finish. | 90 | 22 | Tasmania | 24Sparkling Blend
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US | The blend is 59% Merlot, 33% Syrah, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the flavors mix well. There's some not unpleasant volatile acidity and very tart, tangy red fruit flavors. All nicely integrated, and drinking pleasantly right now. | 86 | 15 | Washington | 17Red Blend
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US | This 100% Cabernet is firm in tannins and concentrated with fruit. Flavors of blackberries and black currants have a mineral edge, while new French oak brings sweet, toasty caramel notes. As luscious as it is now, you might want to give it six years of additional age. | 90 | 60 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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US | This powerfully ripe, direct Chardonnay shows massive flavors of pineapples, nectarines, green apples, vanilla and oaky buttered toast, brightened with crisp, coastal acidity. Nice with scallops in a saffron and coconut cream sauce. | 87 | 32 | California | 5Chardonnay
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Italy | This 80-20 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend delivers enticing aromas of blackberry, mature cherry, plum, prune, exotic spice, chocolate and cedar shavings. It has rigid tannins and a nervous temperament—open in the next few years. | 89 | 40 | Tuscany | 17Red Blend
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US | Production has doubled and the price has risen in this latest vintage, but Portlandia has yet to land on a consistent identity for its Pinot Gris. This shows apple and pear fruit, showing more than a touch of skin contact flavors, with some bitterness drifting through the finish. | 87 | 25 | Oregon | 13Pinot Gris
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Italy | From the Maremma (southern Tuscany) estate of the Corsini family, this darkly extracted red wine shows dark red fruit, spice, leather and espresso coffee. It's nicely evolved with tones of cola, cassis and wet river stone. Although the finish shows medium intensity, it does evoke bright fresh fruit. | 88 | null | Tuscany | 17Red Blend
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France | This tight, dry wine seems to be missing out on fruit. It has spice, acidity and a bitter edge that cuts into the freshness. | 83 | 20 | Provence | 20Rosé
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US | This is a light, nondescript white wine, with a trace of sweetness on the finish. | 83 | 15 | California | 22Sauvignon Blanc
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Argentina | This salmon-colored, no-dosage bubbly is peachy, dusty and yeasty on the nose, with strong whiffs of sulfur and scrambled egg. A clunky, foamy palate comes across as clumsy, while peach and melon flavors are a touch bitter and mealy. Papaya and savory barbecued notes drive the finish, which has a bitter element. | 84 | 20 | Mendoza Province | 24Sparkling Blend
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Argentina | Opaque purple in color, this extracted, grapy Malbec smells of blackberry, iodine and wood shavings. The palate is lush and fat, with more than enough tannic scrub. Hard, blocky black-fruit flavors give way to an oaky finish with spice notes. | 88 | 19 | Mendoza Province | 9Malbec
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Austria | Lovely pure notes of lemon zest and juice swirl on nose and palate. The slender palate bounces them back and shines with clarity and transparency, as smooth as the undisturbed surface of a mountain lake with an impressive and lasting lemon finish. | 92 | 70 | Kremstal | 19Riesling
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Australia | This blend of 45% Grenache, 28% Shiraz and 27% Mourvèdre does show a trace of heat in its finish, but is otherwise a pleasant, medium-bodied sipper at a realistic price. Tart, slightly minty cherries feature undercurrents of chocolate and coffee, turning crisp and lemony on the finish. Drink now. | 85 | 10 | South Australia | 18Rhône-style Red Blend
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US | Intensely colored, this wine is from a replanted estate block just coming into its own. The texture is soft and silky, yet austere. It dances in earthy blueberry and spicy cedar notes, finishing in a powerful pronouncement of oak. | 90 | 85 | California | 14Pinot Noir
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US | This vineyard designate from Yountville is packed with compact tannin and rich oak yet nicely balanced by crisp ranberry, cherry and clove flavors. Light black-pepper notes add seasoning. | 90 | 80 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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Italy | Bread crust and golden apple aromas lead the way and follow through to the lively palate along with citrus zest and toasted hazelnut. Bright acidity and brisk, persistent bubbles offset the rich flavors. | 88 | 26 | Lombardy | 5Chardonnay
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US | This is a fine, dry, crisp sipper with rewarding flavors of citrus fruits, figs, wildflowers, honey, thyme and pepper. With its crisp acidity and oak-tinged creamy texture, its spectrum falls between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. | 87 | 25 | California | 12Pinot Grigio
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US | This is a spicy, softly lush offering of Cabernet sourced from a tiny part of the Larkmead Vineyard in northern Napa Valley. Black and red currant play off one another well, before revealing subtle layers of dried herb and tobacco leaf, the finish as cushy as the opening and midpalate of the wine. | 91 | 90 | California | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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Germany | Fleshy, slightly overripe aromas of yellow peach and nectarine extend from nose to finish on this semi-sweet Riesling. It's crisp and refreshing with tangerine acidity, but a dusty, pollen note distracts on the finish. | 85 | 15 | Mosel | 19Riesling
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Italy | Fragrant and enjoyable, this offers aromas of ripe berry, Mediterranean herb, pressed violet and a whiff of pine forest. On the round easygoing palate, savory notes of brown cooking spice accent a core of red cherry and black raspberry. Enjoy through 2017. | 88 | 14 | Tuscany | 21Sangiovese
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Chile | Lapostolle's basic Cab scores big in the fine '01 vintage. It features a deep nose of tire rubber, blackberry and rusticity. The palate is high-octane and deep, with plenty of ripe, tannic black fruit. And the finish is round and lengthy. It should age well for a couple of years. Editors' Choice. | 90 | 12 | Rapel Valley | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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US | The aromas explore this variety's savory side, with notes of green herbs and dill followed by vanilla, char, burnt coffee and green wood. The palate shows flavors of char and game, with the tannins seeming gritty. | 87 | 46 | Washington | 2Cabernet Franc
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US | There is not much in the way of fruit in this wine, which veers into questionable flavors of burnt mushrooms. | 82 | 15 | California | 14Pinot Noir
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US | In comparison with other new releases from the winery, this seems dilute. With its watery raspberry fruit and astringent acidity, it lacks the stuffing to handle the 55% new oak it was aged in, making the barrel flavors apparent. More time in the bottle may help. | 87 | 50 | Oregon | 14Pinot Noir
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Spain | Cured meat, rubber, coffee grinds and a medicinal note complement the bold berry aromas in this red blend. In the mouth, this is somewhat grating and wide. Flavors of dark berry fruits, resiny oak and bitter coffee finish with sweet carob notes and a touch of latex-driven Band-Aid. | 86 | 20 | Levante | 17Red Blend
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France | This is a finely perfumed wine, rich in both structure and ripe fruits. It is smoothly textured, a full-bodied wine that has dark cherry flavors as well as a balanced layer of acidity. The wine is still young, juicy and will develop further, so drink from 2017. | 90 | null | Loire Valley | 14Pinot Noir
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US | This producer makes small amounts of minimal-intervention wines from a handful of California appellations and this one does a good job of capturing Russian River. Peppery and steeped in dried herb and lavender, it goes light on the oak to show tightly woven tannin and structure, but the floral aromatics, especially of rose, really shine. | 89 | 39 | California | 14Pinot Noir
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US | A deep pink or coral color, strong fruit and herb aromas and equally strong, dry fruit flavors call for something rich and spicy to pair with, like sausage and mustard or pulled pork sandwiches. | 84 | 13 | California | 20Rosé
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US | Raspberry jam, orange peel and sweet oak flavors mark this Pinot Noir. It's very dry, acidic and tannic, not showing much of interest now, but the complexity suggests limited ageability. Try after 2017. | 89 | 45 | California | 14Pinot Noir
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US | Sharp citrus, kiwi, quince and cut grass kick off the nose on this bottling, but then come more rounded aromas of buttercream and pineapple. The palate plays a similar trick, starting with tangy lime zest before settling into a creamy midpalate of orange cake and yellow apples. | 89 | 32 | California | 5Chardonnay
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Argentina | Creamy dark-berry aromas carry a floral, blueberry hint, while the thick palate teeters on syrupy as it delivers gummy, mildly baked black fruit flavors. Lactic and full on the finish, with a touch of crusty bitterness along with milk chocolate and/or carob. | 85 | 12 | Mendoza Province | 9Malbec
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Spain | Snappy and a little green on the nose, with hints of juniper and green apple. The palate is perfectly good but nothing special, while the flavors of apple and citrus are punchy and pure. Frothy but controlled, with lots of flavor and forward kick. Apéritif city! | 88 | 13 | Catalonia | 24Sparkling Blend
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US | This is a wow wine, supported by small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Blood orange, cranberry, cassis and raspberry provide a crisp counterpoint to the firm tannin structure, ending with grace and plenty of body, smoothly textured and refined. | 94 | 80 | California | 17Red Blend
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Portugal | A spice note meshes with the tannins and black currant acidity in this elegant wine. The fruit is bright and juicy; the tannins still firm and will likely always lend an edge of severity. Age for 2–3 years. | 89 | 10 | Douro | 15Portuguese Red
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France | Bright red fruits in this attractive cherry and banana flavored wine. It has a soft tannic edge, laced with acidity and finishing spice. | 86 | 12 | Beaujolais | 6Gamay
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France | The 2011s from Cornas show high levels of ripeness, and this négociant wine is no exception. It's almost pruny, with other notes of meat, clove and cinnamon, yet remains crisp and firm, picking up hints of black olive and espresso on the finish. Drink now–2025. | 91 | 57 | Rhône Valley | 25Syrah
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France | A very soft, fruity wine, with a gentle, creamy texture and light acidity. It's fresh with vanilla and pear flavors, and ready to drink. | 84 | 10 | Burgundy | 5Chardonnay
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France | A warm-feeling wine, lined with dry tannins and then filled with juicy red plum and pepper flavors, and an attractive green pepper hint. | 86 | 12 | Provence | 18Rhône-style Red Blend
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Spain | Initial charred aromas turn to licorice and black fruit on the nose. A rigid structure of fierce tannins provide strength to toasty, spicy berry flavors on the palate. Vanilla, herb and mocha tones combine with textural dryness on the finish. Drink though 2025. | 91 | 50 | Northern Spain | 26Tempranillo
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US | Threads of licorice, steel, earth and smoke weave through the proportionate strawberry and raspberry flavors, offset by hints of herb and baking spice. It's a seamless, complex wine of moderate length. | 90 | 27 | Washington | 25Syrah
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Argentina | Chunky, ripe and fruity, with bacon and roasted berry aromas. The palate has a good feel and tannins that melt away, while the flavors of black cherry and cassis lean toward medicinal but don't fully go there. Bold like Malbec should be, with hints of rubber and latex on the finish. | 89 | 19 | Mendoza Province | 9Malbec
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Argentina | Sweet blackberry and black cherry aromas are accented by mint leaf and woodspice, while the palate is slightly more narrow and snappy than you might expect, with cherry, raspberry and cough drop flavors. A little high in acidity and snap, with medicinal cherry on the finish. | 87 | 24 | Mendoza Province | 3Cabernet Sauvignon
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Chile | Flat and dull in the nose, with only a touch of apple along with plenty of leftover wood. The palate is thick and woody, and there just isn't ample fruit to offset the oakiness. | 83 | 12 | Colchagua Valley | 5Chardonnay
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US | Bright and airy on the nose, with aromas of lemon pith, ripe apple and delicate white peach, this wine is one of the first made in its entirety by Dierberg's new winemaker, Tyler Thomas. The palate offers flavors of fresh lime sprayed on cold apple slices and sprinkled with sea salt, proving tightly wound with the right amount of grip and energy. | 91 | 32 | California | 5Chardonnay
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France | This top wine from Lamartine is a fine, solid expression of the firm nature of young Malbec. It has dark, dense black fruits layered behind the dry, tight tannins. With this concentration, this is a wine that needs to age. Leave until 2020. | 92 | 23 | Southwest France | 9Malbec
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Italy | Aromas of wild rose, chopped mint and an earthy whiff of grilled Porcini mushroom slowly emerge. The taut, austere palate shows cranberry, raw sour cherry, star anise and clove framed in firm acidity and tightly wound, close-grained tannins that clench the finish. This needs time to unfurl and fully develop. Drink after 2023. | 89 | 78 | Piedmont | 11Nebbiolo
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France | This wine brings out the structure inherent in this vineyard. Tensely textured with young fruits that have a touch of bitterness, the wine offers kiwi and green plum flavors given a more exotic character with some mango. It's a deeply structured wine that needs to age. Drink from 2018. | 96 | 73 | Burgundy | 5Chardonnay
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Italy | Friendly, easy-going and irresistibly cheerful, this light and luminous Asti delivers delicately fragrant tones of white flower, peach flower and honeysuckle. The mouthfeel is characterized by creamy foam and there's a nice touch of piquant white pepper on the close. | 85 | null | Piedmont | 24Sparkling Blend
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