nz

This comes out of the bottle with a little bit of funk, so give it a brief decanting prior to serving. Once the sweaty sock aroma blows off, it delivers modest cherry fruit and a peppery spice component that's reminiscent of nasturtium blossoms, a supple, round texture and a mouthwatering finish.

cl

Earthy mulchy aromas of tea and coffee grounds are oaky but unfocued, with a stewed-fruit character that's vintage Elqui Valley. This is creamy and resiny, a reflection of 24 months of oak aging. Herbal, heavily woody flavors of clove and roasted dark-berry fruits finish minty and resiny.

US

This Lodi-based producer shows skill in handling Carneros-grown fruit, putting together a medium-bodied, deliciously earthy wine. It's leathery in texture and exuberant in cardamom, strawberry and burnt orange flavors.

pt

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.

fr

A textured and minerally wine, this is wine has plenty of citrus flavor. It is fruity and crisp, and it offers a touch of vanilla and lively acidity on the finish.

US

The aromas are much more closed and dense than the regular bottling. Airing reveals plum, currant and cinnamon, and a good dose of toasty oak. Thick and dense, with fine fruit, intricate tannins, and oak. Delicious now, but will gain complexity with short-term aging. Only 329 cases produced.

il

A nose of wild blackberry and brambles lays the groundwork for a tender dance of fruit and herbal flavors, especially blackberry, pomegranate, eucalyptus and fennel bulb. Mouth-coating tannins dissipate on the finish, joined by a burst of tart pomegranate.

it

Damo has earthy fragrances of tobacco leaf, underbrush and truffle, along with notes of raspberry and spice. The palate shows ripe black cherry, vanilla and sweet spice flavors, as well as a hint of licorice. This has nice depth and balance, but will be more complex after 2017.

US

This is a rather tense, tightly wound wine, offering tart cranberry and raspberry fruit. Tangy, juicy acidity keeps flavors fresh and forward, with a mineral underpinning.

US

As good as last year, this vintage has a subtle lemon taste that's layered with dashes of lilting lychee and fresh cantaloupe. Well integrated and pleasant, it will pair with spicy and seafood-infused foods, or go down easy on its own.

US

This cool-climate Pinot Gris is balanced and light, and it offers refreshing layers of citrus, almond and peach. It will pair with goat cheese and seafood-based appetizers, and it will also be enjoyed on its own

US

There's a touch of honeyed sweetness to this wine that gives it a softly appealing taste. The orange, apricot, tropical fruit and vanilla flavors are absolutely delicious, while there's just enough acidity to lift and balance the richness.

fr

A flinty note appears first, but juicy pear and ripe lemon take over. This wine is zippy, refreshing and defined on the palate. A lovely bitter background of pith provides just the right balance and a great canvas for rich food. It has an appealingly clean and dry finish.

it

This Syrah opens with ripe, pulpy fruit and rich aromas of red cherry, blackberry, spice and crushed black pepper. There are touches of smoke and barbecue on the finish.

US

This wine offers classic Napa Valley richness and fruit-forwardness, while also maintaining an underlying elegance of balance. Apple and honey star on the nose and palate, complementing each other, becoming more developed in the glass as they go.

US

This wine comes from a single vineyard in the western part of the appellation. Aromas suggest honeysuckle, lemon cream sauce and a wild array of garden herbs and spices, from scallions and green garlic to fresh oregano. It's light and bright on the palate, with a steely focus of lime juice on peach.

US

Plum and cherry notes struggle to show themselves under a heavy layer of coconut and sawdust from new American oak. This wine is tightly wound and dense in the mouth, with refreshing acidity and a medium-to-long finish. A year or two in the cellar will allow for better integration.

es

Crisp, natural and lightly salinic on the nose, with medium weight, good freshness and solid peach and citrus flavors. This is a standard but nicely done Rioja rosé with a pithy finish and just the right edge to it. Drink liberally with appetizers and you shouldn't go wrong.

fr

Neatly divided between the three major grapes of Champagne, this full, ripe wine is packed with rich apple and pear fruits. It is crisp while showing a high dosage giving a softer, smoother aftertaste. Drink this bottling now.

fr

Solid tannins mark this out as a wine that will need to age. Its structure dominates its black fruit, hiding it beneath a smoky, spicy character. Give it until 2020 before opening.