us

there are excellent savory qualities to this bottling, with white pepper, charred lamb, soy and pine resin adding much intrigue to the black currant fruit. the umami character is strong on the sip, with beef jerky, black pepper and wild mushroom broth flavors, but there is also some tangy fruit as well as upright tannins that will keep this wine singing for years. drink now–2028.

fr

based around the 2013 vintage, this wine is young. perfumed apple and pineapple fruits are tightly laced with lemon and crisp acidity. these contrast with the creamy mousse that adds a softer touch. age this bottling until 2018.

us

interestingly, there are dried fruits and flowers with a touch of petrol on the bouquet. this wine sits really nicely in the mouth, offering a plethora of lemon-lime, melon and pear flavors. it's rich and ripe, bordering on the heavy side. but it manages to toe that all-important line of balance, and therefore it qualifies as a winner.

us

richly layered red fruit accents an explosion of firm lengthy tannin, alongside dashes of clove and cinnamon, in this hearty full-bodied red. robust and concentrated, it shows oaky bursts of vanilla and smoke on the finish.

it

this straight-shooting chianti presents loads of red berry fruit and a touch of apple skin, with background shades of pressed violets and moist earth. the wine only sees stainless steel, so the brightness of the fruit is what drives it forward.

us

a light, refreshing, amazingly clean and delicious wine. with only 8% alcohol but 9.7% residual sugar, it’s a tasty sweet-toother that delivers plenty of wonderful ripe fruit and spice. it’s almost delicate, the wine equivalent of a well-made crème brûlée—which it would pair with beautifully.

fr

dominated by wood and spice, this is still a wine in progress. it has the weight of black fruit, dark tannins and licorice, while chocolate flavors promise a wine that will age over the long-term. for now, wait and don't drink this powerful wine before 2017.

us

dramatically rich and ripe, a bells and whistles chardonnay made in the white burgundy style. it's flamboyant in pineapple, nectarine, guava and oak- and lees-influenced buttered toast, cream and vanilla crème brûlée, but it's also very acidic and dry, which provides balance and elegance. fine now and for 3 or 4 years.

us

this is a nice amalgam of loose threads—leather, tobacco, earth and coffee, with purple plum and pie-cherry fruit. the fruit flavors lean toward fruit leather rather than fresh-picked, and the tannins are a bit astringent.

it

“il bugiardo,” which is italian for “the liar,” is an honest and plump wine, with soft berry aromas that are woven into spicy notes of clove, black pepper, leather and tobacco. the finish is velvety and smooth.

us

this rhone winery's inaugural bordeaux variety offering is a blend of 57% cabernet and 43% merlot. the aromas of dried and fresh herbs and barrel spice show nuance, leaning slightly into the green. the cherry and dark-fruit flavors display an exquisite sense of polish, detail and length that kicks it up a notch.

us

still light and astringent, this seems to be in some bottle shock: the score is a guesstimate. it's been well-rested, and tasted over a 24-hour period, but more aging is recommended. stem and leaf flavors accompany tart raspberry fruit. the rating could rise or fall depending upon how it cellars.

pt

this is a hugely dense wine, still firm with its dusty tannins and solid with concentrated black fruits. despite all this power, the wine has style and a sense of elegance that will stand it in good stead as it matures. it is certainly not yet ready and should be aged until 2019.

es

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.

at

the nose is not very suggestive, however, the palate comes alive and paints a vivid picture of both refreshing and mellow notes of red and black cherry. the body shows a lovely, fine-grained texture that brushes softly against the tongue to send more ripples of cinnamon-spiced cherries your way. fresh, lively and beautifully aromatic with a mellow finish tinged with peony and rose.

it

reale (100% merlot) offers sweet cherry and raspberry aromas with light touches of spice and toasted almond in the background. this ruby colored wine offers an easy, fresh and lean feel in the mouth.

fr

named after luc de conti's father albert, this is a structured and firm wine. it has juicy black-currant fruits that are concentrated by tannins and lifted by bright acidity. the wine is firm, impressive and aging well, although not yet ready, so drink from 2018.

ar

jammy, roasted aromas are more savory and offbeat than common and fruity. this malbec has a fresh but choppy mouthfeel and flavors of tomato, basil and herbal berry fruits. a savory finish conforms with the rest of the wine.

fr

with the right intensity for a premier cru, this is a rich, lightly toasty wine. it has layers of chalky, mineral texture along with dense fruits and a sense of structure and potential. drink from 2017.

pt

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.