fr

this simple wine is full of fruit. there is no wood aging here, just ripe pear and apricot flavors that are gently textured. the wine, with its crisp final acidity, is ready to drink.

pt

not one of the generally declared vintages for port, this year produced some ripe, sweet single quinta vintages. it also was a good year for rich, sweet tawnies. this is ripe, toffee-like in character packed with ripe raisin and sultana flavors. it is a luxurious wine, of course ready to drink.

us

a good, somewhat common wine that displays lots of rich fruit, but also the fundamental weaknesses that sangiovese displays in california. the wine is dry and medium-bodied, with cherry, black raspberry, coffee and leather flavors. but it's a bit sharp in acidity and rugged in the mouth.

us

rich with fleshy black plum and cherry flavors, wölffer's cassango meshes deeply concentrated fruit with swathes of smoke, violets and darkly toasted oak. bright, brisk acidity carries a long finish marked by a coating of soft, powdery tannins.

us

seeing just a kiss of new oak (20%), this wine offers brooding aromas of spice, white flowers, tropical fruit and citrus. the palate is full of white-grapefruit flavors backed by a zing of tart acidity, with barrel spice flavors lingering on the finish. it shows a lot of tension.

pt

powerful and spicy, this is a concentrated wine. it has a firm and rich structure of solid tannins. that contrasts with the black plum and juicy berry fruits. together, they make a wine that is impressive, dark and only just ready to drink. best wait until 2017.

pt

produced from old vines in a quinta in the high eastern end of the douro, in douro superior, this wine is aged for 15 months in wood. that has broadened the tannins and given the wine its rich, opulent black fruit character. after four years, it is still young, and should not be touched until 2018.

us

a little rough and rustic around the edges, with red and black currant and oak flavors wrapped into firm, sticky tannins. the finish is sweet. made from cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc, it's showing its best now and over the next two years.

it

rustic aromas recall game, fetid flower, barnyard and black fruit past its prime. the bitter palate shows flint and a hint of tire rubber but no fruit richness. tried twice with consistent results.

us

there is lots of cranberry tartness in this syrah, giving it a mouthwatering zinginess. you'll also find rich, attractive flavors of raspberry and cherry jam, bacon and sandalwood flavors. it's a good, dry selection to drink now, but give it time to breathe in a decanter or in a glass.

us

named for bob biale's father aldo, who maintained head-trained, dry-farmed vines planted in 1937, this red is as mighty as the man, with a length of powerful acidity. cherry, blueberry and vanilla play against dried flowers and smoked meat, with a tanginess of asian spice.

cl

on first take, this smells a bit green and grassy, while the feel is grabby. airing and time in the glass help things along, while the flavor profile is a bit salty and oaky, with plum and red-currant notes. a dry earthy peppery-tasting finish closes this out.

us

made from fruit from what many consider to be the finest site for growing syrah in the state, this wine opens gracefully to reveal scents of plump berry, vanilla and tobacco. briefly aged in a mix of one- and two-year-old french oak barrels, it offers concentrated berry and black cherry flavors that never turn syrupy. the crisp acidity suggests cellaring for up to a decade.

it

this fragrant and luminous sparkling wine delivers sweet-smelling aromas of butterscotch, caramel and honey. in the background, you'll find both mineral and herbal shadings that create a beautiful balance.

at

this wine's nose is shy but fresh. the palate shows taut, tart fruit, with hints of red apple and citrus. this is very slender and light with a clean, dry finish.

us

this wine includes all five traditional red-bordeaux varieties, merlot the most dominant, resulting in tart bing cherry and cassis flavors. it doesn't hold back on tannin or power, showing grippy persistence on the finish.

us

the initial entry to this wine is reminiscent of cheesecake, with a decadence to the bouquet. from there, ripe pear and toasted oak combine around a tropical edge of guava and papaya, giving complexity and lushness on the palate, before a zesty, slightly tart finish confounds and invites one in for more. cellar through 2018.

es

moderately floral aromas of stone fruits and fresh carrot juice feed into a round palate that's balanced and well shaped. nectarine and peach flavors are nice and easy. this wine is slightly leesy-tasting on a medium-length finish.

us

fleshy and ripe with flavors of sweet yellow peach touched with honey, this is an easy going medium-sweet riesling. there's a touch of savory smoke and spice that persists from nose to finish, but overall, it's bright and sunny with lingering lemon acidity.

it

easy drinking and enjoyable, this opens with aromas of blackberry, spiced plum and a whiff of tilled earth. the medium-bodied palate provides juicy black cherry and licorice alongside supple tannins. it's made for sheer drinking pleasure so enjoy soon.