us

made from syrah, mourvedre and grenache, this is a fairly ordinary red wine, with cherry, currant, smoke, spice and herb flavors. drink now.

pt

fresh green plum, apricot and pears freshen this light, soft wine, clean, crisp and finishing with lime juice.

us

a blend of 50% grenache, 25% syrah and 25% mourvèdre, this offers strawberry/leaf flavors that glide softly into more concentrated, deep fruit flavors of cherry and plum. this is an elegant wine, graceful and fine, with intriguing length and a smooth finish. the tannins are a pleasing mix of light herb and moist earth, and there is a finishing kiss of chocolate wafer.

us

well made, complex and complete, this offers a tantalizing whiff of lightly toasted oak that mingles with cinnamon and berry aromas, all carrying through to the palate. it's nicely balanced between assertive flavors, fresh acidity and full body. nuances of rosemary, plum and cherry linger on the finish.

us

a simple, sweet wine, with sugary cherry, chocolate and anise flavors. there's a curious, disagreeable charred taste, like a cigarette butt.

fr

this is a fat style of rosé, bringing out ripe strawberries and diminishing the acidity. that makes it attractive as an apéritif style. it is fruity and soft with a smooth aftertaste.

za

a blend of 51% palomino and 49% chenin blanc, this is a pure and mineral-driven wine, with superb verve to the clean aromas and flavors of apple flesh, white peach, orange glossom, almond skin and minty fynbos. it's balanced and complex, with layered notes of roasted nuts, honeysuckle, toasted apple skin and sweet spice all mingling harmoniously. delicious now, but will hold well through 2020.

us

this has a sweet charm to it, with a rich lemon flavor. this would be fine as a light dessert wine with lemon cake.

ar

potent but integrated oak and blackberry aromas come with a note of licorice. this blend of malbec, cabernet sauvignon and cab franc is blocky and almost collapses under its own weight. herbal, spicy flavors of fresh mushroom, roasted plum and tomato are typical of salta. it finishes full, saturated and a bit chunky. drink through 2020.

us

this very expensive release is one of the rare examples of chardonnay that absolutely requires bottle age. dry and leesy now, with a mineral compactness, it shows a rich core of baked peach, spiced apple, butterscotch and smoky honey. as it warms in the glass, it develops great flavor and textural complexities. should come into its own by 2009, and improve for many years after.

fr

fine ripe fruit here, with soft, sweet berries and surprisingly smooth tannins. the wine is rich, not heavyweight, but glorying in the opulence of pinot noir. the finish brings on the tannins again.

us

this ambitious effort from trefethen was grown in a block of the estate vineyard. no effort was spared, with careful clonal selection, tasteful oak application and all the bells and whistles of burgundian technique. the result, however, leaves something to be desired. there's a taste of green pea lurking in the background behind the tropical fruit, green apple and peach flavors that must be due to the unusually chilly vintage.

fr

while there are plenty of tannins in this wine, there is also great fruit. blackberry and plum flavors explode in the mouth. they are backed by the serious tannins and dark texture that will allow the wine to age. drink this bold wine from 2019.

es

this is the best valbuena since 2005, and it may be better than that. exotic aromas of leather, lemon peel, sawdust and boysenberry come in front of a tannic but lively and intricate palate. baked, heady flavors of black fruits, pepper and mocha finish with chocolate and vanilla as well as juicy acidity. drink now through 2022.

it

ripe dark berry, sweet cake spice and pipe tobacco are just some of the aromas you'll find on this stunning wine. the palate shows structure and finesse, doling out black cherry, raspberry, black pepper, clove and anise alongside firm, velvety tannins and bright acidity.

fr

this is strongly marked by toasty, cedary oak, but enough fruit comes through on the midpalate and finish to suggest this is more than just another oaky red. it's rich and creamy through the midpalate, then finishes long, with mixed berry notes emerging at the end.

nz

this is a lovely example of grüner's potential in nz. varietally distinctive celery leaf and stalk aromas and flavors are rounded out by hints of melon. there's a bit of creaminess on the midpalate, and while the finish is spicy, it's not quite white pepper. still, a solid effort.

us

there's a distinct suggestion of citrus pith on the nose of this bottling, along with tight almond and sea salt aromas. the palate leads with a touch of ripeness, but finds a firm structure and chalky backbone, proving rather racy, albeit with hazelnut-like richness. a well polished wine.

us

anyone familiar with native varieties of grapes will recognize the “foxy” aromas and flavors in this otherwise well-made bubbly. the color, attack, acidity and finish are all good, and it’s dry as advertised, but that foxiness will be a problem for consumers used to vinifera grapes.

us

hints of smoke and bramble linger from nose to finish, lending a savory complexity to this dry-style riesling. it's spry and invigorating, juxtaposing tart pineapple and lemon flavors against a backdrop of pressed apple and pear. the finish extends long with an elegant mineral tinge.