US

A big, boldly powerful but elegant Zinfandel, full-bodied in the mouth and dry, offering waves of ripe fruits and spices. The cool 2007 vintage has kept the wine from being too ripe, resulting in balanced flavors of blackberries, currants, licorice, bacon, cocoa, black pepper and Asian spices. Just terrific. Drink over the next six years.

au

Mitolo's top Shiraz offering from 2007 is its Savitar bottling, from McLaren Vale. This full-bodied, creamy, lush, expansive wine features aromas of toast and vanilla upfront, followed by mixed berries that seem to grow in intensity with every sip. Drink now-2020.

US

Tight and hard in tannins now, with a dusty astringency, especially on the finish. But there's a considerable heart of blackberries, currants and dark chocolate, accented with complex notes of violets, leather, dried herbs and peppery spices. Not ready now, but should easily negotiate the next 4C6 years.

US

Chardonnay doesn't get much richer or riper than this. Explodes with grilled pineapple, lemondrop, smoky meringue, buttered toast and cinnamon spice flavors, brightened and boosted by crisp, citrusy cool-climate acidity. Racy and clean and complex, it should develop bottle nuance over the next four years.

it

This base Barolo from Bric Cenciurio offers everything you should look for in an excellent Nebbiolo from the Langhe, Piedmont. The wine is delicate and layered with soft shadings of berry fruit and spice. The mouthfeel is supple but determined with a blast of berry freshness on the close.

US

This is one of the darkest of Williams Selyem's new Pinots and also one of the ripest. It's jammy in the intensity of raspberry and cherry fruit, with a savory, Dr. Pepper cola richness. The spiciness, which is one of winemaker Bob Cabral's specialties in capturing, is exotic. It's a big, fat, rich wine that needs decanting now, and should age for 4C6 years.

ar

Still the king of South American Pinot Noir, Chacra's 55 offers a beautiful amalgam of dusty Middle Eastern spice aromas along with raspberry, cherry and cocoa notes. It's a finessed but forceful (read: high-alcohol) Pinot with penetrating black cherry, plum and chocolate flavors, and the finish is long but hot in its youth. Doesn't lack for much of anything. Best from late 2010 through 2013.

US

This 100% Cab shows all the hallmarks of an ageable wine. But it's beautiful now for the complexity of the tannins and the elegant integration of blackberry and black currant fruit with oak. A dramatic, impressive wine that shows you don't have to spend a lot of money for a terrific California Cab. NowC2012.

es

Another stellar El Puntido, this time with excellent concentration and full-load aromas of black fruit, leather, fine dried cheese and cola. The palate is tight, properly stretched and racy, with bursting black raspberry and cassis flavors. Coconut and resin on the finish is the first and only glaring announcement of oak. Drink now through 2014.

US

White currant and orchard fruit tones lead onto the silky, open-textured palate. It finishes with a welcome minerally tang.

US

With slightly subdued aromas of spiced apples and lemon, this Gewrztraminer introduces itself a bit unusually. The round, full-bodied palate reveals more characteristic lychee and floral tones offset by soft lemony acidity. It concludes with a hint of alcoholic warmth.

US

It conveys lots of ripe, forward citrus, pear and green apple flavors. Oak plays only a supporting role, with crisp acidity and creamy lees co-starring with the fruit.

it

Light and crisp, this steely wine offers sensations of white flowers, zesty citrus, white peach and slate. It's simple but well made with fresh acidity that gives it a clean, bright finish.

nz

This medium-bodied wine shows almost tobacco-like scents to go along with tropical fruit on the nose. It's leafy and green, with modest passion-fruit flavors and a moderately long finish.

ar

Initially, this smells green, with aromas akin to salad. With time, riper berry notes and oak rise up. In the mouth, this has a choppy feel and edgy freshness, while flavors of stalky, lightly green berry fruits finish with an oaky, minty character.

US

It's unusual to see a Washington Malbec at this price. This one is generally pleasant, with notes of plum, peppery spices and light oak accents. It's soft and elegant, yet with some tannic astringency that adds a subtle edge.

fr

Spicy and fruity, this is a lightweight, attractive and smooth wine. It has some undergrowth aromas, followed by red berry fruits, with fresh acidity at the end. Drink now.

US

Still wound tight, it shows promise via its peppery underbelly surrounding a core of raspberry, cedar and herb. Made from California grapes at a Vermont-based winery.

US

This young, firm wine offers aggressive tannins and prominent acidity, with cherry, blackberry and prune flavors. The wine shows ample structure, so give this time in the decanter before drinking now.

US

This Merlot currently offers a dry palate and firm tannins. As it warms in the glass, subtle blackberry, cola and pepper notes emerge. It's pretty tightly wound for a Merlot, but it's attractively priced and should soften with a little time to breathe.