US

The winery has a track record for producing Chardonnays that are very appealing, though not particularly complex. This wine is rich in tropical fruits, pears and peaches, with buttered toast and vanilla notes, wrapped into a buttery, creamy texture.

US

Earthy and herbal, this inexpensive Pinot offers faint cherry tones and a structured, juicy midpalate. The wine's pronounced tannins take center stage on the finish.

US

Crisp and refreshing, this blend of 85% Chenin Blanc and 15% Viognier is high in acidity with a creamy midpalate. Guava is most notable flavor, followed by kiwi and honey. Oysters would be a good call.

US

Blended with some Merlot, this Cab has high alcohol that makes it hot and glyceriney sweet. The blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors show jammy richness. The wine isn't going anywhere, so drink up.

US

Though it's 100% Merlot from Red Mountain, this seems more generic than representative of what that AVA can produce. It could be any modestly priced Bordeaux red variety or blend red fruits, stiff tannins, and a seamless, yet one-dimensional mouthfeel.

US

Freshly pressed apples and lemon notes are accented with just a hint of floral notes. It's texture is rich and full in body, adding opulence to the midpalate. Zesty acidity lends an edge towards the finish.

it

Aromas suggest fennel, leafy underbrush, tobacco and licorice. The fruit has already faded quite a bit, revealing tart cherries alongside astringent tannins that generate a mouth-puckering close.

US

Perfumed with notes of white flowers, melon and peach, this off-dry wine is delicate on the palate with sweet stone-fruit flavors offset by brisk lemon acidity. It's straightforward in style but bright and fresh with a hint of honey that lingers.

it

Funky aromas of farmyard, overripe berries and plums, vanilla and oak all carry over to the palate along with wild cherry and cinnamon notes. It's shy on fresh acidity, while astringent tannins lead to a drying close.

it

Aromas include toasted oak, coffee, mature blackberries, with hints of bell pepper. The muddled palate is both sweet and bitter, offering overripe plum, black currants, toasted oak, chocolate and espresso alongside astringent and drying wood tannins that generate an abrupt finish.

US

Good, rich black currant, licorice and oak flavors provide plenty of drinking pleasure in this dry, full-bodied Cab. Fully approachable now, it wants pairing with sturdy roasted meats and stews. You might even decant it for an hour or two.

US

The prune and raisin scents and flavors suggest that some of these grapes were picked past optimal ripeness. For those who favor an almost Port-like style, this Bordeaux-style blend will hit the mark. The finish suggests figs lightly splashed with balsamic vinegar.

US

Whole-cluster pressed, with 20% Marsanne in the blend, this displays fresh fruit flavors of apple and pear, with a bit of somewhat dilute green banana. There's a slightly waxy aspect to the mouthfeel; overall this is a simple, pleasant, clean but generic white wine.

fr

Named after the stagecoaches that used to travel through the M doc, this chateau has produced an attractive, fruity wine in 2011. It has some tannins and firm wood-aging flavors, while the fruit is light and fresh. Drink from 2016.

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Aromas include black berries, coffee, espresso and grilled Mediterranean herbs. The one-dimensional palate lacks the essential fruit richness needed to support the bracing, astringent tannins that give a drying, bitter character. It also displays evident alcohol sensations despite the modest alcohol.

fr

A soft, juicy wine, it is fresh with attractive red berry fruits. It has a crisp, light feel, with the tannins giving the possibility of medium-term aging.

fr

Oak influence shows strongly on this wine, giving a smooth texture and soft tannins. It has a light texture, fresh with black currant fruitiness attractively balanced with acidity. For the medium term, the wine should be drunk from 2015.

fr

Tannic and dry, this wine is beginning to show its age. It still has some juicy red fruits but they are covered by the firm structure and dusty character of the wine. It needs to be drunk now.

it

This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah begins with leafy, almost weedy aromas along with hints of graphite and mature black berries. But the lean palate lacks fruit richness and reveals evident alcohol sensations despite the modest level.

ar

The wine shows a maderized color and aromas of oxidized stone fruits and rubber. This fast-fading ros feels flat, with mushy flavors of peach, melon and mushroom. Bitterness rises up on the finish.