ar

This Malbec-led blend opens with grapy black-fruit aromas. The palate is saturated through and through, while intensely ripe flavors of blackberry, cassis and black plum finish long but not aggressive. This comes across as being well polished and smooth; drink through 2022.

au

Vanilla, cedar and mint notes mark the nose, while this wine boasts just enough fruit on the plate to carry the lavish oak. It's full bodied, creamy and supple, amply concentrated but still very approachable. Drink nowC2023.

US

Black sage, wispy black cherry, dried violets, star anise and a woody character combine for a wondrous nose on this wine by regional pioneer Dan Lee. It's rich on the palate, with clove and nutmeg adding complexity to the plum, dried cherry and fennel bulb flavors.

it

You'll find classic Nebbiolo scents of perfumed berry, rose, violet, tilled earth, leather and a hint of game in this striking wine. On the palate, notes of sage, white pepper and clove accent a core of red and black cherry. It's balanced with nervous acidity and gripping tannins.

pt

This is a wood aged wine, full of vanilla flavors as well as fragrant fruitiness. It has great flavor intensity, with bright notes of juicy green plum and grapefruit that are framed by acidity and a tight, mineral texture. It needs some years aging, so drink from 2018.

pt

The stately hillside line of cypress trees gives its name to this estate on the south bank of the Douro. This complex, rich and dark wine is densely textured. The tannins are still young, while the black berry fruits pack into the solid structure. This is a wine to age, so drink from 2018.

US

Ripe pomegranate seeds, red cherry juice, chai tea, a touch of iron and a stemmy crushed herb element powers the nose on this bottling from a special part of the estate vineyard. The flavors are sanguine at first, then open up onto red fruits, but are all held together by crushed marjoram and thyme.

US

Vanilla, saffron and other exotic yellow spices are laced amidst the dried apples, dried pineapples and just-cut lemons on the nose of this wine from a vineyard on the cool western fringe of the appellation. It's fairly broad in the mouth, with lots of lemon zest, cooked apples and more vanilla, cut by a pithy bitterness.

US

The third (and newest) of Trisaetum's estate vineyards, Wichman's grafted-on Riesling vines (originally Pinot Gris) have found their grip in 2014. Citrus, pink grapefruit and citrus peel components pile on more subtle details of orange rind, mineral and a whiff of vanilla wafer. The acids are juicy and the finish has a crisp, lemony tang.

US

This barrel selection is sourced from vines planted in 2002. It's young, fresh and delicate, showing a mix of rose water, cranberry and cherry fruit. The purity and depth are striking, and the balance is also just right. There's defining acidity and a finishing tang of orange peel.

pt

A classic blend of D?o grapes, including Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional, this is a generous, full wine that balances a firm, mineral texture with ripe plum and damson fruits. Wood aging has given an extra dimension to its broad opulence. Drink from 2018.

ar

This power-packed new Malbec from the son of legendary Mendoza winemaker Jorge Riccitelli shows lush blackberry and cassis aromas along with burnt toast and graphite notes. A huge, saturated palate is resiny and chewy, while flavors of baked black fruits are oaky and savory, with a saucy finish that's bulky. This is full, chunky and delicious; drink through 2024.

it

Scents of perfumed berry, eucalyptus, chopped herb and a whiff of leather unfold in the glass. The smooth, delicious palate doles out juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, freshly ground black pepper and anise alongside polished, velvety tannins.

US

This impressive wine combines power and style. It has a classic Bordeaux-like aroma that's subtly spicy, very clean, complex and precise. Then loads of red and black fruit flavors come out, seeming almost sweet for a moment until those firm tannins and lively acidity kick in to add a textural grip. The finish lingers, with light spicy oak notes that fade slowly. Best now through 2020.

ar

Heady aromas of cola and root beer come with notes of lemon peel, coffee and baking spices. This blend of 73% Malbec and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon is healthy as can be in terms of feel, with nothing ponderous or out of whack. Barrel char, coffee, graphite, licorice and cassis flavors finish smooth and silky, with a touch of heat. Drink through 2021.

US

This powerful wine has benefited from time in bottle, offering an elegance of peppercorn, cedar and black licorice around a lushness of velvety black fruit. Full-figured, it also exhibits rocky minerality, a nod to its vineyard site, as well as spicy layers of clove on the finish.

US

Shy at first on the nose, this wine from just east of the Sta. Rita Hills boundary winds up offering a very pretty if delicate nose of lime, salt and a touch of popcorn hidden in the background. It's high-toned and bright on the palate, with limestone, gray slate and lime-peel flavors, quite refreshing with each sip.

US

Balanced nicely between the citrus pith and buttercream-vanilla side of the grape, the nose of this wine also shows a touch of honeysuckle, gray slate and freshly picked limes. The palate is energetic, albeit still wound-up tight, showing wet cement, lime juice, kiwi and pear flavors, plus a slight brush of butter on the finish.

pt

This second wine from Jorge Moreira's Poeira estate is dark, solid, structured and densely tannic. As a contrast, it also has ripe, full-bodied fruitiness, red berry acidity and ripe plums. While it could be drunk now with its delicious juiciness, it will be better from 2017.

US

Sourced from a cool site in this southern Oregon AVA, this compelling effort rewards both breathing time and extra attention. Classic funk/umami scents and flavors accompany tangy boysenberry fruit. Suggestions of roasted meat, allspice, licorice, espresso and iron filings fill in throughout a long and satisfying finish. This is a wine you may enjoy immediately and on through 2025.