Altesino Sangiovese 2013

95
Altesino
Varietal: Sangiovese
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino
Retail Price: $65.00

Tasting Notes: A wine that can exceed your expectations. The 2013 took a few minutes to open up, but when it did, it was singing. The aromatics of earth, tobacco and leather were met on the palate with rustic notes of fruit and tannin. I was actually sad when I realized the bottle was empty. 
Altesino Sangiovese 2013

Pierre Peters Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2013

98
Pierre Peters
Varietal: Sparkling
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
Retail Price: $165.00

Tasting Notes: From hallowed grounds in Les Mesnil, this elixir has no comparison. A sleek, stern and chiseled 100-percent Champagne with tension, minerality and a finish that will haunt you into the next year. Worth every penny.
Pierre Peters Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2013

Stone Hill Winery Chambourcin 2013

92
Stone Hill Winery
Varietal: Chambourcin
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: United States
Appellation: Missouri
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: Established in 1847 this is a winery with great history. A French American hybrid grape, this wonderful wine shows a dazzling array of ripe dark fruit with blackberries, black currants and juicy plum filling the mouth. A toasty oak finish is kissed with a touch of cocoa. Hearty enough for barbeque, pizza and burgers. A Midwest treasure.
Stone Hill Winery Chambourcin 2013

Reyneke Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

97
Reyneke
Fanciful Name: Reserve
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: South Africa
Appellation: Stellenbosch
Retail Price: $135.99

Tasting Notes: Quite the powerhouse here. The wine is intense in color, with an impressive nose of intense black fruit, plus hints of spice. It has a solid backbone of acidity, with great structure, finesse and aging potential.
Reyneke Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Trinafour Dry Muscat 2013

89
Trinafour
Fanciful Name: Dry
Varietal: Muscat
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: United States
Appellation: Mendocino County
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: A winemaker’s bottling made from the original Muscat Blanc Petits Grains. Enticing florals, with underlying citrus and honey. The florals continue onto the palate delivering a powerful bright and dry Mendocino muscat that begs for sashimi. 
Trinafour Dry Muscat 2013

Selvapiana “Bucerchiale” Chianti Rufina 2013

90
Selvapiana "Bucerchiale" Chianti Rufina
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $27.99

Tasting Notes: From the most northerly and cooled subzone of Chianti, composed of 100% sangiovese. This single-vineyard wine has hallmark clay, bright roasted cherry aromas and flavors on a powerful structure — screaming for Bolognese sauce or lasagna.
Selvapiana “Bucerchiale” Chianti Rufina 2013

Lisini 2013

94
Lisini
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino
Retail Price: $60.00

Tasting Notes: Elegant and balanced profiles of dark cherry, wildflowers, spice and mineral. A "must" for any collector's cellar.
Lisini 2013

Paolo Scavino 2013

95
Paolo Scavino
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Barolo
Retail Price: $49.00

Tasting Notes: A stunning balance of acid, tannin, earth, fruit and herbs. The licorice and rose jump out of the glass like you expect from a Barolo Cherry and plum start to showcase in the mid-palate, and then the chalky tannins take hold and start to evolve the flavors to herbs and nutmeg spice. This wine keeps delivering, transforming into blackberries and leather long after the first sip. 
Paolo Scavino 2013

Paradigm Merlot

95
Paradigm Merlot
Varietal: Merlot
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Oakville
Retail Price: $59.99

Tasting Notes: Strong aromas of red berries, black cherries, spice and vanilla lead to an outstanding wine with elegant ripe plum and blueberry. Complex flavors also include rich blackberry cobbler, with the berries, brown sugar and vanilla, along with sandalwood incense and a hint of cocoa. This is an impressive wine with big, yet fine, texture and a lengthy finish. 
Paradigm Merlot

Miner Family Winery The Oracle Red 2013

97
Miner Family Winery
Fanciful Name: The Oracle
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Napa Valley
Retail Price: $100

Tasting Notes: A lovely red blend, with a bit more than half cabernet sauvignon. Supple and elegant, with a mixture of black and some red fruit on the nose. Touches of spice and tannin add to the complexity on the palate.
Miner Family Winery The Oracle Red 2013

Calista The Coast Range Pinot Noir

95
Calista
Fanciful Name: The Coast Range
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: California
Retail Price: $22.99

Tasting Notes: The grapes are sourced from Sonoma, Mendocino and Monterey Counties, three great AVAs for pinot noir. The wine is fermented in small open-top fermenters and the cap is punched down twice daily. The wine is then aged in French barriques, 30% new, for 14 months. Stylistically, it’s quite “Burgundian,” with a pretty ruby color. Floral and red fruit aromas harmonize with hints of yeast and lightly toasted oak. Lovely flavors of cherry, strawberry and sweet spice gently coat the palate and finish with nuances of coffee and terroir that balance and linger with soft tannins and bright acidity. This is a very classy, complex wine that is approachable now and which will pair with many cuisines.
Calista The Coast Range Pinot Noir

Beyer Ranch Merlot Central Coast 2013

89
Beyer Ranch
Varietal: Merlot
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Central Coast
Retail Price: $11

Tasting Notes: Perfectly balanced merlot. This wine features classic varietal character. Flavors of black cherry, plum, blackberry, leading to a soft finish with subtle tannins.
Beyer Ranch Merlot Central Coast 2013