Mar 11, 2009  LA FLEUR DE BOÜARD  Lalande-de-Pomerol 2006 (90 points, $34)
Very pretty blackberry, dark chocolate and blueberry aromas follow through to a full body, with wonderfully integrated tannins and a long, refined finish. Fine and polished. Best from 2011 through 2015. 5,330 cases made.
- James Suckling

Mar 10, 2009  CHÂTEAU FAUGÈRES  St.-Emilion 2006 (91 points, $35)
Shows dried blackberry on the nose, with hints of mineral and fresh herbs. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and silky, chewy tannins. Cool, minerally and fruity, with excellent length. Very well made for the vintage. Best after 2013. 4,750 cases made.
- James Suckling

Mar 09, 2009  SAINTAYME  St.-Emilion 2006 (90 points, $30)
Shows white chocolate, berry and stone aromas. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very polished, beautiful and long. Typical. The best wine ever from this producer. Best after 2013. 2,000 cases made.
- James Suckling

Mar 07, 2009  JOSEPH PHELPS  Le Mistral Monterey County 2006 (92 points, $45)
Intense and full-blown, with spicy, beefy wild berry, red beet root, dried currant and a medley of dried herbs, gaining complexity and nuance. Ends with a dash of pepper and spice. Syrah, Grenache and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2015. 4,000 cases made.
- James Laube

Mar 06, 2009  CLOS DES JACOBINS  St.-Emilion 2006 (92 points, $35)
Beautiful aromas of crushed blackberry and raspberry, with hints of roasted hazelnut. Full-bodied, with a velvety tannin texture and loads of fruit and flavor. Very long. Impressive for the vintage. Best after 2012. 2,665 cases made.
- James Suckling

Mar 05, 2009  VIÑA CARMEN  Wine Maker's Reserve Maipo Valley 2004 (91 points, $44)
A big, muscular style, with lots of roasted sage, tobacco, currant paste, warm fig and bittersweet cocoa notes kept lively by solid, integrated tannins and buried acidity. Long finish. Rock solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Grande Vidure, Petite Syrah and Merlot. Drink now through 2012. 5,000 cases made.
- James Molesworth

Mar 04, 2009  TALLEY  Chardonnay Edna Valley Oliver's Vineyard 2006 (90 points, $32)
Intense, vibrant and full-bodied, with a lemony citrus edge to the green apple and pear flavors that pick up a touch of marshmallow and light oak on the finish. Drink now through 2013. 1,032 cases made.
- James Laube

Mar 03, 2009  CHÂTEAU BOURGNEUF-VAYRON  Pomerol 2006 (90 points, $37)
Aromas of green olive, blackberry and bark lead to a full body, with ripe tannins and an outstanding core of fruit. Long and chewy, but balanced. Best after 2012. 3,415 cases made.
- James Suckling

Mar 02, 2009  CONCHA Y TORO  Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Don Melchor 2006 (94 points, $80)
A dark, muscular style, with black currant, braised fig, maduro tobacco, bittersweet cocoa and loam notes that all roll together through the dense but polished finish. There's impressive power for the vintage, along with precision and balance. Drink now through 2018. 20,000 cases made.
- James Molesworth

Feb 28, 2009  CELANI FAMILY  Tenacious Napa Valley 2006 (93 points, $60)
Luxuriously rich and supple, showing bold aromas of black cherry, mocha and toasty oak, with ripe and layered plum, vanilla and cinnamon spice flavors that linger on the long, polished palate. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2015. 900 cases made.
- Tim Fish

Feb 27, 2009  BODEGAS NIETO SENETINER  Malbec Mendoza Cadus 2004 (91 points, $45)
An opulent, exotic style, with loads of fig, spice cake, Turkish coffee and boysenberry confiture notes supported by hints of bittersweet cocoa and graphite. The long, dark finish has solid grip. Drink now through 2012. 6,000 cases imported.
- James Molesworth

Feb 26, 2009  BODEGA CATENA ZAPATA  Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Alta 2005 (93 points, $57)
Polished, ripe and suave, with gorgeous fig sauce, raspberry compote, blackberry jam and incense notes layered with enticing mocha and Kona coffee. The long finish is really stylish, despite its concentration. Drink now through 2011. 1,180 cases imported.
- James Molesworth

Feb 25, 2009  FEATHER  Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2005 (90 points, $60)
Distinctly herbal, with red pepper, sage and tarragon notes prominent up front, yet a tight, tart core of currant fruit finally emerging on the finish with a tang. The fruit comes up more with each successive sip. Best after 2009. 1,321 cases made.
- Harvey Steiman

Feb 24, 2009  ROBERT FOLEY  Claret Napa Valley 2006 (94 points, $110)
Smooth, rich and complex, this is full-bodied, with firm, focused currant, sage and dusty berry fruit that runs deep with concentration, unfolding to reveal blackberry, mineral and light cedary oak flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2010 through 2016. 1,700 cases made.
- James Laube

Feb 23, 2009  TENSLEY  Syrah Santa Barbara County Colson Canyon Vineyard 2007 (94 points, $38)
Firm and musclebound, with rich, chewy tannins. Full-bodied, this is the most complex and potent of the 2007 Tensleys, offering layers of earthy wild berry, sage, mineral, dried currant and floral scents. Drink now through 2016. 1,259 cases made.
- James Laube

Feb 21, 2009  TOMMASO BUSSOLA  Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2004 (93 points, $62)
Compact and pure, with lovely floral aromas accompanying the sweet date, currant and lightly spiced vanilla. Full-bodied, with a tight, firm tannin structure underpinning the dense dried fruit, followed by a long finish. A stylish Amarone. Best after 2010. 2,500 cases made.
- Jo Cooke

Feb 20, 2009  PALOMA  Merlot Napa Valley 2006 (93 points, $54)
Plush, ripe and elegant, with fragrant currant, caramel and olive aromas and supple, beautifully layered plum, cedar and loamy, toasty oak flavors that are wrapped around a dense, complex core. Drink now through 2015. 2,776 cases made.
- Tim Fish

Feb 19, 2009  CASTELLO BANFI  Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Sangiovese-Syrah Sant'Antimo Cum Laude 2005 (90 points, $37)
Dark-colored, with blackberry, currant and vanilla on the nose. Full-bodied, soft and round, with lovely tannins. Best after 2011. 9,500 cases made.
- James Suckling

Feb 18, 2009  YVES CUILLERON  Condrieu Les Chaillets 2007 (93 points, $100)
This is really juicy, with a nicely packed core of anise, damson plum, yellow apple and heather honey notes backed by a long, pure, minerally finish. Drink now through 2013. 1,890 cases made.
- James Molesworth

Feb 17, 2009  FESS PARKER  Syrah Santa Barbara County The Big Easy 2006 (90 points, $45)
Smooth, ripe and fleshy, with ripe black cherry and wild berry fruit delivered in a full-bodied style, ending with supple tannins and hints of pepper and spice. Shows some heat. Drink now through 2013. 804 cases made.
- James Laube

Feb 16, 2009  PACIFIC RIM  Riesling Columbia Valley Biodynamic Wallula Vineyard 2007 (90 points, $32)
Vibrant, tangy and distinctive for the floral and grapefruit overtones that work their way through the pear and apple character at the core. Feels dry in the mouth and remains tangy with succeeding sips. Drink now through 2012. 769 cases made.
- Harvey Steiman

Feb 14, 2009  YVES CUILLERON  Condrieu La Petite Côte 2007 (92 points, $75)
Really enticing, with captivating floral and damson plum aromas, layered with bright anise, braised fennel and mineral notes. There's solid focus and length. Drink now through 2012. 1,875 cases made.
- James Molesworth

Feb 13, 2009  CHANTE CIGALE  Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 (90 points, $45)
Focused, with the grip of the vintage, this is holding its core of black cherry, garrigue and tar notes in reserve for now, while coffee, briar and licorice root notes hold sway on the structured finish. Best from 2010 through 2018. 9,000 cases made.
- James Molesworth

Feb 12, 2009  LEWIS  Chardonnay Napa Valley 2007 (93 points, $48)
A rich, opulent style, this is full-blown, with a bold yet elegant mix of ripe fig, pear, citrus and melon flavors, ending with hints of mineral and butterscotch. Drink now through 2012. 900 cases made.
- James Laube

Feb 11, 2009  COLUMBIA CREST  Walter Clore Private Reserve Columbia Valley 2005 (92 points, $34)
Ripe and polished, with gorgeous chocolate-tinged black currant, black raspberry and coffee notes swirling through the long, vivid finish. Tempting now, but should develop more with cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2016. 6,500 cases made.
- Harvey Steiman