A by Acacia
Critics Gold 2006 Chardonnay California $9.00
Dumb nose, whiff of apple. Lively and fresh, bracing acidity here and some welcome minerality. Not a heavyweight but balanced and vigorous. Good length. – Stephen Brook
A Mano
Critics Gold 2007 Muscato Puglia $11.99: An exemplary Muscat that offers plenty of pure fruit to live up to the dramatic aromas, yet finishes without cloying sweetness. This is a sweet wine to be sure, yet one that shows enough freshness to work very well as a thoroughly chilled aperitif. – Michael Franz
Critics Silver 2007 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie $11.99: Ripe, musky nose. Fairly rich and creamy, quite concentrated, somdsewhat neutral but with some spice on the finish, giving it vigour. – Stephen Brook
Acorn Winery
Critics Silver 2005 Sangiovese, Alegria Vineyards Russian River Valley $26.00: Rather confected cherry nose. Reasonably ripe, bright acidity, fresh and lively, firm tannic finish. Demands food. – Stephen Brook
Adler Fels
Critics Gold 2007 Gewürztraminer Russian River Valley $14.99: All about peaches in aroma; has a fruit-syrup richness, peach and a hint of vanillin spice. Despite its sweetness it has a vibrancy that keeps things light. – Patrick Comiskey
Alice White
Critics Silver 2007 Muscat, Lexia South Eastern Australia $7.00: Pallid nose. Delicately sweet, silk, pleasant but nondescript. Sugary finish. – Stephen Brook
Critics Silver 2007 Riesling South Eastern Australia $7.00: Delicate nose, apricot, mango. Rich, plump, juicy, fairly soft but packed with fruit, and a spicy finish. – Stephen Brook
Andre Champagne Cellars
Critics Silver NV Extra Dry California $4.99: Fruity; delicious – Ed McCarthy
Critics Silver NV Brut California $4.99: Nice finish – Ed McCarthy
Angove’s
Critics Silver 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vineyard Select Coonawarra $17.99: Fresh, ripe dark fruit has good concentration and balances the wine’s firm oak tannin nicely – Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Critics Silver 2007 Rose, Nine Vines South Australia $10.99: Smells like strawberies warmed in the sun. Flavors are of bright red fruits that are grippy, persistent. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Silver 2005 Shiraz McLaren Vale $17.99: An inky aroma leads, supports flavors of black fig and currant. Fairly tannic grip on the finish. – Patrick Comiskey
Critics Silver 2006 Chardonnay, Vineyard Select Limestone Coast $16.99: Crunchy mineral and green apple. Lively, grippy palate, grows ripe, with sweet fig and a hot kick to finish. – Jon Bonne
Wine of the Year 2006 Riesling, Vineyard Select Clare Valley $16.99: Palate-tingling, with subtle minerality and a hint of petrol. Lime juice and white grapefruit flavors are tart yet rewarding. Snappy, grapefruity finish. Wonderful balance. – Linda Murphy
Arceno
Critics Silver 2004 Arcanum I Toscana $90.00: Simple but flavorful and quite promising for pairing with food, this shows medium body and nice flavors of dried cherries, with subtle accents of spices and vanilla that lend interest. – Michael Franz
Critics Platinum 2004 Arcanum II Toscana $90.00: Complex; tannic; needs time – Ed McCarthy
Critics Gold 2004 Prima Voce Toscana $20.00: Fruity; delicious – Ed McCarthy
Arrow Creek
Critics Gold 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vintner’s Selection California $9.99: Lovely fruit, a bit soft, but delicious – Ed McCarthy
Critics Silver 2006 Pinot Grigio, Vintner’s Selection California $9.99: Lemon grass scents with a hint of lees. Palate is clean and bright with good acidity – Patrick Comiskey
Artesa Winery
Critics Silver 2006 Pinot Noir, Reserve, Carneros Estate Carneros $38.00: I wish the wood influence was a little less obvious, but the wine nonetheless shows expressive fruit and impressive length. – Paul Lukacs
Critics Gold 2004 Tempranillo, Reserve Alexander Valley $25.00: Black fruit aromas with a touch of lemon zest, concentrated black berry, plum fruit, in a full-bodied wine with chewy tannins. – Rebecca Murphy
Atlas Peak
Critics Silver 2004 Claret Atlas Peak $86.00: Tannic and solidly structured, with pretty black raspberry and black cherry fruit, vanillin oak and a hint of tar. Needs lots of time. – Linda Murphy
Critics Platinum 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $42.00: A simply beautiful wine. Balanced in all aspects with sleek tannins, succulent fruit and a long finish. Indulge in a glass now or age for up to a decade. – Leslie Sbrocco
AutoMoto
Critics Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon California $12.99: An attractive leafy nose, nice earthy character mixed with sweet red fruit. Moderate tannins. Good. – Michael Apstein
Critics Gold 2006 Chardonnay California $12.99: Delicate appley nose. Rich, concentrated, spicy, a tight style with reined-in power. Classic, quite mineral, light toastiness, long and appealing. – Stephen Brook