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Wine Scores
Below is a listing of the wine review scores we frequently reference in our notes. While these sources remain an excellent source of information, we always recommend that you trust your own palate. Scores in these publications often represent the personal taste of an individual critic, which may not always coincide with your own. We have a huge team of excellent wine professionals that can match wines you've had in the past with new arrivals that meet your flavor profile.
- Allen Meadows - Burghound
- Connoisseurs Guide
- Gambero Rosso
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- International Wine Cellar
- Wine & Spirits
- Wine Enthusiast
- Wine Spectator
- The Wine News
- Malt Advocate
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Staff Favorites - Steve Bearden
Steve Bearden
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I’m the Bordeaux liason for the San Francisco store, starting my run there around 2000. Over the years I've gained a great respect for subtlety, finesse, elegance and terroir, or a sense of place, that I believe all great wine should have. I enjoy practically anything and everything but mostly French and Italian with heavy emphasis on Rhône and Bordeaux. Be adventurous. There is tremendous diversity in regions, varieties and styles, so don’t let your palate get pigeon-holed.
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Reviews
2007 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Pinot Noir
Review Date: 10-29-2009
This is for lovers of elegant, finesse style Pinots and there is plenty of it available. Medium bodied with complex red and blue fruit flavors, lovely texture and fresh acidity, this is a great drink for under 20 bucks.
Price: $19.99
2005 Bailly de Camensac, Médoc
Review Date: 10-27-2009
The 2nd wine of Camensac is much more lush and approachable than the hearty and somewhat rustic regular bottling. This is sweet, soft and full with lovely texture and beautifully integrated tannins. This is a great bargain from the great 2005 vintage.
Price: $19.99
2005 Bois-Malot, Bordeaux Superieur
Review Date: 10-15-2009
This is a fantastic and user friendly wine from the great '05 Bordeaux vintage. Gushing with ripe raspberries, raspberries and more raspberries, this is lush and earthy with gentle touches of tobacco, spice and damp soil. Round, rich and true to its terrior, this is REAL Bordeaux at a REAL low price.
Price: $10.99
2006 Campo Viejo Tempranillo Crianza Rioja Spain
Review Date: 10-15-2009
Those of you who fell in love with the 2005 vintage of this wine and have not yet tried the new version are in for a treat as this might be even better. This has tons of sweet vanilla and cherry aromas but with much darker fruit flavors mid-palate than the '05 had. This blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo is velvety and rich and offers lots of personality for little money.
Price: $9.99
2008 Image du Sud Viognier Vin de Pays Méditerranée
Review Date: 10-15-2009
This is a great bargain to have around the house for when guests drop by or when you don't want to show up someplace empty handed. Super fruity but not creamy or oaky (like way too many Voigniers) this has nectarine, peach and lemon flavors in abundance. Easy to pair with seafood, pastas, mild cheeses,salads, or delicious on its own, this is versatile and affordable.
2007 Groom Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia
Review Date: 9-23-2009
Great wine here for folks who like depth and power without all that jam and ripeness. This is very dark in color with aromas of mineral, flowers, dark plums, smoke, toast and vanilla. The body of the wine is velvety and rich with complex layers of dark fruit and a long, detailed finish. This is a big wine showing lots of pedigree.
Price: $31.99
2006 Ruggeri Corsini Barbera d'Alba "Armujan"
Review Date: 9-23-2009
For my money this is the flat out best Barbera we carry combining intense fruit, structure and complexity that is easily drinkable and food friendly. The nose is intense with deep black and blue fruit, spice and oak. The body of the wine is full and concentrated with currants, plums, dark chocolate and leather. Although rich, this has wonderfull acidity and minerality, substantial but ripe tannin and an overall sense of harmony and restraint.
Price: $22.99
2005 Arnauton, Fronsac
Review Date: 8-6-2009
From a rather low pedigree appellation comes a wine that will wow you. This is surprisingly deep and sweet with plenty of heft to the mid-palate. Dark and rich with a solid wallop of oak, this remains fresh, lively and surprisingly grapey for a wine from such a powerful vintage. Only vintages like 2005 can give us great value Bordeaux like this.
Price: $14.99
2006 d'Aiguilhe, Côtes d'Castillon
Review Date: 8-6-2009
This property has become one of the stars in this exciting appellation and is consistant vintage to vintage. The aromas are very complex with an array of flowers, red fruit and spice. Although rather flashy, this modern wine has a fantastic sense of proportion and maintains great style. This very well made wine combines sweet cherries, hints of tobacco and ripe tannins that are seamless and integrated.
Price: $24.99
2005 Marquis de Calon, St-Estèphe
Review Date: 8-6-2009
The 3rd Growth Calon Segur made one of my favorite St-Estephes in '05 and the second wine shows similar quality at a fraction of the price. This is clean and sweet with very bright fruit and mineral all in a long, firm package. Lots of breed shows here and there is a touch earth to complimentr the elegant structure and fine finish. This has just as much finesse as Calon Segur but without all the powerful tannins, and has the ability to elevate a good meal to greatness.
Price: $29.99
2007 Antech "Cuvee Eugenie" Cremant de Limoux
Review Date: 7-31-2009
This is a great Summer sparkler made in the Champagne method but with a healthy dose of Chenin Blanc for a more fruity and fun, but less serious personality. Every time I serve this to anyone they love it and assume it costs much more than 14 bucks. This has mounds of creamy, toasty, citrus fruit and honey without any of the bitterness associated with the under-ripe fruit so often used in "cheap" sparkling wine. This well made amazing value is easy on the palate and the wallet.
Price: $13.99
2005 Haut-Brisson Reserve, St-Emilion
Review Date: 7-15-2009
This voluptuous 2005 has explosive aromas of fruit, flowers, damp earth and toast that are complex and alluring. Deep purple and velvety textured with an array of black fruit flavors that seamlessly fan out, ending with velvety tannins and a super-long finish. Although not "old school" by any stretch, this is toasty, rich, absolutely stunning and way too easy to like.
Drink from
2009
to
2019
Price: $39.99
2007 Alpen Cellars Trinity County Pinot Noir
Review Date: 7-10-2009
This is a great choice for anyone looking for a small production Pinot to sip or have with food, particularly during warm weather. Alpen Cellars is a tiny, family owned winery which produces small batches of elegant wines that are flavor packed, complex and food friendly. I've been taking this Pinot to BBQs and picnics all Summer and after one tast everyone assumes it must cost twice as much. With the price of most good Pinot Noirs hovering in the $30.00 to $40.00 range this represents a truely great bargain.
Price: $16.99
2007 Jean-Francois Merieau Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
Review Date: 7-10-2009
During the warm Summer months I eat and drink a bit lighter and I can't seem to get enough crisp, refreshing whites from the Loir Valley in France. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc from organically farmed 60 year old vines has become my bargain go-to whenever I get together with friends. Costing far less than most good Sancerre, this has gobs of crushed melon, and citrus with vibrant minerality on the finish. This was a huge hit at a recent staff tasting and it wows my friends also.
Price: $13.99
2006 Giscours, Margaux
Review Date: 3-11-2009
At the UGC tasting (where they don’t decant the wines), this was big, deep, dark and closed. At my in-store tasting, with an hour in a decanter, this showed
blackberry fruit, black licorice, subtle hints of tar and crushed flowers. This deep purple wine is concentrated, complex and has plenty of well-integrated tannin.
Price: $39.99
2006 Clarke, Listrac
Review Date: 2-20-2009
At the recent U.G.C. event the 2006 Chateau Clarke stood out for seeming to be almost as big and rich as the 2005 version. This is a rich, modern style wine that still maintains plenty of depth and structure while showing no traces of rusticity. There is plenty of sweet, ripe red fruit, a creamy middle and a long chalk-laced finish in this structured and delicious bargain. At $21.99 this might be THE value of the vintage.
Price: $19.99
2007 Grand Village Blanc, Bordeaux
Review Date: 1-29-2009
The 2007 white Bordeaux are fabulous and the folks at
Ch. Lafleur make only 1,000 cases of this 60% Sémillon/40% Sauvignon Blanc blend. This has a flowery
nose of pear, peach and apple. The body is zippy and crisp with lemon, mineral and citrus on the super
clean finish. Very refreshing.
Price: $17.99
2005 Paloumey, Haut-Médoc (was $29.99)
Review Date: 1-29-2009
This is riper and richer than the ’04 version and
shows very velvety tannins and spice on the finish. Also clean and crisp, this is a little bolder and heavier. A great value for the vintage! Decant this with food tonight, but be sure to save several bottles for a few years down the road.
Price: $14.99
2005 Chantegrive, Graves
Review Date: 7-15-2008
Gravelly, earthy and rocky aromas rise from this ripe and fresh wine. This is complex, smooth and supple with plenty of sweet, black fruit and a long, toasty finish where the fine tannins kick in. This is balanced, ripe and absolutely lovely for drinking now, though it would be a shame not to cellar some.
Price: $19.99
2005 Puygueraud, Côtes de Francs
Review Date: 7-15-2008
Here is an amazing find with an expressive, grapey nose and a flashy body of rich, dark fruit. This is an intense wine with deep, blue fruits, coffee grounds, bitter chocolate and velvety tannins on the finish. Only a vintage like ’05 gives us this quality at this price!
Top Value!
Price: $26.99
2003 Belle-Vue, Haut-Medoc
Review Date: 6-18-2008
This bargain from the hot ’03 vintage is a delight to drink right now. It is gentle and toasty with oodles of dark fruit and a touch of black olive all done up in a soft, round, warm package. Delicious!
Price: $19.99
