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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
Reviewers
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Staff Favorites - Freddie Benorden
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Reviews
2001 Bodegas Las Orcas "Solar de Randez" Reserva Rioja
Review Date: 10-20-2009
It is always great to find wines in a retail store that are mature and ready to drink. This Rioja is a perfect alternative to Burgundy in terms of it's body and it's food pairing potential.
Price: $24.99
2008 Domaine Begude Chardonnay "Le Bel Ange" Vin de Pays d'Oc
Review Date: 10-20-2009
Domaine de Begude is a fantastic producer. I have consistently loved all of their wines. This crisp, un-oaked Chardonnay is no exception. It is a great wine for the money.
Price: $12.99
2006 Beronia Tempranillo Rioja
Review Date: 10-13-2009
This wine is medium bodied with soft, integrated tannins and a touch of earth. It pairs with all of the same foods that Pinot Noir does, including salmon, roast fowl, pork, rissotto, pizzas and burgers. You would have to spend closer to $20 to get this quality in a Pinot Noir
Drink from
2009
to
2012
Price: $12.99
2008 Domaine Begude Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays d'Oc
Review Date: 10-13-2009
These people are releasing fantastic wines. I am a big fan of this Domaine. Every one of their wines acheives what is was designed for. This Sauvignon Blance is loaded with grapefruit and backed up by a whif of stony minerality. Not much in the way of grassiness and absolutely no oak. It is crisp, vibrant and refreshing. Perfect.
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $12.99
2007 Féraud-Brunel Côtes du Rhône-Villages Rasteau
Review Date: 10-13-2009
I like this wine. I really like this wine. It smells good. It feels good in the mouth. It tastes good. It makes my mouth AND my brain happy. This is like a super hot chick at a party who will talk with you about art and politics and then make out with you in the broom closet. :)
Drink from
2009
to
2019
Price: $19.99
2006 Kalinda Napa Valley Zinfandel
Review Date: 10-13-2009
Look here. This is good solid Zinfandel that really should be about $25 retail. Definitely great bang for buck. Perfect for having friends over for a Saturday night dinner or a Sunday afternoon game.
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $16.99
Russian River Brewing 'Pliny the Elder' double IPA 500ml
Review Date: 10-13-2009
oh yeah! this is clean, crisp, full bodied, fruity, dry and hoppy all at the same time. it's so hoppy it's like sucking on a sprig of rosemary. i am crazy about this beer.
Price: $4.30
Urbanite Cellars "Redart" California Red Table Wine
Review Date: 10-13-2009
I love having good, inexpensive wines in the store to recommend. This release has the balance between fruit, acidity and tannins nailed. It is drinking great right now.
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $9.99
2006 l'Avocat Blanc, Graves
Review Date: 9-15-2009
Sauvignon Gris? Who knew? This crisp white is great. Citrusy and refreshing without the grassy, gooseberry notes. Quite nice.
Drink from
2009
to
2009
Price: $16.99
2006 Lagrange, St-Julien
Review Date: 9-15-2009
A great 2006. Don't be fooled by the hype around the '05 vintage. There are a lot of fantastic '06 Bordeaux and the prices are much better than most '05s. This one is intensely flavored. Med-full bodied with bright acididty and a long, long finish. Elegant and delightful.
Drink from
2009
to
2019
Price: $34.99
1997 Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan
Review Date: 9-15-2009
This is a classic, rustic Bordeaux. It has obvious signs of Brett with a pronounced medicinal nose. Some of the primary fruit has dropped revealing the tertiary flavors underneath. It is definitely ready to drink now. Would be great with lean cuts such as filet mignon or roast leg of lamb.
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $34.99
2006 Nenin, Pomerol
Review Date: 9-15-2009
This is one of my favorite Bordeaux from recent tastings. It is rich, round, and generous on the palate. The aromatics are complex and very pretty. The tannins are firm and integrated and the finish is lovely.
Drink from
2009
to
2020
Price: $49.95
De Chanceny Cremant de Loire Rosé
Review Date: 8-22-2009
bright cherry flavors backed by lemon zest and mineral. clean and refreshing. very little toasty or yeasty notes to cloud this fresh fruit driven brut. very tasty.
Drink from
2009
to
2011
Price: $12.99
2008 Couly Dutheil Chinon Rosé
Review Date: 8-19-2009
OK, seriously now. This producer is killing it. The white and the rosé are stunning. No joke. This is serious, real-deal, world-class wine here. It is very foral. It's a potpouri of roses, lavender, mint, sage and fresh picked red berries.
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $14.99
2008 Michel Delhommeau "Cuvée St. Vincent" Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie
Review Date: 8-19-2009
Crisp, clean, green apple, lemon and mineral. The mid-palate has a bit of richness to balance the high acidity. There is no oak, of course. Pair it with oysters, goat cheese, peaches and prosciutto, or heirloom tomoatoes.
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $11.99
2008 Pascal Janvier Jasnières
Review Date: 8-19-2009
This is classic Loire Chennin Blanc. It delivers on the dream of that perfect red delicious apple. It has the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. This pairs so well with so many foods. Sweet corn, chips and guacamole, soft and hard cheeses, charcuterie, sqashes, fish and poultry, mild Thai curry, Vietnamese pho. You name it. Pretty much everything except red meat.
Price: $16.99
2007 Cave de Saumur Selection Rouge
Review Date: 8-18-2009
Wow! Do not miss this one. It drinks better than a lot of wines at twice the price. It's loaded with complexity. Black fruit, earth, iron, lavender and sage float up from the glass. There is a touch of leather on the palate as well adding a further layer. This will be perfect for Thanksgiving, as well.
Drink from
2009
to
2012
Price: $12.99
2007 Domaine des Niales, Rhedon-Marin Mâcon-Villages Vieilles Vignes
Review Date: 8-10-2009
Seriously delicious, value-priced Chardonnay. Crisp, unoaked, racy acidity, round mid-palate, focused fruit. Pear, green apple and lemon prodominate. I like it!
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $12.99
2008 Domaine de Guillemarine Picpoul de Pinet
Review Date: 8-9-2009
I'm going to drink a bottle of this wine every sngle day until it's gone. It's good. Really good. Fresh melon, peach and lime backed up with a lovely chalky minerality. It's a great sipper and a great wine to pair with light foods like olives, goat cheese, peaches, prosciutto,and the like.
Drink from
2009
to
2009
Price: $8.99
Ginga Shizuku "Divine Droplets" Junmai Daiginjo Sake 720ml
Review Date: 7-28-2009
There's not much I can add to Tanzer's notes here, except for the fact that I love this sake. Treat yourself. You deserve it.
Drink from
2009
to
2010
Price: $64.99
2007 Foxglove Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 7-20-2009
Bob and Jim Varner make this Central Coast cab. These are the producers of the famed Varner Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from the Santa Cruz Mountains. They're incredibly talented. This cab is ripe and plush without being over the top. Better bang for buck than any Napa Cab out right now.
Drink from
2009
to
2012
Price: $13.99
2007 Cep Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Review Date: 7-15-2009
One of the better domestic Pinot Noir, in my opinion - especially at the price. Words like "bright" and "vibrant" seem appropriate. It is lighter and more balanced on the palate than many California Pinots and has a long finish that always indicates high quality.
Top Value!
Price: $22.99
2007 Valdicava Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 7-15-2009
This wine definitely earns the title of "Baby Brunello." In fact, this baby can go toe-to-toe with many of its older siblings. Packed with deep, dark brooding fruit layered with sage and basil and held together by muscular tannins. It may be a baby but don't let it fool you. It will knock you out.
Top Value!
Drink from
2010
to
2020
Price: $29.99
2005 Domaine Belle "Cuvée Louis Belle" Crozes-Hermitage
Review Date: 7-6-2009
Wow! Clearly one of the best Syrahs available at the price. It is medium-full bodied and incredibly elegant. The predominant flavors are of dark blue and blackfruits, of course, backed by milk chocolate, taragon, and sage.
Drink from
2009
to
2015
Price: $29.99
2006 Domaine du Péras "Giroflet"
Review Date: 7-6-2009
This is an old vine field blend of up to 15 different grapes. The winemaker doesn't know what the grapes are and doesn't really care. The usual Southern French varietals like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault are all likely suspects. It is full-bodied and layered with red, blue and black fruits, loam, dried herbs, graphite and black pepper. It has enough fruit to please the crowd and enough complexity to please the snobs.
Drink from
2009
to
2016
Price: $19.99
2008 Alamos Chardonnay Mendoza
Review Date: 7-4-2009
This is a great value for a wine of this quality. More and more of our customers are asking for Chardonnays in this style; full-bodied but not too oaky.
Price: $10.99
2007 Margarett's Vineyard California Chardonnay
Review Date: 7-4-2009
An absolute MUST have for daily drinking and parties. Keep a case on hand for when the neighbors drop by.
Price: $7.99
2008 Valle Perdido Pinot Noir Neuquen
Review Date: 7-4-2009
Patagonia, right? Get used to it. Fine wine regions are pushing farther and farther away from the equator. Who knows? Maybe one day grapes wull ripen on hte poles. At any rate, here is a great value Pinot Noir from the Southernmost land-mass in the world.
Price: $11.99
Franck Bonville Brut Selection Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 6-2-2009
Gary Westby introduced me to this Champagne several years ago and I've been a huge fan ever since. It is one of the most affordable Champagnes in our inventory and also one of the best tasting. Fresh, focused fruit, round supple mid palate, and a long mineral finish. Forget about it.
Drink from
2009
to
3009
Price: $29.99
2006 Domaine Fèry Bourgogne Aligoté
Review Date: 3-11-2009
I was delighted by this Aligote. This varietal has never excited me much, but I loved this wine at this price. The wine is medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing. I did not detect any oak at all on this wine. It tasted of green apple, Bartlett pear, white peach and a bit of beeswax. I had it with Monte Enebro, an ash-rind goat cheese from Spain. Quite nice.
Drink from
2009
to
2009
Price: $15.99
2006 Penfolds "Bin 389" Cabernet-Shiraz South Australia
Review Date: 3-11-2009
They say this is "poor man's Grange." I wish I had had enough Grange to make an honest comparison. I found it to be big and juicy, as expected. What I also found was high acidity and integrated tannins. The wine has plenty of structure to hold the big, extracted fruit together. It could go toe-to-toe with many Napa Cabs at three times the price.
Drink from
2009
to
2015
Price: $29.99
