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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.
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Staff Favorites - Christie Cartwright
Christie Cartwright
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I was first introduced to the fabulous world of California wine in Napa where I spent weekends bike riding and wine tasting with my parents up and down the Silverado Trail. Growing up in the East Bay Area it was only a hop...skip...jump away from wine country where my family would venture to relax and play every possible moment. It wasn't until my senior year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo that I realized I had a passion for the wine industry. My first encounter with the working world of wine was my volunteer internship at Edna Valley Winery where I traveled to a number of tasting events with the marketing manager for the winery and realized I needed to get in the business. I added a minor in wine and viticulture to my communications studies major and ended up writing my thesis on the differences in wine marketing throughout a choice number of Paso Robles wineries. My first "real job" in the wine industry was at the smallest tasting room with the biggest personality in Paso Robles named Four Vines Winery. I worked there for almost three years while going to school and fell in love with not only central coast wines, but also with the business of sales and all those who loved, appreciated, and enjoyed our fruitful product. After graduation in 2007 I loved the central coast so much I decided to make a go for it and stay in this blissful paradise of beach and vines. I became fond very fond of making trips to Los Olivos and Santa Ynez valley quite often and in the mean time also became employed at Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo and 15 degrees wine bar in Templeton. In the summer of 2009 I decided to take a chance and move to Hollywood for more opportunity. Being from northern California I wanted to expand my horizons and see what the LA lifestyle was all about. I knew this was where I belonged the moment I stepped into this oasis of wine and cuisine. Never had I been to a place where I could find so many restaurants, bistros, wine bars, and the like within a 4 mile radius, and I don't have to get on the freeway! I'm in heaven. When I walked into the infamous K&L Hollywood Store it was love at first sight! I'm thrilled to be working here doing what I love, and love the incredible people here who share this passion and commitment with me.
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Reviews
2008 Domaine Renaud Mâcon-Charnay
Review Date: 11-14-2009
Simply the best Chardonnay for $12.99 that I have ever tasted! No Joke, this wine is seriously mouthwatering and delicious from the first sip to the last drop! Its aromas of honeysuckle and light citrus is followed by lustrous minerality and and bright acid, but still retains the creaminess that we love in a chardonnay. I'm so excited about this wine, its absolutley the perfect expression of Chardonnay at its best! Even though clean and crisp it retains the weight and body to hold up to many types of cuisine!
Price: $12.99
2007 Château de Montfaucon Côtes du Rhône
Review Date: 11-13-2009
A great wine to enjoy over this holiday season with its bright juicy fruit and earth driven smoky undertones that lend itself into a long suple finish. Notice how it develops more fully in the glass as you drink it over the evening. It is a great medium bodied elegant wine with lots of room to play around with food pairings such as poultry, vegetable dishes, and pastas.
Price: $10.99
2007 Kalinda Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 11-5-2009
The perfect wine for fall and the holidays coming up! Literally drinking more beautifully than ever before, the 2007 vintage shines over many cabs I've tried that are twice and three times the price! With aromas of brambly boysenberry, cocoa and spice on the nose, followed by a fleshy and velvety mouthfeel full of ripe concentrated black and red fruit, with silky yet griping tannins, this is a for sure hit at any event! I love it because it carries complexity and layers that far exceed expectations.
Price: $16.99
2008 Kalinda Napa Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 11-5-2009
This is by far one of Kalinda's best overall vintages of Chardonnay! Trust my palate one this one, it will overwhelm your tastebuds with all the delights of its rich Napa fruit showing tropical pinapple, peach, baked apples and spice. Creamy notes of honeysuckle, vanilla creme, and toast are balanced out by the amazing acidity and shocking structure! This is the perfect wine for fall because it will stand up to all the wonderful autumn flavors and foods of harvest! Drink up and fall in love!
2008 Kalinda Pinot Gris Marlborough New Zealand
Review Date: 11-5-2009
This New Zealand Gem is full of mouthwatering flavor showing structurally balanced acidity and minerality with just a touch of tropical fruit up front and zestfully delicious on the finish! Such a fun and food friendly Pinot Gris, perfect for any time of the year. Pair this dry, clean, crisp, lucious pinot gris with a variety of cuisine...how bout truffled mac and cheese, or grilled day boat scallops with a mapled bacon glaze, or even spicy thai!
Price: $11.99
2007 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Pinot Noir
Review Date: 10-29-2009
How Exciting! Finally a California Pinot Noir beautifully balanced and made in a Burgundian style! Not overly excracted and overripe, but rather feminine, spicy, with a touch of earthy floral notes as well. Vibrant fresh fruit on the nose, medium bodies and silky smooth with subtle tannins on the finish. My absolute FAVORITE Central Coast pinot for a price thats more than affordable!
Price: $19.99
Saint Cosme "Little James' Basket Press" Vin de Table
Review Date: 10-24-2009
A lovely french table wine that serves up much more than expected from the price...I love it! Comprised of mostly grenache and neither fined nor filtered, it bursts with blackberries, tobacco, spice, and earthy mineral undertones that lend itself to developing beautifully in the glass throughout the evening. Amazingly complex and delightful to enjoy with or without cuisine. I enjoyed it with fresh foccacia bread drizzeled with organic olive oil, balsamic, and black pepper!
Price: $11.99
2007 La Fenêtre À Côté Santa Barbara Red Blend
Review Date: 10-21-2009
An intensely lustful wine full of fruit and texture! This bordeaux style blend of cabernet and merlot showcases the great diversity of wines coming out of the Santa Barbara terroir. On the nose I get a wonderful sense of briary ripened black berry fruit and a hint of cocoa followed by a rich mouthfeel of bright raspberry and plum flavors followed by a lingering finish of tobacco and vanilla. The acid and mellow tannins make this the perfect wine to enjoy with or without food. I paired it with wonderful Argentinian cuisine with grilled empanadas and roasted chicken with a dijon reduction. Sip on this with friends or on a romantic date where everything tastes too good to be true.
Price: $18.99
Bruno Michel Rosé "les Rose" Champagne
Review Date: 10-19-2009
A standout rose from a boutique producer who is delivering everything and more for the most experienced champagne aficionado, to the novice taster. At K&L's champagne tasting event of the year, this rose in particular stood out far beyond the rest of the competition. On the nose fresh strawberry and toast, followed by a rich yet delicate mid palate and a finish of perfection! The grasping fresh fruit quality is insane without being overwhelming! The finesse and elegance of this french beauty is even more mind boggling. Enjoy this before the word gets out!!
Price: $49.99
2005 Bailly de Camensac, Médoc
Review Date: 10-18-2009
2005 Bailly de Camensac, Medoc
An amazing bordeaux for a very reasonable price that is drinking beautifully now both with and without food! Lots of bright spice and florality on the nose, followed by an elegant and feminine mid palate full of cherry, cocoa, and earth notes, ending with a finish composed of soft dry tannins and smoke. This is a delightful wine that you and your friends will fall in love with....over and over again. Pair this a variety of fare, including goat cheese fondue with baguette and sausage, and apple slices, or black cherry's stuffed with blue cheese and balsamic glaze!!!
Price: $19.99
2008 Adega Cooperativo Regional de Monçao "Trajarinho" Vinho Verde
Review Date: 10-15-2009
A fun and exotic white wine from Portugal that is crispy, dry, and food friendly. Bright green apple and Asian pear upfront with a zippy mid palate and super clean acidity on the finish. Do yourself a favor and let all the flavors open up and settle down for twenty minutes or so when drinking this wine. It has so much fizzy minerality and great acid that you almost feel a slight effervescence on your palate. So delicious and refreshing it pairs perfectly with a salad of butter-leaf, caramelized pecans, blue cheese crumbles, apple, and champagne vinaigrette!
Price: $8.99
2007 Antech "Cuvee Eugenie" Cremant de Limoux
Review Date: 10-15-2009
Sparkling wine from the south of France has never looked so good! With bright and balanced citrus fruits followed by honeysuckle and toast, this one is a definite crowd pleaser. This sparkling gem is lighter in body than champagne but has all the qualities that we love in sparkling wine at an unbelievably low cost. I'm so excited for the holidays this year because everyone will be falling in love with this quality blend of chardonnay, chenin blanc, and mauzac. Pair with strawberries and dark chocolate fondue!
Price: $13.99
2008 Lioco Sonoma Chardonnay
Review Date: 10-15-2009
This unoaked Russian River Chardonnay shows and unbelievable complexity from start to finish! I was excited by the unusual creaminess and balance of this stainless steel fermented masterpiece. On the nose a touch of vanilla, florality and toasted almonds, followed by flavors of sweet honeycomb, fresh pineapple, and minerals, finishing with a savory yet clean finish of delectable buttercream and lemon! Enjoy this with a toasted baguette dressed with pesto, buffalo mozzerella, tomato, drizzeled with olive oil and balsamic!!
Price: $19.99
2008 Carballal Albariño "Sete Cepas" Rias Baixas
Review Date: 10-12-2009
A mouth watering wine full of zesty minerality with a luscious finish balanced by great acidity. The perfect wine for the white wine enthusiast! It is seriously interesting and food friendly. On the nose aromas of melon, pear, and grapefruit, followed by flavors of wet stones and minerals on the mid palate. This can stand up to a variety of fare including lobster risotto, citrus rubbed chicken with mango salsa, and spicy tuna tatar over crispy rice.
Price: $14.99
2007 King Estate Oregon Pinot Gris
Review Date: 10-12-2009
What an amazing Pinot Gris from our Oregon neighbor! This is one of my favorite finds because its quality exceeds the $12.99 price! Taste it blind with friends and you will be enchanted with its elegantly lucious mouthfeel and balance. Not your typical pinot gris my folks, this is a must try! Soft white stone fruit with a creamy mid palate with a touch of minerality balanced with acid in the finish.
Price: $12.99
2007 Vincent Paris Saint-Joseph
Review Date: 10-12-2009
A tremendous steal for $25! My tastebuds sang and danced when I took my first sip...dark chocolate and black peppercorns up front, followed by a rich concentrated mid palate screaming with blue and black fruit and a velvety smooth finish. I love this syrah because it exudes a bright vibrant quality but is still sultry and dark! It is drinking beautifully now and will prospur over the next 10 to 15 years as well.
Price: $24.99
2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 10-9-2009
A must try for cabernet sauvignon lovers everywhere! You will be hooked after the first sip...with a bouquet that is reminiscent of a mature bordeaux, and a velvety layered mouthfeel full of concentrated fruit and focus, it gives the best of both worlds! You will ooh and ahh over this beautifully structred, organic Napa Cab! Drinking absolutley perfect now and will prosper over the next 20+ years. Pair with candlelight and a willing companion...followed by fillet mignon with a balsamic reduction sauce and fresh gorgonzola sprinkled on top!
Price: $49.99
2008 Celadon "Beeswax Vineyard" Arroyo Seco Grenache Blanc
Review Date: 10-7-2009
The Queen has arrived! This biodynamic beauty is screaming with luscious honeysuckle and white peaches, yet stays streamlined with its mineral driven fruit on the mid palate and brilliantly clean finish. Tank fermented and aged 6 months in neutral oak lends balance to this California Gem! Pair with 6 month aged manchego spanish cheese and thinly sliced fuji apple to indulge the senses.
Price: $21.99
2008 Domaine des Aubuisieres "Cuvee Silex" Vouvray
Review Date: 10-7-2009
Never have I tasted a vouvray for under $20 of this classic style until now! Don't let the price point or screw cap fool you. This chenin blanc makes your mouth water for more with its rich stone fruit and beautiful minerality. Full in the mouth but yet focused and zestful with a the perfect amount of acid to balance it out. Lots of WOW here!
Price: $15.99
2008 Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel
Review Date: 10-7-2009
In California we definitely don't lack the presence of ripe fruit in our wines, especially our Zins! This wine gives zinfandel critics something to reconsider when analyzing their next Jam Bomb! The 2008 Seghesio offers up a more focused and restrained style of zin making it more elegant than ever before. It still carries the classic bright vibrant fruit characteristics of blackberry and raspberry that we love, but with structure and even a touch of vanilla spice in the finish. I love this style because its truly a chameleon with all the food parings possible. From pizza, to chicken, to tofu stir fry, this zin has got it covered! For dessert pair with pink peppercorn dark chocolate.
Price: $19.99
More Favorites
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Christie Cartwright's Personal Sommelier Service.
2004 Viña Herminia Crianza Rioja ($14.99)
2008 Bodegas Castaño Monastrell Yecla ($7.99)
2007 Pablo Menguante Garnacha Cariñena ($10.99)
2008 Paco & Lola Albariño Rias Baixas ($14.99)
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne ($32.99)
2008 Domaine des Nembrets Denis Barraud Mâcon "Source de Plaisirs" ($12.99)
Launois "Cuvée Reserve" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($34.99)
2007 Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Lujan de Cuyo ($9.49)
2008 Bodegas Castaño Monastrell Yecla ($7.99)
2007 Pablo Menguante Garnacha Cariñena ($10.99)
2008 Paco & Lola Albariño Rias Baixas ($14.99)
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne ($32.99)
2008 Domaine des Nembrets Denis Barraud Mâcon "Source de Plaisirs" ($12.99)
Launois "Cuvée Reserve" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($34.99)
2007 Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Lujan de Cuyo ($9.49)
