Staff Favorites - Clyde Beffa Jr.

Clyde Beffa Jr.
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Had K&L co-owner and main wine buyer Clyde Beffa Jr. not read an article about the gentlemanly hobby of wine collecting in the February 1971 issue of Playboy, he might still be weighing the merits of Holsteins versus Jerseys instead of Château Margaux or Haut-Bailly. Beffa owned a dairy in Tracy, California, from 1967-1973, leaving the the business to co-found K&L Liquors, as it was known back then, in 1976. Clyde started traveling to Europe in 1982 and over the years, he has worked hard to build K&L into one of the nation's go-to sources for the world's diverse wines, developing relationships with winemakers and châteaux owners the world over. Clyde's passion is surely Bordeaux, especially the fabulous wines from Pauillac and St-Julien (like Pichon-Lalande and Léoville-Barton). When he's not drinking France's legendary reds, you'll likely find Clyde indulging in Sauvignon Blanc. A fan of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and white Bordeaux, he'll also tuck into a bottle of Kiwi Sauv Blanc if there's no corkscrew around. These days you'll likely find Clyde extolling the virtues of underrated Bordeaux vintages like 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2006, or playing with his German Shepherd Sadie. Or you may see him in his vegetable garden and, once in a great while, on the golf course.


Reviews

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2011 La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge, Pessac-Léognan (1.5L) Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-21-2013
** Only 4,500 cases. 55% Cabernet Sauvingnon, 34% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. Very rich and round.

2011 Montrose, St-Estèphe Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-21-2013
** 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. I love this. Elegant red currant and cassis aromas. Very spicy wine. Lovely palate entry. Quite tannic back end. Ager.

2011 La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge, Pessac-Léognan Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-21-2013
** Only 4,500 cases. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. Very rich and round.

2009 La Lagune, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 4-29-2013
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The high proportion of Petit Verdot really lifts this wine. Tons of black licorice on the nose and palate. Lush wine, but it has good grip. Fresh and vibrant. I love this wine-it is so pure and seamless.

2009 Fleur Cardinale, St-Emilion
Review Date: 4-23-2013
My pick as the best value under $50 from this great vintage. Black fruit aromas. Spicy, sexy, lively wine!

2009 Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Review Date: 4-23-2013
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At UGC: Big and brooding, with tons of ripe tannins, blackberry fruit and fine acidity. Very dense. At property: Pencil lead and cedar aromas. Very spicy. 1989 and 2009 are two of the best from this property. Will age forever I would think.

2009 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien
Review Date: 4-23-2013
77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22.5% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc. Probably the best I’ve tasted from Anthony and I have been tasting his wines since 1973. Tons of fruit masks the high tannin levels-will age for a very long time. 95 points!

2010 La Ferme du Mont "Côtes Jugunda" Gigondas
Review Date: 4-18-2013
My favorite southern Rhône town, Gigondas, offers great values, especially this one.

2009 du Tertre, Margaux
Review Date: 4-15-2013
½* Good upfront fruit. Mid-palate? At UGC: Lighter in style here. Sweet and racy. Quite forward.

2005 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux
Review Date: 4-15-2013
One of the great wines of the vintage. Very deep and concentrated. A little clove and cinnamon on the nose and on the palate. Very mouth-coating. An older school wine with great balance. Broad, fantastic wine. Will last a long time. Fabulous buy. **1/2

2009 Giscours, Margaux
Review Date: 4-15-2013
*½ At UGC: Subdued nose, but fine structure on the palate. Very rounded tannins and a good finish. Reserved right now. Will need some time.

2009 Lynch-Bages, Pauillac (1.5L)
Review Date: 3-26-2013
** At UGC: Big and brooding, with tons of ripe tannins, blackberry fruit and fine acidity. Very dense. At property: Pencil lead and cedar aromas. Very spicy.

2010 Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Médoc Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 3-14-2013
* Spicy anise on the classy nose. Big and tannic on the back end.
Price: $39.99 Add To Cart RP 91

2009 d'Issan, Margaux
Review Date: 3-11-2013
* A very elegant wine, with forward fruit flavors. Well made.

2009 Latour Martillac, Pessac-Léognan
Review Date: 3-11-2013
*+ Good fruit in middle. Very minerally and slightly dry on the finish. Fine aromas of black fruits. At UGC: Fine richness, with earthy flavors. Round tannins.

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