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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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Customer Reviews - KLF
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KLF
12 year customer of K&L, a serious amateur wine drinker. Passionate about finding value wines that trump the bigger brands of their class. Love all things Rhone, Piedmont, Chianti, Spain and the up-and-comers of California.
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Reviews |
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Jean-Louis Denois Pinot Noir Brut Rosé
(out of stock)
Review Date: 5-20-2010
A consistent top choice for me in the NV brut rose. Amid the sweet bubbles and typical sparkling rose experience, this one has more weight than the $13 Boillot, offering some very earthy and spicy pinot noir flavors that I just love.
Price: $14.99
1999 De Meric "Catherine de Medicis" Brut Champagne
(out of stock)
Review Date: 5-20-2010
For $49.99 this has to be the best vintage Champagne I have ever tasted. It's pinot noir in the attack and midpalate, then transitions to an awesome chardonnay finish. A very distinct tasting experience here. As with most vintage Champagnes, I'll insist that you enjoy this with real food, not just a handfull of almonds. If you have the nerve, leave this wine alone for another 3-4 years...
Drink from
2012
to
2020
Price: $49.99
Perrier Jouët "Grand Brut" Champagne
Review Date: 5-20-2010
Just plain excellent every time. This is my go-to $30ish NV Champagne, because it pairs well with so many foods and whoever I serve it to loves it too.
Price: $39.99
2005 Villa Maria "Cellar Select" Pinot Noir Marlborough New Zealand
(out of stock)
Review Date: 5-3-2010
Great quality to price ratio. And great that K&L can bring in a value-priced pinot with some bottle age.
Price: $14.99
2007 Rippon Pinot Noir Central Otago New Zealand (Biodynamic)
(out of stock)
Review Date: 5-3-2010
Not a fan of this wine at this price. I visited Rippon in January and tried everything they had -- about 10 wines. I simply do not understand how Rippon is priced with the top wines in the region, as it seems this winery has lost its glory. That said, I give it props for being one of the first premium pinot producers in New Zealand.
Price: $49.99
2007 Tarras Vineyards "The Steppes Vineyard" Pinot Noir Central Otago New Zealand
(out of stock)
Review Date: 5-3-2010
Score is based on my assessment of quality to price at the club price of $23. I love NZ Central Otago pinot noir, and this is a great example that comes at half the price that we usually have to pay for this quality... such as Mt. Difficulty and Felton Road. UPDATE: Drink within the same day if you can. Once this baby hits the air, it degrades much more quickly than a typical pinot.
Price: $19.99
2005 Seresin "Leah" Pinot Noir Marlborough New Zealand
(out of stock)
Review Date: 4-9-2010
This is a gorgeous wine, and right on par with the 2006 Quartz Reef from Central Otago that's also $19.99. For you pinophiles looking to stretch outside of cooler climate California and Oregon names, this is a great place to go next. But save some for me!
Drink from
2010
to
2014
Price: $19.99
2008 Tormaresca "Neprica" Puglia
(out of stock)
Review Date: 4-8-2010
Served as a second bottle at a dinner party for 6 people, all who appreciate European wines. This was not a winner -- 5 thumbs down. I agree with Greg St Clair in that this wine is well made and value priced. But the flavors are simply not my style. Allow ample time for breathing -- a couple hours at least.
Drink from
2010
to
2012
Price: $8.95
2006 Valpidio Ribera del Duero
(out of stock)
Review Date: 3-30-2010
What is it about Spanish tempranillo that is often better on day 2 or 3? This is yet another example. but let me state my preference biases before I go any further: I do NOT appreciate the modern, Parkerized versions of value wines from Spain. If they trade terroir for higher alcohol and fruit bomby-ness, I'm gone. So imagine my disdain when I opened this wine and nosed a New World take on Ribera del Duero...and I promptly put a cork in it and let it sit for a day...then two.... On day two, the wine found its terroir and became the wine that the K&L guys are talking about. For $13, an excellent value. For $25, skip it and talk to K&L's John Majeski about what's on his mind lately.
Drink from
2010
to
2014
Price: $12.99
2007 Château de Montfaucon "Vin de Monsieur Le Baron de Montfaucon" Vin de Pays du Gard
(out of stock)
Review Date: 3-30-2010
Tried this at the Southern Rhone tasting a month back, and thought it too early to tell what we really have here. Hat's off to Montfaucon for leveraging an awesome vintage to roll back to an old style. I think K&L staff is overly enamored with Montfaucon in general, as it is with Cos d' Estournel. But certainly, this is a beautiful, unique wine, and one to put away just to see what it gives in 5+ years. But should you buy this in place of other promising 07 Southern Rhones? I say buy one now and try it to see if it's your thing, and if so, buy for the cellar.
Drink from
2015
to
2020
Price: $39.99
2008 The Crossings Pinot Noir Marlborough New Zealand
(out of stock)
Review Date: 3-30-2010
Best value pinot noir under $10 (club = $9) in the K&L house and perhaps the country right now. It's light/medium, but balanced. I did not get the challenged midpalate that others are talking about. It trumps anything that the U.S. can produce at this price, and is much more a classic pinot than K&L's staff pick, Undone (from Germany, which I do not like at all).
Price: $11.99
2007 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc
(out of stock)
Review Date: 3-30-2010
Score based on my opinion of quality to price. This is a stunner on the value front. I agree with Parrker, and Jauques at K&L -- it's a non-typical CdR white blend from Guigal, but they got this blend right. Every white drinker should find something to love in this (assuming they like viognier), and Rhone lovers will make this their house white as long as the case lasts.
Drink from
2010
to
2012
Price: $11.99
2006 Havens Napa Valley Merlot
(out of stock)
Review Date: 1-30-2010
Tried two bottles from two different purchases. Quality varies from bottle to bottle, hence I think they set the price at $7 so you can afford to have a few bad ones in a case and not be irate with the shop. But I just gotta say to K&L - please be transparent about some of these wines you are selling off. If there are quality inconsistencies, just say so, or else don't sell the lot of wine to begin with. We can go to Grocery Outlet if we want to play roulette with low cost wine.
Price: $6.99
2006 Beaulieu Vineyard "Tapestry" Reserve Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
(out of stock)
Review Date: 1-30-2010
We can thank the recession for bringing some of these Napa greats down to reasonable price levels for awhile. I always have serious reservations about Cali Bordeaux blends in the $50 range. Byt at the $29.99 price, this wine makes much more sense from a quality-to-price perspective.
Price: $33.99
2007 La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino
(out of stock)
Review Date: 1-30-2010
I tried the $15 and $20 Fortunas from 2007. Only on the second day of being open (!!) did I start to recognize what the K&L staffers raved about in these wines...but honestly I don't think there is a ton to gush about... That said, the 2007 rosso from Poggiarellino is something I like much, much more.
Price: $19.99
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