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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 - 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
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2009 Prieuré Canteloup, Côtes de Bordeaux
Review Date: 12-12-2012
Here is another property that really stepped up in 2009 with flowery, earthy aromas married to ripe fruit flavors that are clean and focused. The lively and complex aromatics give way to a surprisingly lush and round middle.
Price: $14.99
2000 Terrey Gros Cailloux, St-Julien
Review Date: 10-9-2012
Bright aromas of blackberry, rhubarb and clay zoom from this substantial bargain. The fleshy middle holds ripe blackberry, incense and mineral complexity in a somewhat chewey texture with surprisingly little rusticity. This is hearty and deep with an intriguing touch of chalk on the long finish.
Price: $32.99
Deligeroy Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé
Review Date: 9-4-2012
This is long and fine with red cherry fruit and a persistant limestone laced finish. There is an amazing amount of elegance and restraint showing here for only 13 bucks.
Price: $12.99
2009 Meyney, St-Estèphe
Review Date: 8-30-2012
This fat, rich and accessable wine will age well but is hard to resist now. The nose of sweet berries and oak is followed by flavors of crunchy dark currants, blackberries and licorice that turn thick and juicy on the finish. The palate coating fruit is sweet and sexy in this balanced and aromatically complex wine.
Price: $39.99
2009 La Chapelle de Calon, St-Estèphe
Review Date: 8-30-2012
This is essentially the second wine of the great Third Growth Calon Segur and the pedigree and intense stucture really shows. After an hour in a decanter the aromas of deep red fruit, earth and dried herb become quite intense. The high percentage of Cabernet really shines in this concentrated and classy effort where the layered middle is followed by a finish of fine, ripe tannins, mouth coating mineral and a touch of damp clay.
Price: $22.99
2009 Le Bonnat, Graves
Review Date: 8-30-2012
This starts out clean and supple but with an hour in a decanter turns sweet, plump and generous. There are ripe red and dark frut aromas and delicous flavors of blackberry, licorice, earth, mineral and spice. This is complex and drinks above its price point.
Price: $16.99
2006 Pauillac de Latour, Pauillac
Review Date: 7-27-2012
The rare third wine from 1st Growth Chateau Latour has the clean, classy lines and aristocratic nature you expect from Latour but at a fraction of the price. This is refined and structured with an array of berries, cherries and subtle mineral in a smooth, seamless package. This is approachable with decanting but should cellar for at least a decade more.
Price: $89.99
2009 Plince, Pomerol
Review Date: 7-27-2012
This is surprisingly meaty and dense with a rather fat, chewey texture to the toasty mocha and berry flavors. The ripe and deep middle ends in a somewhat gripping finish of iron and sweet fruit. Decant tonight or cellar 10 to 15 years.
Price: $44.99
2009 Montlandrie, Côtes de Castillon
Review Date: 7-9-2012
This starts with super toasty aromas followed by flavors of chocolate-covered cherries. The warm, smooth middle showcases ripe red fruits that glide along effortlessly. The finish is punctuated by sweet tannins in this modern, approachable wine.
Price: $29.99
2009 Hall Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 12-7-2011
This is ripe, plush and smooth with a sweet and creamy texture that almost obscures the fine finish. Despite the up front fruit and mid-palate depth there is enough balance and and leanght to handle the cherry liquer-like middle and maraschino, vanilla finish. This is well made, in-your-face New World Cabernet.
Price: $39.99
2006 d'Angludet, Margaux
Review Date: 9-14-2011
Those of you used to the hearty "old school" wines from this property will be surprised by how approachable and user friendly this seems. Sure, there are some rustic elements to the dark, dense middle but the aromas and texture are sauve and refined (for Chateau d'Angludet). Red and black fruit, flowers, smoke, licorice and more are present in this balanced and tasty wine. Decant tonight but lay a bottle away for a decade or more.
Price: $39.99
Franck Bonville "Brut Selection" Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 7-7-2011
When it comes to Champagne this is probably our all time staff favorite. The fact that it is a direct import and sells for less than half what it would if it went through the same distribution system as the big name brands doesn't hurt either. Fresh and ripe Chardonnay flavors, intense mineral notes and hints of earth leap from this vibrant and full-textured bubbly.
Price: $32.99
1998 Lanessan, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 7-7-2011
This is a deal in classic, aged Bordeaux for anyone with a "old world" palate. Firm and completely dry with flavors of dark cherry, oak and spice, this is just beginning to show mature hints of cedar and leather. This cabernet based wine still shows the structure of the vintage so decanting is recommended.
Price: $19.99
2003 Lanessan, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 7-21-2010
This affordable gem is from the warm and approachable 2003 Bordeaux and is already delicious. Sweet, lively and round with no hard edges, this is great with hearty foods or more sophisticated fare. From the much hyped "California" vintage in Bordeaux.
Price: $19.99
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
Review Date: 12-29-2009
Chardonnay from Brouillet makes a richer, creamier style of Blanc de Blanc than other areas of Champagne. This is an easy to like style that is perfect for less formal occasions like New Year's eve toasts and quiet sipping during parties. This generous, rich bubbly is an amazing deal to direct buy pricing.
Price: $34.99
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