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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
- James Halliday
- James Suckling
- Malt Advocate
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- International Wine Cellar
- Wine & Spirits
- Wine Enthusiast
- Wine Spectator
- The Wine News
- Malt Advocate
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Staff Favorites - Sarah Covey
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Reviews
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2005 Clendenen Family Vineyards "Bricco Buon Natale" Santa Maria Valley Nebbiolo
Review Date: 3-26-2013
This Nebbiolo shows incredible fruit and polish and yet is still a baby in Nebbiolo-land. Juicy red cherry, raspberry, red roses, fleshy but with medium plus acidity & medium plus tannin. Well-balanced goodness. Drinkable with decanting and food, but tuck this one away for another 5-10 years and I am certain it will only mellow and improve!
Price: $29.99
2005 Clendenen Family Vineyards "Rancho La Cuna" Santa Maria Valley Syrah/Viognier
Review Date: 3-26-2013
Disclaimer: My tasting notes on this wine were written while seated at a long lunch table overflowing with incredible food and lots of wine, along with winemaker Jim Clendenen sitting across from me & Qupe winemaker Bob Lindquist to my right- both egging me on to try their favorite wine! I have a big heart in my notebook next to my 2005 Rancho La Cuna Syrah Viognier notes. Stewed cherries, red cherry, red currant, strawberry, with hints of pepper. Clearly slow in its development, this wine is aromatically pronouned (the Viognier waves up at you along with all that lush fruit) and requires lots of time to sit an ponder. Perfect with ribs, steak, hearty dishes- but most importantly, the most jolly, hilarious people you can muster!
Price: $29.99
2008 Clendenen Family Vineyards "Le Bon Climat" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 3-26-2013
Fans of rich, buttery, sweetness rejoice! The Le Bon Climat 2008 is for you! Apple, butter, citrus, with balanced alcohol and medium plus acidity. Still young, but with decanting and some food (lobster, anyone?) a very delicious wine.
Price: $39.99
2011 Clendenen Family Vineyards "Mesa Verde Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Review Date: 3-26-2013
Tropical fruit, lychee, peach & citrus make this Sauvignon Blanc delightfully quaffable! Medium plus acidity with great balance to all that fun fruit. Excellent for parties!
Top Value!
Price: $15.99
2011 Claiborne & Churchill Central Coast Dry Muscat
Review Date: 3-26-2013
Founded in 1983 by Claiborne (Clay) Thompson and Fredericka Churchill, former teachers at the University of Michigan (Clay specialized in Old Norse Languages and Literatures and Fredericka taught German), the winery focuses on Alsacian varietals in the first straw bale winery in California. This Dry Muscat may just be better than anything coming out of Alsace. A lovely expression of Dry Muscat! All the pretty varietal characteristics- orange blossom, citrus, spice, cardamom, apricot- with perfectly balanced medium plus acidity and a clean, bright finish. No flab or syrupy fattiness here. Just 13.5% alcohol- perfect for warm spring & summer evenings on the terrace, with perhaps a little grilled shrimp or chicken satay! Delicious!
Price: $24.99
2010 Claiborne & Churchill "Runestone Barrel Select" Edna Valley Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-26-2013
If the Claiborne & Churchill Edna Valley Pinot Noir is "The Classic", then Runestone is definitely the sexy older sister! A barrel selection from the 2010 vintage blended by winemaker Coby Parker-Garcia, this wine gorgeous. Red cherry, sandalwood, red roses, spice, with medium plus acidity & medium plus tannin. Drink now with decanting and food (hello Salmon or Pork!) or tuck away to be delighted even more in 5 years! As mysterious & complex as the ancient Norse runes afterwhich it was named!
Price: $39.99
2010 Claiborne & Churchill Edna Valley Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-26-2013
The Pinot Noir referred to as "The Classic", a perfect expression of Pinot Noir varietal correctness. Red cherry, red currant, strawberry, spice with medium plus acidity & medium tannin. So easy to drink, you may just want to get this wine in large quantity for spring and summer entertaining. Grilled salmon or pork tenderloin, anyone? FABULOUS!
Price: $24.99
2011 Palmina Santa Barbara County Dolcetto
Review Date: 3-26-2013
Red cherry, red currant, red roses, black plum with medium plus acidity and medium tannin, this lovely Dolcetto is accesible now with food. Pretty & varietally correct!
Price: $15.99
2010 Beckmen "Cuvée Le Bec" Santa Ynez Valley Rhône Blend
Review Date: 3-19-2013
Winemaker Steve Beckmen and his team begin to build the Cuvee Le Bec every year at harvest. They get to know the grapes during the growing season and decide upon co-fermentations when the grapes come in. Some years, the wine is more Syrah, sometimes it is more Grenache or Mourvedre. There is a consistent character to the wine, though each vintage speaks clearly. More recently, the Cuvee Le Bec has been Syrah dominant, as Beckmen feels that it creates a more elegant, balanced wine.
Top Value!
Price: $16.99
2010 Talley Estate Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-19-2013
A blend of Rincon & Rosemary's fruit. Red cherry, red raspberry, red currant, black currant, with medium plus acid and fine, well-integrated tannin.
Price: $33.99
2011 Talley Estate Arroyo Grande Chardonnay
Review Date: 3-19-2013
75% Rincon and 25% Rosemary's vineyard fruit sources for this lovely, drinkable Chardonnay. Apple & toast, with a leesy richness and medium plus acidity. Very easy and delicious!
Top Value!
Price: $23.99
2011 Chanin Wine Company "Los Alamos Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-19-2013
Red cherry, raspberry, mineral, creosote, with medium plus acidity and pretty fruit expression. Winemaker Gavin Chanin is one to watch. Put this wine away for a few years, or break it out with some food!
Price: $47.99
2010 Clos Pepe "Estate" Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-19-2013
The 2009 Pinot Noir shows what pinot noir can do in the Santa Rita Hills under the care of Wes Hagen, vineyard manager and brilliant winemaker at Clos Pepe. As Hagen puts it, "Santa Rita Hills is a Chardonny AVA famous for Pinot Noir". Nothing could be truer with this 2009 Estate pinot. Red cherry, raspberry, cassis, mineral. Medium plus acidity, well-balanced, delicate, with an elegance and transparency that demonstrates Hagen's talent. A very special wine, to be enjoyed with food at table (we had it with cassoulet & duck confit with Wes) or tucked away to enjoy in 5-10 years!
Price: $59.99
2010 Clos Pepe "Axis Mundi-Windmill Vineyard" Santa Ynez Valley Grenache/Syrah
Review Date: 3-19-2013
Have you ever wanted a Beaujolais Nouveau style red but from California on a really hot, summer day? Hey- me, too! Wild & brilliant winemaker Wes Hagen stikes again! This little fun wine from Clos Pepe,is co-fermented Grenache & Syrah from the soon to be designated Ballard Canyon AVA in the Santa Ynez Valley. Bubblegummy, raspberry, red cherry, raspberry, spice with medium plus acidity. A fun, light-bodied red wine, with just the slightest hint of sweetness- but it is NOT sweet. Cool this puppy down a bit, bring out the cheese & cured meats, and enjoy in the shade of your patio or under a tree while on a picnic!
Top Value!
Price: $17.99
2011 Clos Pepe "Barrel Fermented" Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay
Review Date: 3-19-2013
Apple, toast, slate, vanilla with medium plus acidity and interesting structure! Fermented in neutral barrels, and aged in just 7% new French oak. A wine to tuck away for a year, if you can!
Price: $24.99
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