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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
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- 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 - Ryan Woodhouse
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Reviews
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2009 Pyramid Valley Vineyards "Howell Family" Cabernet Franc Hawkes Bay New Zealand
Review Date: 4-8-2013
Phenomenal Cab Franc. This wine draws the perfect line between the more lean and herbal Cab Francs of the Loire and the bigger and more dense California versions that are out there. It has plenty of green tobacco and crushed herb varietal character but also rich, concentrated dark red fruit and spice. Some fine oak nuances round out the wine which has great length and balance on the palate. This wine comes from a very interesting sub-region of Hawke's Bay called the Red Metals Triangle known for its red, iron-rich gravelly soils. These complex soils produce low, concentrated yields and impart a fascinating mineral tinge to the wine produced here. There is so much complexity and intrigue here all cloaked beneath a rich and crowd pleasing style. Yum!
Price: $28.99
2009 Pyramid Valley Vineyards "Lion's Tooth" Chardonnay North Canterbury New Zealand (Biodynamic)
Review Date: 4-8-2013
Fantastic Chardonnay. This wine has a real drive and energy, I believe owing to Biodynamic viticulture and the hands-on love and attention Claudia and Mike give to their tiny home block of vines! This wine shows rich orchard fruits, poached pears and some depth given from a lovely grain or barley character which I can only assume is from a healthy dose of sur lie ageing. This is quite a rich wine but a bright acidity keeps all that texture and power taught, linear and focused. Treat this wine like a good white Burgundy and it will reward you in kind. This really shows the potential of New Zealand to produce top class Chardonnay.
Drink from
2013
to
2020
Price: $39.99
2010 Riecine Chianti Classico
Review Date: 4-8-2013
One of the best Chianti Classicos I have ever encountered. This wine has an enchanting purity and brightness. Great fruit and depth but with elegance and poise. The tannins are present but ultra fine and polished. Simply a delight to drink. Very versatile food wine and actually very drinkable on its own which is not something I would usually say about Chianti. I also believe this wine will age effortlessly for up to ten years as its balance is near perfect. Great wine.
Top Value!
Drink from
2013
to
2023
Price: $23.99
2009 Fromm "Brancott Valley" Pinot Noir Marlborough New Zealand
Review Date: 3-30-2013
A powerful nose of dark red fruits, black cherry and bramble. This wine is rich, dense and fleshy. A subtle whole cluster stem character adds structure and complexity and brings brightness to a fairly saturated mid palate. This wine is currently exuberant and youthful, brimming with fruit and has a plush texture. Despite this obvious density and power, the wine retains elegance throughout finishing with exotic warm spices and a tickle of fine tannins that suggest this wine will be a fantastic prospect for the cellar, as well as immediately rewarding. I have had many releases from this estate with 10 years of bottle age and can attest that they develop beautifully.
Drink from
2013
to
2022
Price: $29.99
2010 Fromm Winery "La Strada" Pinot Noir Marlborough New Zealand
Review Date: 3-30-2013
This Pinot has a phenomenal bright, perfumed nose of crushed spicy red fruits and dark rose petals complicated by rich soil tones and a subtle Thyme note. This is a layered wine of real depth and intrigue. On the palate beyond its pure red fruit character lays an array of subtle complexities that really take it to another level of distinction. The wine has an effortless balance and silky elegant texture. This is wonderfully complete and stylish Pinot Noir at an everyday price thanks to our direct purchase from the winery. An exceptional value that will continue to develop and impress for another 8-10 years without a doubt.
Top Value!
Drink from
2013
to
2020
Price: $21.99
2011 Banshee Sonoma County Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-29-2013
Classic dark fruited, soft and rich CA Pinot. The guys at Banshee have done very well in a less than stellar 2011 vintage. If you like rich, upfront and very easy drinking pinot with class and balance, look no further.
Top Value!
Price: $22.99
2009 Glenelly "Lady May" Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch South Africa
Review Date: 3-29-2013
This is pretty big Cab, not only in fruit and concentration but in structure too. The wine has ample black bramble fruits and rich cedar notes mingling with crushed mint. The mid palate is dense enough to wrap the firm underlying tannins in luscious fruit and give this wine a long drinking window. The charred French oak that comes through on the back end harps back to this wines true Bordeaux lineage. A really well made wine with class and complexity.
Drink from
2012
to
2022
Price: $38.99
2011 Whetstone "Jon Boat" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-3-2013
Macerated Raspberries with rose petal and violets. Silky soft fruit. Very soft round tannin with the wine relying on its adequate acidity for structure and persistence. Bright and refreshing.
Price: $31.99
2010 McHenry Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-3-2013
A pure, bright typical Santa Cruz Mtn nose leaping from the glass. Fairly light bodied with zippy acidity. Red fruited with orange peel and green tea. Some mulling spices in the background. Complex wine for the money.
Price: $24.99
2011 Ponzi "Tavola" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Review Date: 3-3-2013
Nice nose of black cherry and nutmeg spice. Some charred Oak. A subtle stem character adds complexity to the soft pure fruited nature of this wine.
Price: $23.99
2011 Shenandoah Vineyards "Special Reserve" Zinfandel
Review Date: 3-2-2013
Another worthy offering from Shenandoah Vineyards. How they keep knocking out wines of this quality for $9.99 is beyond me, but hey we'll take them! This wine has a touch more body and density than the last vintage that was more crunchy berry fruits. This vintage has a bigger, richer, fuller bodied feel. It's still balanced and now probably even more suited BBQing all summer long. Great for burgers and ribs.
Top Value!
Price: $9.99
2010 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey "Clos Rond"
Review Date: 3-2-2013
This Burgundy drinks well beyond its price point. A single walled vineyard monopole for Faiveley, Clos Rond is one of the premier sites in Mercurey. This wine shows why I like some many of the Cote Chalonaise wines in 2010. Many have that slight bit more generosity of flesh to balance the vintages abundant acid levels. Along with its pure fruited, elegant texture this wine shows some very interesting terroir nuances that I think propel it into another league of wine. One of my top picks for sub-$30 Burgundy.
Top Value!
Drink from
2013
to
2025
2005 Bodegas Casa Juan Seņor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja
Review Date: 3-2-2013
Absolutely classic old-school Rioja! Earthy goodness with concentrated fruit and spice. The wine is very food orientated, dry, structured and with bright acidity. If a rack of lamb is in your future, this wine should be too!
Top Value!
Price: $19.99
2011 Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir Cheviot Hills New Zealand
Review Date: 3-1-2013
A new producer from the exciting little area of Cheviot Hills in North Canterbury on New Zealand's South Island close to the east coast. Exceptionally good Pinot for this price. Raspberry, dark cherry and a touch of vanilla. Very floral with some attractive rose petal notes. The wine has a pure brightness and very fine polished tannins. Very drinkable (perhaps too drinkable). A great every day pinot with real character and finesse. A top value in NZ Pinot.
Top Value!
Price: $19.99
2010 Moorooduc Estate Chardonnay Mornington Peninsula Victoria
Review Date: 3-1-2013
Very interesting Pinot Noir. Crunchy red fruits on the nose. Pomegranate and spice with a hint of pine forest (in Australia!?) The palate is more rich red currant and ripe raspberries. Medium bodied and long on the palate. Every sip brings a new flavor, a very compelling example of reasonably priced Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir.
Price: $31.99
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