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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 - Joe Manekin
Joe Manekin
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Joe arrived at our doors in February 2007 from far away, Washington, DC to be exact. Just so no one gets the wrong idea, though, he was merely earning a living in DC; Joe’s cultural identity, as well as his professional sports allegiances and, when he has a few drinks in him, his accent, are all Baltimore through and through. After working on the wholesale side of the business for nearly 4 years, Joe decided that he wanted to work wine retail with the best, so he emailed Cindy Westby at K&L and the rest is history. While Joe is well versed in a number of wine regions, he most enjoys the wines of Europe, though he is growing increasingly interested in the great wines of the Santa Cruz mountains. When he is not at K&L, Joe enjoys cooking, traveling, catching up on The Wire, doing occasional PR, booking and recording work for reggae band JohnStone (www.johnstonemusic.com), and writing for his wine, food and music blog, Old world Old School (www.oldworldoldschool.blogspot.com)
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Reviews
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2010 Montebuena "Cuvée KPF" Rioja
Review Date: 10-24-2012
This is a wonderfully bright, delicious, cheery Rioja. Pure red cherry fruit flavors and a fresh overall palate impression make this a great light to medium-bodied sipper for any number of occasions, with snacks before dinner, roasted chicken or vegetarian entrees.
Price: $7.99
2008 Castillo Labastida Crianza Rioja
Review Date: 9-19-2012
Castillo Labastida's crianza is a wonderful little wine, very fresh, focused, and reflective of the vintage. The spicy red fruits are complemented with a typical crianza oak treatment: 12 months in one to four year-old American and French oak barrels. Drink this delicious, typical Rioja with any range of your favorite at home meals, from herb roasted chicken to a piece of broiled salmon.
Price: $13.99
Bruno Michel "Blanche" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 8-7-2012
This is arguably, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, the most versatile and satisfying Champagne in the store. So bright tasting, with good minerality and delicious, juicy fruit. A colleague put it well when she called this champagne "friendly." I completely agree. It is indeed friendly, without sacrificing originality or wine geek appeal. One to always have on hand around the house (especially if you're inviting me over!)
Price: $34.99
2005 Michel Loriot Vintage Brut Champagne
Review Date: 8-7-2012
Much richer than the non-vintage Loriot cuvee reserve, this almost pushes the limit of my tolerance for richness in a Champagne (consider the source though...I enjoy acidity at least as much as Westby does!) Regardless, the wine is still wonderfully balance, with lots of golden fruits and a biscuity quality as well. Very tasty champagne that's drinking great right now.
Price: $44.99
2008 Bodegas Puelles Crianza Rioja
Review Date: 7-18-2012
I love this wine for its nervy, bright fruit and real sense of chalky minerality it unfailingly conveys. The best part about this juicy, lively red wine is how versatile it is at table. Seared steak with roasted potatoes, oven roasted chicken with herbs, garlic and lemon served over watercress, a fennel stuffed whole grilled arctic char...these are just a few quick and easy possibilities to cook up and serve with this delicious Rioja.
Price: $15.99
Hirsch Straight Bourbon Small Batch Reserve 750ml
Review Date: 7-14-2012
I don't often drink bourbon, but when I do I've definitely got my favorites: Black Maple Hill, Four Roses small batch, Bulleit if I want something light and for the flask. This stuff is killer, though. Rich and spicy, but not at all too sweet and unctuous for my tastes. For the money, this could be the best bourbon I've ever drunk - great stuff!
Price: $33.99
2009 Evesham Wood "Cuvee J" Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
Review Date: 7-11-2012
Very pretty aromatics - floral and bright - lead to a rich, pure, focused palate that is appealingly reticent but surely will have a lot to say in a bit of time. This analogy may not translate for many of you out there but here we go: the wine's sort of like a petite, beautiful indie rock girl who knows what she's got but patiently waits for the right dude (or girl). Or something like that.
Price: $44.99
2007 San Polino Brunello di Montalcino
Review Date: 7-11-2012
The purity of mixed berry and darker cherry fruit in this wine is impressive. Even though it's done in all barrique, the limestone rich galestro soil must have something to do with this wine's terrific poise and structure, especially in the very good, yet somewhat softer and friendlier 2007 vintage.
Price: $54.99
2010 Castro de Lobarzan Monterrei
Review Date: 7-11-2012
For the intrepid white wine fan, Galicia is an ideal place to explore. While albariño may be familiar to many people, the godello and treixadura which comprises this blend can be very exciting stuff to be sure. Pure yellow fruits, loads of minerality from the granitic, sandy vineyards and a very long finish make this wine ideal both for drinking on its own or pairing with food; recently some friends and I quickly emptied a bottle while eating some La Quercia cured ham, cheese and Cantabrian canned sardines. This summer white hits the spot!
Price: $17.99
2009 Riotajo Tempranillo Garnacha Vinos de Madrid
Review Date: 6-26-2012
This is quite a mouthful of wine for the price. Loads of red fruit, a hint of a cured meaty savor, and a suggestion of cocoa powder on the finish combine to make this not merely a simple value, but a wine of real character as well. Why wash down that burger with inexpensive cab when you could be drinking this instead?
Price: $9.99
2009 Fabre Montmayou Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Mendoza
Review Date: 6-22-2012
This is yet another example of the quality of cab being produced these days from mature vineyards in Mendoza (in this case from the Lujan de Cuyo district). Delicious currant fruit is framed by moderate tannins that add some grip and structure to the wine. Something this serious from Napa would likely cost at least $7-10 more.
Price: $15.99
2009 Mercedes Eguren Cabernet Sauvignon Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Review Date: 4-11-2012
Do you enjoy cab? Real cabernet sauvignon that shows tannin, structure, and a hint of savor instead of sweet cherry pie filling, vanilla, and candy? Then give this one a try. Single vineyard cabernet from 25 year old vines in La Mancha (just south of Madrid). This is real cab at an unbeatable price.
Price: $9.99
2004 Lafon-Rochet, St-Estèphe
Review Date: 8-24-2011
Like this wine quite a bit. Every bit a reflection of both vintage (the wonderfully fresh, classic 2004 vintage) as well as commune (firm and grippy St Estephe), the property's 100 acres apparently lie between Lafite and Cos d'Estournel. I would purchase several and check back on this bottle in at least another 5 years. This is a terrific candidate for the cellar.
Price: $39.99
2006 d'Angludet, Margaux
Review Date: 7-13-2011
In a commune known for the elegance of its wines, D'Angludet brings some real elegance to the table with this underrated wine. Aromatically there is an pretty blend of fruit and cedar, and on the palate there are real bones, or structure. Invest in this and check back in at least five years, longer if you would like.
Price: $39.99
2009 Domaine Stephane Magnien Bourgogne Passetoutgrains "Cuvée Densité"
Review Date: 7-13-2011
Rich dark cherry aromas lead to a slihtly floral, red fruited palate. A pretty tasty (and for the style, richer) style of passetoutgrains.
Price: $14.99
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