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Staff Favorites - Leah Greenstein
Leah Greenstein
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3 parts nerd. 1 part wordsmith. 1 part wine geek. A pinch of east coast sarcasm. Stir it up in a bright orange Mario Batali-branded bowl and you have K&L's other writer and editor, Leah Greenstein. A graduate of California's Sonoma State University, Leah skipped more than a few Friday nights at Red's Recovery Room in favor of Saturdays listening to Led Zeppelin and drinking gewürztraminer in the Kunde tasting room. After undergrad Leah continued her education in Oregon, making cabernet and merlot in her friend's garage while working on her master's in journalism. Over the years she's written on a variety of subjects—from snowboarding and rock climbing to politics and the arts—managing restaurants, juggling publishing jobs and learning about wine all the while. She joined K&L in June 2007 after working harvest at Pax Wine Cellars in Sonoma County and managing Mario Batali and Nancy Silverton's new Los Angeles hot spot, Pizzeria Mozza. These days she spends her time crafting tasting notes for K&L's website and working on the K&L newsletter and trying as many different wines as she can. Already a fan of Rhône reds and all things Italian Leah's been drinking her way through the German, Austrian and Loire Valley sections of K&L Hollywood. She spends most of her spare time cooking, pairing wine with her meals and writing about it for her blog, SpicySaltySweet.com. She also likes to hike, bike and watch Red Sox games.
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Reviews
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1970 Bodegas Franco Españolas "Royal Tete de Cuvee" Gran Reserva Rioja
Review Date: 12-12-2012
This is the wine I want to sit and savor after the birth of my second child in April. Frankly, I can't believe I had the good fortune to taste this wonderfully aged gem (and I was extra annoyed to have to spit it out). Scents of orange zest, leather, spice and roasted hazelnuts give way to a palate that smacks of dates, cocoa nib, leather and orange zest. There's still wonderful acidity, and a sexy burnt sugar, saffron quality on the finish.
Price: $149.99
2008 Marques de Legarda Crianza Rioja
Review Date: 12-12-2012
I still can't believe that this Rioja is only $14.99, but that's not to say that I'm complaining. These days, with another baby on the way, I'm looking for values to drink (when I can drink again--thank goodness I can still taste) more than ever. There's a lot packed into this bottle: spice, cherry fruit and leathery accents to name a few. This has a grippy, full texture and a savory, old school structure. Excellent.
Price: $14.99
2008 Bodegas Puelles Crianza Rioja
Review Date: 12-12-2012
A lovely Crianza with cherry cola, tobacco and coffee aromas that carry over to the palate with a hint of fresh sasparilla. Nicely balanced and approachable now.
Price: $15.99
2008 Mas Codina Vinya Ferrer Cabernet Sauvignon Penedes
Review Date: 12-12-2012
A fun, fresh Cab that reminds me more of something from the Loire Valley with its subtle herb, tobacco and spice notes. A food-friendly Tuesday night wine.
Price: $14.99
2007 Can Mayol Loxarel Gran Reserva Familiar Brut Nature Penedes
Review Date: 12-12-2012
This Cava spends 40 months sur lie, and is even more Champagne-like on the nose than the Refugi. Lovely, nutty, apple-y, almost Fino sherry-like aromas. Rich and textured, this is a minerally, exceptional Cava.
Price: $21.99
2008 Can Mayol Loxarel "Refugi" Reserva Brut Nature Penedes
Review Date: 12-12-2012
From a small producer that specializes in Xarel-lo, the Refugi boasts a small amount of Chardonnay. It also spends 30 months sur lie, which explains its leesy aromas and texture. It smells like a cross between Champagne and dry cider, with a firm bead, great acidity and a slightly prickly texture. A stellar Cava and a great buy!
Top Value!
Price: $17.99
2010 Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 6-22-2012
Like most of us here at K&L, I'm the go-to gal among my friends and family for wine recommendations, and I pride myself on turning people on to great values. (I really love to show that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get good wine.) The Ancient Peaks Cab fits that bill to a "t." This ruby-hued wine has plum and spice on the nose with just a hint of pipe tobacco that reminds me of being a little kid, when men still smoked pipes. The fruit is brighter and redder in the mouth, with notes of black cherry and currant, spice and a kiss of smoke. It's totally balanced, with soft tannins that make it easy to drink, and bright acidity that make it food friendly too. A must-have for barbecues this summer.
Price: $13.99
Caveau du Mont July Bugey Cerdon Rosé
Review Date: 2-10-2010
I'm not sure I know anyone who loves Bugey Cerdon more than my friend Matt from the blog Mattbites.com, but after drinking this beauty from Caveau du Mont July at today's staff tasting I'm going to say that I'm a close runner up. Its aromas of wild raspberries, apricots, Winesap apple and tart Granny Smiths has me drooling like one of Pavlov's dogs, and its mouthwatering acidity, super-fine bead, low alcohol and delightful palate presence made it difficult not to spit it out. So I didn't. Buy yours before Matt and I buy it all!
Price: $15.99
Marguet Pere et Fils "Cuvée Reserve" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 11-25-2008
I love this Champagne so much that I put three stars next to it in my notes and almost put a hole through the paper trying to make sure they were dark enough to catch my attention at a later date. Made entirely of Grand Cru fruit from the Montagne de Reims, I love the creme fraiche and lemon zest aromatics on this - really gorgeous. On the palate it is tangy, with a lot of acidic verve and a lovely mousse; this is a Champagne that keeps on giving. And the price? Why buy grand marque when you can have Marguet?
Price: $34.99
Franck Bonville "Belles Voyes" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 8-14-2008
Franck Bonville's exceptional cuvees come from the villages of Avize, Cremant and Oger and this, the Les Belles Voyes, is based entirely on the 2002 vintage. The nose on this wine was like a perfectly aged Corton Charlemagne, with hazelnut richness and a soft, balanced palate. Like a waltz for your senses: elegant and refined!
Price: $67.99
Jean-Louis Denois Brut "Tradition"
Review Date: 7-9-2008
We tried this bubbly at a recent staff tasting and it blew me away. A blend of 50% chardonnay and 50% pinot noir done in the traditional Champagne method, this sparkler from the Languedoc could easily pass itself off for Champagne. It was crisp on the nose and palate with limestone and slate minerality, apple fruit and a generous texture from attack to finish. A recent convert to bubbles, I’m going to keep plenty of this on-hand for impromptu celebrations.
Price: $14.99
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