Staff Favorites - Clyde Beffa Jr.

Clyde Beffa Jr.
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Had K&L co-owner and main wine buyer Clyde Beffa Jr. not read an article about the gentlemanly hobby of wine collecting in the February 1971 issue of Playboy, he might still be weighing the merits of Holsteins versus Jerseys instead of Château Margaux or Haut-Bailly. Beffa owned a dairy in Tracy, California, from 1967-1973, leaving the the business to co-found K&L Liquors, as it was known back then, in 1976. Clyde started traveling to Europe in 1982 and over the years, he has worked hard to build K&L into one of the nation's go-to sources for the world's diverse wines, developing relationships with winemakers and châteaux owners the world over. Clyde's passion is surely Bordeaux, especially the fabulous wines from Pauillac and St-Julien (like Pichon-Lalande and Léoville-Barton). When he's not drinking France's legendary reds, you'll likely find Clyde indulging in Sauvignon Blanc. A fan of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and white Bordeaux, he'll also tuck into a bottle of Kiwi Sauv Blanc if there's no corkscrew around. These days you'll likely find Clyde extolling the virtues of underrated Bordeaux vintages like 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2006, or playing with his German Shepherd Sadie. Or you may see him in his vegetable garden and, once in a great while, on the golf course.


Reviews

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2010 Carbonnieux Blanc, Graves Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-11-2013
1/2* Citrus notes with floral undertones. Quite bright on the finish. Really fine acidity, but it doesn't sing at this time.

2010 Larcis Ducasse, St-Emilion Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-11-2013
** A property to watch. Super sweet with chocolate undertones.

2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien
Review Date: 2-11-2013
**½ Intriguing, exotic nose of Asian spices mixed with toasty oak. A very sensual wine, but so different from the Ducrus of past great vintages. Satin-textured with a lingering finish.

2010 Clos de L'Oratoire, St-Emilion Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
Very sweet and lush, with good balance and length.*

2010 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
**+ Tasted three times, and it was always rich and powerful. Great black fruit. Big. Dark, strong palate.

2010 Talbot, St-Julien Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
*½ Spicy raspberry with some earth. Black and green olive.

2010 Figeac, St-Emilion Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
** Zippy, bright red cherry fruit. Notes of rosemary and stone. Restrained palate. Fleshy tannins.

2010 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
**+ At UGC: Very earthy nose and flavors. Black fruit finish.

2010 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac (1.5L) Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
** Super forward and fruity, with opulent Asian spice aromas and latent fruit flavors.

2010 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
** Super forward and fruity, with opulent Asian spice aromas and latent fruit flavors.

2010 Pichon-Baron, Pauillac Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
** Tasted three times. Creamy, oaky, vibrant and semi-exotic. Some smokiness on the palate.

2010 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-5-2013
Dense and powerful, it shows ripe cassis fruit, espresso bean and chewy, integrated tannins.

2010 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien (1.5L) Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-4-2013
*1/2+ Nice, silky and long. Spicy and lively, this tastes pure and fresh, with a great finish.

2010 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-4-2013
*1/2+ Nice, silky and long. Spicy and lively, this tastes pure and fresh, with a great finish.

2010 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Léognan Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-4-2013
*1/2 Tasted three times, once at UGC, once at the Joanne tasting and once at the Château. It has tons of mineral-driven fruit on the palate to complement the blackberry fruit flavors. Great freshness, long and balanced.

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