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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.
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- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- International Wine Cellar
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- Wine Spectator
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Staff Favorites - Jeff Garneau
Jeff Garneau
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Jeff has been a member of the sales staff in our Redwood City store for the past four years. His first introduction to wine was as a waiter in an upscale Italian restaurant in Hanover, NH more years ago than he likes to admit. He slowly made his way west to wine country, working his way across the US as a graduate student in geography, a public sector researcher in regional economic development, and briefly, in the wake of the Anderson-Enron scandal, a records management coordinator for one of the remaining Big Five accounting firms. Finally, surrendering to the inevitable, he accepted a position in the wine business here at K&L. His goals for the next four years include drinking more wines from Italy and France and trying to limit the number of open bottles on the dinner table on any given night to fewer than six.
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Reviews
2007 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Pinot Noir
Review Date: 11-16-2009
Given the rise in prices for Pinot Noir grapes over the past few years, it has become virtually impossible to find a great wine for under $20. Look no further. This 2007 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir has everything you could want. Tangy red fruits and spice - raspberry, cranberry, and cinnamon. Lovely character and length. A perfect companion for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Price: $19.99
2007 Tenuta di Sesta Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 11-3-2009
Brunello di Montalcino is one of the truly great, ageworthy red wines of Italy. Rosso di Montalcino is what you drink every day while you wait for the Brunello in your cellar to mature. The 2007 Tenuta di Sesta Rosso di Montalcino is a classic — medium to full bodied with that spicy/savory character that, for me, is quintessential Sangiovese. Tart morello cherry and cranberry notes. Leather and spice. Soft tannins. This elegant rosso comes from one of the oldest producers in Montalcino. Get your nose into a glass of this and be instantly transported to Tuscany. Forze Italia!
Price: $16.99
2007 Domaine des Ballandors Quincy
Review Date: 10-29-2009
I love Sauvignon Blanc, and for me, the varietal reaches its highest expression in the wines of the Loire Valley. I love a good Sancerre or Pouilly Fume, although it is becoming harder to find one at a good price for everyday drinking. For value I look to the satellite appellations of Quincy, Reuilly, and Menetou Salon. The 2007 Domaine des Ballandors Quincy is a remarkable find. Lovely mineral and citrus notes on the nose. Tart grapefruit and gunflint. This wine really shows the strength of the 2007 vintage. A classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc at an unbeatable price!
2006 Joseph Carr Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 10-26-2009
On the nose, violets and blackcurrant. Tart blackberry notes in the mouth. Fruit is ripe and sweet with good acidity for balance. Finishes with soft tannins. Great by itself or with food. All Napa fruit for less than $20. Superb value in a CA Cab!
Price: $19.99
Michel Arnould Grand Cuvée Brut Champagne
Review Date: 10-26-2009
Lovely toast on the nose. Classic pain grille, bright cherry, and hazelnut in the mouth. The ripeness of the fruit is offset by bracing acidity and an intense mineral character. A big, bold wine, this champagne will be the center of attention at any party.
Price: $34.99
2007 Château de Montfaucon Côtes du Rhône
Review Date: 9-27-2009
Another great value in a Cotes du Rhone from the 2007 vintage. One of our direct imports, and a favorite of our staff and customers for over ten years. On the nose, violets, blueberry, and a suggestion of tar as the Syrah makes its presence known. Rich plum and tart blueberry fruits in the mouth. Soft tannins frame the finish. A lush, generous effort typical of the vintage but with enough structure to age well over the short term.
Price: $10.99
2005 Delord, Côtes de Bordeaux
Review Date: 9-27-2009
A closeout special and a fantastic value from one of the largest of the Bordeaux importers. A nose that reminds me of a warm blackberry tart. Soft textured, rich and round. Dark blackberry fruit with a hint of licorice. Drinking beautifully now. If you are a Bordeaux lover, this is your next House Red. 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc.
Price: $8.99
2005 Trebiac, Graves
Review Date: 9-27-2009
I have a soft spot for red wines from the Graves region. The first Bordeaux I ever drank was a Graves red. This 2005 Chateau Trebiac shows all the strength of the vintage. Black cherry and licorice on the nose. Rich, dark, plummy fruits in the mouth. Classic Graves crushed stone on the midpalate. Smooth texture with soft tannins. Drinkable now but will continue to improve over the next 3 to 5 years. 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Price: $14.99
2005 St-Hilaire, Médoc
Review Date: 9-3-2009
I rejoice at the return of the 2005 St-Hilaire, Médoc at $16.99. I believe this was the very first wine of the 2005 vintage to arrive in our Redwood City store way back in August of 2007. It made quite an impression then, and an extra two years in the bottle has only improved it. The wine shows a hint of violets on the nose, ripe red cherry fruits, and good weight and structure. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Ready to drink.
Price: $16.99
2006 Birot Rouge, Premiere Côtes de Bordeaux
Review Date: 8-31-2009
Many of the wines from 2006 are understandably still quite tannic, so I had resigned myself to waiting to enjoy them once they had a bit more time in the bottle. That is, until last night when I poured myself a glass of this 2006 Chateau de Birot to enjoy with a nice ribeye steak. Utterly charming. A smooth, silky texture with good structure. Ripe plum notes, really lovely minerality and length. Add this to your list of wines to enjoy now.
Price: $12.99
2005 Conde de San Cristobal Ribera del Duero (was $23.99)
Review Date: 8-13-2009
This wine is something of a guilty pleasure for me, like eating chocolate gelato for breakfast. There's a little more oak on this wine than I usually prefer, but this 2005 vintage has such generous fruit with just enough acidity for lift and balance that I found myself reaching again and again for the decanter to refill my glass. This is a big, full-bodied Tempranillo from the Ribuero del Duero in Northern Spain, comparable to wines at several times the price. Deeply tinted, inky purple in color with ripe dark fruit and oak on the nose. Tangy red and black fruits dominate, sour cherry and ripe plum. Richly textured and shockingly easy to drink, this will please a broad range of palates.
Price: $19.99
2007 Domaine de Mayran Côtes du Rhône-Villages
Review Date: 8-10-2009
The La Chapelle de Mayran wines are a value-oriented second label for Domaine Duseigneur. This Côtes du Rhône red is a classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The 2007 vintage is rich and ripe and silky smooth in texture. Bright, tangy red fruits add balance. Utterly quaffable and priced for daily drinking at $10.99.
Price: $10.99
2009 Mulderbosch Rosé
Review Date: 8-10-2009
I love drinking rosé. When you want something a bit more substanial than a white wine and it's just too hot for a red wine, this is just the thing. And with rosé wines, it's all about the varietal. A rosé of Pinot Noir is a very different animal than one made from Grenache. This wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon. And not just Cabernet Sauvignon. South African Cabernet Sauvignon. From Stellenbosch. And it tastes like it. The lighter color fools you into thinking that this wine will be something less than substantial, yet suddenly there it is in all its spicy, fruity glory - Cabernet Sauvignon. It's like meeting a beautiful woman who suddenly greets you in a low, smoky voice. That's it! This is the Lauren Bacall of rosés. Do yourself a favor, serve it with grilled sliced flank steak on a bed of arugula. Tonight.
Price: $10.99
2005 Bourbon la Chapelle, Médoc
Review Date: 7-30-2009
Is it too soon to feel nostalgic about the 2005 vintage? I suspect that we will be reminiscing for many years to come about the strength of the wines made in 2005, not by the classified growths but by the so-called petit châteaux. So many great wines at incredible prices. The 2005 Bourbon La Chapelle is the second wine of Château Castera of Saint-Germain d'Esteuil, a small village in an often overlooked area just north of the appellation of St-Estèphe. The wine shows some of the character of St-Estèphe, firmly structured with lovely mineral character. Ripe, black cherry fruits are the dominant theme here, with just a hint of sous bois character. You can enjoy this wine now with an hour or so in the decanter or, better yet, buy six to 12 bottles for the cellar and drink them over the next three to five years.
Price: $12.99
2008 Sherwood Pinot Noir Marlborough New Zealand
Review Date: 7-28-2009
New Zealand made a big splash on the international scene a few years back with their outstanding Sauvignon Blancs, and they are poised to do the same for Pinot Noir. This wine may very well be the best value in Pinot Noir in our entire inventory. The 2008 Sherwood is medium bodied and very much in the Burgundian style with a New World twist. Fans of Oregon Pinot Noir take note! Exotic fruits on the nose: pomegranate and orange zest. In the mouth, red fruits and spice: red plum and rhubarb and a hint of cinnamon. Perfectly paired with a range of dishes: New Zealand lamb with fresh thyme and lemon or plank smoked salmon.
Price: $14.99
Veuve du Vernay Brut
Review Date: 7-28-2009
This is our best bargain in bubbles and the most exciting thing to come out of France since Jerry Lewis was awarded the Legion of Honor Medal in 2006. Very dry and crisp style. Ripe pear and apple notes. The perfect sparkling wine to drink when you're counting every penny.
Price: $7.99
2008 Tessier Cheverny Rosé
Review Date: 7-23-2009
The Loire Valley in France is such a treasure trove of great wines: still and sparkling, red, white, and, yes, even rosé. This wine, from Domaine Philippe Tessier is a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. It has a somewhat floral nose of rose petals and violets. The wine is perfectly dry and crisp with lovely minerality and tart, red fruits like wild raspberry and strawberry. Perfectly paired with cold roast chicken or Nicoise salad. Enjoy this all summer long.
Price: $12.99
2005 Mount Eden "Saratoga Cuvée" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
Review Date: 7-19-2009
Forget upstarts like Napa and Sonoma. The Santa Cruz Mountains are the original California wine country and some of the best Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are still produced here. The Mount Eden Saratoga Cuvee Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir demonstrates both the fine pedigree of this historic winery and the strength of the 2005 vintage. The wine is rich and fully fleshed, showing notes of ripe cherries and pomegranate, cinnamon and clove, and just a hint of dark chocolate. The wine is drinking beautifully now but the strength of the vintage is such that the wine will continue to improve in the cellar. A great wine, a great vintage, and an unbelievable price.
Price: $22.99
2006 Bourgneuf, Pomerol
Review Date: 6-1-2009
We taste a lot of wines here at K&L. Every so often, for no particular reason, you just take an immediate liking to a wine, and then go looking for reasons why after the fact. So - full disclosure - I just flat out liked the 2006 Bourgneuf the first time I tasted it. I liked it even more the second time. Why? Hmm. Well, the 2006 vintage is particularly good in Pomerol. And the wine is made in a traditional style with minimal new oak, a style I much prefer. It is mostly Merlot with just enough Cabernet Franc added to provide some structure. The wine is fresh and lively with tangy red plum and currant notes, and the fleshy tannins are firm but not hard. Oh, and yeah, it costs less than $40. So you see there are actually lots of reasons to like the wine, but you only really need one - it tastes damn good.
Price: $29.99
2006 de Sales, Pomerol
Review Date: 6-1-2009
The best wines of the 2006 vintage in Bordeaux were made in Pomerol and the Chateau de Sales is no exception. Their 2006 is as good or better than the much touted 2005. Without question, this wine is the best buy of the vintage for lovers of classic claret. The texture is silky smooth. Ripe red plum and cherry notes put me in mind of a fresh-baked Linzertorte. The finish is firm but not hard. Should be at its peak in 5 to 10 years.
Top Value!
Drink from
2014
to
2018
Price: $23.99
2006 Gazin, Pomerol
Review Date: 6-1-2009
A neighbor of Chateau Pétrus, Gazin is home to some of the best terroir in Pomerol. The wine is polished and elegant, its pedigree obvious. Ripe black fruits. Plum. Lovely weight in the mouth. Fine grained tannins.
Price: $59.99
2006 La Grave à Pomerol, Pomerol
Review Date: 6-1-2009
This wine’s perfumed nose makes an immediate impression of sweet, almost candied red fruits. It is made in a riper style with good weight and texture that shows a bit more oak influence. In the mouth, fresh plums and cherries, finishing with soft tannins.
Price: $29.99
2006 Le Gay, Pomerol (was $99.99)
Review Date: 6-1-2009
This property changed hands in 2002 with the new owner investing a considerable sum in new vineyards and a new winery. The style is distinctly modern with Michel Rolland consulting. The 2006 has a sweet, rich nose like plum brandy, formidable size and weight, and a lush texture. In the mouth, plummy black fruits and fine grained tannins. Tightly wound. Age worthy.
Price: $79.99
2006 Jean-Maurice Raffault "Clos des Capucins" Chinon
Review Date: 5-25-2009
I have been drinking a lot of Cabernet Franc lately, so I was eager to try this new Chinon from Raffault. Opened a bottle at dinner last night and...wow. Just...wow. Unbelievably concentrated for the 2006 vintage - I would have sworn it was '05. Plummy fruit and a bit closed at first, then it opened up nicely to warm raspberries, peppery spice and a hint of pencil shavings on the nose. Approachable now with about an hour in the decanter, this one could definitely age. A huge bargain when you compare the price to similar bottles from Joguet, for example.
Price: $25.99
1981 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien (some top shoulder fills, some nicked capsules)
Review Date: 5-24-2009
The wines from this estate are famously tannic in their youth and long-lived. This was one of the last vintages overseen by Ronald Barton before he turned the property over to his nephew, Anthony. The 1981 Leoville Barton is a classic, medium-bodied claret from a good vintage spoiled somewhat by late season rains. Garnet-hued and remarkably youthful. The perfumed, truffle nose makes its presence known as soon as the wine is poured into the glass. In the mouth, the wine exhibits tart red currant notes with firm tannins still very much in evidence. A great value for lovers of older Bordeaux wines. Decant and enjoy with traditional roast beef or a nice Stilton cheese.
Price: $79.95
2005 Busquet V.V., Lussac St-Emilion
Review Date: 3-11-2009
A Right Bank bargain from one of the satellite areas of St-Emilion. Old school style, a bit rustic perhaps, but with sweet fruit and spice notes.
Smoky nose and ripe black cherry fruit. Drink now or hold.
Price: $14.99
2005 Camensac, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 3-11-2009
Fifth growth Château Camensac lies west of St-Julien
in the commune of St. Laurent-Médoc. The wine has all of the fruit and structure of the 2005 vintage with an emphasis on sweet cherry fruit with chewy tannins. The should improve dramatically with time. A great short term cellar proposition from a superb vintage, all for less than $30.
Price: $24.99
2003 La Lagune, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 3-11-2009
Located just north of Bordeaux itself, across from Château Cantemerle, the wines here often evoke the elegance of nearby Margaux. The 2003 is typical of the best of the vintage, sweet and richly textured with soft tannins. At less than $40, the wine is a superb value in a Troisième Cru Classé that can be enjoyed tonight.
Price: $39.99
2007 Reynon "Old Vines" Bordeaux Blanc
Review Date: 3-11-2009
Denis Dubourdieu, perhaps the foremost expert on the white wines of Bordeaux, has been managing this property since 1976. Mostly Sauvignon Blanc with some Sémillon, this is a crisp, dry white with great breadth on the mid-palate. The 2007 vintage, vinified without oak, is spicy and herbaceous. In the mouth, the wine is rich and round with an underlying minerality. The finish is briskly tart with notes of white grapefruit.
Price: $14.99
2006 St-Pierre, St-Julien
Review Date: 3-11-2009
This wine has not always shared the reputation enjoyed
by its more famous neighbors, but this rich, concentrated and extracted 2006 vintage may change all
that. There is a hint of cocoa on the nose, terrific weight in the mouth and ripe cherry fruit. A complete
wine, beautifully made start to finish!
Price: $49.99
1999 Labegorce, Margaux
Review Date: 6-18-2008
1999 has always been the “middle child” of Bordeaux vintages—friendly, likeable, never making a fuss, but frequently overlooked. Château Labegorce’s vineyards lie just to the north of Château Lascombes and Château Margaux. An old property of excellent reputation, it was nevertheless left out of the 1855 classification, meaning its wines carry a much lower price tag today. The 1999 is forward, aromatic, charming and approachable. Classic Bordeaux at a great price.
Price: $36.99
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