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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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Staff Favorites - Steve Greer
Steve Greer
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I think I started down the path into the wine world with my first job, at 16, bussing tables in a Chinese restaurant. Blue Nun Riesling was the big seller (this in 1985, so don't laugh). While the Blue Nun Riesling was not an "epiphany" wine, I drank a lot of it. It was a magnum of Robert Sinskey Claret that I shared with friends while watching the 1994 World Cup that got me started reading about wine (Brazil won). My first "wow" wine was that same year, when a customer gave me a glass of 1982 Haut Brion. It was amazing. Next I found pinot noir, specifically a 1994 Whitcraft Bien Nacido, and I was hooked. I knew I wanted to sell wine so I moved from restaurants to wholesale wine sales, working for Metamora in Ohio and Kentucky. But after continued consolidation of distributors and the realization, that in wholesale you wear blinders, tasting only the wines you sell, I knew I wanted to move to the retail side. I would like to say I moved from Cincinnati just for K&L but I left the "Red" state for Los Angeles (a Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals fan in San Francisco just would not do) and I was very lucky to find the K&L store in Hollywood. The rest is history.
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Reviews
2008 Domaine Renaud Mâcon-Solutré
Review Date: 11-17-2009
There are some wines that we direct import which have a following. This is one of those wines. The wine is from a small producer in the Macon. The wine displays beautiful minerality and a wonderful crisp mouthfeel. This wine usually doesn't last long.
Price: $12.99
2007 Fonty's Pool "Single Vineyard" Pinot Noir Pemberton Western Australia
Review Date: 11-17-2009
I know what you are thinking. Australian Pinot Noir. But this is Western Australian Pinot so a bit cooler climate that produces a lighter style Pinot. Lots of red fruit and cherry on the nose and palate with a wonderful soft texture. A great expression of Pinot closer to a New Zealand style for only $13.99.
Price: $13.99
2004 Cantelys Rouge, Pessac-Léognan
Review Date: 11-2-2009
Speaking of a wine that should be sold out as soon as it arrives, the Château Cantelys, made by the Smith Haut Lafite is always a great value. This wine is starting to drink well now and is only $19.99. The nose is still predominately oak with tobacco, cedar and black fruit. The palate is a bit astringent with good acidity, full of black fruit and cedar. It finishes astringent now, but with the fatty, rich foods of Thanksgiving, this wine will be great.
Price: $19.99
2006 Chateau Ducla Experience XIV Blanc, Bordeaux
Review Date: 11-2-2009
The one question I hear at Thanksgiving is “what white wine will go great with Thanksgiving dinner?” I personally feel that Bordeaux Blancs are the best white wine for Thanksgiving and this is one of my favorites. The wine is 46% sauvignon blanc, 46% sauvignon gris and 8% muscadelle. The Sauvignon Gris gives a richer mouthfeel and the Muscadelle provides beautiful aromatics of flowers and honey. On the nose there is plenty of honey, floral and peaches. The mouthfeel is rich and round with lots of peaches and mango but the acidity keeps it balanced. The heady finish is filled with fruit and long. I am surprised this wine is still in the store.
Price: $14.99
2004 Les Allees de Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 11-2-2009
Over the last two years I have really enjoyed the elegance of the wines from Cantemerle. This second label is from the young vines of the Chateau and produces some great value. The best part of this wine is it is drinking well now. On the nose is floral, currant, and some wood spice. The palatte is softer with some astringent tannins and filled with ripe dark fruit and spice. Lots of cedar and oak spice comes through on the finish. A beautifully elegant Bordeaux for only $16.99.
Price: $16.99
2005 Delord, Côtes de Bordeaux
Review Date: 10-29-2009
Admittedly I wasn't sure about this wine.... until we opened it. Lots of black fruit on the nose and on the palate with softer tannins. A surprisingly nice Bordeaux for under $10.
Price: $8.99
2007 Patient Cottat Sauvignon Blanc
Review Date: 10-24-2009
There are a lot of Sauvignon Blancs in the $10 price range but few will offer as much as the Patient Cottat. Very much a Sancerre style for only $10.99. On the nose is melon and citrus notes with the palate showing lots of minerality.
Price: $10.99
Antech "Emotion" Cremant de Limoux Rosé
Review Date: 10-21-2009
If you are looking for a good sparkling at a great price than you should try the sparkling wines from the Limoux region in southeastern Frace. This sparkling is filled with strawberries and raspberries with an elegant mouth-feel. A nice sparkling for $15.
Price: $14.99
2007 La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 10-21-2009
The La Fortuna vineyards come from both north of town (providing spice) and south of town (providing rich ripe fruit). This is another great effort with ripe plum on the nose and palate with heady plum fruit as well as anise spice coming on the finish with really good structure. This is a wine you can drink tonight with some decanting or cellar.
Price: $19.99
Tarlant Brut Zero Champagne
Review Date: 10-21-2009
We just held our Grande Champagne Event in Hollywood and this was one of my favorite Champagnes that I tasted. This Brut Zero is very dry and crisp with bright citrus and pear fruit but also has a wonderful texture due to the use of reserve wines that were in barrel. A beautiful Champagne.
Price: $34.99
2005 Bailly de Camensac, Médoc
Review Date: 10-20-2009
This is the new name and label for the second wine of Camensac. It was a hit at last month’s tasting. The nose is filled with cassis, with rich cassis flavors on the palate. Plenty of tannins and acidity, with cedar and spice on the finish. This is a wine that isn’t going to last long in our stores, since it was also a staff favorite at the tasting.
Price: $19.99
2005 Clos des Jacobins, St-Emilion
Review Date: 10-20-2009
This is the second time I have tried this wine, and I love the depth and structure so much I wish I could purchase a couple cases. Rich fruit fills the nose and palate. Plum, spice, floral notes and herbs are surrounded by a rich mouthfeel and chewy tannins with a long, spiced-filled finish. Treat yourself to this fantastic rich wine and you will want more.
Price: $49.99
2005 d' Arche, Haut-Medoc
Review Date: 10-20-2009
This wine is a part of the Mahler-Besse stable located near Ludon-Médoc just south of Margaux (think La Lagune). This wine has that beautiful cassis nose of classic Bordeaux. Right now the wine is a bit shut down, but nice heady cassis and red fruit come through on the finish. Great structure with plenty of tannins and acidity. There is plenty of potential for this wine after a couple years of cellaring, making it a great option for value 2005 wines.
Price: $24.99
2008 Domaine Begude Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays d'Oc
Review Date: 10-20-2009
This is my favorite of Mulan's "finds" from the south of France. The husband and wife team produces my favorite rose in the store and this great Sauvignon Blanc. Lots of citrus and mineral with great acidity providing a crisp mouth-feel. Think Sancerre "style" at a great price.
Price: $12.99
2005 Domaine de Montalon, Bordeaux Superieur
Review Date: 10-20-2009
If you are a fan of wines that exhibit more earthy, barnyard flavors as well as fruit, this wine is for you. Subtle cherry aromas dominate the nose, but on the palate the fruit takes a back seat to more earth and spice. Plenty of tannins and acidity give the wine structure, and the finish is all barnyard and earth. This is a school night wine at only $14.99, and it will go great with dinner.
Price: $14.99
2006 Joseph Carr Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 10-20-2009
This is my new favorite Cabernet for $20 and under in the store. Joseph Carr started this label in 2005 as a negociant. The 2006 Napa Cabernet is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc all from Napa Valley's top vineyards. Lots of California ripe and fleshy fruit a bit of smoke with good structure and elegant tannins. There is a lot of wine for only $19.99
Price: $19.99
2005 La Fleur Bibian, Listrac-Médoc
Review Date: 10-20-2009
This is the second wine of Château Bibian reportedly made from the young vines at the Château and blended with more Merlot than Cabernet Sauvignon. Just tasted the wine for the second time and it has come together, showing nice black fruit on the nose and the same rich fruit on the palate. The wine shows nice structure as well and would be a great wine to have in your cellar to drink over the next few years while the other 2005's are sleeping.
Price: $13.99
2006 Les Tours de Peyrat Vieille Vignes, Côtes de Blaye
Review Date: 10-20-2009
We couldn’t keep the 2005 vintage of this wine in stock, and I am sure we will have the same problem with the 2006. This wine is from the Côte de Blaye on the Right Bank. Lots of red fruit aromas on the nose and even more red fruit on the palate, with a bit of spice and cedar on the finish that I love. This wine is still a great value.
Price: $14.99
2006 Lugagnac, Bordeaux Superieur
Review Date: 10-20-2009
For only $12.99 this is a nice wine. Located in the Bordeaux Superiour area of the Enter-Deux-Mers, Lugagnac is planted to 50% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine opens up with bright red fruit aromas, followed by lots of red fruit on the palate with good acidity and plenty of astringent tannins. This is my new favorite value Bordeaux. It can be enjoyed tonight with dinner, but you should buy a case and drink over the next year or two.
Price: $12.99
2005 Marquis de Calon, St-Estèphe
Review Date: 10-20-2009
This second label from the third growth Calon-Ségur represents another great value for 2005 even at $35. Cassis and spice fill the nose with the palate showing elegant dark fruit, herbs and spices. The palate exhibits polished tannins and good acidity. The best part of this is wine is the long cassis and heady fruit finish. Lots of wine here for a great price.
Price: $29.99
2008 Weingut Allram Grüner Veltliner (1L)
Review Date: 10-20-2009
For those of you who can't get enough of Gruner Veltliner here is one that we direct import. This is packed with citrus and a just a bit of pepper. This wine is packed with acidity so a great crisp mouthfeel for cocktails or to have with dinner. I love Indian food and this is the perfect wine.
2005 l'Avocat Rouge, Graves
Review Date: 9-2-2009
This property is just across the Garonne river from the first wine in the southern Graves in Cerons. On the nose is lots of red fruits, cedar and herbs. Richer dark fruit on the palate with an elegant mouthfeel, good acidity and polished tannins followed by a long cedar finish.
Price: $17.99
2006 Picard, St-Estèphe
Review Date: 9-2-2009
This was one of my favorites from the last big staff tasting. Good depth on the nose with red fruit, smoke and spice aromas. The tannins were more polished than I expected with dark fruit flavors and spice with good acidity.
Price: $16.99
2007 Plaisir de Siaurac, Lalande-de-Pomerol (was $14.99)
Review Date: 9-2-2009
This is Chateau Siaurac’s second label and I think a steal at $9.99. It starts with a pretty floral nose with bright raspberry aromas following. There's lots of bright red fruits on the palate with good structure, astringent tannins and good acidity.
Price: $9.99
2005 Carignan Prima, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux (was $29.99)
Review Date: 9-1-2009
This is a Modern-style, Merlot-based Bordeaux from the banks for the Garonne river facing the Graves. It has lots of ripe black fruit on the nose with toasty oak in the background. The palate is full of rich black fruit and more toasty oak (this wine see 100% new oak). If you are a fan of ripe California ripe fruit and wanting to try wines from Bordeaux, you should start here.
Price: $19.99
2004 Angelo Sassetti "Pertimali" Brunello di Montalcino
Review Date: 8-6-2009
As you might know the 2004 Brunello vintage is exceptional but you might not be aware of this producer. Angelo's portion of the Pertimali estate is said to be about 17 acres so not much is produced of this Brunello. A light garnet colored wine with spice and dried plum on the nose. A grippy mouthfeel with with anise and plum notes with a forest floor/mushroom finish. I love this Brunello.
Price: $54.99
2007 Cave de Rasteau "Dame Victoria" Côtes du Rhône-Villages Rasteau
Review Date: 8-6-2009
Here is another Rhone from the 2007 vintage that exceeds its price in quality. On the nose lots of floral, herbs and blackberry fruit. The wine has nice structure with good acidity and prominent tannins with dried herbs and black fruit.
Top Value!
Price: $13.99
2007 San Francesco Cirò
Review Date: 8-6-2009
This is my first introduction to Ciro and the grape Gaglioppo and I have to say I am a fan. The first thing I noticed was the decent acidity which is something I didn't expect in a wine from Calabria.
An elegant nose of cherry, spice and slightly floral. On the palate the wine showed medium body with elegant cherry fruit and a nice earthy finish. All this for only $12.99 and now I just need to find some Bucatini all'Amatriciana and I'll be set.
Top Value!
Price: $12.99
2007 Montirius Côtes du Rhône
Review Date: 7-25-2009
This has been my favorite 2007 CdR in the store. It is back and now only $12.99. Besides how good the wine is I love that they are bio-dynamic and use no barrels using only concrete and stainless vats so it is a pure expression of the grapes and vineyards.
The nose is filled with floral, red fruits and a little earth. Lots of black cherry and raspberry on the palate along with a bit of damp earth. Nice structure with medium acidity and just a bit of tannins. Buy as much of this wine as you can.
Price: $12.99
2008 Elsa Torrontes Mendoza
Review Date: 7-21-2009
With the summer heat up and the economy down this crisp thirst quencher for only $7.99 will satisfy on both accounts. Grapefruit and citrus aromas and on the palate. The texture is crisp and refreshing. At this price you can buy a whole case for the summer.
Top Value!
Price: $7.99
1999 Luna Beberide Tinto VdT Castilla y Leon
Review Date: 7-21-2009
If you are a fan of Spanish wines and the Mencia grape then buy as much of this wine as you can. This wine is a blend of Mencia, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot all of which are vinified seperatly with native yeasts. The winery lists the wine sees 26 months in 80% New French oak and 20% American oak barrels.
First you will notice the dark inky color. Tobacco, dried flowers and a plum on the nose. Rich dark fruit at the center surrounded by astringent tannins and medium acidity with a long cassis finish.
Price: $19.99
2008 Domaine Begude Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc Rosé
Review Date: 7-8-2009
First of all Domaine Begude is one of my favorite K&L imports and secondly this is one of my favorite roses every year. I took two bottles to a July 4th party and they were gone in half an hour. All of Begude's wines are organically farmed and the winery, according to the website, "employ a strict minimum intervention policy."
A beautiful salmon color with farmer's market fresh strawberries on the nose. Ripe strawberry fruit fills the palate with crisp acidity for a long refreshing finish. Beautiful and only $12.99
Top Value!
Price: $12.99
2007 Domaine des Escaravailles "Les Sablieres" Côtes du Rhône
Review Date: 7-4-2009
Being a sucker for small family wineries with a story I already wanted to like this wine. The third generation Gilles Ferran took over this winery in Rasteau after graduating at the top of his class at the University of Montpellier. His grandfather purchased parcels in 1953 and dubbed it the Escaravailles after the Occitan word for beetle as well as the black robed monks that were in the area. As for the wine I liked it as much as the story.
Brilliant ruby color with a bright raspberry filled nose. More raspberry fruit on the palate with some earth and spice following through a lengthy finish. Decent structure with medium acidity and some tannins. This wine is a school night wine for both dinner and cocktails. Did I say $12.99
Price: $12.99
2007 La Fenêtre À Côté Santa Barbara Red Blend
Review Date: 6-16-2009
What a fantastic wine for less than $20. When I first saw this wine I wondered how ripe the Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Barbara would be. But the wine is very balanced. Ripe dark fruit on the nose and it explodes on the palate. The wine has a rich mouthfeel and polished tannins. This has been my new favorite dual purpose wine - it plays nice with dinner or just for cocktails.
Price: $18.99
2008 Berger Grüner Veltliner (1L)
Review Date: 5-13-2009
Some of the 2008 Grüners have finally arrived and, while the Berger is always a staff favorite every vintage, this is my favorite from the last few years. Lots of spice on the nose. There's lots of spice, think anise, lots of herbs and minerals on the palate. Great acidity with a clean and crisp mouthfeel. A thirst-quencher that you won’t stop drinking throughout the hot summer. This is another Grüner that usually only lasts a few months so grab it now.
Top Value!
Price: $12.99
2006 Bernadotte, Haut-Médoc (was $19.99)
Review Date: 5-13-2009
This is an elegant wine that displays good quality and a great value. There lots of herbs with subtle red fruit aromas on the nose followed by currants and cedar on the palate. The tannins on this wine are still astringent with good acidity and an a more elegant mouthfeel. The finish is all cedar as well as some herbs and fruit. This wine should be bought by the case.
Price: $14.99
2006 Joanin Becot, Côtes de Castillon
Review Date: 5-13-2009
On the nose, this has lots of toasty oak is in the front with the ripe fruit lingering in the background. But on the palate that ripe sweet fruit takes center stage surrounded by an astringent finish. Lots of spice dominates the finish.
Price: $23.99
2006 Nenin, Pomerol
Review Date: 5-13-2009
I wish I had a few thousand dollars to buy up a few cases of this wonderfully rich wine, which displays lots of depth. Ripe fruit and chocolate fill the nose. The depth comes through on the palate with lush fruit, mineral and spice all wrapped by a rich texture, polished but persistent tannins and good acidity. The heady finish is filled with fruit and mineral. This is a big wine that will age wonderfully.
Price: $49.95
2006 Rouget, Pomerol (was $39.99)
Review Date: 5-13-2009
This was one of my favorites from a recent tasting as well as the customers'. The wine starts with a spicy nose and ripe fruit. Lots of that ripe fruit, spice and smoky cedar fill the mouth with polished tannins. All that spice, smoke and rich fruit lingers on the finish.
Price: $29.99
2006 Clinet, Pomerol (was $69.99)
Review Date: 3-30-2009
Pomerol seems to be the big winner of the 2006 vintage, and this wine is a good example with rich heady nose of ripe fruit and mocha. Nice fruit and spice and chocolate with good structure. What I liked most about this wine was how the structure of the wine balanced all the rich fruit on the palate. The aromas continue throughout the long finish.
Price: $49.99
2006 Corbin, St-Emilion
Review Date: 3-30-2009
This was my favorite of the tasting. On the palate there are lots of layers of flavor - floral, mineral and spice - as the well as the ripe fruit that filled your nose to start. The tannins give nice structure and there is lots of spice on the long finish. My notes read: “this is a dynamite little wine for $25.”
Price: $24.99
2006 Marjosse, Bordeaux (was $15.99)
Review Date: 3-30-2009
This was the wine that most of customers to the Hollywood tasting enjoyed for price and quality. This wine is from Pierre Lurton (Cheval Blanc director) and is Merlot-dominated, providing lots of ripe black fruit that carries on through to the finish. There is good structure on this wine so you can drink it now and over the next few years and it is only $14.99
Price: $12.99
2005 Bad Boy Bordeaux
Review Date: 2-20-2009
Most people’s first thought is that this wine was made for the American market, but it is more about the anthem of the “garagiste” winemakers that are breaking with tradition and making wines that they want to drink. I think this wine is a nice blend of rich ripe fruit, but it's still structured. The tannins have relaxed since we first tried this wine last summer. Lots of ripe black fruit with a polished mouthfeel. This wine has a bit less acidity than other ’05s, but the astringency is still there. All of this makes it a wine for California Cabernet fans wanting to try Bordeaux.
Price: $19.99
2005 Benjamin de Sansonnet, St-Emilion
Review Date: 2-20-2009
I think this might be my favorite Right Bank Bordeaux from the '05 vintage, especially when you take value and quality into consideration. This wine delivers rich layered black fruit and lots of chocolate. The tannins are polished giving the wine a beautiful mouthfeel, ripe and powerful and all for under $30. This a 2005 that you should buy in bulk.
Price: $26.99
2005 Gigault "Cuvee 'Viva," Côtes de Blaye
Review Date: 2-20-2009
This Merlot-dominated wine provides lots of ripe black fruit aromas and even more richness on the palate with oak flavors in the background. This richness is balanced with good acidity, nice astringency and a good tannic backbone. A nice Right Bank wine for only $20.
Price: $19.99
2005 Quinault L'Enclos, St-Emilion
Review Date: 2-20-2009
If you open this wine for a party watching basketball make sure you open it a few hours ahead of time or just buy a bunch and lay it down. This is a beautiful layered wine. The layered nose is filled with fruit and floral notes and than more layers on the palate. Big ripe fruit balanced with mineral and spice flavors. This wine has a lot to give with patience either in decanting or cellaring.
Price: $49.99
2005 Le Castelet, Pomerol (was $44.99)
Review Date: 1-6-2009
The nose is dominated by oak, but the ripe red fruit comes through on the palate and it is surrounded by grippy tannins followed by a smoky, toasty oak finish. This wine is more Left Bank in style to me and at only 12% abv it is also very elegant. A very good Pomerol for only $40.
Price: $29.99
2007 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken
Review Date: 12-29-2008
A wonderful medium-dry Riesling from one of my favorite producers in the Mosel. Apple, floral and slight petrol aromas on the nose. Apple and citrus along with spice and mineral flavors all of which is wrapped by a hint of sweetness.
Price: $23.99
2005 Maurac, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 11-26-2008
During our latest Bordeaux tasting this is the wine I kept coming back to. On the nose the oak comes first, as well as a little cedar, and then heady black fruit as the wine opens up. The tannins on this wine are somewhat polished with nice balanced acidity and rich black fruit followed by an astringent finish. What a great wine for under $20. I really love these northern Medoc wines for value Bordeaux.
Price: $17.99
2006 Poggiarellino Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 11-25-2008
Beef jerky under a sweaty saddle after a day of riding. That is what this wine smells like and it is great!!! If you love earthy, mushroomy and barnyardy wines, this is for you. This is definitely a food wine, and if you have it with lamb or steak or even grilled pork chops you are in for a treat. This is a traditional Rosso di Montalcino (baby Brunello) that is ready to drink now. I had this wine with grilled steak kabobs and the underlying rich fruit comes through followed by layers of spice and tobacco. Each time I have this wine I love it more and can’t believe it is only $17.99.
Price: $17.99
2005 Celler de Capcanes "Mas Donis" Barrica Montsant
Review Date: 11-19-2008
If you are a fan of Cotes du Rhone wines then I would suggest trying this wine. Montsant is becoming one of my favorite wine-growing areas, providing affordable "Priorat-style" wines. This wine has a dark color with vanilla and red fruit aromas. On the palate it starts off astringent, but it is followed by nice focused red fruit and a long finish.
Top Value!
Price: $10.99
2003 Belle-Vue, Haut-Medoc
Review Date: 8-21-2008
When I met winemaker Remy Fouin I was struck by how
excited he got about his fermenters. They are made out of broken brick that gets watered and then naturally controls temperature without the use of machines. He is a very passionate winemaker and this
wine delivers that passion and much more. Aromas of dark fruit and lots of cedar. He uses 100% Hungarian oak, which he feels is sweeter. I think the wine’s texture is the highlight. A tight little package for $20.
Price: $19.99
2005 Chasse-Spleen, Moulis
Review Date: 6-18-2008
This wine is a steal though I feel guilty drinking it so early. All the classic Bordeaux aromas are here: cassis, cedar, spice, earth and smoke. Give this wine a few years; the tannins and acid dominate, but the sweet fruit in the background tells of great things to come.
Price: $39.99
2005 Coufran, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 6-18-2008
Coufran is north of St-Estèphe, where heavier soils are wellsuited to merlot. The château is planted with 85% merlot and 15% cabernet sauvignon.With a bit of
decanting this wine really opened up and with each sip I enjoyed it even more. Very dark in color, the
nose provides both rich fruit and some oak. It opens with a mix of rich cassis and nice acidity, but its
tannins are still astringent. Give this beauty some time to age.
Price: $16.99
1999 Labegorce, Margaux
Review Date: 5-20-2008
You have probably never heard of this chateau, but the estate's wines date back to 1868 and there are records of the land belonging to the family (La Begorce) dating back to 1332. The estate was split up after the French Revolution and then reunited by Hebert Perrodo. Apparently his dream was to purchase all three parcels, but he was tragically killed in a skiing accident in 2006. His family has continued the project and the wines themselves seem steeped in this long history. They're “old school” in style and show their best when consumed with a meal.
The 1999 displayed aromas of sweet black fruit, which also comes through on the palate filling it with an almost liqueur-like sweetness with a background of spice and lots and lots of acidity.
Price: $36.99
De Meric Grande Reserve Sous Bois Brut Champagne
Review Date: 5-12-2008
The first word I wrote when I tried this champagne was beautiful. After reviewing my notes I want to add value. At $34.99 you will feel lucky when you taste what's in the bottle. On the nose fruit and brioche aromas mingle. Within the elegant texture lies a combination of both zesty and ripe fruit with more toasty flavors. What I enjoyed most, thougha was the lingering finish. This phantom memory makes me wish I had a glass right now.
After researching De Meric I am even more of a fan. Sous Bois (“under wood”) refers to the use of oak barrels for 50% of the base wine with the other 50% in stainless. The blend comes from all premier cru and grand cru vineyards, giving a cru rating (the echelle des cru) of 97%. Champagne doesn’t need a special occasion, so open it on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy.
Top Value!
Price: $34.99
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