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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
- Gambero Rosso
- 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 - David Driscoll
David Driscoll
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David Driscoll likes to drink alcohol when he is not working at K&L. His main interests include wine, beer, and distilled spirits. Before he worked here he went to college at a decent school, got a masters degree from an OK school, worked as a waiter and taught elementary school in Chinatown. He decided to get into the wine business after reading a few books about wine and realizing that one cannot seriously learn about wine solely through reading. His career goals include: trying to convince K&L customers that he does know something despite his youthful appearance, and learning everything about everything about every single wine ever made.
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Reviews
2007 Baccinetti "La Saporoia" Rosso di Montalcino - "Catzilla"
Review Date: 8-10-2010
Really, really, really, really, really good. This might be my favorite of all the 07 Rossos and that's saying something because there are at least ten legendary wines I've tasted so far. I tasted this at our in-store event, but then took the leftover bottle home. I didn't get around to drinking it until two days after it had been opened and I was floored. I might have to decant for a day if it's going to evolve like this. Beautifully integrated fruit, soft tannins, and gentle acidity. Perfect sangiovese.
Price: $16.99
2005 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino
Review Date: 7-26-2010
Man, I love the 2004 version of this wine, but the 2005 is fantastic as well. Cherry cola flavors jump out on the entry and the tannins are chewy and fine. The 04 is more integrated and better for drinking now, but it wouldn't be a crime to open this. It's very tasty as is.
Price: $36.99
2004 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino
Review Date: 7-26-2010
We tasted this again last week and it is really singing at the moment. The red fruit is beautifully concentrated and, even though it has the stuffing to age, it is sooooooo tasty right now. Just lights up your mouth. Beautiful wine.
Price: $39.99
2008 Sesta di Sopra Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 7-26-2010
This is always the Rosso I look forward to most every vintage. While I love the more earthy, traditional style, Sesta di Sopra manages to add a bit of oak to make the wine richer without sacrificing the wild nature of sangiovese. Loads of cherry fruit with firm acidity and a rich mouthfeel (for sangiovese that is). Another great vintage that rivals the perfect 2007.
Price: $21.99
2008 Tenuta di Sesta Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 7-26-2010
This is a lighter, more easy-going style of sangiovese for those who find it a bit to astringent or bitter. If you've been looking to break into Chianti or Montalcino wines, this has all the flavor and all the fruit in a more delicate package. Even if you are a true Tuscan expert, you'll still appreciate the bright red fruit and juicy mouthfeel with the Tenuta. Another great vintage from these guys.
Price: $14.99
2006 Beaumont, Haut-Médoc
Review Date: 7-14-2010
A fantastic nose, something you could just get lost in, and a rustic more gamey palate intermingling with good fruit. I like this more than I liked the 2005, which is crazy. This is really good Bordeaux for a very good price thanks to the drop in the Euro. Classic Bordeaux
Price: $14.99
2006 Bellegrave, Pauillac
Review Date: 7-14-2010
What a lovely bouquet on this wine, simply gorgeous with hints of coffee that also carry over to the palate. The fruit is a mix of both dark and red, with all the nuance that you expect with good Bordeaux - earth, spice, and minerality. A fantastic wine.
Price: $24.99
1990 Chasse-Spleen, Moulis
Review Date: 7-14-2010
These old Chasse Spleen wines help me to better understand this whole wine aging thing. Why am I supposed to wait 20 years to drink this wine? Oh, this is why: soft, integrated tannins that ease effortlessly over the palate with a combination of flavors that just don't make it into the youthful versions. This is stunning wine that will impress you and whoever you decide to drink it with. Worth the money if you're going to really shell out for something nice.
Price: $119.99
2005 Cordeillan Bages, Pauillac (Was $60)
Review Date: 7-14-2010
What a deal for '05 Pauillac! A very nice wine with complex balance of ripe fruit and rustic earth. A wine that can claim old school Bordeaux style while still appealing to more new world drinkers. I think this will be a big hit with our customers because it truly tastes like good Bordeaux should - a textbook wine.
Price: $31.99
2005 l'Enclos, Pomerol
Review Date: 7-14-2010
Clyde went deep on this wine and I can see why. He's moving more towards the Right Bank these days and this wine helps me to understand his reasoning. It is soft as velvet, but not ripe, rich and smooth - simply gentle. It glides effortlessly over the tongue with subtle notes of red fruit. I'm going to bring this to a dinner of wine snobs who say they don't drink Merlot and watch their faces light up.
Price: $39.99
2006 Reserve de Léoville-Barton, St-Julien
Review Date: 7-14-2010
This wine has the perfect balance of fruit, acidity, tannin, and minerality. There's really not much more to elaborate on. It is simply a perfectly crafted Bordeaux from a vintage I'm really beginning to appreciate more than the 2005s. You'll be happy you bought it if you like Bordeaux.
Price: $29.99
2008 Blason Friulano
Review Date: 3-25-2010
What a gem in our Italian repertoire. I love Friulano and I usually opt for the Ermacora, but this version from Blason is new to the scene is almost as good for five bucks less per bottle. That classic zippiness and fruity aromatic that the most refreshing friulani exhibit is in full effect and a plate of thin sliced salami is definitely in order.
Price: $9.99
2008 Castello di Verduno Basadone (100% Pelaverga)
Review Date: 3-25-2010
100% pela-what? I am always humbled by how much I don't know about Italian wines and this new red from Piedmont made from Pelaverga is totally radical. A thin and lighter styled body with high-tone fruit, but a mouthful of crushed black pepper to boot. This needs a shank of lamb or a spicy pork chop to mellow it out. From Piedmonte, but of a rarely used varietal. Fun, fun, fun.
Price: $24.99
2008 Ruggeri Corsini Dolcetto d'Alba
Review Date: 3-25-2010
Awesome wine. I literally wait with baited breath for these Corsini wines to land every vintage because I just know they're going to be everything I like and more. This is the best dolcetto I've ever tasted from them. It's full of red and blue fruits, has plenty of acidity, and should be a fantastic spring wine to go with a multitude of dishes from meats to cheeses and beyond. Medium bodied and lots of fun.
Price: $13.99
2006 Domaine de Montbourgeau l'Etoile
Review Date: 2-8-2010
I love wines from the Jura because they're just so much more interesting than your everyday bottle. This is a slightly oxidized Chardonnay-based wine that tends towards the Vin Jaune style (which is austere, like a dry sherry) but never relinquishes its fruit. The acidity is tangy and the fruit pops on the entry, allowing the nutty flavors from the oxidation linger gently in the background. A fun, fun wine for cheese or other light snacks.
Price: $19.99
Bruno Michel "Les Rose" Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 10-31-2009
Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow wow! WOW! My God. WOW.............wow. This is very good Champagne.
Price: $49.99
Bruno Michel Premier Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 10-25-2009
This is the bottle that brought me back to Champagne recently. I'm not sure where I had gone, but now I'm back and I'm loving it. This 100% Chardonnay-based wine is rich and shows a bit of barrel aging, while maintaining a crisp and lively palate of bubbles. I could drink it all day long.
Price: $44.99
2009 Silvano Follador Prosecco Valdobbiadene Brut
Review Date: 9-1-2009
All the fruit from in this prosecco is estate grown. The Folladors have decided not to source other fruit and make less wine in order to have complete control over the quality of their fruit. The grape for prosecco is prosecco, which few people seem to know. Fermenation is done in tank, rather than in bottle like champagne, in order to produce large quantities. In 2000, more than 250 million bottles were produced in DOC zone of Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, which recently was granted DOCG status, the highest quality guarantee a region can have. Because of the industrial-size scale of prosecco production, it was K&L’s goal to find a small hands-on operation to directly import. The Valdobbiadene is located northwest of Venice in the Veneto region.
Price: $19.99
2008 Franck Millet Sancerre Blanc
Review Date: 8-30-2009
Great Sauvignon Blanc, perhaps the best price-performing Sauvignon blanc we carry. Graceful grassy notes, wet stones and crushed rocks, zippy acidity, and subtlety. I can't figure out how much I need to buy and it's stressing me out.
Price: $16.99
2007 La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 8-30-2009
This is the best vintage I have ever tasted of La Fortuna and brings back to mind all my fond memories of the 2005: the ruby red fruit on the entry, the full body and acidity on the mid-palate, and the earthy tones on the finish. I am so overwelmed by the 2007 vintage that I don't know what to do. How much will be enough?!
Price: $19.99
2008 Pascal Janvier "Cuvée du Rosier" Coteaux du Loir
Review Date: 8-30-2009
I like red Loire wines, especially when they're made from interesting grapes like Pinot d'Aunis and have a peppery, perfumey nose and a mouthful of juicy fruit and violets, with a lighter yet slightly tannic body. That is why I like the Janvier, because it tastes exactly like what I just described.
Price: $16.99
2007 Pyramid Valley Vineyards "Eaton" Pinot Noir Marlborough (Biodynamic)
Review Date: 8-30-2009
The enticing red fruit on the nose leads to a thick and full-bodied palate of delicious cherry and strawberry notes, with a smooth and luscious finish. This is not Burgundy, but it is definitely not California. Pyramid continues to show that New Zealand has its own style of Pinot Noir and that style is deliciously impressive.
Price: $35.99
2007 Sella Coste della Sesia "Orbello"
Review Date: 8-30-2009
The juicy soft red fruit of barbera and the tannic and earthy structure of nebbiolo: two great flavors together at last! This blend of both grapes shows a nose of black pepper, violets, and red fruit with exactly those same flavors on the palate. The wine needs time to open up, so decant it for a savory, yet fruity experience.
Price: $19.99
2006 Tulbagh Mountain Syrah Swartland (Was $18.99)
Review Date: 8-30-2009
For those in search of interesting wines with highly concentrated flavor, the truly adventurous need to sample this bottle. You've got orange peel, bacon fat, smoke, hickory and even more once you've finished simply inhaling these flavors and get on to tasting them. The palate is full-bodied with just enough structure to stick to your gums. I can't imagine a better pairing for ribs besides beer.
Price: $14.99
2008 Vidal Soblechero "Viña Clavidor" Verdejo Rueda
Review Date: 8-4-2009
The nose of this wine is the epitome of grace - subtle citrus notes mixed with crushed rocks - and the palate continues with tangy, tart acidity. The mineral tones are brillianty interwoven with the other flavors and act as the foundation of the wine's finish, which is long, long, long...Very good wine.
Price: $12.99
2007 Friedrich Becker Estate Pinot Noir
Review Date: 8-3-2009
German pinot noir, usually known as spätburgunder, is slowly gaining relevancy on a global scale. The style is always light in body, lush in texture, and soft fruited. Lush and lazy cherry flavors always mingle with baking spice and forest floor notes. The best of them improve with a couple years patience. This wine from Becker is no exception. The acidity in the ’07 is firm and the wine benefits from some decanting, but the quality is unmistakable.
Price: $16.99
North Shore Gin No. 11
Review Date: 7-29-2009
This is the best gin I have yet tasted and I loooooove gin. Need I say more?
Price: $31.99
2007 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Review Date: 7-28-2009
This wine is perfectly balanced with firm tannins on the entry, great earthy flavors with hints of smoked meats. The wine closes at the back which lets you know that it's not going to show itself for another decade. Be patient, it will be spectacular.
Price: $74.99
2008 Carballal Albariño "Sete Cepas" Rias Baixas
Review Date: 7-15-2009
This is the real deal from Rias Biaxas for far cheaper than most Albarino is going nowadays. The minerality really shines and the subtle flavors of fruit and flowers play a supporting roll in balancing out the wine. This is alwaysa great bottle and it is a big part of the new-found popularity of wines from that region.
Price: $14.99
Tarlant "Zero" Extra Brut Champagne
Review Date: 7-14-2009
Zero dosage! The driest of all champagnes, but it doesn't sacrifice flavor to achieve it. The Brut Zero always sells out as soon as we get it, so make sure that you don't hesitate. It's perhaps the most popular champagne we sell at the RWC store.
Price: $54.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 7-13-2009
This wine is always our answer to the Billecart Salmon, which by the way sells for more than twice as much. This is all about the red Ariston fruit and their champagnes are permanent staff picks. Cherry notes from the pinot noir, crisp and vibrant acidity and brioche flavors swirl together with delicate bubbles. Anyone care for some?
Price: $32.99
2007 Foxglove Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 7-5-2009
Just what you expect from the Foxglove wines, good wines at even better prices. The cabernet is another success from the Varners, whose wines are nothing short of delicious. Juicy and ripe black fruits in a full-bodied and smooth palate. A deal!
Price: $13.99
Arette Artesanal Blanco Suave Tequila 750ml
Review Date: 7-1-2009
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and, now that I'm the spirits buyer, maybe my opinion will hold more weight: Arette makes the best tequila that we carry! The blanco is so elegant and ripe with pure agave flowers, unfettered from any contact with an oak barrel. There are some purists who believe that blanco is the only real tequila, and to them I say, the Arette blanco is tequila in its truest form.
Price: $47.99
2008 Convento Muri-Gries Pinot Grigio
Review Date: 7-1-2009
Pale in color, but vibrant in both the nose and body. Aromas of citrus followed by golden fruits on the palate. Zippy, but not overly acidic, it's refreshing and delicious. Really flavorful Italian pinot grigio.
Price: $14.99
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 750ml (was $30)
Review Date: 7-1-2009
I've heard from a few bartenders that the sign of a quality bar is a bottle of Luxardo sitting on the shelf behind it. It is considered a signal that the bartenders there are committed to using quality ingredients in their libations. It is the only maraschino liqueur that you should ever use and is the ultimate addition to a plate of fresh fruit.
Price: $25.99
2008 Valle Perdido Pinot Noir Neuquen
Review Date: 7-1-2009
This is quality bargain pinot noir and has been for two vintages now. Less sweet and more focused on the berry fruit, the Perdido has had our customers coming back for more on a weekly basis. Not bad for a screwtop Argentine pinot.
Price: $11.99
2004 Pinino Brunello di Montalcino "Clandestino"
Review Date: 6-28-2009
Dark, brooding, and black wine with rich port-like aromas and dark cherry fruit. Hints of chocolate with a full-bodied lush palate, with less structure and tannin than the average Brunello. This is far more elegant and reserved that the standard bottling. It should be spectacular.
Price: $59.99
Los Danzantes "Los Nahuales" Reposado Mezcal 750ml
Review Date: 5-31-2009
So, so smooth and oh-so-smoky. Mezcal has a distinct flavor profile that clearly separates it from tequila, and this bottle highlights those differences. The barrel aging imparts the richness and the vanilla notes, but the smoky, mineral character dominates and lingers long on the finish. I opened this bottle with a group of native Mexicans y tuvimos una fiesta! This is quality mezcal that puts low-grade tequila to shame.
Price: $64.99
Marolo Liqueur made with Grappa and Camomile 375ml
Review Date: 5-20-2009
I was soooooooooooooo skeptical when our Italian expert Mike Parres told me to buy a bottle of this delicious grappa. "Camomile in my grappa? Come on!" I said to him. However, this stuff is exquisite. It's thick, coating, and heavenly with pure notes of fresh camomile gently blended into the more subtle grappa flavors. If you love grappa, you'll love this. If you hate grappa, you'll still love this.
Price: $25.99
Michel Dervin Brut Champagne
Review Date: 5-20-2009
The first descriptors that come to mind when sipping this wine are clean and vibrant. The wine has lots of bright acidity and the palate is light and lean. A blend of 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir, the wine is composed of 95% estate fruit, so you’re getting Dervin’s own quality grapes.
Price: $29.99
2007 Bodega Weinert "Carrascal" Blanco Lujan de Cuyo (was $11.99)
Review Date: 5-19-2009
A unique blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, the wine tastes like a standout Loire Valley blend, but, lo and behold, it hails from South America. Our Latin buyer, Joe Manekin, calls it his favorite wine of the moment and I can see why. The flavors are slightly oxidized with a honeyed, nutty profile, with the zesty citrus of the Sauvignon Blanc sneaking up from the rear. A can't-miss wine for serious white fans.
Price: $9.99
2008 Dominio del Plata "Crios de Susana Balbo" Malbec Mendoza
Review Date: 5-19-2009
I thought this was Pinot Noir when we tasted it. The wine is smooth, juicy, and full of fresh cherry flavors. There are some tannins present on the finish, which to me screams cold-climate Pinot, but not the case here. This is well-made Malbec and it's distinct, as well as delicious.
Price: $12.99
2003 Primitivo Quiles "Raspay" Tinto Alicante
Review Date: 5-19-2009
The last vintage this wine was the K&L staff wine of the year. This release is from the riper 2003 vintage and I think it's going to appeal to the general public a bit more. The flavors are rich, intense, and almost caramelized like a fine Port. The oak is there to support it and the finish is almost Sherry-like. It's always an experience with Primitivo Quiles and I think you all will agree after tasting this bottle.
Price: $22.99
2006 Garrida Dão Portugal
Review Date: 4-7-2009
I bought this to help me prepare for my WSET test. A blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Jaen, the wine has a very distinctive port-like nose, with traces of anise and baking spice. The body is noticeably tannic and with more port-like flavor, but without the sweetness. A very interesting wine for a very reasonable price that will go with most meat dishes.
Price: $15.99
Clear Creek Eau de Vie Pomme 8-year-old Apple Brandy 375ml
Review Date: 3-18-2009
I'm not sure if anyone else read Mr. McCarthy's article in the New York Times about making Eau De Vie spirits, but I was fascinated by the process of how he captured the essence of the Douglas Fir tree in a bottle. This Pomme apple brandy, essentially an American Calvados, is absolutely outstanding and would make the perfect after dinner drink for almost any fine meal. Rich barrel flavors combine with can only be described as the soul of an apple to create a robust, yet smooth drinking spirit. My hat is off to Clear Creek.
Price: $23.99
2006 Rusden "Ripper Creek" Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia
Review Date: 2-25-2009
This wine begins with nice flavors of dark black fruit, with subtle oak nuances and herbal notes. The finish is full of ripe currants and the wine is super silky and smooth. A very impressive bottle to bring for dinner.
Price: $34.99
2004 Adega Cartuxa "Évora" Alentejo
Review Date: 2-22-2009
Earthy aromas lead into gamey, smokey flavors with notes of cloves and other herbs lying in the background. The wine is tannic and gritty and perfect for a big roasted piece of meat. The wine tastes like what Portuguese wine should, and that can be a rare thing these days.
Price: $19.99
2005 Laffitte Teston Madiran
Review Date: 2-16-2009
A big bold wine made entirely of Tannat, a very tannic grape grown in Southwestern France and widely in the appellation of Madiran. The wine needs serious decanting time (maybe even overnight) but the flavors do open up and reward those who wait. Anise and berry aromas complement dark fruit and coffee flavors that can pair well with soft French cheeses, especially a buttery one like Chaumes. Also, Tannat is supposed to have the highest amount of resveratrol, which does wonders for your skin and could help prevent against heart disease!
Price: $19.99
2005 La Dauphine, Fronsac
Review Date: 2-15-2009
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the Dauphine hits all the right notes and tastes like classic Merlot, with the more herbal flavor profile intertwining nicely with the peppery Cab Franc. The Right Bank really made some nice wines in 2005 that many people have simply overlooked. This is one of them!
Price: $24.99
2005 Les Trois Croix, Fronsac
Review Date: 2-15-2009
This fantastic value from Bordeaux is full of earth and black currant with a soft palate, while still remaining more old school in style. I was very impressed at our last Bordeaux tasting and am looking forward to recommending it to those still looking for great leftover '05's.
Price: $19.99
Prunier Liqueur d'Orange 750ml
Review Date: 2-14-2009
This stuff from the famous Prunier Cognac producers is a perfect substitute for Grand Marnier or Cointreau, because, well.....it's better and cheaper! Add a splash with tequila and fresh-squeezed lime juice, or with rum and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Either way you'll be happy with the flavor and the fact that you saved 10 bucks.
Price: $24.99
2006 Pasetti Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Review Date: 1-26-2009
While the grape is not Sangiovese, but rather Montepulciano d' Abruzzo, Chianti fans should take note. This wine has the tannins, the acidity and the richness to pair with pork or other traditional Italian fare, where a more pricy Sangiovese would normally command attention. A big-time staff favorite and a very good deal.
Price: $14.99
Arette Artesanal Reposado Suave Tequila 750ml
Review Date: 1-24-2009
I finally ponied up for the Arette Reposado the other night, after promising myself I would buy it eventually. I opened it for the staff before bringing it home, and everyone literally ooohed and ahhhed just smelling the nose in the glass. The aromas of pure blue agave are intoxicating. The delicacy and grace of the tequila as it slowly coats your mouth is even more impressive. By far the best tequila I have ever tasted; and I've had my share. Arette is known for being a hands-on, old-school distiller as well, so their reputation for quality craftsmanship lives up to the hype. I couldn't recommend it strongly enough.
Price: $59.99
2004 Bergevin Lane "Alder Ridge Vineyard" Horse Heaven Hills Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 12-28-2008
I've hand sold this wine to many Redwood City customers and gotten nothing but rave reviews in return. This Cab from Washington is everything you need in an elegant, full-bodied, smooth-drinking Cab. The wine has the structure to age, but it's so good now that keeping your hands off of it will prove difficult. Some light oak influence adds the texture to lovely dark red fruit flavors. Absolutely amazing.
Price: $24.99
Veuve du Vernay Brut
Review Date: 11-24-2008
This wine will impress you just by not sucking. It is clean, crisp, with round fruit and a pleasant finish. There is no way that anyone will turn down mutliple flutes of the Vernay, especially with orange juice or cassis. The bargain of the holiday season.
Price: $8.99
2007 Domaine des Nembrets Denis Barraud Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Chataigniers"
Review Date: 10-22-2008
All of the whites in stock from Nembrets right now are very, very good and real bargains, if you ask me. I am focusing on the Charaignieres because I feel it is the most impressive of the lot, but this review is intended to bring attention to all of the bottles we currently have. You could close your eyes and pick one blindly and still come out on top. The Pouilly Fuisse is full of limestone, tons of depth, and is long and round on the finish. Yummy.
Price: $19.99
Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon 80 Proof 750ml
Review Date: 10-22-2008
So smooth you won't think it's bourbon. Honestly, the distiller himself said he has problems selling it sometimes because people don't think it's bourbon, but I can vouch for him. It's bourbon alright, and it's divine. Your friends will be asking where you got it.
Price: $21.99
Tessier Cremant de Loire
Review Date: 9-17-2008
Good, good, good, good sparkling wine. Had this at Jeff Vierra's house and thought it was delicious. I asked him what this delicious thing was and, lo and behold, it was the Tessier Cremant that we currently have in the store. This wine is golden and round with wonderful stone fruit flavors and a clean, soft finish. Lucky me that it wasn't some rare bottle from his cellar, but rather an affordable product of which we have copious amounts! Buy, buy, buy! Holiday parties here I come!
Price: $18.99
High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey 750ml
Review Date: 8-12-2008
Who said we had to review just wine? I just remembered that I love whiskey! This High West bottling is a superb blend of two casks that the producer found in the basement of another distiller; a 6 year old and a 16 year old. The flavors are semisweet and caramel-based, but the finish is pure rye. I have to be careful when I pull this bottle out because I might get a little greedy. Then I wouldn't be able to remember how it tasted!
Price: $47.99
1989 François Pinon "Première Trie" Vouvray Moelleux
Review Date: 7-29-2008
The first whiffs of this wine are sublime in a way that no red wine can ever be. Honey, fruit, and citrus all intermingle themselves into a complexity that cannot be justly expressed. If you think I'm being ridiculous it gets better. The palate is salty, sweet and savory simultaneously. Find me another wine that does that! If you find the right cheese, you might have a transformative experience, a religous breakthrough.
Price: $45.99
Franck Bonville "Prestige" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 7-14-2008
This was the first champagne I tasted when I started working at K&L and it is still my favorite, when talking bang for your buck. This blanc de blanc will grab anyone's attention with its grace and its beauty. So elegant a palate for so little a price.
Price: $44.99
2006 Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis Demi-Sec
Review Date: 5-28-2008
The label says demi-sec, but there is no perceptible sweetness to this wine. The nose has delicate aromas of earth and mushroom, followed by a palate so complex and well- balanced that it took me almost the whole bottle to distinguish the delicious flavors. Crisp tart apple definitely functions as the backbone, but there are citrus notes and hints of classic Loire Valley limestone as well.
Price: $19.99
