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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
- James Halliday
- James Suckling
- Malt Advocate
- 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 - Ralph Sands
Ralph Sands
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Ralph is the senior Bordeaux specialist on the sales staff. In between trying to break into professional baseball, Ralph was picking up hours at a K&L store in Millbrae. Back then it was more about kegs and cheap booze, and both Ralph and K&L have evolved since that time. Since those long ago days in 1978, Ralph has visited his beloved Bordeaux 37 times, evaluated 19 straight vintages and has escorted over 200 customers to Bordeaux on his "Taste and Golf the Greats Tours of Bordeaux". Ralph has also conducted tasting seminars in 9 different states as well as in France, Spain and Hong Kong. Ralph's passion for wine reaches far beyond Bordeaux; to the fine wine regions of Burgundy, Loire, Rhone, Germany, Oregon and of course his home state of California.
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Reviews
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2012 Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-3-2013
** Established in 1525! The 64% Merlot in the blend pretty much tells the story of 2012. They started to pick the Merlot on Sept 17th and in good conditions. This wine is so delicious, rich but not heavy and seriously grapey. This wine is perfectly extracted with a lovely long finish. I love it.
Price: $369.99
2012 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (3L) Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-3-2013
** Established in 1725!There is just no stopping the fantastic roll of quality here! The perfectly ripe blueberry and blackberry fruit is focused and is amazingly fresh! Firm but round tannins and new oak is the framework for this great tasting PC that is accessible and invigorating. Hats off to Alfred Tesseron for giving the world good reason to be excited about buying the best wines made in 2012 as he drops his price to 1/3 the price of his 2009 and 2010 now in the marketplace.
Top Value!
Price: $399.99
2012 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (1.5L) Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-3-2013
** Established in 1725!There is just no stopping the fantastic roll of quality here! The perfectly ripe blueberry and blackberry fruit is focused and is amazingly fresh! Firm but round tannins and new oak is the framework for this great tasting PC that is accessible and invigorating. Hats off to Alfred Tesseron for giving the world good reason to be excited about buying the best wines made in 2012 as he drops his price to 1/3 the price of his 2009 and 2010 now in the marketplace.
Top Value!
Price: $199.99
2012 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-3-2013
** Established in 1725! There is just no stopping the fantastic roll of quality here! The perfectly ripe blueberry and blackberry fruit is focused and is amazingly fresh. Firm but round tannins and new oak is the framework for this great tasting PC that is accessible and invigorating. Hats off to Alfred Tesseron for giving the world good reason to be excited about buying the best wines made in 2012 as he drops his price to 1/3 the price of his 2009 and 2010 now in the marketplace.
Top Value!
Price: $96.99
2012 Troplong Mondot, St-Emilion Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 5-3-2013
** This has been one of the Right Banks finest wines for a long time, but was just elevated to one of the 14 Premier Grand Cru Class B estates last year. Vineyards were planted here before the Chateau was built in 1745. An absolute success! The wine is very ripe but not over extracted, it is soft with silky smooth red fruits and round tannins. This is a tasty wine that people will love and give great pleasure young. 2012 at its best, and a great value at a reduced price from 2011 even though the 2012 is a much better wine!
Price: $79.99
Canard-Duchêne "Authentic" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 3-27-2013
Lovely Chamapagne! Super clean and elegant with a very nice dry finish; a real crowd pleaser and fine value.
Price: $29.99
2009 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien
Review Date: 3-13-2013
Deep, grapey, masculine wine. It was really good the second time we tasted it.
Price: $129.99
Price: $79.99
2009 Clos Fourtet, St-Emilion
Review Date: 3-11-2013
Loved it every time we tasted it. Sweet, silky dark purple fruit.
Price: $329.99
2009 Calon-Ségur, St-Estèphe
Review Date: 3-5-2013
I agree. This is their best since 1995. When Calon is good, it's really good.
Price: $119.99
2010 Goulée, Médoc Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 3-4-2013
Excellent deep nose, strong but rounded. A touch drying on the finish with a mixture of earth and oak.
Price: $27.99
2010 Pagodes de Cos, St-Estèphe Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 3-1-2013
Tasty red fruit, good, firm acidity and a lively hint of black licorice.
Price: $69.99
2010 Reserve de la Comtesse Lalande, Pauillac Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-18-2013
Hints of orange peel and passion fruit. Harmonious tannins.
Price: $64.99
2010 Gloria, St-Julien Pre-Arrival
Review Date: 2-18-2013
Very nice, high-toned and solid. Could be a value.
Price: $51.99
Price: $599.99
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