95 points Wine Spectator: "A mature Champagne from a great vintage. This is lean, yet mellows nicely to a toasty bubbly flavored with lemon and candied ginger. It still has its racy structure and is beginning to take on a smoky note. The long finish evokes roasted hazelnut, smoke and mineral. Drink now through 2023." (11/08) Our Notes: This wine was first released in 1997, but a portion was held back and recently disgorged. It is composed of 1/3 Chardonnay and 2/3 a combination of Pinot Noir and Meunier. From a vintage that is fast becoming my pick for... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

91-92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright, saturated medium ruby. Vibrant aromas of crushed boysenberry, blueberry and mineral scents. Thick, fresh, youthful and sweet; a real fruit bomb on the nose and palate. Finishes very long, with big, ripe tannins. This really transcends the vintage." (May/June 01) 90 points Robert Parker: "The dense plum/purple-colored 1999 offers up aromas of truffles, underbrush, espresso, black cherries, and roasted meats. The wine is powerful and muscular with high extract and mouth-searing tannin, it is... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This Champagne started in 1875, thanks to Emile Marguet, who since 1883 has tended his best vineyards of the Cote des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, in preparation for the arrival of phylloxera. Today, this domaine's top bubbly is the Cuvee Maxime, made only in years that merit it! 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Shows a lot of mineral and oriental spice in the nose, and those scents really opened up after a few minutes in the glass. The terroir shines through. When asked to compare it to wines from previous vintages, Mr. Prats mentioned it reminds him of the 1985 though not quite as fat. Superb length. The wine shows its Cabernet tannins, but they’re well integrated. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot in the vineyard, and in the blend. 55% new oak. Only 40% of the crop went into the grand vin. 21,000 cases produced. According to Robert Parker: "The dark ruby-co... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "A fine mature claret with an impressive freshness. Excellent ruby color with subtle aromas of cherry and green tobacco. This wine shows vivid fruit flavors with mineral undertones and a fine silky texture of tannins. Delicious now but should improve." (10/94) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

90 points Wine Spectator: "This mature red shows a light brick color, with delicate aromas of spice, dried fruit and rose. Supple and still lively, offering flavors of dried berry, tea, vanilla and spice. This whispers rather than shouts, but has distinctive character. For fans of the traditional style. Drink now. 416 cases made." (06/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

94 points Wine Spectator: "Very stylish and big, with a classy balance of fruit and tannin. Deep ruby-purple, with a multidimensional nose of perfume and grapes, full-bodied, tannic and tightly knit." 90 points Robert Parker: "This is an extraordinary house that seems to have been particularly successful with its vintage port since 1977.The 1983 is rich, concentrated, very fruity, and magnificently perfumed, suggesting that it is going to mature early, long before the 1977." (Web only, 1989) 90 points Robert Parker: "This is an extraordinary house that... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Bonville is sold out of this vintage in 750's, so I guess we will have to drink it from magnum! The 2002 vintage is fantastic for the Cotes de Blancs wines, with much in common with the great 1990 harvest. The Bonville family owns 50 acres of Grand Cru vineyards and uses exclusively estate fruit in this wine. This Champagne is a great example of how much more wine you get for less money compared to a big name non-vintage Champagne when the export brokers, import companies and distributors are taken out of the deal. This is 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Wine Spectator: "One of the great buys of the vintage. Dark-colored, sporting loads of minty, berry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with plenty of velvety tannins and a long, rich finish. Built for aging." (05/99) 90 points Robert Parker: "The 1989 Meyney is one of the finest Meyneys ever produced. The opaque, black/ruby color, a bouquet of minerals and damson plums, the alcoholic, massive flavors and the mouthcoating tannins all combine to create a sensory overload. The 1989 will prove uncommonly long-lived as well as profound... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

This is 100% Chardonnay from the walled Clos of Cazals in Oger. In the past, fruit from this vineyard was joined with that of Mesnil sur Oger for a stupendously good Champagne. Then it occurred to Cazal that its very own Clos might make wonderful and wonderfully original bubbly! Brilliant, luminous, with notes of citronella, hawthorn, rose and violet with apple, pear and citrus on the palate. The bubbles on this one are as fine as fine can be, and the finish brings in subtle cedar and oak. A distinctive style, but one that will find wide appeal! 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

94-96 points Robert Parker: "Hints of ripe pears, lemon butter, tangerines, and crushed rocks emerge from the 2004 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard, an elegant yet authoritatively flavored effort with a striking minerality, zesty acidity, and a spectacular finish. The good news is that there are 2,700 cases of this cuvee." (12/05) 92 points Wine Spectator: "Complex, with a roasted marshmallow edge from toasty oak. There's a medium-bodied mix underneath of sleek citrus-infused pear, anise, melon and hazelnut flavors that linger and turn elegant. Drink now t... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

While the renowned 1996 vintage Brut from Fleury has taken much of the acclaim, the 1995 is not to be overlooked. Even at this point, the 1996 is still tight while the 1995 expands upon the palate with bright, tart cherry fruit with hints of mandarian oranges when it is first opened. In the background, stone fruits, apple butter and nutmeg spice. As an added bonus, Fleury Champagne is biodynamic and has a long history of "green" farming methods. The entire estate was converted to biodynamics by 1992. "We leave the earth to our children," has been the say... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90-93 points Robert Parker: "Smoky, sweet, black and red currant aromas jump from the glass of this intriguing, saturated purple-colored wine. Some new oak is noticeable in the background. The wine's attack exhibits terrific purity of fruit, more acidity than many 1994s, and sweet, ripe tannin, all packed into a tightly wound, medium to full-bodied wine that only hints at its ultimate potential. This is not a large-scaled 1994, but it is a beautifully etched wine with considerable personality. I suspect it will be accessible when released in 1-2 years, b... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

4 stars Michael Broadbent: "The best of nine of its peers in 1993, its bouquet fully developed, fragrant, a touch of figs, very sweet, chewy, attractive in 1998 and showing well at the Decanter tasting [Dec 1999]: mature, good flavour, good length - for an 83." 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Robert Parker: "The wine's opaque purple color is followed by a promising sweet, smoky, chocolatey, licorice, and blackcurrant-scented nose, and deep, powerful, full-bodied flavors. Abundant tannin in the finish suggests this is a Private Reserve to lay away for 2-3 years...Aromatically, the 1993 Private Reserve is rewarding, but after the initial attack of sweet fruit, the wine's tannin takes precedence. It is an outstanding wine, but more of a long-term prospect. Compared with the flattering precociousness of the 1994, 1992, 1991, and 1990, t... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

A bigger, bolder Conn Valley than in the past. Very hearty with tons of tobacco and intense currant fruit. Complex and well worth cellar space. Received 90-92 points from Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate… 'The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon may turn out to be the finest Conn Valley Cabernet since 1990. The wine is the sweetest and richest of recent vintages, with nicely integrated tannin, a dense, deep, ruby/purple color, velvety texture, and the seamless quality possessed by many 1994s. It should drink well for 20 years. As I have said before, the Caberne... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

92 points from Parker: "If you missed out on Robert Mondavi's 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, try to find a few bottles of the sumptuously rich, decadent, showy 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve that is about to be released. It is a sweeter, riper, more unctuously-styled Cabernet. While it may lack some of the classicism of the 1991 Reserve, it is a super-rich, full-bodied, flamboyant, unctuously-textured wine that should drink well for 20+ years." (12/95) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Wine Spectator: "A solid effort, with a tight band of herb, currant and cherry. Well balanced, with a pleasing dash of toasty oak, it holds together nicely on the finish. With its tannic strength, best to try it after 1999." (02/97) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

One of my favorite producers of Barolo. Elio Grasso is making monumental wines with great balance and classic varietal character. Split between the worlds of new wave and traditonal Piemontese winemaking Elio has been able to fuse the two incorporating the best of both. Micro-oxygenation and large oak barrels give the wine more suppleness, more depth, smoothness without giving up the fruit or terroir of Barolo. Simply stunning wine. 2 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Wine Spectator: "Loads of plum, berry and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Very well done and superfine. Best after 2008. 6,665 cases made." (01/01) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Dark red. Plum, currant, tar, tobacco, smoke, cedar and minerals. Supple and dense, with excellent precision of crystallized red berry flavors thanks to ripe acids and firm minerality. Very dry, sophisticated finish is long and gripping. The merlot was even better in '98 than in '00, said Sanders, but i... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to Robert Parker: " The 1988 vintage attests to a remarkably auspicious start for the new Domaine Leroy in Vosne-Romanee." (01/90) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

The largest of Royal Tokaji’s first growth vineyards, Betsek Vineyard is shaped like a half-moon and tilted northeast. The area where the vineyard is located is typically cold, lower portions of the vineyard have been known to actually freeze in the spring. The soil is dark humus mixed with volcanic clay, producing weighty, pungent wines with an earthy character. 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

Recently rediscovered in Krohn's cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, the rare 1964 white Colheita Port is made from malvasia fina, viosinho, donzelinho, gouveio and códega. It is antique gold in hue, dense and rich. Powerful aromas still distinguish the nose and the palate is velvety with good balanced between sweetness and tannins with a long finish. 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

This bottling comes exclusively from Kistler and Dutton Ranch vineyards in the Russian River Valley. The title is a testament to the mineral and hazelnut scented wines Kistler produces from these Russian River Valley soils. Complex aromas of ripe fruits, spices, toasted almond and hazelnut. Rich and expressive, with a long, lingering finish. Delicious now or will benefit from further aging. 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "Intense, concentrated, and well focused, with tiers of rich cherry, berry, chocolate and toasty oak flavors that are framed by firm, chewy tannins. Best to cellar until 1994 or '95." (03/91) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

91 points Robert Parker: "The 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve displays a dense purple color, followed by a sweet, jammy, black plum, and cassis-scented nose, no obvious oak, full-bodied, spicy flavors with moderate tannin, and exceptional concentration. The wine reveals a youthful appearance and personality. There is enough fruit to cover the strong tannin in the finish. It should be cellared for 3-5 years and consumed over the next two decades. Ken Deiss, the winemaker at Flora Springs, thinks that the 1994 and 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon vintages have more... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Ripe and rich, offering plenty of blackberry, pepper and anise flavors that remain vibrant through the finish. The tannins have some bite to them, so best to cellar into 1999." (11/97) According to Robert Parker: "Henschke, one of Australia’s oldest and most renowned wineries continues to perform at a high level." 

Inventory: Redwood City

Four stars from Michael Broadbent: 'Already mature, and rich, earthy, scented nose; some sweetness, nice weight, silky tannins. A delight. 

Inventory: Redwood City

Bruno Lemoine of Fleury packed this in, along with his Doux and regular Brut of the same vintage for our two-city Champagne tasting event. Tasting three vintage Champagnes, identical except the dosage, is a rare treat for me and a first for many that came to our tastings. Fantastically full-bodied, bone dry at one 3.5 grams of sugar per liter, and with contrasting flavors of mushroom and chalk, I think this wine has it all. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Wine Spectator: "Classic Cabernet aromas and flavors, a bright beam of currant flavor shining through the toasty, vanilla and brown sugar complexity. Very seductive and elegant." (07/89) 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

93 points and a Cellar Selection designation from Wine Spectator: "An intense wine that weaves together a pretty array of ripe cherry, currant and spicy oak flavors, and adds a trim of earthy character. Very well focused, young and vibrant, but needs at least until 1999. Tasted twice, with consistent notes." (06/95) 91 points Robert Parker: "It seems like yesterday that Ric Forman began his career, yet he is now one of California's veteran wine-makers. From his early days (nearly 20 years ago) at Sterling he has built an impressive resume. The proprietor... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

The steep rocky slopes of the vineyards at Mayacamas yield small crops of tiny grapes. This small fruit is intensely flavored and results in very full character development in the wines. Winemaker Robert Travers designs winemaking procedures to preserve this intensity. 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Wine Spectator: "Tightly wound, firm and crisp, with a complex core of plum, black cherry, blackberry, cedar and toasty oak. Finishes with a rich aftertaste and fine length. Best from 2001 through 2008. 613 cases made." (09/99) According to Robert Parker: "Readers should be aware that Hartwell's labels are confusing in that the vineyard designation is at the bottom right hand side of the label. Their dark ruby-colored 1996 Sunshine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon offers an attractive bouquet of cedar and spice, open-knit, ripe flavors, medium body... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Wine Spectator: "Lots of concentrated fruit flavors with sweet cherry, raspberry and plummy fruit that's very ripe. It's full-bodied and fairly tannic on the finish, but altogether it's a well made wine. Needs some time in the bottle to smooth out." (09/87) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

One of the successes of the vintage. Meaty, spicy nose; ripe flavors, dense, and firm on the palate. Still has life in it. (Joe Zugelder, K&L Old and rare Buyer) 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points Robert Parker: "Tasting through Robert Mondavi's portfolio continues to reinforce my impression that this winery is undeniably the spiritual and qualitative leader of that sector of the California wine industry dedicated to producing world-class wines. What is so admirable about the entire Mondavi operation is that they continue to push their wines to higher and higher qualitative levels. Their nearly obsessive pursuit of bottling the wines with no manipulation has led to the majority of Mondavi's white wines being bottled without filtration - ... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Wine Spectator: "Superclean and racy. Medium-dark garnet color, with pretty plum, floral and currant aromas. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, very fine finish.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2002." (08/2000) 

Inventory: Redwood City

92 points Robert Parker: "Forman's 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon may be this winery's best effort to date. This deep purple-colored wine displays a super-expressive nose of blackcurrants, licorice, and vanillin. With a beautifully etched, medium to full-bodied feel, exquisite concentration, decent acidity, and firm but soft, sweet tannins, this is a graceful, authoritatively flavored Cabernet for drinking over the next 12-15 years." (06/93) 

Inventory: San Francisco

Rated 95 points Wine Spectator, upon release, and desribed as: "Soft, lush and elegant, but with a steely backbone and complex Cabernet flavor." (02/87) According to Robert Parker: "A decent deep ruby color is followed by light intensity aromas of herbs, cherries, and vanillin. Rich fruit jumps from the glass...Charming in a lighter, medium-bodied style." (08/94) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Wine Spectator: "This has an earthy, leathery edge to the currant and cherry flavor, but it turns supple and elegant on the finish." (11/94) 

Inventory: San Francisco

"Marc and Therese Maniere have been running this family domaine since 1972, and today make their wine by Accad methods: total destemming, and a week-long maceration a froid before fermentation. After that the wine is matured using a goodly proportion of new oak. In recent years they have ceased selling off any of the produce in bulk. There are good things here..." (Clive Coates, "Cote d'Or") 

Inventory: Redwood City

94 points and a Spectator Selection designation from the Wine Spectator: "Distinct currant, cassis, cherry and vanilla flavors are elegant and well focused with harmonous tannins and subtle oak flavors around the edges. It's well balanced and very pretty, finishing with cassis-like flavors. Drink in 1994." (12/88) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90 points from the Wine Spectator (Aug. 1992) From Robert Parker...'This 1982 is plump, rich, and concentrated...It offers thick, jammy fruit...There is some tannin in the finish.' (Dec. 1995) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

91 points and "Highly Recommended" designation from Wine Spectator: "Bold, ripe, smooth and polished. The layers of plum, currant, cherry and blueberry flavors are focused and lively right through the finish. Has the tannin and concentration for cellaring through the decade." (10/94) 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points Robert Parker: "This is a strikingly delineated St.-Emilion with an opaque ruby/purple color, and aromas of black currants, blackberries, and wet steel/liquified minerals. The layered, rich, intense 1999 possesses superb fruit purity and medium to full body. This is one of the most concentrated and potentially longest-lived wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025." (04/02) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

91 points Robert Parker: "The elegant, Coche-Dury-styled 2000 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch reveals notions of orange marmalade, liquid minerals, lemon rind, and citrus. Leesy/hazelnut qualities are also present in this medium-bodied, rich, delineated, French-styled Chardonnay. It will drink well for 5-6 years." (08/02) 91 points Wine Spectator: "Shows off fresh bread dough and toasted grains, with a tight core of pear and citrus-scented fruit, and light cedary oak. Gains complexity on the finish, with hints of anise and citrus, and the acidty is vibrant and ... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

93 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "True gold, but remarkably youthful for its age. W ild, complex bouquet of pungent flowers, succulent herbs, orange peel, violet, vanilla, toasted nuts and baking spices. Rich, deep and beautifully concentrated, with surprising energy to the ripe pear and poached apple flavors complemented by marzipan and vanilla. This actually tightens up on the finish, showing a lingering exotic, spicy character. You could drink this right now or even hold it for a few more years." (Sept/Oct 2006) 93 points fro... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Champagne Fleury has been around since 1895, releasing their first bubbly in 1929. The vineyards themselves are located on steep slopes that have a calcareous clay soil and see ample amounts of sun, so the grapes have an outstanding ripeness. Continental and oceanic climates combine for cool mornings and nice bursts of heat in the afternoons. Fleury was one of the first vineyards to start converting to biodynamics, too, beginning in 1989 and completing the process for all of their vineyards by 1992. This is a high dosage Champagne, but do not think for a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Allen Meadows: "Wonderfully complex and delectably expressive nose with truffle, earth and game notes that lead to medium weight, nicely rounded flavors of good richness and fine length... it is a clear success for the vintage and perfect now." (Tasted: Nov 17, 2001) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

5 stars from Broadbent! 91 points Wine Spectator: "There is plenty of grip and backbone here. Deep purple, with concentrated grape and violet aromas, full-bodied, with huge grapy flavors, excellent backbone and a long finish." (web only, 1989) 90 points Robert Parker: "This house makes rather restrained yet rich, flavorful vintage port and a very good tawny called Nimrod. Their vintage ports seem slow to develop, and while they never quite have the voluptuous richness of a Dow, Graham, or Fonseca, they have a unique mineral-scented character that gives... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco