99 points and #8 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Shows excellent color and richness for a Sangiovese, with aromas of sultana, coffee, toasty oak and vanilla bean. Full-bodied, with masses of fruit and chewy tannins. The concentration and depth of fruit and layers of tannins leave me speechless. A blockbuster. Best after 2014." (10/09) 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Flaccianello della Pieve (Sangiovese) is just as extraordinary as it was when I tasted it from barrel. This spectacularly ripe and concentrated wine reveals... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Ornellaia flows from the glass in a profound expression of ripe, dark fruit. With time in the glass layers of minerals, cassis, tar, sweet herbs and French oak emerge, adding further complexity. This harmonious Ornellaia combines the richness of the vintage with superb freshness and awesome balance. Today the wine’s sheer density almost manages to hide the tannins, but they are there, and the wine will ultimately benefit from a few years in the cellar. The 2006 Ornellaia is one of the highlights of this ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

99 points and #8 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Shows excellent color and richness for a Sangiovese, with aromas of sultana, coffee, toasty oak and vanilla bean. Full-bodied, with masses of fruit and chewy tannins. The concentration and depth of fruit and layers of tannins leave me speechless. A blockbuster. Best after 2014." (10/09) 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Flaccianello della Pieve (Sangiovese) is just as extraordinary as it was when I tasted it from barrel. This spectacularly ripe and concentrated wine reveals... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The 2003 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a super-ripe, opulent wine that resembles the 1997 in its generous, full-bodied personality. The tannins are surprisingly well-balanced within the context of this challenging vintage. The 2003 should drink well relatively early for this Riserva. All things considered, this is a superb effort. Production was down sharply in 2003. The estate bottled just 13,000 bottles of this wine compared to the typical production of 23,000 bottles. Anticipated maturity:... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

One bottle each of the 2003 Valdicava Brunello (95 points Wine Spectator, 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate), the 2003 Costanti Brunello (93 points each Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 91 points Wine Spectator) and the 2003 Ciacci Piccolomini "Pianrosso" (92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points each Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar and Wine Spectator). This 3-pack represents an incredible savings, like getting an entire bottle of Brunello for free! Moreover, I love these wines - the Valdicava's ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

92 points Wine Spectator Insider: "Rich and subtle, delivering plum, berry and ripe strawberry character, with dried mushroom undertones. Full, with a ripe, velvety tannin backbone and beautiful fruit. Features coffee and berries on the finish, with bright acidity. Best after 2011." (04/09) 18.5 points (out of 20) from Jancis Robinson " A rich, broad palate of flavours here: tomato, earthy, cherry, vanilla, violets, tannin that grips the mouth with gentle force and a funky cheesiness grated on top. Excellent. 13.5% Drink 2011-21" 4 Stars from K&L's Ita... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

95 points and #13 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Chocolate, blackberry and black cherry aromas lead to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a deep concentration of fruit. Powerfully rich and polished. Big and structured. Best after 2012." (10/09) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Fontalloro is much more sweet and open than the firmer Rancia. Enticing, expressive aromatics lead to an expansive core of fruit. Round, finessed tannins give the wine an additional level of polish. Today the Fontalloro is fleshier an... Read More » 

Inventory: Special Order

95 points Wine Spectator "Shows ripe strawberry, raspberry and plum pudding. Full-bodied, with loads of ripe, juicy fruit. Chewy and tannic, yet polished. Big and powerful. Best after 2012. 270 cases made." (07/09) 94 points Wine Enthusiast: "The Brunate cru with its excellent exposure and thicker soils is usually known for its hearty, deeply concentrated wines. Instead, here we find an elegant almost feminine expression with pretty nuances of vanilla, forest berry and dried violets. It certainly does not lack power or concentration, and the delivery is... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo is seriously dark, rich and intense. Dark cherries, tobacco, herbs and minerals come together in this brooding, weighty Vigna del Sorbo. Today the wine comes across as completely closed and folded in on itself, but with time it should emerge as a beauty. The elegance of the superb 2004 seems missing, and this looks to be an especially concentrated vintage for this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. My visit to Fontodi last year was fascinating, as I spent sever... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points from the Wine Spectator (Sep 15, 1989). 

Inventory: Redwood City

98 points Wine Spectator Designation: Collectibles"Dark in color, with a fabulous purity of fruit, from blackberry to blueberry. Full-bodied, showing awesome concentration, but with a finish that's beautiful and honest. Best after 2013. 430 cases made. " (08/09) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "What a joy it is to taste the 2005 Barolo Lazzarito. A dramatic, large-scaled wine, the Lazzarito sweeps across the palate with awesome density and richness. Classic Serralunga notes of melted road tar, menthol, new leather, spices, plums and black cherr... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2003 Percristina shows the effects of the super-hot vintage. It is a powerful, densely constituted wine but today hard, astringent tannins dominate the wine’s overall balance and harmony. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018." (12/07) (Wine is due December 2009) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Antinori has turned out a very beautiful Tignanello in 2005. The wine possesses perfumed, well-articulated aromatics that meld into a soft, generous core of ripe red fruits. Smoke, mineral, tobacco and spice overtones develop in the glass with air. To be sure, this is a relatively slender Tignanello, and while it doesn’t have the qualities of the superb 2004, it does have the balance to age gracefully for the next decade or so. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020." 92 points Wine Spectator "Pretty and fresh aromas of ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

93 points Wine Spectator: "Supple, ripe and generous, silky, with beautiful mahogany-scented black cherry, blackberry, rose petal and anise flavors that keep weaving through. Seductive and supple, this also has a veil of tannin that can use until 1998 to 2001 to dissolve." (10/94) 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina, essentially the regular bottling, is a fresh ruby-garnet with focused and ripe red currant and wild cherry fruit, attractive notes of tar and wild fennel, and a balanced, vigorous, and well sustained palate. What’s missing here? Perhaps the spark, the inspiration which separates a very fine wine from an outstanding one. But perhaps we should stop expecting miracles in every vintage from this producer – he has never claimed, after all, to be able to walk on water." (04/05) 

Inventory: Redwood City

96 points Wine Spectator " Offers Christmas pudding, currant and other dried fruit. Full-bodied, with amazing concentration of ripe fruit and chewy tannins. Yet it's all in balance. Monumental. Best after 2014. 300 cases made." (07/09) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Barolo Rocche is the most finely detailed and nuanced of these 2005 Barolos. The wine reveals spectacular richness and clarity as layers of sweet perfumed fruit, menthol and spices emerge from the glass. The Rocche is an especially complex, multi-dimensional wine with ton... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

A rare, direct from the winery vertical 6-pack including one bottle of each from the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005 vintages 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

"I just tasted this wine and it is humming! A classically styled Barolo from a classic vintage, aged and just drinking well. Gorgeous aromas, classic earthy Serralunga character. Beautiful wine will age well for another decade plus." Greg St.Clair K&L's Italian Buyer 

Inventory: Hollywood

98 points Wine Spectator: This has a great color, with fabulous aromas of crushed blackberry, violet, toasty oak and black olive. Full-bodied, with powerful, ripe tannins and amazing flavors of blueberry, dark chocolate and toast. Lasts for minutes on the palate. Reminds me of the 1989 Pétrus. A stunning Merlot. Best after 2012."(10/2009) ETA: Late Dec 2009/Early Jan 2010. 

Inventory: Special Order

It all began in 1897, when 23-year-old Luigi Einaudi (who was to become Italy’s first President in 1948) purchased the first of the Einaudi estates (poderi) at San Giacomo, near Dogliani, heart of Dolcetto country. Here, Professor Einaudi resided in-between his academic work and the numerous activities as a financial writer and journalist. In spite of the magnitude and multiplicity of his interests, Luigi Einaudi personally implemented the finest, most up-to-date cultivation methods and equipment. This is alive and kicking after nearly 40 years in the bo... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "Subtle aromas of berries and minerals, with hints of spice. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Best after 2003. 755 cases made." (09/01) 

Inventory: Redwood City

Birthday bottles are always a fun idea, but in most cases the idea is tastier than the actual wine! If you're in search of a birthday bottle from 1974, you could hardly do better than this perfectly stored Riserva Barbera from Le Colline. Mature notes of cedar and dried bed berries open to reveal fading flower and silky tannins. A wine of contemplation, best enjoyed with old cheeses and a birthday girl or boy who can appreciate the maturity that comes with a bit of age! 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "A charmer that's supple, lush and silky, offering distinctive minty, red berry aromas and flavors and fresh character. Tuscany had good weather in 1970, yet this one tastes a touch diluted on the palate and finish.--Sassicaia vertical. Drink now." (07/96) 

Inventory: Redwood City

93-95 points Robert Parker: "The 2007 Nardo is incredibly alive and vivid in the glass. The wine literally sparkles on the palate with a level of clarity that is exceedingly rare in this vintage. Super-ripe red cherries, licorice and spices emerge in a style that shows tons of concentration while somehow avoiding any sense of heaviness. Nardo is impeccably balanced throughout and shows awesome harmony in its opulent yet well-defined aromas and flavors. Simply put, this is elegance personified. In 2007, yields were minuscule, and came in at under 25 hecto... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

According to the Wine Spectator: "A pleasant red, with plum and light spice character, medium body and a soft, creamy texture. Drink now." (Web only, 2001) 

Inventory: Redwood City

Brooding and very elegant, this Rieserva Barbaresco from back in the day proves that Nebbiolo is the undisputed king of Italian reds, and a long-lived beauty, too. Le Colline is a well known producer making old school wine full of classic Barbaresco characters, most notably purple flowers, tar and blackberry. 30 years old and going strong! 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to Robert Parker: "This medium to full-bodied, highly structured wine possesses fine ripeness, a spicy, forward, undeveloped nose, and the high acidity and tough tannin that mark so many wines of this vintage. After 5-6 more years of cellaring, it should turn out to be a very good..." 

Inventory: Redwood City