One of our real evolving stars in Montalcino this tiny winery is making great wines. The Poggiarellino Rosso di Montalcino is full of complex dark cherry fruit, with nicely evolved notes of tobacco leaf and has layers of what the Italians call sotto bosco (the flavor of the forest floor). On the palate the aromas are interwoven and fleshed out by an unctuous but not fat body and backed up with a core of mineral, stone, earth and truffle in the finish, does that sound complex? 

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90 points and one the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Bright plum, dried cherry and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and refined berry and cherry flavors. Drink now." (10/09) And from Wine Spectator's James Suckling's Blog: "I came across an incredible value in my office in Tuscany today...the most impressive [wine] for the money was the Monte Antico 2006. Its suggested retail is $11, and it could sell for less. And it's in the market now. Granted, I have not tasted it blind yet. But it's in the very good to outstanding range... Read More » 

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94 points Wine Spectator: "Plum, cedar and leather aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with a lovely density of ripe fruit and a soft, velvety textured finish. Ripe and beautiful. An opulent wine that opens on the palate. This is the best ever from this estate. Best after 2011." (Web only, 2009) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has 2004 as the highest rated Tuscan vintage in the last 25 years, and the Wine Spectator says "2004 Brunello di Montalcino - a classic vintage, wonderfully perfumed and majestically refined." K&L's Italian Buyer Greg St.... Read More » 

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92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "La Fortuna’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is especially beautiful in this vintage. The wine is remarkable for its density, richness and concentration, all of which have been achieved while maintaining clarity and freshness. The French oak is beautifully integrated in this sumptuous, generous Brunello. Suggestions of flowers and spices add notes of brightness on the finish. The Brunello spent a whopping 40 months in 25-hectoliter medium-sized casks prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019." (06/09) ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Rosso di Montalcino too often sits in the shadow of its much bigger brother, Brunello. But some estates put nearly the care and expense into their Rosso as their big guns, and La Fortuna is clearly an example of this sort of winemaking. Intense in terms of fruit, but showing off admirable acidity, this is spicy, full bodied, dry and rich with a softness hiding amid all that tannic structure. A wine to drink while your Brunello ages, yes, but a quality wine nonetheless. From vines 15-25 years of age, aged for one year in barrique, 6 months of this in Fren... Read More » 

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91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The 2005 Barolo Albe caresses the palate with a soft core of perfumed fruit. This generous, open Barolo isn't likely to be a long-term ager, but it offers tons of class and elegance. The finish is round and impeccably refined. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. Vajra is one of Piedmont's best kept secrets. Here readers will enter a world of sublime hand-crafted, artisan wines of the very highest level. Aldo and Milena Vajra's passion comes through in spades in these terrific new releases, which I can't recommend hi... Read More » 

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2007 is a superb vintage that yielded wines full of dense, ripe fruit that have made the critics jump out of their chairs! This wine is simply delicious, the vibrant focused sangiovese softened and tamed with a dab of fresh and fruity merlot = Fortunello!. Bursting with aromas of raspberries and cherries, it is chocolaty with a depth and lingering finish. Made from 90% sangiovese and 10% merlot power and drinkability. Greg St.Clair K&L's Italian Wine Buyer 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

91 points Steve Tanzer "Bright, medium deep red. Pomegranate, redcurrant, cherry pit, sandalwood and a delicate smokiness on the nose; not unlike a high-quality Savigny-les-Beaune. Enters light and easygoing, but the building flavors of raspberry, pomegranate, minerals and underbrush show sneaky concentration and impressive length. This refined wine offers plenty of stuffing yet seems almost weightless, with lively but harmonious acidity nicely lifting the fruit flavors. A beautiful, pure sangiovese in which there's no presence of smoky bitter chocolate,... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Talenti’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the more intensely fragrant wines in this vintage. Sweet layers of perfumed fruit flow effortlessly onto the palate, framed by silky tannins that give the wine its sense of balance and poise. This is a deceptively medium-bodied wine, yet it packs plenty of punch, not to mention tons of complexity. This pleasing, beautifully balanced Brunello is drinking well today and should continue to offer plenty of pleasure over the next decade and a half. Talenti and consulting... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Wine Spectator: "Very pretty, with perfumed blackberry and mineral aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a berry, milk chocolate and cedar aftertaste. A bit lean now, but polished and pretty. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot. Best after 2010."-(10/31/2008). 89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Tenuta di Castiglioni’s entry-level 2006 Tenuta di Castiglioni is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Sangiovese and 21% Merlot that spent 12 months in French oak. This plump, juicy wine offers notable harmony in a soft, fruit-driven... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "La Fortuna’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is especially beautiful in this vintage. The wine is remarkable for its density, richness and concentration, all of which have been achieved while maintaining clarity and freshness. The French oak is beautifully integrated in this sumptuous, generous Brunello. Suggestions of flowers and spices add notes of brightness on the finish. The Brunello spent a whopping 40 months in 25-hectoliter medium-sized casks prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019." (06/09) ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Bold and forward on the nose with rich impressions of fruit, particularly dark cherry, dried plum and concluding with crisp, sweet almond notes. The attack is clean and fresh, and the palate shows supple tannins and a lengthy progression. Crazy that you get all this for right around ten bucks. According to the Wine Spectator: "Light and fruity, with fresh raspberry and blackberry character. Clean and fresh. Drink now." (10/08) 

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91 points Wine Spectator: "Shows earth and berry aromas. Hints of fresh herbs follow through to a full body, with lots of dried fruit and spices on the palate. Long and flavorful. Best from 2010 through 2015." (Web only, 2009) And, according to Wine Enthusiast: "Ferrero has the heft and consistency to contend with other top Brunellos and the velvety-soft quality of its mouthfeel is extraordinary..." Ferrero sits in the southwesterly corner of Montalcino and their wines show lots of black cherry, plum, chocolate with a satiny texture, round, full and br... Read More » 

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I tasted the Villa Schinosa Nero di Troia at Vinitaly this year and was duly impressed by the suppleness and roundness of this wine. Don Ferdinando Capece Minutolo dei Duchi di San Valentino (I'm not kidding that's his name - you should see the business card) and his son Corrado (we'll just call him Corrado) with the help of consulting enologist Cristoforo Pastore have really done a great job. Their winery, Villa Schinosa is just a couple dozen kilometers on your way south of Trani, on the picturesque Golfo di Manfredonia on the Puglian coast. Puglian wi... Read More » 

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93 points Wine Spectator: "Dark cherry and raspberry aromas follow through to a full body, with loads of chewy tannins and rich fruit. The fruit concentration is impressive, yet this is balanced and in form. Best after 2010." (04/09) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Barbi's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino opens with scents of tobacco, underbrush and spices that lead to dark red cherries on the palate. Though medium in body, the wine reveals surprising depth and finessed tannins that give it a terrific sense of proportion. Today the wine remains rat... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Wine Enthusiast "Tenuta di Sesta’s hearty Brunello exhibits sophisticated oak usage that translates into toast, mesquite, antique furniture wax, resin and spice. That said, you’d be surprised how fresh and lively the wine feels in the mouth. Beyond that brooding interior is a fruity Brunello with smooth tannins." 4 Stars Decanter 17.33pts ‘Very seductive yet restrained wine with a great, natural freshness and suppleness.Sweet and well extracted fruit. Has balance and longevity. From 2009.’ (FB)This year I finally made an appointment for us to ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

95 points Wine Spectator: "Delivers fabulous aromas of crushed raspberries, cherries and strawberries, with flowers and a hint of vanilla bean. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Dense and very long. A serious, powerful and complex red, but needs some bottle age. This is the producer's best wine ever. Best after 2012." (Web Only, 2009) 3.5 stars from K&L's Italian wine buyer, Greg St. Clair: "The nose is immediately full of plums and sweet vanilla. On the palate, it expands into a pool of cultured lushness that flows broadly acro... Read More » 

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95 points Wine Spectator: "Complex and dark, with blueberry, licorice and mahogany. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fabulous core of fruit. Builds on you. Goes on for minutes. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Best after 2013." (10/09). 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The estate's 2007 Sancta Catharina is a blend of Prugnolo Gentile, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot that was aged in French oak. In this vintage the wine is remarkably harmonious and well-balanced with no hard edges and terrific balance. The... Read More » 

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94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Brigaldara's 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella Case Vecie is a very serious wine. It reveals a richer and riper personality than the Amarone, with superb volume in its dark blueberries, blackberries, spices and herbs. The full-bodied expression of fruit hides considerable structure that lurks beneath. Lingering notes of sweetness round out the long finish. Although the 2004 shows more clarity and precision than the 2003, I would have a hard time choosing between them. This is high-class Amarone all the way. Anticip... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

94 points Wine Spectator: "Shows blackberries and dried flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with lots of ripe berry and cream character. Rich and flavorful. Long and beautiful. It's layered and velvety. Seductive. Drink now." (Web only, 2009) 92 points Wine Enthusiast: 'Thick, dark and beautifully concentrated, this is a dense, succulent wine with a soft, velvety feel that will appeal to those who like this style. The aromas are layered and penetrating and span the gamut of black fruit to smoky spice. Drink this Brunello now through 2015." (06/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso! According to the Wine Spectator: "There's ripe currant and a hint of vanilla on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, with unobtrusive, fruit-coated tannins and a dense, balanced and lingering finish. Shows depth. Delicious. Drink now. 500 cases made." 89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Nero d’Avola Deliella from Principi di Buttera is a plump, juicy wine packed with varietal red fruits, mint, sweet toasted oak and flowers. This plump, juicy wine reveals tons of length in a polished, contemporary style, with sweet n... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

95 points and #15 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Shows a complex nose of blackberry, tanned leather, sandalwood and cedar. Fascinating. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Concentrated yet balanced. Beautiful and complete. Best after 2011." (04/09) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "Frescobaldi's Castelgiocondo estate was named in the on-going Brunello fraud scandal. Despite the legal troubles, this year's Brunello asserts itself with pride and determination. It seems very different than past vintages because, here, th... Read More » 

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According to the Wine Spectator: "...simple and light, but some attractive raisin, plum and cedar character. Medium body. Light finish. Drink now." (Web only, 2007) 

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93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Geremia is equally commanding in its stature and potential. This blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon spent 18 months in Allier oak barrels. It reveals awesome richness and depth with a level of juiciness and mid-palate generosity that the San Marcellino doesn't quite have. The wine remains extremely fresh and primary in its expression of dark macerated cherries, minerals, spices and sweet toasted oak. Despite its lushness, the wine also possesses considerable structure that begs for extended b... Read More » 

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The Giulietta is made from Pelaverga and has a nose full of strawberry, rose petals and white pepper. It's very delicate in a Pinot sort of way. Enjoy it now with aged cheeses and your favorite risotto. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

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 » 

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94 points Wine Spectator: "Ripe and rich Barbaresco with loads of velvety tannins, toasted oak and ripe fruit. Full-bodied, round and unctuous. Hard to resist now but will age very well indeed. Best after 2006." (02/05) 92 points Stephen Tanzer: "Saturated ruby-red. Textbook Barbaresco nose of tar, dried flowers, chocolate and coffee, with an overlay of spicy oak. Fat and dense but backward and not especially sweet in the middle palate, with somewhat medicinal dark fruit flavors. Then turned increasingly rich and sweet on the back half, with sheer fruit ... Read More » 

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This small, seven-hectare family estate is located in the heart of the production area for Barbera d'Asti. This estate makes three "crus" of Barbera. La Marescialla is obtained from the careful selection of the grapes coming from one of the oldest vineyards on the estate and is refined for about a year in barriques. It offers tremendous complexity and excellent length and tannic structure. 

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The famous Montepulciano and Sangiovese are at the heart of this full-bodied and wonderfully tannic red from Italy's Marche region. Think of Rosso Conero as an insider's Chianti Classico. Our Direct Import makes this an even greater value! 

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According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio Beta Delta is a steely, mineral-driven wine with an attractive combination of varietal fruit, expressive aromatics and bright acidity. Ideally it is best enjoyed over the next few years. The Beta Delta is a new wine from Lageder made exclusively from estate-owned vineyards that are Demeter-certified biodynamic. If this wine is any indication, the move towards biodynamic farming seems very promising to say the least. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011." (08/09) 

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90 points Wine Spectator: "Perfumed with plums, cherries and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with silky and firm tannins and a long finish. Tight and crisp now. Still needs some time. Best after 2011." (Web only, 2009) According to Wine Enthusiast: "Blueberry, raspberry and bright cherry tones emerge on the nose of this lively Brunello and are followed by a spice box medley of clove, peppercorn and vanilla bean. The wine is focused and compact on the tongue and would make a godd companion to lamb or pork." (06/09) Caparzo is the only estate-bottled produce... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino, a dark ruby, displays a perfumed nose along with dark fruit and scorched earth nuances on a structured, long frame supported by building tannins. Made in a style that is at once delicate and powerful, today it comes across as backward and austere in its expression. As it sits in the glass it continues to put on considerable weight, but ideally several years of cellaring are called for. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021." (12/06) 90 points Stephen Tanzer: "Deep red-ruby. Primary aro... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

97 points Wine Spectator: "Black in color, with superripe and intense aromas of crushed berries, espresso and blackberry. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a rich finish. Massive yet balanced. This has everything going for it. Merlot and Sangiovese. Best after 2012. 1,100 cases made." (10/08) 

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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

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The 2005 Barolo Pajana is off the charts. This deeply scented, layered Barolo possesses a striking bouquet of spices, tobacco, graphite, dark cherries and new leather that come together in a breathtaking display of elegance and power that is hard to fully capture in words. The tannins are, as usual, quite broad but they are also remarkably fine. In 2005 the Pajana shows breathtaking balance and harmony with a long, sensual finish. This is a superb effort from Domenico Clerico, and his team led by the mega-talented... Read More » 

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95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The 2004 Barolo Arborina is a surprisingly super-ripe, concentrated and soft-textured wine loaded with sweet fruit. It offers outstanding length and ripe tannins in a very seductive style of Barolo. Three bottles have shown some degree of variation, suggesting the wine is still acquiring its balance after its bottling this summer. Altare says the very low levels of SO2 in the Barolo Arborina probably contribute to the wine’s flatness. I didn’t pick up on a flat quality in the wine, but the Arborina is decidedly le... Read More » 

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96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The 2005 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra emerges from the glass with endless layers of sweet spices, menthol, violets and dark fruit on a powerful, authoritative frame. This is a beautifully defined, sculpted wine of the very highest level. Tar, smoke and licorice linger on the finish. The tannins are massive at this stage, and the wine needs time, but the 2005 is undoubtedly one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. Wine Advocate # 182 (Wine is due December 2009) 

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95 points Wine Spectator: "Enticing aromas of meat and mushroom pie mingle with rich plum and spices. Full-bodied, with silky, caressing tannins and intense fruit and mineral flavors. Well-crafted, finishing long. The flagship Brunello in 2003. The wine of the vintage. Best after 2010." 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Valdicava’s 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is a fat, super-ripe offering that flows with masses of opulent fruit..." In an earlier review (same score): "Valdicava’s 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is a big, brooding effort loaded with b... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Wine Spectator: "Coffee, currant and light mint aromas lead to a full body, with lots of chocolate, mineral and eucalyptus character. Gorgeous and polished. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2012. 170 cases made." (10/08) 

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The 2006 Selvagrossa Trimpilin is 100% sangiovese and is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks where it remains until after the malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged in barrique for 16 months. Selvagrossa’s first production for the Trimpilin was in 2002 and in this 2006 vintage, 250 cases were produced. The wine is really beginning to blossom now; the sangiovese’s tight core of cherrylaced flavors is gradually uncoiling to show this wine’s strident purity. In the mouth the wine is spicy, full of complex fruit and hints of vani... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

The 2007 Selvagrossa Muschén is a forward, fresh and vibrant wine that is made from 60% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel and sees no oak. The wine shows Sangiovese's vibrant, acidic backbone, which gives the wine its verve and direction along with some elegant cherry tones. The Merlot adds a bit of mid-palate richness and some warm texture to the Sangiovese's brightness while thickening it toward the finish. The spicy, complex Cabernet Franc is what brings everything together. This 2007 vintage is... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Geppetti has produced another gem in her 2006 Saffredi, a French-oak aged blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Alicante. This textured, explosive wine boasts considerable depth and richness in its dark fruit, flowers, minerals and graphite. The wine remains extremely primary and in need of considerable bottle age in order to offer its best drinking but it is unquestionably formidable. The style combines elements of power and elegance, achieving a level rarely seen in these parts. Simply put, this is stunning j... Read More » 

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