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 » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90 points Wine Enthusiast "Zonchera is Ceretto’s more affordable base Barolo and it offers an excellent taste profile for those who are new to Nebbiolo. The wine opens with a dark, garnet-brown hue and segues to aromas of ripe berry, apple skin, vanilla, licorice and ginger. It’s a fruit-forward wine with tight tannins and a polished mouthfeel. It’s ready to drink now with fondue or grilled meat. - M.L. (3/31/2009) "According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Barolo Zonchera is a medium-bodied, accessible wine with attractive dark fruit and a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

92 points Wine Spectator Insider: "Shows sweet berry and perfume on the nose, with rose and raspberry. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a milk chocolate, berry and vanilla aftertaste. Big and chewy. Yet balanced and very pretty. Best after 2012." (05/09) 92 points Robert Parker's wine Advocate "The 2005 Barolo Castiglione is especially taut and focused in this vintage. Floral notes are intermingled with dark red fruit, spices and new leather in this gorgeous, poised offering. The 2005 Barolo Castiglione uncharacteristically needs some bottle age but ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

92 points Wine Spectator: "Beautiful aromas of milk chocolate, plum and berries follow through to a full body, with layered, soft tannins and a long finish. This has lots of flavor and texture. Best after 2012. 340 cases made." (12/08) One of my favorite Barolo wineries, Oddero is a traditionalist and makes wines of classic style. They use big Slavonian oak barrels instead of the small French oak barrels, looking more for unadulterated purity in their wines than manipulation. The Oddero Barolo Villero is tremendous, from one of the best vineyards in Cas... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

94 points Wine Spectator: "Aromas of licorice, blackberry and espresso bean follow through to a full-bodied palate, with slightly raisiny flavors and big, velvety tannins. Long and caressing. Best after 2012. 250 cases made." (06/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

Soft and velvety, this is a stupendous value in Barolo. It is absolutely true to its type, with violet, rose and spice (think clove) aromatics and a palate that is as long as it is complex. Pleasantly austere in the finish, this is for certain an ager, though it can be enjoyed now with roasts, game and ripe cheeses. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

96 points Wine Spectator "Shows ripe strawberry and black cherry aromas, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of fruit, vanilla and white pepper character. Long and rich. Best after 2012. 900 cases made." (07/09) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Barolo Rocche shows lovely richness and depth in its dark fruit, flowers, herbs and French oak. The Rocche comes together beautifully in the glass, as the tannins soften a touch and the wine gains clarity. High-toned, floral aromatics accompany the fruit through to th... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

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 » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

One of my favorite Barolo wineries, Oddero is a traditionalist and makes wines of classic style. They use big Slavonian oak barrels instead of the small French oak barrels, looking more for unadulterated purity in their wines than manipulation. The Oddero Barolo is a classic and 2004 is a tremendous vintage, the power of 1996 and 1999 with the suppleness of 2001, capable of aging 10-20+ years without a problem. (Greg St.Clair, K&L Italian buyer) 

Inventory: Hollywood

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 » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

100% Nebbiolo here, in its most delicate though potent self (remember the old adage: iron fist in a velvet glove). Raspberry notes on the nose make way for a palate of velvety fruit and spice. This one's not a big bruiser, but an elegant, supple red that is aromatically similar to a white. Try it with robust fish dishes like tuna in a spicy red sauce with capers. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Veglio’s 2004 Barolo Arborina offers a quintessential expression of one of La Morra’s best-known vineyards thanks in large part to a restrained use of oak that was missing in previous vintages. Flowers, spices, mint and perfumed red fruit flow from this gorgeous, poised Barolo. It offers lovely purity and inner sweetness supported by the firm tannins that are the hallmark of Arborina. This wine of remarkable beauty and precision is a superb effort from Mauro Veglio. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022." ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

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) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

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

One of my favorite Barolo wineries, Oddero is a traditionalist and makes wines of classic style. They use big Slavonian oak barrels instead of the small French oak barrels, looking more for unadulterated purity in their wines than manipulation. The Oddero Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is stunning wine, great length, power and a long finish, slightly more structured than the Villero, capable of agin 10-20+ years without a problem. (Greg St.Clair, K&L Italian buyer) 

Inventory: Hollywood

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

92-95 points Stephen Tanzer: "Good deep red. Compellingly deep aromas of red fruits, dried rose and menthol. Highly concentrated and downright suave, with juicy acidity giving cut and lift to the strongly floral red fruit and mint flavors. Much more aromatic and elegant than the basic bottling, but also lush and sweet. Finishes with huge but thoroughly ripe tannins and lovely persistence. Offers superb potential." 91-94 points Robert Parker: "The 2004 Barolo Costa Grimaldi is a promising wine. This sweet, generous wine is endowed with an attractive plum... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

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

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Barolo Castelletto is the liveliest and darkest of Veglio’s Barolos, but that is not surprising since this is his only wine to come from Monforte rather than La Morra. A deep, dark violet, it possesses gorgeous aromas of dried flowers, vibrant black cherries, pine, spice and minerals buffered by firm tannins that frame its expansive, generous personality. It will be the last of these Barolos to come around, but is shaping up to be another gem from a producer who has made huge strides in the last few year... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

90 points Wine Spectator Issue: Nov 30, 2002 Harmonious red. Plums and blackberries, with hints of flowers, turning to fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long fruity finish. Best after 2005. 500 cases made. (JS) 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points Robert Parker "The 2004 Barolo Vigna Conca is among the strongest wines in the group. It is a touch less aromatically complex than the preceding wines yet it offers notable concentration and fatness on the palate which helps balance the wine’s significant structural components. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022." (12/07) 91 points Wine Spectator: "Very floral on the nose, with plenty of ripe strawberry. Full-bodied, with firm, silky tannins and lots of blackberry, dark chocolate and mineral undertones. Long yet subtle. Best after 2012." (06/08) 

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: "The 2005 Barolo Prapo is another powerful, muscular Barolo but here the tannins don’t find a counterpoint in the fruit and end up dominating the wine’s balance. Ripe red fruit, menthol and spices gradually emerge from this sinewy Barolo, adding further complexity. The Prapo offers less overall complexity and sheer stuffing than the Cerretta. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020." (10/09) According to the Wine Spectator: "Fresh and aromatic, with sweet strawberry and cherry on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Barolo Gattera is made in a decidedly riper, more generous style. It reveals plenty of fruit, spices and sweet toasted oak on a supple, medium-bodied frame with notable inner sweetness and superb elegance. The Gattera is the most accessible of this set of wines owing to the warmer micro-climate of this vineyard. It may not be particularly long-lived but it should offer much pleasure over the next decade or so. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2019." (12/07) According to Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cel... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Barolo Vigna Gattera is a dense, plump offering from one of La Morra’s warmer microclimates. Today the wine comes across as incredibly primary, with tones of dark red raspberries, flowers, minerals and sweet oak, all of which are woven together with unusual grace. While approachable today, readers looking for a more complex Barolo experience will want to let this wine rest for a few years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. This is a set of surprisingly rich, concentrated wines from Cordero di Montezemolo,... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

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

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Barolo Cannubi/Ravera is unusually dense and structured in this vintage. The telltale Cannubi bouquet is there, but the fruit reveals the darker side of this site, while the influence of Ravera is felt in the wine’s vibrant, firm tannins. With air, the wine grows, as layers of fruit flow from its rich, harmonious frame. This is another unqualified success from Giuseppe Rinaldi. As always this bottling presents a more feminine style than the Brunate/Le Coste. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024 " 93-95 poin... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

"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

92 points Wine Spectator: "Complex aromas of spices, licorice, fruit and coffee bean. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of ripe fruit, yet subtle and interesting. Solid and tight. Best after 2012. 1,250 cases made." (06/08) 

Inventory: Hollywood

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

The vineyard from which this grand cru hails is situated in the municipality of Barolo, and its rich grapes produce a ruby-red wine with garnet highlights. The nose is complex and intense. Fruity notes, and, more particularly, the smell of cherries submerged in alcohol, prevail, as is usual in young wines. The Barolo made with these grapes has well structured and intense tannins, which give it vigor in the first years. This peculiarity makes it suitable for long aging (up to 20 years). The tannins in this wine will evolve into complex flavors and aromas ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

93 points Wine Spectator: "Intense aromas of plum and berries, with hints of rose petal and sandalwood. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins and a long finish. Very layered and structured. Best after 2012. 900 cases made." (09/09) 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Barolo Cerretta is dark and brooding in its smoke, tar, truffles, black cherries and grilled herbs. This authoritative Barolo possesses outstanding length and tons of personality. With a little more polish to the tannins it might very well merit a higher score. Anticipated mat... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

91 points Wine Spectator: "Ripe plum and fresh shiitake mushroom aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins. Shows lots of fruit and new toasty oak. Chewy. Needs time to come around. Best after 2012. 670 cases made." (06/08) 

Inventory: Hollywood

90 points Wine Spectator: "Has plum and berry character, with a hint of strawberry. Full and silky, with a long finish. Refined. Needs some bottle age to come together, but balanced for the vintage. Best after 2010." (10/07) 

Inventory: Redwood City

89+ points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Barolo emerges from the glass with sweet-Pinot like aromas that lead to soft, expressive fruit. This entry-level Barolo offers terrific balance and harmony in an attractive, accessible style that is sure to find many admirers. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020." (10/09) The Germano winery is a few hundred yards north of Serralunga. Sergio Germano is typical of the new generation of producers in the Langhe; after completing six years of study at the school of Enology in Alba he made wine for a few years a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City