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

Wow, this is an impressive wine for the price! From the Folonari family, owners of the Nozzole and Cabreo labels, this supple and delicious blend of 40% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah. Power, aromatics, color, balance, length and purity, this is really a stunning effort for good wine for the price! (Greg St.Clair, K&L Italian buyer) 

Inventory: Hollywood

In the most outstanding vintage years, Sella & Mosca produces a Riserva version of its Cannonau, made from grapes picked in selected portions of its Cannonau vineyards. Aged three years in oak prior to release, this aristocratic red will sustain a decade or more of aging. It offers a mesmerizing scent that is redolent with violets. On the palate this rustic red is abundantly fruity (think heirloom plums), assertive and intense, with a sustained finish that calls out for lamb seasoned with rosemary! 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Wine Enthusiast "Inspired by the Bordeaux tradition and made from a blend of Cabs Sauvignon and Franc, Burdese is a rich and perfumed wine with penetrating notes of blackberry, currants, tobacco and exotic spice. It is full bodied and concentrated without being overextracted thanks to its vibrant red fruit flavors, silky tannins and long finish." (02/08) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar "Inky, saturated red. Initially tight nose opens slowly to reveal cassis, cedar, sweet spices and minerals. Rich, uncommonly deep blackcurr... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Corte Rugolin's Ripasso style of Valpolicella is produced by refermenting a small amount of Valpolicella Classico on the lee with the sweet wine of their Recioto and Amarone. The resulting red is of superior quality and is remarkably long-lived; it has more body and weight than most Valpolicellas as well as a particularly intense bouquet. Its powerful, assertive character makes it one of the Veneto's great wines, not to mention a considerable value. Ideal with all meat-based dishes, roast game and mature cheeses (try it with pasta tossed in a sauce flavo... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a relatively straightforward wine but I loved it for its superb balance and harmony. Sweet red cherries, herbs, leather, spices and earthiness are buffered by finessed tannins as this soft-textured wine opens in the glass. This is a great introduction to Amarone. Curiously, the 2005 comes across as more advanced than the 2004, and I would choose to drink it on the young side. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015." (10/08) According to Wine Spectator: "Displays aromas and flavors of rai... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

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

This one's a greatly structured wine with deep red ruby color with pomegranate at the edge. It has a bouquet of red ripe fruits, especially cherry and bitter cherry, with spicy notes. The taste is full and round with persistent flavors of marmalade, vanilla, coffee and licorice. Aged in 20-hectolitre bay oak barrels for more than 24 months. Excellent with roasted meat and game, grilled meat, seasoned cheese and salami. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

93 points Wine Spectator: "Shows aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Full-bodied, with velvety, almost chewy tannins and lots of rich fruit that finishes with a vanilla bean and coffee aftertaste. Rich and delicious, but should be better with a few years of bottle age. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best after 2011."-(10/15/2008) 

Inventory: 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

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

According to the ancient winemaking tradition of the Montefalco zone, after selecting the grapes for the production of the massive Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Sagrantino, additional fruit is harvested for the production of a fresh, friendly wine, ideally drunk with all the rich and tasty dishes for which Umbria is known. Added to this are grapes of varied origin from other regions, which make for a more complex and interesting wine. Aside from the native sagrantino (15%), there is sangiovese (60%), merlot (15%) and other red grapes. The wine is fermented i... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

There are many recent surprises in the region of Campania, which is perhaps the most improved winemaking area in Italy. One thing has not changed: the wine made from the Aglianico grape grown around the village of Taurasi is still one of the glories of Italian viticulture. Contrade di Taurasi is owned by Sandro Lonardo, a schoolteacher, and his wife Enza. They make Aglianico IGT, Taurasi, and small amounts of a white wine. This Aglianico is declassified Taurasi. It shows the distinctive flavors of the area - blackberry/raspberry fruit balanced with fresh... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

Montefalco Rosso might not exactly roll off the tongue, but this one from Moretti may very well be the very next go-to-Tuesday night red you reach for when you're eating pizza, burgers, pasta, etc. It offers just that combination of tannin, soft and ripe red berry fruit and acidity that makes drinking wine and eating food such a treat at the end of a long work day, and for a price that jibes with the current economic environment! 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Barbaresco is a gorgeous, captivating Barbaresco that reveals superb depth in its sweet red cherries, menthol, pine, spices and minerals. The wine is vibrant and poised, with firm tannins that give it a somewhat austere personality. With some time in the glass its perfumed core of sweet fruit emerges, and a few years in bottle should help it come together even more. This is a very pretty Barbaresco from Cantina del Pino. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2023." (10/08) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Il Moro (100% Nero d’Avola) presents the more delicate, ethereal side to this bottling. The wine reveals pretty dark red fruit, flowers, spices and minerals in a feminine, restrained style that lacks some of the sheer dazzle of the 2006. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. I was very impressed with the wines I tasted from Valle dell’Acate. A number of these wines are priced below or around $25 and are terrific values." (04/09) Fermented in stainless steel tanks, this is the ultimate in pure 100% nero d'avo... 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 » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

From 40-year-old nerello mascalese vineyards, this ruby red wine, grown on the lunar-like slopes of Mt. Etna, offers a richly fruited aroma with notes of vanilla and layers of red and black fruits, while on the palate it is long and supple, with firm tannin and amazing persistence. 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio. Benanti is one of the best producers of the region and was recently awarded the Winery of the Year title at a Gambero Rosso event in San Francisco! According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Etna Rosso di Verzella (N... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a relatively straightforward wine but I loved it for its superb balance and harmony. Sweet red cherries, herbs, leather, spices and earthiness are buffered by finessed tannins as this soft-textured wine opens in the glass. This is a great introduction to Amarone. Curiously, the 2005 comes across as more advanced than the 2004, and I would choose to drink it on the young side. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015." (10/08) According to Wine Spectator: "Displays aromas and flavors of rai... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

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

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

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Once again, the Produttori have turned out a gem in their 2005 Barbaresco. A beautiful, perfumed Nebbiolo, the wine flows effortlessly from the glass with captivating notes of crushed flowers, raspberries, sweet herbs and spices. This classic, mid-weight Barbaresco possesses plenty of clean, bright fruit framed by elegant tannins, showing notable harmony. Simply put, this is a classic wine Piedmont lovers won’t want to miss. Ideally, the wine should be cellared for a few years, but readers will have a hard time e... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

The 2005 San Vincenti Chianti Classico is an expression of this lone highland vineyard; it is 100% sangiovese and classic. Sangiovese's linear character on the palate makes a dramatic statement about length, coupled with a very rich mid palate feel. This mid palate richness doesn't portray itself with gobs of ripe, sweet fruit it just gives density to the middle of the wine. The nose is molten Galestro, sweet earth, tobacco, new saddle leather, sage, and rosemary, spicy, vibrant and full of mineral. On the palate the wine really comes together the densit... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Bramaterra is a joyous wine for its generous core of red fruit and finessed, silky tannins. This is an especially pure, elegant Bramaterra with gorgeous textural balance and a long, refreshing finish. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013." (10/09) The Sella wine estates are one of the oldest active Italian wine producers. The Sella family has produced wine in Lessona from their own vineyards since 1671. The documents from that period are still preserved in the Sella Foundation. Over the next three centuries,... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Dark in color, with aromas of plum and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and a clean finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best after 2009." (09/08) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "Raspberry, flowers and mineral on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, turning a little jammy and raisiny. Shows loads of new oak. A New World style. Drink now." (12/08) According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The estate’s 2005 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is an accessible, easygoing wine. The wine offers an attractive perfumed quality to its fruit, with excellent length and poise. It should drink well over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012." (06/08) 

Inventory: Hollywood

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Barbaresco Santo Stefano is striking in its beauty. This firm, structured wine bursts from the glass with layers of dark red fruit, spices, flowers and menthol. Medium in body, the wine possesses notable inner beauty in a transparent, almost weightless style. There is superb pedigree here, not to mention tons of class. Once again the Santo Stefano bottling delivers the goods. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025." (10/08) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Perfumed and very beautiful, with strawberry and flowers. Su... Read More » 

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

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "100% montepulciano) Deep, almost impenetrable ruby-black. Exotically perfumed and decadently rich nose redolent of ripe plum, sweet espresso, chocolate-covered blueberry, moss and allspice. Mouthcoatingly sweet and rich, this offers huge volume and extract, with a fleshy mouth feel to the ripe blackberry, prune, milk chocolate and sandalwood flavors. Harmonious acids give this outsized wine a vibrant, lively feel and extend the creamy-smooth finish for what seems like minutes. I am not usually a fan ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

85% Sangiovese, 5% Syrah, 4% Alicante, 3% Colorino, 3% Ciliegiolo
According to Robert Parker: "The 2005 Morellino di Scansano I Perazzi is a simple, vinous effort, with good juiciness to the fruit and excellent length. It will offer much pleasure over the next 3-4 years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2010. This new estate is owned by New York restaurateurs Lidia Bastianich, Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali. 'We noticed that the international varieties that are more common in the zone such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon don't do especially well here as ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

Palari Rosso del Soprano has an intense ruby red color. The fragrance is loaded with concentrated perfumes of typical berry and jam. A dry wine with lots of lush, spicy black fruit flavors in the mouth helps ease the tannins so that all comes together in a ripe and youthful finish. An appealing noble wine with great aging potential depending on the vintage. This wine is best suited for just about everything, from spicy pastas to grilled meat or barbecued chicken, and aged cheeses. A blend of local grape varieties: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, No... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Shows berry and bark character, with hints of dried herbs and earth. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean, with lovely fruit. Drink now." (10/08) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

91 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 Outis (80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Cappuccio) is a subtle wine laced with perfumed red cherries, sweet herbs, crushed flowers and spices. Fine, silky tannins frame the fruit all the way through to the long finish. This weightless, ethereal red perfectly captures all of the qualities that make the wines of the Etna so fascinating. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. (04/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

Olek Bondonio is a decorated Italian snowboarding champion who traded the thrills of conquering the snowy mountains for the thrills he now creates from the grapes grown on the hills of the Bondonio family estate. this particular offering by Olek is already gaining attention in Europe. This past summer, Enogea, the premiere Italian wine industry publication dedicated to the tasting and rating of wines, gave this wine a rating of 'very good,' noting that "the sometimes rough tannins give way to a wine that is a good traditional offering of this variety" an... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

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

Bittersweet chocolate and violet aromatics make for a powerfully perfumed red, with silky gentle tannins and soft nuances of French oak adding depth and complexity. This red is full bodied and persistent, and just the thing for rack of lamb. 

Inventory: Hollywood

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

This beautiful estate in the village of Abbadia di Montepulciano in the hills of southern Tuscany is owned and operated by Simona Ruggeri and her two daughters, Anna and Margharita. The activities of this azienda are predominantly devoted to the production of fruits and vegetables. But, approximately 10 hectares of prime hillside land is set aside for the cultivation of the finest grape varietals. 

Inventory: Hollywood

In the Colli Euganei the Orange Muscat grape is called Fior d’Arancio. As a variety it is very different than the Canelli Muscat; it ripens a few weeks later, contains more aroma and flavor and comes with a thick skin. In order to produce a passito style wine, the grapes are harvested at regular ripening and put on trellises in the 'fruttaio' room, sheltered from the weather. The grapes gradually loose part of their water content and after about 4 month they are crushed and pressed obtaining a thick must that will ferment slowly for almost two years in o... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

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

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The estate’s 2005 Grifola is 100% Montepulciano made from lower yields than the Rosso and aged 16 months in French oak. It is a deep, rich wine with a plush core of sweet, dark fruit that gradually emerges as the wine sits in the glass. This elegant, full-bodied red offers notable elegance and balance, but it needs some air before it shows its true potential. It is an impressive effort from this young property. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2017." (02/08) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

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

92 points Wine Spectator: "Blackberry, currant and licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a long finish of chocolate, berry and toasty oak. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2011." (10/31/2008). 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

According to the Wine Spectator: "A clean, tightly packed Rosso, with red fruit and sandalwood on the nose. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a spicy finish... Best after 2003." (10/03) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

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 Enthusiast: "Löwengang is a gorgeous expression of Chardonnay from cool-climate Alto Adige in Northern Italy that offers perfumes of peach, yellow flower and white almond backed by a dense, creamy structure. The wine awards a long, cooling finish and pairs well with sophisticated seafood dishes." (08/09) According to the Wine Spectator: "Aromas of apple, milk and cream follow through to a full body, with mineral and honey character... Drink now." (08/08) 

Inventory: Hollywood

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Chianti Classico Castello di Ama is a terrific effort. It offers incredible purity and vibrancy in its core of sweet dark cherries and refined, elegant tannins. The wine shows nice density buffered by firm tannins that will need another year or two to soften. The wine clearly benefits from the addition of the fruit that normally goes into the estate’s top Chianti Classico bottings, which were not made in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017."(06/2008) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

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