90 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Fifty Super Domestic Wine Values:" "The outstanding 2007 Zinfandel (86% Zinfandel and 14% Petite Sirah) is another winner and phenomenal bargain. This is classic Zinfandel with loads of berry fruit, pepper, earth, and roasted Provencal herbs. The wine is pure, full-bodied, ripe, with not a hard edge to be found. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. These are absolutely spectacular bargains from the very high-quality Varner Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is their less expensive line-up of wines, and I e... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

90 points and an "Editors' Choice" designation from Wine Enthusiast: "Backed up by a fine structure of tangy acidity and rich, ripe tannins, this Cab shows a fine complexity of flavor. Blackberries, black currants, dark unsweetened chocolate, plums, anise, raisins and pepper mingle on the palate, leading to a long, distinguished finish." (8/1/2009) The new find from Viña Robles this time around was the ultra-affordable Cabernet Sauvignon. It is rare that we use those words together these days, but we couldn't be more jazzed about this gulpable, no stres... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Great wines at very good prices. That is what you get from Foxglove. This is a side project from Bob and Jim Varner, who bring us the great wines from the Varner and Neely labels. The Foxglove Cabernet is amazingly well balanced. Beautiful black and blue fruits with nicely integrated tannins and just a hint of fig and earth. A lot of wine for $13.99. (Michael Jordan, K&L Wine Merchants) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Hands up! Now, step slowly away from the barrel. This is not your usual California Chard in all that buttery, oaky glory, but instead something that's clean and crisp and undeniably refreshing. Aromas and flavors here tend more toward the apple, peach and pear end of the spectrum, with hints of orange zest and stony minerals on the finish. Ideal for grilled shrimp, fresh crab or oven fried chicken. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Robert Parker: "The 2007 Côtes de Tablas is a sensational wine as well as a great bargain. The fact that it is finished with a screw cap may give some consumers the wrong impression, but this is a serious, mouthfilling red. A blend of 50% Grenache and the balance equal parts Syrah and Counoise, it exhibits sweet, gamy notes along with plenty of pepper, licorice, roasted herb, blackberry, and cassis characteristics, a velvety, lush texture, a full-bodied richness, beautifully integrated acidity, abundant Provencal typicity, and good minerality f... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

91 points and one the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Ripe and gutsy, but there's enough finesse and personality to make it a complete package. Aromas of wild berry and white pepper lead to briary but complex plum, anise and toasty sage flavors that finish with fine, loamy tannins. Best from 2011 through 2015." (09/09)The Dusi and Preston Zin vineyards, with their rocky, calcareous soils, grow low yield vines, producing fruit of intense concentration. A splash of Mourvedre lends an extra kick in the mid-palate. The Biker has blackberry, anise sp... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90-92 points Robert Parker: "The outstanding 2007 The Offering is even more exciting, as one would expect, since it is a far higher quality vintage than 2006. Gorgeously sweet black raspberry and black cherry fruit, a deep ruby/purple color, a broad, savory mouthfeel, and stunning freshness, fruit, and length all make for what should be a hedonist’s delight when this wine gets bottled and released soon. The final blend is 45% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre, and 1% Viognier." (08/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood

90 points and an "Editors' Choice" from Wine Enthusiast: "A fine, dry Sauvignon Blanc. Dry and crisp in acidity with flavors of lemon, limes, figs, vanilla, honeysuckle and a nice tangy streak of lemongrass. No oak was applied but the richness of the lees shows in the butter cream." (08/09) One of the surprise finds of 2008 were the wines from a smallish winery in Paso Robles called Viña Robles. Some of you may remember the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2006 Petite Sirah that we were pushing in the fall and winter of 2008. We think that the 2008 vintage o... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Justin shows us, yet again, that you don't need a glamorous Napa Valley address to make a concentrated, fruit-filled Cabernet. The 2007 vintage is indicative of this great vintage - spicy cherry, black plum, saddle leather and garrigue aromas create a tantalizing bouquet. In the mouth, the wine layers sultry black fruit, caramel and sweet American oak flavors that linger on the finish. Soft tannins keep this readily approachable. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This 2007 Zinfandel opens with bright aromas of cherry, plum, and vanilla spice. Juicy flavors of raspberry, brambleberry, and black cherry unfold along a broad, seamless texture. Accents of black pepper add to a lively finish. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

91-93 points from Robert Parker: "The unbottled 2008 whites include the 2008 Cotes de Tablas Blanc (a blend of 42% Viognier, 26% Roussanne, and 20% Marsanne, and the balance Grenache). It exhibits attractive honeyed grapefruit, lemon blossom, and exotic tropical fruit notes, superb freshness, and good underlying acidity, ripeness, and length. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years." (08/09) 90 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: " Bright gold. Mineral-driven aromas of lemon, apple and peach pit, plus a strong note of gingerbread. Less exoti... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

J. Lohr's "Seven Oaks" Cabernet Sauvignon comes predominantly from the winery's Seven Oaks estate vineyard. The 2007 vintage is great, and this is an affordable, everyday Cab that illustrates it. Its black cherry and blackberry fruit aromas and flavors are reflective of the wine's Paso roots, and chocolaty nuances that are downright seductive. All for less than $15. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Some little girls remember there grandpas pushing them on the swing. Janell Dusi remembers making wine with her grandfather in the basement. But using fruit from her family's 100-acre, 80-year-old Paso Robles Vineyard (sold to wineries like Turley, Four Vines and Tobin James), Janell's 2007 Zinfandel is purely hers. Feminine in style, this Zin is bright and evocative of fresh cherries and raspberries with juducious oak influence and nice acidity. A special Zin from a fantastic vintage. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

This Syrah is one of only two wines that Jeff Runquist makes that doesn't come from a single vineyard. Instead it blends fruit from Goodwin, Westigard and Carter vineyards northeast of the town of Paso Robles. The combination of fruit makes for a wine reflective of the McClaren Vale Shirazes that Runquist fell in love with while working at J. Lohr from 1990 to 1996. Deeply colored, almost purple, this wine lets loose a bold display of ripe red and black fruit notes with a hint of hazelnut and smoke underneath. On the palate, the fruit it thick and rich, ... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

Justin Isosceles has been one of the closest things to a can't-miss domestic Bordeaux blend over the last decade. Add the fact that it so much less expensive than most of its Napa brethren and you have a great bargain on your hands. This year's blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot, leading to a much richer and fuller bodied wine than in recent years, when the bottling has been a smidge less Cab-driven. Full of mocha, anise, graphite and highlighted with some lovely white floral laces the nose is wildly expressive for a wine th... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

As is typical of Petite Sirah, this could easily be used in a fountain pen; the color is inky purpleblack. The aromas of this year's wine are of cassis and dense ripe concentrated black fruits. The bouquet features dark chocolate along with the jammy fruit. Flavors of smoky boysenberry and blackberries are balanced by creamy French oak. The texture is full of well-rounded tannins and should add to the wine's complexity given some bottle age. The finish is long and lingers for minutes after swallowing the wine. It is not often that you get two wines for t... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

The head-pruned, dry farmed old vines of the Dusi Vineyard produce small quantities of fruit with dense concentration and wild spice. On the nose, bright bramble fruit, ripe raspberry. The palate is complex, black berry fruit that slips into a smooth vanilla oak finish. Aged in small French and American Oak barrels. Dusi...The Standard. 91 points Wine Spectator: "Not for the faint of heart. Big, bold and ripe, this has fuel-injected blueberry, smoky peppered beef, wild berry, mineral and licorice flavors, with a hint of sweetness. Tannins kick in on the... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

According to Wine Spectator: "Tart and zesty, with plum and smoky licorice aromas and easygoing cherry and spice flavors." (06/08) This affordable zin is an easy-drinker that pairs well with burgers, barbecue or fried chicken! 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

Another Home Run from Justin Winery! The 2001 Isosceles is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. It shows aromas of dark cherries, toffee and chocolate, which are followed by intense flavors of raspherries, plums and black cherries. The tannins are ripe and integrated. The 2001 should age well over the next 10 years. 

Inventory: Redwood City

95 points Robert Parker: "Composed of 49% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2007 Estate Cuvee is a blockbuster. A seamlessly built, multidimensional effort, it boasts a black/blue color as well as a gorgeous perfume of graphite, charcoal, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, truffles, bouquet garni, and a subtle hint of oak. Superb texture and power in addition to a seamless integration of acidity, alcohol, tannin, and wood suggest it will evolve for 10-15 years." (08/09) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "Shows the soft, lush cream... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Special Order

Obtuse is Justin's fortified, cabernet sauvignon-based dessert wine. Ruby-hued with sweet raspberry and cherry aromas and flavors balanced by sumptous, bittersweet chocolate notes. Because it's fortified, this will hold, opened, for about six months under proper cellar conditions, developing tawn Port-like characteristics. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

If you're not familiar with Meritage - it's the wine term applied to domestic, Bordeaux-style blends - than this a great introduction. A combination of Cabernet (58%), Merlot (34%) and Petit Verdot (8%) from Estancia's Keyes Canyon Vineyard in Paso Robles, the 2006 Estancia Meritage is wonderfully herbal on the nose - with elements of anise, rosemary and sage - that highlights the deep black cherry, cocoa, vanilla and smoke that dance on the nose and palate. According to Wine Enthusiast: "Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, this Bordeaux blend is rich in black... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse San Francisco

93 points Wine Enthusiast: "Softly tannic and creamy, and bone dry, with black and red cherry, red currant, cinnamon, cocoa, bacon, black pepper and violet notes that have a pleasantly bitter bite on the finish. This complex wine gets better as it breathes in the glass. It's a blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah." (9/30/2009) And, according to Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Vivid purple. Blackberry and singed plum on the nose, with notes of dried flowers and black pepper adding complexity. Juicy, vaguely jammy dark berry f... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

You won't need any justification to pull the cork on your bottle of 2006 "Justification" from Justin Vineyards. This blend of Right Bank Bordeaux varietals (63% cabernet franc, 37% merlot) has a bouquet reminiscent of childhood summers: raspberries, blackberries and a hint of hot earth. In the mouth, though, it's all adult: supple red and black fruit on the attack and mid-palate are framed by bright acidity and dusty tannins. Mexican chocolate flavors linger on the finish. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

94+ points Robert Parker: "Another long distance runner is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, a wine worth following over the next 15-20 years. With classic aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, spring flowers, and earth, this is a big, broodingly backward, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is probably too formidably endowed and intense to attack presently, but given 3-4 years of bottle age, this wine should evolve as well as some of the North Coast Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa. Everything is there – crushed rock, creme de cassis, graphite, full-bodie... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

91 points and two stars from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines : "Ridge gets Paso Robles Zinfandel right with this wonderfully well-made wine that scores both in terms of its fruity focus and its fine balance. It hints at late-harvest ripeness without ever going over the line, and it is demonstrates a mannerly hand vis-a-vis tannin and heat. Its careful winemaking shows from beginning to end and, while tasty right now, the wine has the structure and depth to age nicely for a half-dozen years." (May 2008) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

91 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Inky purple. Highly aromatic nose displays ripe blackberry and kirsch qualities, along with candied licorice and pungent dried flowers. Fleshy and sweet, with deep dark fruit preserve flavors, velvety tannins and gentle mineral lift. No excess fat here, but there's plenty of deep, sweet, expansive fruit." (Nov/Dec '07) From Robert Parker: "The bottled red wines include the seductive, straightforward 2005 Syrah, which includes 10% Grenache in the blend. It offers blackberry and cassis fruit, medi... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points and and Editors' Choice, Wine Enthusiast: "A tremendous Petite Sirah, among the finest from Paso Robles. It's a big wine, with massive flavors of blackberries, currants, leather, mocha and smoky oak, with an ultralong, spicy finish. Yet the wine is totally dry, with refined, silky tannins. Yes, the alcohol's high, but it's completely balanced. Best now and through the next decade." (12/09) Medium dark to purplish ruby with aromas of spice box and blackberry fruit. Big, rich texture; spicy and cedary with highly extracted blackberry flavors; fu... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

The Broadside is all single vineyard fruit from the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles appellation. It is made by Chris Brockway, who is best know for his other small project, Broc Cellars. This cool climate site has a wonderful coastal influence that allows for long hangtime with wonderful phenolic character. In addition, they keep the alcohol content under control, which many California Cabernets can no longer boast! The Broadside has wonderful currant and black fruit flavors with a touch of mineral and spice. This is serious Cabernet for a f... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This is the second single-varietal bottling of mourvèdre from Rhône Ranger producer Tablas Creek. All of the fruit comes from the winery's 120-acre certified organic vineyard in Paso Robles, California and, while most of the estate's mourvèdre goes into the Esprit de Beaucastel blend each year, we're glad they've saved some for this limited production wine. Concentrated mourvèdre aromas of roasted meats, cherries, chocolate and spice on the nose are unbearably enticing. Full in the mouth, the juicy fruit is complemented by earthy and leather, with notes ... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon from Halter Ranch exemplifies the possibilities for the varietal in Paso Robles. Located on the west side of Paso, the Halter Ranch property spans 900 acres, with hillside vineyards and prized limestone soils. Dark, concentrated and overflowing with black fruit, olive and chocolate aromas that are delivered on the palate in a cloak of sweet oak. Rich, but with an undercurrent of acidity to keep everything in check, this wine is drinking well now and will continue to evolve for the next 5-7 years. 

Inventory: Hollywood

If you're looking for an affordable Cab, the Bishop's Peak is the way to go. Made by the folks from Talley Family Vineyards, it illustrates quickly that you don't need to crack open the piggy bank for pure Cab aroma and flavor. Cassis, black fruit, olive and cocoa notes mingle together on the nose and palate of this fresh, spicy wine that's priced to take home for dinner tonight. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

The Mas de Maha is California's answer to a blockbuster Ribera del Duero, and this 2004 is another in a line of well-proportioned, though elegant, unique reds. A blend of tempranillo, grenache and mourvedre, it provides ample tannin, acidity and pure, rich fruit, with each varietal bringing their own special something to the table (tempranillo's got the tannin and structure, grenache the lush fruit and mourvedre the spicy complexity). Bring out the aged manchego and Spanish olives! 

Inventory: Redwood City

92-94 points from Robert Parker: "The 2007 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc, a blend of 68% Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc, and the balance other varietals. It exhibits abundant floral notes intermixed with notions of licorice, orange blossoms, lemon oil, white currants, and honeyed grapefruit, good fruit, medium to full body, and terrific acidity as well as freshness. Readers would be hard pressed to find more French-like wines in the Paso Robles corridor than those produced by Tablas Creek. This is a partnership between renowned importer Robert Haas (Vineyar... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

91 points Robert Parker: "The 2006 Optimus consists of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah, and 5% Petit Verdot. It reveals the exuberance of a northern Rhone, but the structure of a top Bordeaux. It is more elegant, but less understated and concentrated than the 2005. Notes of chocolate, coffee, blackberries, and tar are present in both the aromatics and attack, but then the wine closes down, displaying plenty of structure, muscle, and tannin. This 2006 clearly needs several years of bottle age to round into shape. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016." (06/08... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

90 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:"Deep ruby. Ripe cherry and dark berry aromas, with notes of licorice and spicy herbs gaining power with air. A big boy but surprisingly graceful (especially in light of its stated 15.6% alcohol), with sexy candied cherry and blackberry flavors and supple tannins. Spicy oak carries through the long, sappy finish." (Nov/Dec '09) Kunin's "Westside" Zin comes from Cushman and Rancho Santa Margarita in Paso Robles, and is aged for 10 months in a combination of French and American oak. This is a forwar... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points from Robert Parker: "Revealing the licorice, kirsch, garrigue, and roasted herb notes one expects in a southern Rhone, the 2007 Grenache is a full-bodied, dense, juicy, fat, fleshy red that should drink nicely for 5-6 years. This Paso Robles outpost is owned by two Francophiles, Frenchman Francois Perrin (one of the owners of the Rhone Valley's Chateau Beaucastel) and Robert Haas (founder of the import company Vineyard Brands, and a pioneer importer of estate-bottled French wines). Seeking out steep limestone ridges near the Pacific Ocean, Tabl... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

Like a California sun-kissed Bandol, this 100% Mourvèdre wine comes from the Ohana Vineyard in Paso Robles. The late-ripening variety does quite well here, producing a wine with a nose full of ripe red berry, rich dark chocolate and allspice. In the mouth the wine has all of the characteristic earthy-savoriness you'd expect from the varietal, with hints of spice and sweet black fruit framed by rich, mouthfilling tannins. Open this with a cassoulet or grilled spring lamb. 

Inventory: Redwood City

From the winery: "The ideal growing season on the Westside of Paso Robles produced an outstanding wine that expresses the magnificent potential of this vineyard. This is a wine with elegance and grace with a regal wild strawberry nose and deep spice on the entrance of the ripe bing cherry fruit in the front of the wine. Cassis and blueberries complement the middle of the wine as it progresses to the classical 'Peacock Tail' finish that has been a hallmark of the Windward Vineyard Pinot Noir. Production: 1360 cases." 

Inventory: Redwood City

This baby has a deep, dark purple hue. Subtle blackberry aroma's combine with coffee and earthy tones in this opulent Bordeaux blend. The entry into the wine is fruit forward and rich on the palate. Flavors of cherry, cassis and a hint of plumb evolve into layers of chocolate and caramel. The depth of the wine consumes your mouth, and creates a seamless, full-bodied texture from conception to the soft, integrated, French oak finish. 

Inventory: Redwood City

This is a ripe and robust marsanne with rich honey suckle, acacia, and roasted apples. It spends 12 months in 100% neutral barrels lending a rich texture to the wine. The wines of Sans Liege are definitely an exciting discovery from the Central Coast. 

Inventory: Hollywood

Picpoul Blanc (also spelled Piquepoul Blanc) is one of the lesser-known Rhône varietals, but one that might very well have a tremendous future in California. It is one of the thirteen permitted varietals in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where it is used primarily as a blending component to take advantage of its acidity. Like the better known Grenache and Pinot, Picpoul has red, white and pink variants, though Picpoul Noir and Picpoul Gris are very rare. Literally translating to 'lip stinger', Picpoul Blanc produces wines known in France for their bright acidity, ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse San Francisco

90 points Wine Spectator: "Weaves together an elegant mix of savory wild berry, herb, pepper and mineral. Full-bodied and well-balanced, ending with a crisp, minerally edge. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2014." (03/09) 90 points Robert Parker: "A blend of 37% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre, and 9% Cinsault, the 2006 The Ditch Digger reminds me of an old-styled Fonsalette from the southern Rhone. Elegant aromas of sweet berry, raspberry, and cherry fruit along with licorice, pepper, and Provencal herbs emerge from this fr... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

89 points Robert Parker: "The most classic wine of this trio is the 2004 Syrah Petite Rousse, a Paso Robles’ interpretation of a good Crozes-Hermitage or St.-Joseph. Peppery, meaty, and spicy with plenty of black currant and cherry fruit, medium to full body, undeniable style and personality, it is accessible enough to be drunk over the next 3-4 years." (08/09) This wine fermented completely dry while on its skins, which, for the record, was a first for "petite rousse." Identical to the 2001 and 2002 "petite rousse" the 2004 "petite rousse" comes from 1... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

Justin's Savant is a modern take on the meritage - combining Syrah (62%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%) and Malbec (4%). Its brick red color has purply highlights at the edges; aromas of dried flowers, freshly-tilled soil, dark chocolate and sour cherry carry over to the palate, which has bright fruit and earth and well-integrated tannins. It finishes with buttscotch latte essences. Give this big wine some time to knit together in your cellar, or decant for an hour if you can't wait. 

Inventory: Hollywood

92 points Robert Parker: "The stunning 2007 Beautiful Earth (a proprietary blend of 70% Syrah, 24% Grenache, and 6% Mourvedre) displays an inky/purple color as well as a big, sweet perfume of blackberries, black currants, licorice, pepper, smoke, and white chocolate. Dense and full-bodied with substantial, but ripe tannin, and a long finish, it should evolve for 7-8 years or longer." (08/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood

93 points Robert Parker: "The streamlined, elegant 2003 High Road James Berry Vineyard (65% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, and 15% Grenache) exhibits sweet cassis and cherry fruit intermixed with notions of spicy oak and forest floor. With abundant fruit, beautiful harmony, and a medium to full-bodied finish, it should drink well for 3-4 years. Kudos to Villa Creek for these exceptional offerings that brilliantly showcase the enormous potential of Paso Robles’ western corridor." (06/05) 

Inventory: Redwood City

From the winery: "Dark purple, extracted wine with a bouquet of blackberry, cocoa and toasted oak. A fruit forward wine, with a rich, bold mouth feel, exceptional balance and a lingering finish. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc." 

Inventory: Redwood City

From Wine Enthusiast: "A big, lush, exuberant Zinfandel, stuffed with sun-ripened fruit flavors of dark berries, coffee, chocolate and spice. Drink this dry, warming wine now." (4/1/2009) 

Inventory: Redwood City

From the winery: "This millennium vintage fulfills the significance of the year in which it was harvested. The earthy nose, laced with ripe bing cherry and exotic spices deliver those promises to the palate. The soft tannin structure offers layered complexity that continues long after it leaves the mouth. Truly a banner vintage that fully displays the beauty of our Westside terroir. Production: 1380 cases." 

Inventory: Redwood City