It's not easy to find steals in the much touted 2005 vintage of Bordeaux. But you need look no further than Graves for a screamingly good example of ready-to-drink value-packed Merlot-based red. Tobacco, oak notes and black currant aromas and flavors have fine Bordeaux written all of them. This tastes like a $30 bottle of wine, which comes in handy at dinner parties! 

Inventory: Hollywood

Ch. L’Avocat is from the small commune of Cerons, which is located just north of Barsac and Sauternes in the southern Graves appellation. I met Nicola Allison at a small conference of Women from Bordeaux and Napa Valley in Napa earlier. She followed my advice by sending her wines to our hotel in April to be tasted and Clyde and I liked them. I followed up by visiting the estate almost 8 weeks later and was shown the gravely, plateau vineyards by her husband Sean who manages the vines. The vineyards were purchased by the Allison’s in 2002; the fruit was p... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Robert Parker: "Undoubtedly a sleeper of the vintage, this exceptionally charming, complex, elegant 1997 is neither big, weighty, nor powerful, yet it offers cedar, roasted herb, and sweet plum/cherry fruit in its aromas and flavors. The taster is seduced by the wine's silky, seamless texture, gorgeous aromatics, low acidity, and lovely levels of fruit." (04/00) And, from Wine Spectator: "Very good for the vintage. Deep ruby color. Fabulous aromas of berries, spices and tobacco. Full-bodied, with well-defined, soft and succulent tannins and... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

According to Wine Enthusiast: "Made by the winemaking team of Chateau d Seuil, Chateau l"avocat's white is a fresh, citrus and apples wine, given broadness by some barrel fermentation. There is a grassy character that comes through, giving a crisp, mouthwatering finish." (07/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Robert Parker: "A top-notch success, the dense ruby/purple-colored 2006 Smith-Haut-Lafitte offers aromas of smoky, juicy black currants, graphite, earth, truffles, and forest floor. Full-bodied with superb purity, noticeable but sweet tannins, this round, generous, long wine should drink nicely for 15-20+ years." (02/09) 92 points Wine Spectator: "Gorgeous aromas of dark chocolate, cappuccino and berries lead to a full body, with luscious fruit and round tannins. Long and voluptuous for the vintage. Impressive. Best after 2014." (03/09) 92 po... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

92-94+ points Robert Parker: "The earthy, smoky notes intermixed with notions of black fruits and road tar found in this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot are classic Graves traits. Sweet, dense fruit, with tremendous opulence, a layered mouthfeel, and excellent purity, freshness, and ripe tannins are displayed in abundance in this beautifully made offering from proprietor Helene Garcin. It should age effortlessly for 20 years." (04/09) 91-93 points Wine Enthusiast: "A wine that offers all the right characters. The fruit has a lively, vivid... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

95-97 points Robert Parker: "The 2008 exhibits superb minerality as well as the delicacy of a great culinary preparation, packed and stacked with flavor, yet light on its feet. The 2008 will compete, perhaps eclipse the sensational 2005 and 2006. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of charcoal, graphite, black currants, sweet cherries, spice box, and subtle earth. The wine possesses super purity, a medium to full-bodied, gorgeous texture, ripe, sweet tannins, and a layered mouthfeel. The acidity provides freshness, vibrancy, and delineation to... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

The lovely, garnet-colored 2005 Château de Chantegrive is an even blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon from Podensac. Delightfully complex without being overripe, the wine shows black fruit and light toast, supported by subtle tannins. 17+ points Jancis Robinson: "Blackish crimson. Very sweet, ripe black fruit with some warm-brick (Haut-Brion-like) overlay. Lots of minerals and interest with intense ripeness yet freshness too. A very very amiable wine. Lovely balance with neat, sandy tannins on the finish." (04/06) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Barrel sample according to Clyde Beffa, K&L's Bordeaux Buyer: "56% cabernet sauvignon, 38% merlot and 6% cabernet franc. . 50% into first wine. It is a pure expression of the terroir with only 50% new oak used. Here as in Haut-Brion, the Merlot was the strength behind the blend (Unusual in 2003). Also they had good rainfall on July 15th, August 16th and August 19th to replenish the moisture in the soil. As a result their wines did not suffer from the heat. A good proportion of clay soil also helped. Very sweet aromas of violets and undertones of black l... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

89 points Wine Spectator: "Aromas of blackberry, tobacco and coffee follow through to a full body, with soft, round tannins and a chocolate, berry and smoke aftertaste. Best after 2011." (03/08) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93-95 points Robert Parker: "The 2008 Smith-Haut-Lafitte, which is somewhat reminiscent of the brilliant 1998, exhibits sweet cassis, tobacco leaf, earth, and barbecue characteristics in its complex aromatics. The wine reveals ripe, supple tannin, medium to full body, gorgeous fruit, impeccable purity, and a luscious texture. It should be relatively approachable in its youth, and last for 25+ years. The final composition was 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc.As I have noted so many times in the past, since the early nineties, Dani... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

Owned by the Cathiard family of Smith-Haut-Lafitte fame since 1996. They bought the property from Dominique Lurton. The vineyards are located next to Smith-Haut-Lafitte and Rochemorin and the wines are made by the same winemaking team as SHL. Vineyards planted to 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot. K&L's Notes: Quite substantial wine with a good amount of oak on the nose with hints of coffee. Good mouthfeel--classic New World-style 2004 with good minerality and fine balance. Decant one hour. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

95 points Robert Parker: "The dense purple-colored 2006 boasts an extraordinary perfume of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, burning embers, and a sensation that can only be described as like walking through a damp forest on a hot, humid day. Full-bodied, extraordinarily textured, and multidimensional with an amazingly long finish of nearly 60 seconds, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from a 75-acre vineyard is a compelling wine that is one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030." (02/09) 93 points Tanzer: "... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

Owned by the Cathiard family of Smith Haut Lafitte fame since 1996. They bought the property from Dominique Lurton. The vineyards are located next to Smith Haut Lafitte and Rochemorin and the wines are made by the same winemaking team as SHL. Vineyards planted to 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot. K&L's Notes: The 2005 is even better than the very fine 2003 vintage. Best ever from them. Toasty oak, cassis and red berry fruit on the nose. Ripe and soft on the palate entry, but firm at back with integrated tannins. Very ripe and forward fruit with fin... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

According to Robert Parker: "This wine is light to medium-bodied, with sweet currant and smoke-infused flavors and some oak in the background, but plenty of red fruits, vanilla, and dried herbs. This is a soft, well-balanced wine to drink now and over the next 12-15 years." (04/02) K&L's notes - Very aromatic, Graves-style wine with earthy and mineral hints on the nose. Crushed berries on the nose and palate. This is a very elegant yet powerful wine, and quite long on the palate with good grip. Delicious exotic and velvety fruit. 65% cabernet sauvignon,... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

95 points Robert Parker: "The inky/blue/purple-tinged 2005's extraordinary nose reeks of charcoal, incense, scorched earth, abundant blackberry, blueberry, and cherry fruit, toast, and spice. Good acidity, huge but sweet tannin, and fabulous precision as well as definition characterize this full-bodied, super-concentrated effort. It should prove to be among the longest-lived wines yet made by the Cathiards." (04/08) 93 points Wine Spectator: "Very grapey, with black licorice and mineral character. Full-bodied, with hints of new wood and spices. Big and ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

92-94 points Robert Parker: "One of the finest wines made at this estate over the last three decades, Domaine de Chevalier's 2008 (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) achieved 13% natural alcohol. It was cropped at 45 hectoliters per hectare, which is significantly lower than in most top vintages. The most noticeable thing is that consultant Stephane Derenoncourt has drastically cut back the influence of new oak, or at least its ability to intrude on the aromatics and flavors. This beautifully textured, dense... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

95 points Robert Parker: "A superb success for the vintage, the 2006 exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a poised, classic bouquet of sweet black cherries, graphite, camphor, truffles, and a subtle hint of oak. Medium-bodied with a stunningly layered texture, impressive purity, and beautiful balance, this cuvee is haute couture in a glass. Although surprisingly approachable, it won’t hit its adolescent stage for 8-10 years, and will last for 25-30 years thereafter. Bravo!" (02/09) 92 points Wine Spectator: "Berries, mineral and violet on the nose... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Robert Parker: "The brilliant St.-Emilion-based consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt, is working his magic at this great vineyard in Leognan. The 2006, a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, is a revelation of sweet, lush, black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with subtle notes of scorched earth and barbecue spices. Round, luscious, sexy, and exceptionally complex, the wine is dominated by that smoky minerality that comes from this area. It is the quintessentially elegant yet subst... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Wine Spectator: "Soft and balanced, showing lovely velvety tannins and lots of coffee, chocolate, toasty oak and mushroom character, with bright fruit underneath. Full-bodied, round and unctuous. The second wine of Haut-Brion. Best after 2013." (03/08) 91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 08: "Deep red-ruby. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, smoke and minerals. Fat, plush and seamless in the mouth, with a nicely restrained sweetness to the slowly mounting flavors of raspberry and smoke. The compelling ripeness and sweetn... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

95-97 points Robert Parker: "The 2008 exhibits superb minerality as well as the delicacy of a great culinary preparation, packed and stacked with flavor, yet light on its feet. The 2008 will compete, perhaps eclipse the sensational 2005 and 2006. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of charcoal, graphite, black currants, sweet cherries, spice box, and subtle earth. The wine possesses super purity, a medium to full-bodied, gorgeous texture, ripe, sweet tannins, and a layered mouthfeel. The acidity provides freshness, vibrancy, and delineation to... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90-92 points Robert Parker: "A brilliant overachiever as well as a sleeper of the vintage, this dense ruby/purple-tinged 2008 emerges from a vineyard site not far from Smith-Haut-Lafitte. A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that was cropped at very low yields as a result of challenging flowering and growing conditions, it boasts a deep ruby/purple color along with a sweet nose of tobacco leaf, red currants, and blacker fruits. Opulent, round, and pure with good underlying acidity as well as ripe tannin, it should be drunk over the next 7-8 y... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

93-95 points Robert Parker: "The 2008 Smith-Haut-Lafitte, which is somewhat reminiscent of the brilliant 1998, exhibits sweet cassis, tobacco leaf, earth, and barbecue characteristics in its complex aromatics. The wine reveals ripe, supple tannin, medium to full body, gorgeous fruit, impeccable purity, and a luscious texture. It should be relatively approachable in its youth, and last for 25+ years. The final composition was 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc.As I have noted so many times in the past, since the early nineties, Dani... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

96 points Robert Parker: "This wine has emerged from a dormant period to reveal the classic iron, tobacco, sweet blackcurrant and roasted herb nose of a great Graves. The color remains an opaque purple with a thick, viscous texture. Sweet, expansive, and chewy, with enormous concentration and fat, this wine has begun to develop its secondary aromatics. It is already thrilling to drink, although it is still very youthful Drink it over the next 25-30 years." 94 points Wine Spectator. 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Robert Parker: "Proprietor Alexandre Bonnie has produced brilliant white and red wines at this estate's NASA space age-looking winemaking facility. I remember these wines from the early days of The Wine Advocate, and they were undrinkable swill. That is certainly not the case today. This is classic Pessac-Leognan with leafy tobacco, smoky red and black currant, forest floor, cedar, and graphite notes. It is a medium-bodied wine of impeccable purity, texture, and balance. Enjoy it over the next 15 years." (02/09) According to Wine Spectator: "B... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

94 points and a Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast: "Finely balanced, this has plenty of weight, which shines with the fresh lemon, pear and sweet grapefruit flavors. There is some wood there, but just a hint to give texture. A big success from a fine white wine vintage, and worth aging for 3-4 years." (07/09) 87-90 points Robert Parker. K&L's notes: One of the many Haut-Brion properties, Ch. Larrivet-Haut-Brion is located on a gravelly ridge near K&L favorite Ch. Haut-Bailly. This is a very earthy white with a decent middle. Please note - 2007 Bordeaux... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

91 points and an Editors' Choice, Wine Enthusiast: "Owned by the Cathiard family of Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte since 1994, the vineyard of Cantelys neighbors both Smith Haut-Lafitte and the Lurton-owned Rochemorin. The wine is rich, smooth, the wood well integrated, allowing fine wafts of herbaceous citrus and currant flavors to come out of the glass. It's ready to drink ow, but could age over 2-3 years." (07/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

89 points Robert Parker: "Most consumers outside of Bordeaux are probably far more familiar with the brilliant white wine made here than their red, but this is an elegant, Burgundian-styled red that could pass for a grand cru from the Cotes de Beaune. Sweet and sour cherry notes intermixed with notions of new saddle leather, burning embers, and tobacco leaf emerge from the complex aromatics. This dark ruby/purple-tinged, medium-bodied 2006 is not a blockbuster, but a wine of considerable grace, finesse, and elegance. Drink it over the next 12-15+ years."... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

90-92 points Robert Parker: " brilliant overachiever as well as a sleeper of the vintage, this dense ruby/purple-tinged 2008 emerges from a vineyard site not far from Smith-Haut-Lafitte. A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that was cropped at very low yields as a result of challenging flowering and growing conditions, it boasts a deep ruby/purple color along with a sweet nose of tobacco leaf, red currants, and blacker fruits. Opulent, round, and pure with good underlying acidity as well as ripe tannin, it should be drunk over the next 7-8 ye... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90 points Wine Spectator: "Loads of plum, berry and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Very well done and superfine. Best after 2008. 6,665 cases made." (01/01) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Dark red. Plum, currant, tar, tobacco, smoke, cedar and minerals. Supple and dense, with excellent precision of crystallized red berry flavors thanks to ripe acids and firm minerality. Very dry, sophisticated finish is long and gripping. The merlot was even better in '98 than in '00, said Sanders, but i... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

90-92 points Robert Parker. 88-92 points Wine Spectator: "Good concentration of blackberry and raspberry fruit. Medium-to-full body, velvety tannins and a medium finish. Very close to the 2006 in quality." (Web only, 2008) K&L's notes - Great nose...earthy with perfect balance. I love this and so does Ralph. Great wine. At the UGC the wine had an elegant, toasty, perfumy nose. Sweet fruit entry and long finish. Some tannin evident at the back. Ralph: Elegant and delicious. Please note - 2007 Bordeaux futures are not in stock, but will arrive between J... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

92-94+ points Robert Parker: "The earthy, smoky notes intermixed with notions of black fruits and road tar found in this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot are classic Graves traits. Sweet, dense fruit, with tremendous opulence, a layered mouthfeel, and excellent purity, freshness, and ripe tannins are displayed in abundance in this beautifully made offering from proprietor Helene Garcin. It should age effortlessly for 20 years." (04/09) 91-93 points Wine Enthusiast: "A wine that offers all the right characters. The fruit has a lively, vivid... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

95 points Robert Parker: "Haut-Bailly’s American proprietor, Robert Wilmers, backed up by the brilliant Veronique Sanders, continues to go from strength to strength. A fabulous example of this estate, the 2005 is an ethereal, delicate, finesse-styled offering with intensity as well as richness. It has all the concentration one could want, but it comes across as gorgeously elegant and sublime because of its combination of delicacy, power, and depth. Beautiful raspberry, black cherry, currant, graphite, and scorched earth notes are subtle, but provocative.... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

91 points Robert Parker: "Consistently one of the top, under-the-radar wines of Pessac-Leognan, Haut-Bergey’s beautiful 2006 boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a classic bouquet of hot rocks intermixed with graphite, cassis, incense, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied with noticeable but sweet tannin, impressive purity, and an alluring texture, it is relatively evolved for a 2006, so consumption over the next 15 years is recommended." (02/09) 90-91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Good deep red-ruby color. Explosive, rather wil... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

90-92 points Robert Parker: "Another sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 is one of the strongest efforts yet produced at Larrivet Haut-Brion. A classic Graves bouquet of earth, camphor, subtle barbecue smoke, and sweet red and black currants is followed by a lush, richly fruity, medium to full-bodied wine displaying superb purity, a beguiling texture, and a long finish. It should drink exceptionally well young, and evolve for 12-15 years." (04/09) 87-90 points Wine Spectator: "Crushed blackberry and licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with soft ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

94-97 points Robert Parker: "This sensational effort displays massive concentration, extraordinary intensity, and soaring aromatics of roasted coffee, barbecued meats, graphite, blackberries, and cassis, dense fruit, full body, excellent purity, nuance, and unlimited potential complexity as well as longevity. This limited production cuvee, a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, ranks alongside Branon's sensational 2000. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025." (04/09) 87-90 points Wine Spectator: "A solid wine, with very good berry and wet earth charact... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

99 points Robert Parker: "The 1989 La Mission-Haut-Brion is irrefutably the finest wine made at this chateau since 1975. Certainly it is much more 'user-friendly' than the 1975. It is a thick, muscular, sensationally concentrated wine that is even bigger than its nearby sibling, Haut-Brion. Once past the roasted cassis and smoky nose, the wine is superbly extracted with plum and tar-like flavors framed with generous quantities of new oak (100% was used). While there is a tendency to compare the 1989 to the unctuous 1982, the 1989 is even more concentr... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

95-97 points Robert Parker: "The 2008 exhibits superb minerality as well as the delicacy of a great culinary preparation, packed and stacked with flavor, yet light on its feet. The 2008 will compete, perhaps eclipse the sensational 2005 and 2006. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of charcoal, graphite, black currants, sweet cherries, spice box, and subtle earth. The wine possesses super purity, a medium to full-bodied, gorgeous texture, ripe, sweet tannins, and a layered mouthfeel. The acidity provides freshness, vibrancy, and delineation to... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90-94 points Robert Parker. 88-92 points Wine Spectator: "Violet and berry, with lovely, flowery undertones. Medium-to-full body, fine tannins, a good core of ripe fruit and a medium finish. 43 percent Merlot, 48 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 9 percent Cabernet Franc. Normally there is close to 70 percent Merlot." (Web Only, 2008) K&L's notes - 48% cabernet, 43% merlot, 9% cab franc. Fine sweetness and richness on the palate. Black licorice and some spices evident. Silky tannins. Long and lovely. Ralph: Strong, sweet finish. Has more power than most 2... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90-92 points Robert Parker. K&L's notes - Good entry...sweet middle. Aristocratic. Very good. At the UGC the wine was full and ripe. Big wine on palate and sweet mid-palate impression. Tannic finish. At the property the wine exhibited a deep purplish color and fine red berry aromas and flavor. On the bigger side. 50 hectoliters per hectare here which is normal. 70% cabernet and 26% merlot with the rest cab franc. Please note - 2007 Bordeaux futures are not in stock, but will arrive between Jan 2010 and Dec 2010. We will contact you for shipping instruc... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

96 points Robert Parker: "The 2006 Haut-Brion performed even better from bottle than it did from barrel. Sixty-four percent of the production went into this wine, and while it displays the vintage’s powerful tannins and structure, it possesses superb concentration, and the minerality/scorched earth notes of a great Haut-Brion. Medium to full-bodied, with perhaps not quite the fleshiness of the 2005 or 2000, it is built more along the lines of the 1998 and 1996. It is a brilliant effort displaying sensational purity..." (02/09) 96 points and one of Wine ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

95 points Robert Parker: "It is always interesting to taste this wine next to its stablemate, Laville Haut-Brion. While Laville has 80% Semillon in it, giving it more fat and concentration, Haut-Brion is 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Semillon. This is a crisp yet powerful wine, full-bodied, with great minerality and a subtle smokiness intermixed with hints of quince, white currant, orange skin, and lemon custard. Long, rich, and tightly knit, with good acidity and no evidence of any oak whatsoever despite the use of 100% new French oak, this wine is set fo... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90-93 points Robert Parker. According to the Wine Spectator: "Berry and black licorice aromas and flavors. Medium body, good fruit and silky tannins..." (Web only, 2008) K&L's notes - Tasted at property. Ripe and rich. Black licorice flavors. Deep color. A touch short. Please note - 2007 Bordeaux futures are not in stock, but will arrive between Jan 2010 and Dec 2010. We will contact you for shipping instructions. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

94-96 points Robert Parker: "Not far off the quality of the monumental 2005, Pape Clement’s 2008 was cropped at a lowly 30 hectoliters per hectare. The final blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot, and there are approximately 7,500 cases. The 2008 displays a dense purple color as well as a classic northern Pessac-Leognan nose of truffles, asphalt, scorched earth, charcoal, creme de cassis, spice box, and spring flowers. Super-pure and medium to full-bodied with stunning concentration, admirable purity, slightly more acidity than... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

95-97 points Wine Enthusiast: " A muscular wine, with well-defined tannins. The acidity is high, hiding the power and richness of the fruit behind. Then dark tannins come through, with other ripe fruits, finishing with a mineral character." (04/09) 94-96+ points Robert Parker: "Another property that is harvested very late (September 23-October 17), the 2008 La Mission-Haut-Brion is a powerful, backward effort that is not yet fully expressing itself. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, it reveals a deep blue/purple hue i... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

91-94 points Robert Parker: "Another brilliant effort from an estate that has done superb work over the last 10-15 years, the 2008 reveals sweet, exuberant notes of lead pencil shavings, smoked herbs, sweet earth, and copious quantities of black currant and blackberry fruit. Dense and full-bodied with a richness and texture that are stunningly opulent, with no hard edges, there is plenty of tannin, but they are sweet and unaggressive. Good acidity provides freshness, precision, and definition to the wine’s component parts. It should drink well for 20-25 ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

91-94 points Robert Parker. 89-93 points Wine Spectator: "Fabulous nose of crushed berry, dark chocolate, violet and licorice. Medium-to-full body, very silky tannins and a mineral, berry and silky finish. Slightly austere, but very pretty and racy. 43 percent Merlot, 44 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 13 percent Cabernet Franc." (Web only, 2008) K&L's notes - One of our favorites of this vintage. 44% cab, 43% merlot, 13% cab franc. Only 8,800 cases made. Lush and sweet . Full-flavored with great body and structure. Distinguished wine. Lots of minerals;... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

91-93 points Wine Enthusiast: "Smoky, aromas, considerable new wood, spice and blackcurrant stalkiness. There is a definite amount of fruit, but the wood dominates. The final texture is dark and dry." (04/09) 88-91 points Wine Spectator: "Offers currant and plum on the nose, with hints of young sweet tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Medium finish." (04/09) According to Robert Parker: "The second wine now incorporates virtually everything that was in the Latour-Haut-Brion vineyard. The 2008 La Chapelle de la... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

94-96 points Wine Enthusiast: "With its lively fruit and fine, ripe, oily Sémillon texture, this is a fragrant, citrus flavored wine. White peach tastes are edged by pink grapefruit. The aftertaste is very fresh, very mineral." (04/09) According to Stephen Tanzer: "(79% semillon and 21% sauvignon blanc) Light straw-green. Initially reticent nose needs coaxing to reveal aromas of orange blossom, lemon and minerals. Enters the mouth bright and fresh, with citrus and mineral flavors of sneaky concentration, but comes across as a rather linear, austere Lavi... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

95 points Robert Parker: "One of the vintage-s top wines is the 2006 La Mission-Haut-Brion. From bottle, it reminds me of the 1998, given its structure and backward style. Dense ruby/purple-colored, it possesses a boatload of tannin, but with coaxing, tobacco leaf, sweet black currant, burning ember, and blue fruit characteristics emerge. While thick and full-bodied, the tannins seem more elevated than I remember from barrel. It is going to be a beauty, but like many of the top 2006s, considerable patience is required. Only 55% of the production made it ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City