Old and Rare Wine

98 points Robert Parker: "This is a profoundly great wine. It came across in a blind tasting as one of the most remarkable wines there, with most tasters mistaking it for a first-growth Medoc. The wine revealed an opaque purple color, a fabulously complex, sweet nose of minerals, fruitcake, cedar, toasty new oak, and pure blackcurrant fruit. Although huge in the mouth, the wine is remarkably well-balanced, with its high tannin level well-concealed by copious quantities of sweet ripe fruit, as well as huge amounts of glycerin and extract. I have consisten... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

So so little of this exquisite ancient vine, pure Mesnil Champagne were made. The name is Latin for the extinct, fossilized squids that are prevalent in the chalk soil of the village of Mesnil- chalk that is more than 120 feet deep! This Champagne is the essence of minerality with flavors and aromas of pure chalk, white flowers and fresh baked bread. This wine is a real lesson in purity and focus, and the opposite of the biscuity, richer style... It is also among the best we have at any price!!! If you are looking for something very special, look no furt... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Very fresh and clean but rather lean, with berry flavor, medium body and firm tannins." Parker says: "Dark ruby with some amber at the edge, this wine has a ripe, intense, cassis smell. Moderately rich and tannic on the palate, with good depth..." 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

92 points from Robert Parker: "Leighton’s 1994 Chardonnay Cuvee LD is made from an old Wente clone. It exhibits notes of subtle pineapples, poached pears, citrus oil, and background oak and charcoal scents. Crisp and full-bodied with impressive balance and harmony, it should continue to evolve for 8-10 years. The idiosyncratic Terry Leighton, who has produced some magnificent wines that have stood the test of time for nearly two decades, releases his wines 2-10 years later than most producers. I have always loved them, and I have been remiss in not repo... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Very fresh, complex nose combines soft citrus fruits, toast and minerals, with hints of red berries. Penetrating, bright and very intense, with powerful citrus and mineral flavors that turn sweeter toward the back end. The chewy finish of pear and hazelnut really stains the palate. Ultimately quite pliant and harmonious, in the style of the year." (Nov/Dev 04) 

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

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

94 points Wine Spectator: "Very appealing for its potpourri of spices. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice pick up cherry and orange peel notes as this unfolds on the palate. Dry, intense and well-balanced, with a long finish. Ideal for food. Drink now through 2020. 250 cases imported." (11/07) Like almost all Champagne, this wine has relativly low alcohol, 12.5%. 

Inventory: Hollywood

A blend of 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay, Roederer's Brut Rosé is a generous and elegant sparkler with a deep pink color and fresh red berry aromas with hints of gingerbread. On the palate it has honeyed fruit flavors with toasty oak impressions. Vibrantly structured this wine is wonderful for toasting and an excellent accompaniment to veal, poultry or lamb. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Robert Parker: " The 1988 vintage attests to a remarkably auspicious start for the new Domaine Leroy in Vosne-Romanee." (01/90) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

89 points Wine Spectator: "Hard and tannic, but stylish and flavorful, offering cherry, chocolate and toast aromas and flavors that are rich, round and long. Needs until 1997 to 2000 to shed its tannins. " (02/91) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

92 points from the Wine Spectato: "Elegant, refined, perfectly balanced, with ripe, fleshy cherry, currant, anise, cedar and spice, finishing with supple, well-integrated tannins." (11/98) 

Inventory: San Francisco

92 points Robert Parker: "This is the finest Beychevelle produced over the last forty years. It reveals the estate's tell-tale elegance in addition to a level of density, muscle, and richness that is rarely found in more recent vintages. A dense ruby/garnet color is followed by a classy nose of black fruits, licorice, minerals, and toast. Ripe, sweet, and thick, with low acidity, medium to full body, impressive richness, light to moderate tannin, and a long finish, this wine is just entering its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for 12-15 years... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

Four stars Michael Broadbent (last tasted June 2000): "Tasted nine times in the last decade, the last two dining at the chateau. Remarkably good for a '75 - rich, flavoury, full of fruit, its tannin completely submerged." 89 points Wine Spectator: "Slightly tough, but a damn nice glass of red. Ruby-garnet in color, with tobacco, cedar and fruit aromas and flavors. Medium- to full-bodied with full, velvety tannins and ripe fruit. Will improve with age.- Pichon-Lalande vertical." (11/97) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

From a rarely seen producer, this is ready to drink 1er Cru Red Burgundy, very classic in style and for the true Burghound. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

The largest of Royal Tokaji’s first growth vineyards, Betsek Vineyard is shaped like a half-moon and tilted northeast. The area where the vineyard is located is typically cold, lower portions of the vineyard have been known to actually freeze in the spring. The soil is dark humus mixed with volcanic clay, producing weighty, pungent wines with an earthy character. 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

Can an entry level white Burgundy a lowly Bourgogne appellation wine, survive 20 years in the bottle? If anyone's can, it would be the great firm of Leroy. This perfectly stored gem is priced for the wine shopper unafraid of a little risk and experimentation! 

Inventory: Redwood City

92 points Wine Spectator: "Ultraripe and raisiny, intense and powerful, with jammy prune, plum and black cherry, picking up a touch of earthiness. Can handle further cellaring, but it's not likely to improve proportionately.--California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2007." (02/01) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

95 points and a Collectibles designation from the Wine Spectator: "A wine of great intensity, depth and complexity. Beautifully crafted, ripe, rich and creamy, showing off pretty vanilla and mocha-scented oak before a deep core of currant, blackberry, black cherry and minerally flavors fold in. Firm tannins add structure on the finish." (11/02) Dominus is the red wine produced from the historical Napanook vineyard, 124 acres in size, in Yountville, mid-Napa Valley. Christian Moueix of St-Emilion and Pomerol began producing Dominus with the 1983 vintage.... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Wine Spectator: "This honeyed, late-harvest white offers a lush, pillowy texture and rich flavors of dried apricots, toffee and vanilla. It's very sweet, yet quite fresh and still lively. Delicious now, it should age easily until 2020." (12/97) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

90 points from Robert Parker: "The 2001 Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard is a Chablis-inspired, chalky, medium-bodied white exhibiting notes of white currants, peaches, and stone fruits. Crisp, delicately layered, and impressively endowed." (08/04) 90 points from Wine Enthusiast: "One of the more distinctive Chards I’ve had this year, notable especially for its very high acidity and mineral and lime complex. The lime tastes like a cool custard, flavored with vanilla, while the minerals bring to mind liquid steel. One hundred percent new French oak slat... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

93 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Medium red. Suave red berry, kirsch, anise and dried rose aromas are compelling and strikingly precise. Silky in texture and packed with sweet red berry, licorice, vanilla bean and floral pastille flavors. Fine-grained tannins lend structure to this suave, flat-out delicious wine, which possesses outstanding depth and complexity and finishes with haunting floral echoes." (Jul/Aug 2007) 91 points from the Wine Advocate: "The 1998 Pecina Gran Reserva was aged for 48 months in used American oak. Si... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

Recently rediscovered in Krohn's cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, the rare 1964 white Colheita Port is made from malvasia fina, viosinho, donzelinho, gouveio and códega. It is antique gold in hue, dense and rich. Powerful aromas still distinguish the nose and the palate is velvety with good balanced between sweetness and tannins with a long finish. 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

93 points from the Wine Spectator (Sep 15, 1989). 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points Robert Parker: "This vineyard produces expensive but superb Limited Reserve wines from the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The first Limited Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, the 1991, is a knock-out effort. Although Silverado has a tendency to take great raw materials and add excessive acidity in the winemaking process, that did not happen with this marvelously rich, natural tasting Cabernet. The wine possesses an opaque purple color, a big, sweet nose of cassis and new oak, and full-bodied, concentrated, well-balanced flavors with a harmo... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This is a very well made, very dry style, as the extra brut designation would suggest. 100% pinot noir, it's a perfect bubbly to keep around for the Argentinean wine fan, or sparkling wine completist. 

Inventory: Redwood City

This bottling comes exclusively from Kistler and Dutton Ranch vineyards in the Russian River Valley. The title is a testament to the mineral and hazelnut scented wines Kistler produces from these Russian River Valley soils. Complex aromas of ripe fruits, spices, toasted almond and hazelnut. Rich and expressive, with a long, lingering finish. Delicious now or will benefit from further aging. 

Inventory: Redwood City

92 points Robert Parker: "The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Bancroft Ranch may possess an even more saturated, thicker, black/purple color than the 1995. Some tannin has emerged since I tasted it last year, when it was far more velvety. This is a powerhouse, extremely full-bodied, palate-staining wine. Its enormous extract, richness, and elevated tannin seem to suggest this wine is about ready to settle down for a long period of dormancy. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025." 

Inventory: Redwood City

The estate was founded by Jost Schmitt in 1549, and has been in family possession since those days. Riesling is cultivated in some of the prime vineyards in Nierstein, including the classic Hipping. The grandfather of the present owner, also named Franz-Karl Schmitt, was renowned for his striving to produce great wines. He was the first to produce Trockenbeerenauslese in the Rheinhessen around 1900! This Pettenthal Auslese comes from the Roter Hang or "Red Slope", a long hillside of vineyards that sits directly on the Rhein river and is composed of weath... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

97 points and Wine of the Year from the Wine Spectator: "The greatest Ducru produced this century. Breathtaking aromas of berries, violets, vanilla and blackberries set the stage for a wine that's full-bodied and tannic, yet very fine and long in the mouth. This has fabulous structure for aging and will be best after 2004." 94 points Robert Parker: "A classic, compelling example of Ducru-Beaucaillou that should not be missed." 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points Wine Spectator: "Sleek and well-structured, with a braid of exotic smoke, currant, green olive and herbal flavors that drape together nicely, holding a tight focus and showing how ripe, supple tannins can integrate without dominating. Finishes with a dash of mocha and spice.--1995 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2010." (Web only, 2005) 90 points Robert Parker: "While it is fashionable to criticize this wine because of its price, and the secrecy surrounding the amount produced (who really cares?), the wine is unquestionably... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

In 1970 the underachieving fifth growth Clerc Milon was purchased by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, a watershed occasion for the estate, which had been producing medocre wines at best. Strange that the wines weren't always spectacular, if you consider that the vineyards of Clerc Milon lay sandwiched between Mouton and Lafite. Well, by the mid to late 70s, Rothschild had turned around this venerable estate. This represents a considerable value in mature Bordeaux. 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

92 points Wine Spectator: "A ripe, jammy style, with rich black cherry, wild berry, plum and raspberry flavors, finishing with a touch of heat, polished tannins and a dash of anise. Drink now through 2012. 950 cases made." (10/2000) 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Intense, concentrated, and well focused, with tiers of rich cherry, berry, chocolate and toasty oak flavors that are framed by firm, chewy tannins. Best to cellar until 1994 or '95." (03/91) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

91 points Robert Parker: "The 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve displays a dense purple color, followed by a sweet, jammy, black plum, and cassis-scented nose, no obvious oak, full-bodied, spicy flavors with moderate tannin, and exceptional concentration. The wine reveals a youthful appearance and personality. There is enough fruit to cover the strong tannin in the finish. It should be cellared for 3-5 years and consumed over the next two decades. Ken Deiss, the winemaker at Flora Springs, thinks that the 1994 and 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon vintages have more... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Robert Parker: "This wine is excellent. It exhibits a deep ruby color, exceptional ripeness, a big, spicy, chocolaty, plummy bouquet, large quantities of fruit, full body, and a very long finish. After tasting it, I wonder how the 1987 vintage received so much criticism in the press. It has a great dimension of flavor and a penetrating bouquet reminiscent of beef blood, chocolate, ripe berry fruit, and oriental spices. On the palate, the wine is very fleshy and concentrated with soft tannins and an amazing finish. This wine is of extremely high... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

94 points from Robert Parker: "The 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon-Special Selection appears to be the best Caymus has produced since 1986 and 1985. Two thousand, six-bottle cases will be released in February, 1994. The wine offers a saturated, dark purple color, and a rich, spicy, oaky nose backed up by generous quantities of jammy blackcurrants. Ripe, highly extracted, and full-bodied, with copious amounts of sweet tannin and layers of fruit, this is a knock-out, flamboyantly-styled Cabernet for drinking over the next 15 or more years." 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "Ripe and rich, offering plenty of blackberry, pepper and anise flavors that remain vibrant through the finish. The tannins have some bite to them, so best to cellar into 1999." (11/97) According to Robert Parker: "Henschke, one of Australia’s oldest and most renowned wineries continues to perform at a high level." 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Robert Parker: "Beautiful notes of dried herbs, new saddle leather, roasted nuts, black currants, and jammy cherries jump from the glass of this spicy, fragrant 1982. Medium to full-bodied and fleshy, it is the finest La Lagune produced in the last thirty years. Just reaching its plateau of maturity, it appears to have the balance and depth to age effortlessly for 10 more years." (06/00) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Very dark garnet-red, with an inky center. Ripe berry and tobacco aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with tobacco, raspberry and light... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

92 points Robert Parker: "This superb Cabernet producer has finally released its splendid 1991s. The 1991 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a dark ruby color, a rich, ostentatious, sweet vanillin, herb, and blackcurrant-scented nose, and gobs of rich, herb-tinged, juicy fruit, the opulent texture that Silver Oak routinely obtains. There is plenty of fat, glycerin, and alcohol in the long finish. Both wines are already delicious, and will age gracefully for 12-15 years." (10/95) 91 points and a Highly Recommended designation from the Wine Specta... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

96 points and a Spectator Selection from the Wine Spectator (03/86) 93 points Robert Parker: "Few wineries in the world can boast such an enviable record of consistent excellence as that of Caymus." (10/93) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

According to Robert Parker: "The 1981 is a very successful wine, with a more compact aromatic and flavor profile than the 1982. In that sense it is more classic than the flamboyant 1982. Unlike many 1981s, Pichon Lalande achieved wonderful ripeness, and the result is a medium-bodied, richly fruity, fragrant wine without the greenness and astringent tannins that so many 1981s possess. The finish is long and supple." (08/92). According to the Wine Spectator: "Harmonious and delicious. Entices with aromas of spice and fruit. Medium in body, with medium, ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Four stars from Michael Broadbent: 'Already mature, and rich, earthy, scented nose; some sweetness, nice weight, silky tannins. A delight. 

Inventory: Redwood City

Bruno Lemoine of Fleury packed this in, along with his Doux and regular Brut of the same vintage for our two-city Champagne tasting event. Tasting three vintage Champagnes, identical except the dosage, is a rare treat for me and a first for many that came to our tastings. Fantastically full-bodied, bone dry at one 3.5 grams of sugar per liter, and with contrasting flavors of mushroom and chalk, I think this wine has it all. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Wine Spectator: "Classic Cabernet aromas and flavors, a bright beam of currant flavor shining through the toasty, vanilla and brown sugar complexity. Very seductive and elegant." (07/89) 

Inventory: Hollywood San Francisco

93 points Robert Parker: "Although closed, the 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon is crammed with so much sweet, blackcurrant fruit that it does not take a genius to figure out what this wine is all about. It offers an opaque garnet/purple color, a moderately intense, cassis, smoky, herb, and earthy nose, fabulous concentration, good muscle, and a boatload of sweet tannin. While drinkable, it needs another 4-5 years of cellaring. It will easily last for 20 years." (12/96) 91 points Wine Spectator: "Excellent intensity and focus, with vibrant black cherry and black... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

If you remember the 1995, 1997 and 1998 you will be very happy with this 2001. It is more of the same, but with even better purity and length. I think it is the best vintage yet from this, our smallest producer. He owns less than 8 acres! Composed of 60% meunier and 40% pinot noir with no malolactic fermentation, it has an intense red fruit nose. The flavors are big, broad and very unique. For lovers of a rich style this wine will not let you down. The Champagne has plenty of toastiness but also an elegant bead and a bright finish. A micro production ba... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

93 points Wine Enthusiast: "Made entirely from grand cru grapes, this is a beautiful wine, layering toast and ripe fruit with a proper minerality from the year. Flavors of honey, toast and nougat soften the aftertaste. It is ready to drink now, but it has still a ways to go, as the intense concentration of fruit opens out." (12/31/2007) 94+ points in Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Pale gold with an energetic mousse. Highly aromatic nose offers a sexy, smoky perfume of pear, white peach, candied lemon, buttery brioche and honeysuckle. Youthf... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Wine Spectator: "Deep, rich and opulent, with marvelous tension between the fruit and the oak, leather and cinnamon notes, from the first whiff to the last echo of the long, long finish. A generous, delicious wine, supple and seductive. Drink NOW TO '95, if you can wait that long." (04/90) 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points and a Cellar Selection designation from Wine Spectator: "An intense wine that weaves together a pretty array of ripe cherry, currant and spicy oak flavors, and adds a trim of earthy character. Very well focused, young and vibrant, but needs at least until 1999. Tasted twice, with consistent notes." (06/95) 91 points Robert Parker: "It seems like yesterday that Ric Forman began his career, yet he is now one of California's veteran wine-makers. From his early days (nearly 20 years ago) at Sterling he has built an impressive resume. The proprietor... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco