Old and Rare Wine

96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Domaine Leflaive has enjoyed many successful vintages over the years - 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1989 come to mind immediately - but the 1992s are the finest young wines this domaine has produced. Yields averaged 45 hectoliters per hectare, far below most recent vintages. The wines are renowned for their purity and elegance, but the 1992s also display a special level of richness and intensity." (10/93) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

93 points Robert Parker: "This is a strikingly delineated St.-Emilion with an opaque ruby/purple color, and aromas of black currants, blackberries, and wet steel/liquified minerals. The layered, rich, intense 1999 possesses superb fruit purity and medium to full body. This is one of the most concentrated and potentially longest-lived wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025." (04/02) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

91 points Robert Parker: "The elegant, Coche-Dury-styled 2000 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch reveals notions of orange marmalade, liquid minerals, lemon rind, and citrus. Leesy/hazelnut qualities are also present in this medium-bodied, rich, delineated, French-styled Chardonnay. It will drink well for 5-6 years." (08/02) 91 points Wine Spectator: "Shows off fresh bread dough and toasted grains, with a tight core of pear and citrus-scented fruit, and light cedary oak. Gains complexity on the finish, with hints of anise and citrus, and the acidty is vibrant and ... Read More » 

Inventory: San Francisco

According to Wine Spectator: "Tasted from magnum. Dark and intense, it serves up a nice tight beam of ripe currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit, with shades of anise, herb and cedary oak..." (11/04) 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

93 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "True gold, but remarkably youthful for its age. W ild, complex bouquet of pungent flowers, succulent herbs, orange peel, violet, vanilla, toasted nuts and baking spices. Rich, deep and beautifully concentrated, with surprising energy to the ripe pear and poached apple flavors complemented by marzipan and vanilla. This actually tightens up on the finish, showing a lingering exotic, spicy character. You could drink this right now or even hold it for a few more years." (Sept/Oct 2006) 93 points fro... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

91 points Allen Meadows: "Very aromatic with pungent leather and earth notes followed by big, rich, slightly austere flavors and excellent length. Though this is solidly structured, it is not hard and this offers lovely balance and this has retained a certain elegance and freshness to it that is most appealing." (Tasted: Oct 20, 2002) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

91 points Wine Spectator: "Rich, earthy and complex. Stylish and concentrated, lots of currant and walnut flavors stacked on each other. Firms up nicely on the finish, where the tannins are gripping.—'81/'91 California Cabernet retrospective." (Web 02) 

Inventory: San Francisco

95 points Robert Parker: "The 1996 Proprietary Red (a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc) is not a very weighty (14.3% alcohol) offering. It has become more delineated with a year of bottle age, offering up classic crème de cassis, smoked meat, coffee, prune, and toasty new oak scents. Concentrated, with fabulously high extract, sweet tannin, and full body, this wine has an elegant feel on the palate, but is still a blockbuster. Anticipated maturity: now-2025." (01/00) 90 points Wine Spectat... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Wine Spectator: "Still young and firm, this delivers spicy plum and chocolate flavors; it's polished, balanced and intense. Drinkable now, but better after 2000." (12/98) According to Robert Parker: "An elegant bouquet of subtle cassis is followed by ripe, long, attractive flavors that possess admirable concentration. A restrained style of wine, it exhibits fine overall balance and a moderately long finish. As with most Spottswoode Cabernets , it displays an attractive purity of flavor." (10/93) 

Inventory: Redwood City

Champagne Fleury has been around since 1895, releasing their first bubbly in 1929. The vineyards themselves are located on steep slopes that have a calcareous clay soil and see ample amounts of sun, so the grapes have an outstanding ripeness. Continental and oceanic climates combine for cool mornings and nice bursts of heat in the afternoons. Fleury was one of the first vineyards to start converting to biodynamics, too, beginning in 1989 and completing the process for all of their vineyards by 1992. This is a high dosage Champagne, but do not think for a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

93 points Robert Parker: "The 1987's dark ruby/garnet color is followed by a super bouquet. There are huge aromas of chocolate, spicy new oak, herbs, cassis and tobacco in this beautifully scented wine. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, voluptuous, spicy, and crammed with fruit, glycerin, and enough tannin to support 15-16 years of cellaring." (10/93) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright ruby-red. Lively, perfumed aromas of cassis, raspberry and spicy oak. Pretty, focused and sappy in the mouth, with an impressively fresh raspb... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

The Ehlen winery has been family owned and operated since 1668. Currently, Stephan Ehlen is the owner and winemaker. He studied at the wine school in Bernkastel Kues back in the 1950s. Winemaking is tightly weaved into the social culture of the nearby town of Lösnich. The presence of viticulture has been proven to date back 2000 years; the evidence being the Roman wine-press unearthed at the base of the vineyards across the river from Lösnich. The Erdener label depicts a sight that’s typical of a winegrower’s village with a drawing of the estate house al... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to Allen Meadows: "Wonderfully complex and delectably expressive nose with truffle, earth and game notes that lead to medium weight, nicely rounded flavors of good richness and fine length... it is a clear success for the vintage and perfect now." (Tasted: Nov 17, 2001) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

5 stars from Broadbent! 91 points Wine Spectator: "There is plenty of grip and backbone here. Deep purple, with concentrated grape and violet aromas, full-bodied, with huge grapy flavors, excellent backbone and a long finish." (web only, 1989) 90 points Robert Parker: "This house makes rather restrained yet rich, flavorful vintage port and a very good tawny called Nimrod. Their vintage ports seem slow to develop, and while they never quite have the voluptuous richness of a Dow, Graham, or Fonseca, they have a unique mineral-scented character that gives... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 00: "Bright medium ruby. Lively aromas of black raspberry, bitter chocolate and mint. Good texture and restrained sweetness; dark berry flavors are quite youthfully unevolved. Solidly structured wine, finishing with firm but fine tannins and very good length." According to Wine Spectator: "Aromas of berries, chocolate and hints of spices. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a light, fresh, fruity aftertaste. Delicious red." (03/02) K&L's notes - This lovely wine is a bit riche... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

90 points Wine Spectator: "A mix of apricot, dried cherry and lemon aromas and flavors are sharply etched, and there's a grainy texture to this bubbly, which has intensity, even if it is a bit chunky. Drink now through 2018." (Web only, 2009) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 08: "($150; 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay; L22112) Bright yellow-gold. Assertively perfumed bouquet of honeyed apple and pear, dried flowers, buttered toast and smoky lees. A dense, chewy Champagne, with deep orchard and caramelized pit fruit flavors... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Inventory: Redwood City

This super Tuscan is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese grown in Gaiole from vineyards set 350-400 meters above sea level, a vineyard that offers a predominance of calcareous sandstone and Alberese stone. Aged in French oak, this 1996 is ready now! 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Dark garnet with ruby highlights. Enticing nose of clove, white pepper and violet. Fresh and vibrant flavors of mint and anise give way to dark cherry fruit. Finishes with a hint of bitterness. Not as dense or concentrated as some previous vintages from this property, but this is a polished and persuasive wine nonetheless." (Jul/Aug '02) 

Inventory: Hollywood

50% Pinot Grigio, 25% Chardonnay, 25% Sauvignon. This is a truly magnificent wine with layers of mineral, complex fruit aromatics. No barrique flavors just pure nature. (Greg St.Clair, K&L Italian buyer) 

Inventory: Hollywood

94 points Robert Parker: "The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon, which I have drunk with great pleasure despite its backwardness, possesses a full-bodied, multi-layered personality, with plenty of tannin, but sufficient earthy, black currant/plum-like fruit to balance out the wine's structure. With an opaque purple color, a high tannin level, and gorgeous layers of fruit and intensity, it will be at its peak after 4-6 years of cellaring, and will last for 20-25 years. I don't think I need to reinforce the fact that these offerings are extremely difficult to find, ... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "Very Bordeaux-like structure and tannic makeup, with a firm, minerally edge. The core currant and plum flavors are maturing, picking up a dried black cherry and tobacco edge. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.--California Cabernet '74/'84/'94 retrospective. Drink now through 2008." (11/04) 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

91 points Wine Spectator: "Generous, sharply focused raspberry, cherry and vanilla aromas and flavors carry through from the first whiff to the final echo of the long finish in this lean but flavorful wine. The well-integrated tannins will need until 1994 or '95 to soften." (02/91) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

93 points Robert Parker: "The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc) reveals toasty sweet oak in the nose, bombastic levels of black currant fruit and spice along with a hint of mint in the background. Supple and full-bodied, with delirious levels of cedar and unctuously-textured fruit, this fleshy, gorgeously made Cabernet Sauvignon should drink well for 14-15 years." (12/98) 91 points Wine Spectator: "Dark, plush and concentrated, with a decided coconut and oak accent mixed with complex plum and berry flavors. Fini... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

Bottled in 1984. 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points Wine Spectator: "Racy, curious, yet highly individualized style. Strong herbaceous streak, but there are currant, mint, black cherry and bell pepper flavors that are long, complex and concentrated on the finish.--'81/'91 California Cabernet retrospective." (Web 02) 

Inventory: Redwood City

92 points Wine Spectator: "Cedar, vanilla, spice and currant aromas give way to similar flavors that are full-bodied and rich, a wonderful dose of oak and tannin balances the solid core of supple fruit." 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

90-92 points Robert Parker: "The 2001 Chardonnay offers up gorgeously fresh citrus oil notes intermixed with a striking steely minerality, medium to full body, and a long, layered, backward finish displaying vibrant acidity yet loads of subtle, crisp flavors. While some vintages of these Chardonnays can last for 10-15 years without any sign of oxidation, the 2001 will drink well for 5-8 years. Along with Ric Foreman, there is no greater practitioner of the non-malolactic style of Chardonnay than Jim and Bo Barrett. They produce 10,000-11,000 cases of a n... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

96 points Robert Parker: "This firm, which has major holdings in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, has turned out some stunning wines at the premier cru level. The color is a saturated dark ruby. The nose explodes from the glass, offering a melange of scents, including black-raspberries, toasty new oak, cloves, vanilla, and candy. In the mouth, there is astonishing richness, a thick, well-defined texture, and a flamboyant, moderately tannic finish that lasts well over a minute. The personality hallmarks of the 1990 vintage, the chewy, super-ripe characte... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

According to the Wine Spectator: "Elegantly balanced, with fresh, ripe pear, toast and butter tones that are rich and complex. Has a tightness to the structure that should allow it to continue to develop in the bottle for several years..." (01/91) 

Inventory: Redwood City

100 points Robert Parker: "The 1982 continues to surge in quality, moving from strength to strength. If I were going to pull the cork for pure pleasure on any of the Big 8, it would be this wine. Still an infant in terms of development, the wine displays extraordinary richness, ripeness, and the beginning of that compelling Latour perfume of cassis, cedar, walnuts, and minerals. Extremely full-bodied, concentrated, and thick, this viscous, chewy, large-scaled wine is also amazingly soft. Huge levels of tannin are concealed behind the layers of fruit.... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

92 points Robert Parker: "Opus One's 1991 is a gorgeously rich, opaque ruby/purple-colored wine with a knock-out nose of smoke, cassis, vanilla, and a whiff of herbs and licorice. Full-bodied, with surprisingly supple, concentrated, chocolatey, cassis, and blackcurrant flavors that ooze across the palate, this voluptuously-textured example of Opus One is atypical in a vintage that produced so many backward wines. There is no question the wine possesses plenty of tannin, but it is admirably concealed by the copious quantities of concentrated fruit." (02/9... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

93 points Wine Spectator: "Supple, ripe and generous, silky, with beautiful mahogany-scented black cherry, blackberry, rose petal and anise flavors that keep weaving through. Seductive and supple, this also has a veil of tannin that can use until 1998 to 2001 to dissolve." (10/94) 

Inventory: Redwood City

In 1999, The Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt estate celebrated its 650th anniversary (1349–1999). The first documented mention of a vineyard purchase dates back to 1349. In 1978, the Günther Reh family acquired the estate from the Reichsgrafen (imperial counts) of Kesselstatt. Today, Annegret Reh-Gartner and her husband Gerhard Gartner carry on this Riesling tradition. In 1999, the headquarters moved from Palais Keselstatt in Trier to Schloss Marienlay in the Ruwer Valley. No other wine estate in Germany has such an unusually broad spectrum of top vineyards i... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

91 points Wine Spectator: "Extremely well knit, with great class and elegance. Medium-bodied, with mouthfilling cassis and spice flavors and a powerful tannin structure. Drinkable now; or hold until 1996.—1982 Bordeaux horizontal." (08/92) They described it as "Still holding on," when they revisted the wine in 1998. 

Inventory: Redwood City

91 points Wine Spectator: "Lithe and polished, a gorgeous example of fruit-centered Merlot, layering its berry, black cherry and vanilla flavors with hints of pepper and olive notes that swirl through the elegant finish. A blend: 50 percent Washington fruit, 50 percent Dry Creek Valley." (06/98) 90 points Robert Parker: "Sporting the "America" appellation, the 1996 Merlot is medium to dark ruby-colored, and reveals a spicy oak and jammy blackberry nose. Medium to full-bodied, ample, oily textured, and sexy, this lovely Merlot is crammed with ripe red an... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

From a fantastic vintage in Burgundy, and a legendary producer. This Beaune Villages is ready to go now! 

Inventory: Redwood City

93 points and a Highly Recommended designation from the Wine Spectator: "Feel the depth, feel the elegance, taste the lovely range of ripe plum, prune, anise, black cherry and spice flavors that linger with real style and grace in this Australian red. Delicious now. Best from 2000 through 2010. 500 cases made." (06/98) 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "Big and fruity, showing lots of apple and pineapple flavors balanced with oak, very forward and tasty." (11/88) 

Inventory: Redwood City

An old-fashioned producer, and an old fashioned wine, for the old fashioned Burgundy lover who laments the current trend toward flashy, ripe and fruity wines. This is certainly not flashy! Rather, it is an example of classic 1er Cru Pinot Noir, meant for equally funky and earthy cheeses! 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

90 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Dark red. Toasty red berries and cherry on the nose, with oak spice, mocha and dried flowers adding complexity. Smooth, fleshy flavors of ripe cherry and sweet berries are framed by supple tannins. Gains sweetness and an exotic, sweet chewing tobacco quality on the sappy finish. The oak character builds slowly and lingers behind. This is ready to drink." (Jul/Aug '08) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

According to the Wine Spectator: "A beauty. Attractive aromas of chocolate, berries and currants. Full-bodied, with compacted berry and cherry flavors and a long, silky finish.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now." (08/2000) 

Inventory: San Francisco

According to Wine Spectator: "Chewy texture, revealing a core of red plum and red cherry that's well-focused. Turns austere and tannic on the finish, so time is still on your side with this one.--'81/'91 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2010. 600 cases made." (Web only, 2002) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

A well-aged example from one of Napa's legendary wineries. The Wine Spectator described it as: "Rich and fruity, with lively raspberry, cherry, currant and anise flavors that are nicely seasoned by spicy, toasty oak notes. Like '85 in general, it's a wonderful balance of ripe fruit and supple, gentle tannins. Delicious now..." in 1990, and while it's had time to age, its balanced and structure should have helped it hold up since then. 

Inventory: San Francisco

94 points Wine Spectator (02/90) 90 points Robert Parker: "The 1978 Las Cases has taken on a garnet hue with some dark ruby tints. The nose is more complex and penetrating than the flavors. The wine offers classic, mineral, lead pencil, smoky, earthy scents, with plenty of ripe fruit, and none of the vegetal herbaceousness that many 1978s have begun to exhibit. The attack offers good ripeness, medium to full body, higher acidity than many more recent vintages, and considerable tannin in the hard finish. Although this wine possesses outstanding complexit... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

94 points Wine Spectator: "This crisp, lively wine bursts onto the palate, with juicy currant, cherry and blackberry flavors that keep pumping through the long, fairly tart finish. Balanced for the long haul, with the tannins pretty well submerged. Best after 1995." (11/91) 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina, essentially the regular bottling, is a fresh ruby-garnet with focused and ripe red currant and wild cherry fruit, attractive notes of tar and wild fennel, and a balanced, vigorous, and well sustained palate. What’s missing here? Perhaps the spark, the inspiration which separates a very fine wine from an outstanding one. But perhaps we should stop expecting miracles in every vintage from this producer – he has never claimed, after all, to be able to walk on water." (04/05) 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to the Wine Spectator: "A bit austere and reined in, but the moderate tannins are holding back lovely plum, berry and spice aromas and flavors. Remains subtle and elegant through the finish." (11/92) According to Robert Parker: "The Vosne-Romanee-Les Malconsorts is a sweet, round, agreeable, medium-bodied wine, with an attractive, light perfume, and a straightforward finish..." (10/92) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

94 points Robert Parker: "A dense opaque purple color offers up restrained, but pure aromas of liquid minerals, blackberries, black raspberries, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, with high tannin but a long, super-pure, symmetrical mouth-feel, this dazzling, extremely complex Ausone requires 6-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050." (04/01) K&L's notes - Black color. Mocha aromas with meaty undertones. Great breadth and depth. Tannic finish. 50% Merlot and 50% Cab Franc. Superb wine with great aging potential. 

Inventory: Redwood City

91 points Wine Spectator: "Mature and in great drinking condition, with subtle loamy currant, anise, mineral and sage notes, finishing with a long, integrated finish.--1996 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2011." (Web 07) 

Inventory: Redwood City