French Wine

Lovely and rich, this is delightful Pinot Noir from Moillard. They are now working with Pascal Marchand as their consulting winemaker, growing their grapes organically and biodynamically, and the quality has come up terrifically. (Ketih Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer) The winery says: "The vineyard of the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits is on the plateau above the Cote de Nuits, at an altitude of 300 to 400 meters. The soil is stony and calcareous is perfect for soft fruits, such as blackcurrants, redcurrants, raspberries and, of course, grapes. The grape variety... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This comes from the border between the village of Premeaux and Comblanchien, from an extremely well-situated vineyard located next to Clos de Marechale, the very well-known Premier Cru Nuits St. George vineyard, whose wine sells for $90 or more per bottle. This has a very Nuits character, and is a delightful wine, with nice spice, a bit of structure and fairly prominent red fruit notes. It represents a terrific value. (Keith Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Wine Spectator: "Black currant and violet notes on the nose, with a good dose of slightly charred oak, follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a long, vanilla-colored finish. There's lots of oak, but also lots of fruit. Needs time. This is very chewy. Best after 2011." (03/08) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

91 points Wine Spectator: "A fresh, medium-bodied style, this shows finesse, with notes of apple, peach, ruby grapefruit, vanilla and toast. The refined texture and vibrant structure keep this focused and lingering, with fine length. Drink now through 2012." (11/09) K&L's notes: 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Meunier and 15% Chardonnay, two years of ageing on the lees and 20% Reserve wines. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne buyer) 89 points Wine Enthusiast: "In a delicate style, this is pure, delightful aperitif Champagne that enters the mouth gently, the lightest of m... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This balanced, elegant Champagne is composed of 30% chardonnay, 60% pinot noir and 10% meunier. The grapes are all from the Gonet families estate, spread from the southernmost premier cru of Vertus to the valley of the Marne. It is made of 70% 2001 and 30% reserve wine from 2000. It is a gorgeous wine to toast with: toasty, vibrant and flavorful. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

94-97 points Robert Parker: "This is the greatest Clinet since the incredible duo made by the late Jean-Michel Arcaute in 1989 and 1990. The dense purple-colored 2008 offers up beautiful floral, blackberry, and pen ink-like notes, exceptional intensity, that multilayered texture that seems to be commonplace in the top 2008 Pomerols, silky but elevated tannins, good freshness, precision, and nuance, a substantial size, and an extremely long finish with not a hard edge to be found. It should evolve for 30+ years." (04/09) 92-94 points Wine Enthusiast: "Fi... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

St-Veran comes from vineyards with more limestone than the Macon, and is always a bit richer on the palate. This is no exception, as it is richer and bigger than either of their Mâcons, with fresh apple and pear notes and lovely Chardonnay fruit character. (Ketih Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer, 06/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

A sommelier by training, in 1992 Eric took over his family's estate and orchards. His goal is to revolutionize the cider industry and bring it into restaurants, high-end retail and export markets. A close friend of his, Didier Dagueneau, the icon wine-maker in Pouilly-sur-Loire, has encouraged him down the path of producing ciders from apples and pears that are like no others. Ciders that make one draw comparisons to fine vintage wine. The core of Bordelet's estate is the 1.5 hectares of antique varietal apple and pear trees that are 40-50 years old. H... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

95-97 points Robert Parker: "An undeniably great Montrose, after some time in wood, the 2008 should achieve the heights of the 2003, 1990, and 1989. Stylistically different from those wines, the 2008 harvest took place between September 29 and October 15, and yields were a modest 44 hectoliters per hectare. This superb terroir west of the Gironde River possesses a remarkable amount of gravel in the soil base. Sixty percent of the production made it into the 2008 Montrose, and the person responsible for so many great Haut-Brions, Jean-Bernard Delmas, came... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

A sommelier by training, in 1992 Eric took over his family's estate and orchards. His goal was to revolutionize the cider industry and bring it into restaurants, high-end retail and export markets. A close friend of his, Didier Dagueneau, the icon wine-maker in Pouilly-sur-Loire encouraged him down the path of producing ciders from apples and pears that are like no others. Ciders that make one draw comparisons to fine vintage wine. The core of Bordelet's estate is the 1.5 hectares of antique varietal apple and pear trees that are 40-50 years old. He pla... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

The Bonville family owns 50 acres of Grand Cru vineyards and uses exclusively estate fruit in this wine. This Champagne is a great example of how much more wine you get for less money compared to a big name non-vintage Champagne when the export brokers, import companies and distributors are taken out of the deal. This is 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from Avize, Oger and Cramant and one hell of a wine. It is nervy, complex and has a clean, elusive toastiness that is hard to put a finger on, but extremely easy to drink! This wine just has it all: concentratio... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

90 points Robert Parker: "Broad and sexy, with supple tannin, it offers beguiling notes of toast, black currant liqueur, violets, and licorice in a seductive, opulent, medium to full-bodied, accessible style. It may deserve another point or two for pure pleasure. Anticipated maturity: now-2014." (06/04) 89-91 points Wine Spectator: "Lovely round wine, with a fine tannin structure and plenty of smoky, berry and currant character, yet subtle. Well-done. Same level of quality as 2000." (03/02) K&L's notes - 50% Cab, 35% Merlot, 15% Cab Franc. Smoky, exoti... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Raspberry, mineral and dried herbs, such as thyme and nutmeg. Very perfumed. Medium-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a chewy yet polished finish. Structured. Best after 2012." (03/09) K&L's notes - 50% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot At Joanne the wine was quite powerful, with plenty of tannin. Shows hard. At the property it had slightly doughy aromas with some sweetness on the palate entry and plenty of tannin on the mid palate. Black berry fruits on the nose. Fresh, old-school style. This wine, like so many ... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

Montalon proudly holds the title as the 3rd highest vineyard in the entire Gironde department, at 86 meters above sea level. Though replanted in 1978, vines have been growing here since at least 1639 when the parcel was mentioned in a family archive. The vineyard is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This vineyard yields Medoc-like juice that shows bright fruit and spicy flavors young but develops lovely, complex, deep, exotic flavors when aged. Manual harvest, Barrel-aged, indigenous yeast is used, bottled unfined and lightly filtered. T... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

From the Wine Enthusiast: "Baked apple aromas lead to a palate that has ripe fruit, and caramel over acidity. The wine is perfumed, full, with suggestions of some oxidation." (12/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

This fantastic Champagne comes from the villages of Pierry and Moussy in the sud-Epernay sub region of Champagne. Bruno Michel has been organic since 1999 and 5 of his 37.5 acres are farmed biodynamically. A rose of saignee, this elegant bubbly was made by a very short cuvaison of Pinot Meunier. Spicy and full-bodied, it is a great example of a sparkling wine that can be enjoyed with dinner, even red meat! 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Wine Spectator: "Pleasant ripe blackberry, with hints of fresh herbs, licorice and mineral on the nose, following through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a chewy finish. Best after 2009." (Web Only 2008) According to Robert Parker: "An elegant, pure wine with plenty of berry fruit intermixed with some dusty, earthy notes, a hint of truffle, roasted herbs, and copious sweet cherry and black currant fruit, this medium-bodied, well-made, pure wine should drink nicely for another 5-6 years at the minimum." (08/08) A su... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Named for Balthazar Albrecht, one of the fouding fathers of this well-regarded estate. This is a serious white to consider for your Thanksgiving meal, as it delivers amazing complexity and body (think white Burgundy) at a very reasonable cost. This wine, made 100% from Pinot Blanc, is unoaked and fresh with a soft totally dry apple fruit and layers of subtle mineral and fine acid. A killer white with turkey and all the trimmings. 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

Spontaneous fermentation. An altogether preferable scenario to spontaneous combustion, and A LOT more fun to drink. This pink, semi dry bubbly was made by spontaneous fermentation, otherwise known as methode ancestrale. Grapes are picked by hand (not just any grapes, these are the local poulsard and gamay grown on mountainous slopes in the shadow of the Alps), and fermented in chilled vats just reaching 5 or 6 degrees alcohol. The young and light wine is then bottled, along with its active yeast and considerable unfermented sugars. Under pressure of the ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Light and simple, with plum and tobacco character. Medium-bodied, with a fresh finish. Best after 2009." (Web only, 2009) 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This archetypal Pinot Blanc is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, with no malolactic fermentation. The grapes were sourced from the Trimbachs' own vineyards and about 120 growers with whom the family has long term relationships, and vinified at the Trimbach winery in the town of Ribeauvillé, in the heart of Alsace. The fruit was harvested in late September through early October. It is a all-around winner of a white, with clean citrus fruit, classic structure and bright acidity. Wonderful with food or without. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Here at K&L we love dry rosé. We especially love rosé from France, and we really love French sparkling rosé. But we really REALLY love French sparkling rosé that sells for less than $20! This is quality, too. Made in the traditional methode (Champenoise) from 100% pinot noir. Wonderful strawberry fruit and a crisp, flowery tang. Just the thing on a warm, romantic evening that just happens to fall on a regular old Tuesday. 

Inventory: Hollywood

From The Lucien Lurton family and run by Marie Laure Lurton Roux. This property is located near Moulis and Listrac. Another stunning 2005 Bordeaux wine at a great price. Very rich on the palate and a very long, lingering finish. Alex, Ralph and Clyde loved this wine last April-should age well for several years. 33% Cabernet and 67% Merlot. Great with grilled meats or Comte Cheese. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "his chateau gets better and better. The wine has power, but it is harnessed by the intense fruits, the blackberry flavors, the density and the wood. With the power, though, comes elegance, resulting in a wine that is ready to develop over many years." (06/08) 93 points Wine Spectator and listed in the Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2008! From the Spectator: "Displays blackberry, cherry and hints of sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very pretty and solid. This is structured and c... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90 points from Robert Parker: "The 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Les Cros (100% Syrah) reveals complex notes of creme de cassis, road tar, gamey meat, licorice, and flowers. In the mouth, the wine is pure fruit, with loads of glycerin, sweet tannin, and adequate acidity. While not a classic example of Provence, it is a very successful, mono-cepage offering. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years. As I have written in the past, this biodynamically farmed estate is a treasure-trove of excellent as well as value-priced wines. Proprietor Daniel Boulle offers a mul... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

90-93 points Robert Parker: "The dense purple-hued 2007 Cornas Granite 30 exhibits a perfume of flowers, cassis, charcoal, and new saddle leather, decent acidity, and a full-bodied, lush mouthfeel. It should be approachable in its first 2-3 years of life, and evolve for 12-15." (04/09) 91 points Wine Spectator: "A fresh, snappy style, with red currant, red cherry and floral notes backed by a vibrant, iron-tinged spine. Long and invigorating on the finish. Drink now through 2017. " (09/09) 89-92 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Vivid red. Pr... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Founded by Parisian transplant Alain Cailbourdin in 1981, the domaine consists of 11 hectares planted primarily in Sauvignon Blanc, with a minority percentage planted in Chasselas. Alain is part of a new breed of winemakers dedicated to producing a high quality wine and not just a high volume wine. His methods are traditional, yet his yields are low and the wines are concentrated and pure expressions of Sauvignon Blanc. He believes in using a minimum of sulfur dioxide during and after vinification. The Les Cris is a beautiful Pouilly-Fumé, offering th... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This is a blend made up of Gamay, Cab Franc and Côt. It's really juicy with intergrated earthy spice. A lighter style of red with round, soft tannins and bright acidity on the finish. Fantastic with a slight chill on it. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to the Wine Spectator: "Bright and fruity, with lime and lemon aromas and flavors. Medium body. Clean finish." (Web only, 2009) According to the Wine Enthusiast: "From Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, this wine shows richness, white fruits and some herbaceousness... It is definitely for food." (7/1/2009) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

According to Forbes: "Drink It: When I taste something like this, it makes me feel like I could have made a great wine all by myself in 2005," says Vaynerchuk. "So many unheralded estates churned out such amazing products like this cascading fruit and veggie ride, you are doing yourself a great disservice if you don't try this juice!" Clyde discovered this wine at the top 100 Bordeaux tasting in New York in December 2008. He still loves it for it's purity and vibrancy.75% Merlot/20% Cabernet and 5% Cab Franc. Full and comples-well-balanced and powerful. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This Pernand Vergelesses comes from a vineyard just a stone's throw from Corton Charlemagne, and delivers a similar mineral-driven, focused character. It sees less than 10% new oak and no lees stirring, to preserve its freshness and character. (Keith Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer). Allen Meadows writes: "This also displays mild oak toast on the otherwise pure and refined white flower, green fruit and subtly spiced nose that is in perfect keeping with the racy, pure and intense mineral-infused flavors that are not particularly complex but there is good ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

Jean Schaetzel is obsessed with quality. He is a man driven to make pure, clean, balanced wines that are correct and express a sense of place. He is not interested in making giant wines in the style of some of his neighbors, favoring more elegant, understated wines with subtlety and finesse. His wines are considered among the best of Alsace. Located in the town of Ammerschwihr, Domaine Martin Schaetzel has been producing wines since 1803. In 1979 Jean and Béa Schaetzel took over the estate from Jean’s uncle Martin. Jean handles the viticultural and oenol... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Allen Meadows writes: "Here the wood is extremely subtle, indeed almost invisible with the pretty white flower and pear suffused nose serving as the perfect introduction to round, pleasant and energetic flavors that possess moderate depth on the solidly long and notably dry finish. There is good underlying material here and as such my score offers the benefit of the doubt that this will add complexity with a year or two in bottle." (Burghound, 07/08) 

Inventory: Redwood City San Francisco

90-92 points Wine Enthusiast: "Initially rustic and earthy, this wine does show some good, solid fruit. The tannins are smooth, polished, coming into balance with the fruit." (04/09) 88-90 points Neal Martin's Wine Journal: "This has a light brambly nose with better-integrated oak than some other Margaux wines, with scents of blackberry, smoke and graphite. This is an impressive Margaux ’08: good fruit concentration, well balanced, high acidity but in synch with the rest of the wine, very pure, fresh and taut on the black cherry finish. This is a better... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

This blend of marsanne, rousanne, viogner and grenache blanc comes from southern France's Coteaux du Tricastin AOC. It is shimmers with deep golden hues in the glass and gives aromas of delicate honeysuckle and white flowers. On the palate it is vibrant yet suave, with spicy notes of tea, laurel and citrus, nicely balanced and with a lingering finish. 13.5% abv. 

Inventory: San Francisco

90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine cellar: "Bright straw with a very fine bead. Pungent, yeasty aromas of intense citrus zest and minerals. Silky, pure and focused, offering vibrant lime and tangerine flavors. Finishes with racy notes of wet stone and lime zest, and excellent length. An outstanding non-vintage bottling with striking vivacity and focus." (Nov/Dec 06) K&L's notes: Ruinart is one of Champagne's oldest houses, founded by Nicholas Ruinart in 1729, himself a descendent of Dom Thierry Ruinart, the other "Dom" responsible for so much ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Since 1875, the Vigneau-Chevreau family has farmed the chalky soils of this 69-acre Vouvray domaine, planted entirely to Chenin Blanc. Jean-Michel Vigneau began steering the family domaine in an organic direction in the early ’90s and by 1999 Vigneau-Chevreau received its biodynamic certification from Ecocert. The most disciplined of organic cultures, tenets of biodynamics include the natural harnessing of universal forces, scheduling specific vineyard work according to the Maria Thun lunar calendar, and use of homeopathic preparations on both vines and ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This is one of the few "cult" Champagnes that we have been able to get for our customers. A K&L favorite, this has a new package with an impressive old-fashioned bottle shape and new label. Luckily we bought direct, making it a great deal! Identical to the Reserve but not as heavily carbonated - it has four atmospheres (59psi) of pressure instead of the normal six (88psi). While I would be hard pressed to tell by looking at or tasting this Champagne that it has lighter carbonation, it tastes very different from the Reserve. Since less yeast and sugar wer... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

The 2004 François Diligent Cuvée Tradition Brut Champagne is all chardonnay, a rarity in the southern part of Champagne, where the pinot noir grape is king. The grapes are grown both in Buxeuil and in Polisy, a village just to the northwest. The vineyard sites are rich in kimméridgien clay. That’s the same soil as in Chablis, which is less than 40 miles southeast of here. Not surprisingly, the chardonnay here has a very Chablissiene character to it, with more rich warmth than one expects from a Mesnil or Avize Blanc de Blancs. 

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

91-94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Saturated ruby. Rich red and dark berry liqueur aromas are complicated by white pepper, garrigue and smoky minerals. Refreshing, delineated raspberry and black cherry flavors show impressive depth without excess weight, thanks to fresh mineral snap on the back. There's a pinot noir-like elegance and purity to this wine that's quite alluring." (Jan/Feb '09) 90+ points Robert Parker: "The outstanding 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape exhibits a darker, plum/garnet/ruby hue as well as an evolved, but complex... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

Lovely, deep ruby red color. Soft dark fruit nose. Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a fresh wine, lively with silky tannins. Best drunk young in its primal youth. Can be laid down for 3 to 4 years. Serve with pork for a match that is both authentic and cost effective! 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

94 points Robert Parker: "The fact that there are nearly 6,500 cases of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, a great sleeper of the vintage, should ensure that many consumers will have the chance to taste this extraordinary effort. It is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre, Cinsault, Muscardin, and Vaccarase, all from 70-year-old vines, aged in tank (the Grenache) and small barrels and demi-muids. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a rich, sumptuous bouquet of crushed dried flowers, sweet black cherry and blackberry fruit, a ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

According to Robert Parker: "A strong success, the 2003 offers a fragrant bouquet of black cherry jam, cedar, and toasty vanilla, a beautiful texture, and considerable persistence on the palate. The final blend included 27% Petit Verdot, which is rather remarkable. Perhaps that explains the freshness in this wine from the southern Medoc. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. Belle-Vue is an excellent choice for consumers seeking fairly-priced, high quality, classic Bordeaux. This nearly 25-acre vineyard is planted with an unusually high percentage of Petit V... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

Bourgogne 'Joseph Faiveley' Pinot Noir is named in honor of current proprietor François Faiveley's great, great grandfather. Born in 1823, Joseph took over and greatly expanded the domaine which his father, Pierre, had founded in 1825. This represents a spectacular value in entry level red Burgundy, and is ready to drink now. 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

91 points and a Smart Buys designation from the Wine Spectator: "Aromas of blackberry, spices, chocolate and meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of juicy fruit. Luscious finish. Gorgeous. This has a new winery, but the clay soil of the vineyards really helped. Best after 2009." (03/06) 90 points Robert Parker: "This large (120+ acres) vineyard planted on limestone and clay soils is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2003 was produced from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare. It exhibits... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

89 points Wine Spectator: "Floral, blackberry and mineral on the nose. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a pretty finish of mineral and fruit. Very reserved and refined for a second wine. The second wine of Pichon-Longueville-Lalande. Best after 2012." (Web 08) K&L's notes - It's hard to believe that this is a second wine; it's so elegant and refined. Comprised of 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 11% Petit Verdot packed with summer fruit on the bouquet: blackberries, plums and strawberries, punctuated by orange blossom a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Allen Meadows writes: "This is a much more masculine wine with a restrained red and black fruit nose that is followed by frank, direct and delicious middle weight flavors that display almost no rusticity as well as more pinot character. I like the sense of concentration and finishing punch." Ripe, lovely, concentrated and drinking well now! If you are looking for a Burgundy with some heft, and density, try this one! 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This second wine comes mainly from the château's young vines, and is made like its elder brother. Les Allées de Cantemerle has the same personality as the grand vin, but a shorter ageing potential. As it ages more quickly, Les Allées de Cantemerle is generally ready to be consumed within several years of the vintage. 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

Very pretty red fruit notes are accompanied by a relatively soft palate impression, particularly for this terroir. Nice character, a memorable finish, and price that won't break the bank. What's not to like? 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco