The following is a list of new arrivals that have come into our inventory within the last seven days, with at least one bottle in stock at the time of this email. We've split the list into three sections. First we show a limited number of our top picks for the week. Next, we display all new arrivals coming into our inventory for the first time. Finally, there is a list of old wines and items we've sold previously that have just returned to our inventory.

• 2008 Weingut Allram Grüner Veltliner 1.0L ($10.99)
  Wine Club Price: $7.99.
  
  This years Allram liter is again packaged with the ever popular crown cap and is a fantastic start if you have never experienced Gruner Veltliner. The aromatics are full of pepper and spice with hints of citrus zest and earthy nuances of fresh pea shoots and lentil. A wonderfully fresh and vibrant wine that is snappy but with just the right amount of texture to let the juicy, mouthwatering acid structure take you home! Will get better over the next two to three years….

• 2007 Santa Ema 'Reserve' Merlot, Maipe Valley, Chile ($9.99)
  90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2007 Merlot Reserve is a glass-coating opaque purple. The nose offers up coffee, mocha, and cherry leading to a wine with no hard edges and plenty of character. If all Merlots offered this much pleasure, Pinot Noir would never have become so popular." (12/08) On the nose, the Santa Ema is effusive: sweet mocha, ripe red and dark fruits, fig compote all compete to grab your attention, and just when you think you’ve assimilated the array of aromas, a trace of nutmeg reveals itself with a deeper whiff. Textbook Merlot on the palate, which in my mind is as much about supple, velvety texture as it is the flavor. Flavors are a bit drier than the nose would suggest, a good thing for pairing with food - grilled hamburgers would work great. Ripe plum and cherry fruit flavors are pure and tasty, with very mellow, easy-going tannins on the finish. When it comes to making delicious Chilean wines, which taste like the grape on the front label and consistently over-deliver for value, Santa Ema continues to impress. (Joe Manekin, K&L South American wine buyer)

• 1996 Latour, Pauillac ($599.00)
  99 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A spectacular Latour, the 1996 may be the modern day clone of the 1966, only riper. This vintage, which is so variable in Pomerol, St.-Emilion, and Graves, was fabulous for the late-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon of the northern Medoc because of splendid weather in late September and early October. An opaque purple color is followed by phenomenally sweet, pure aromas of cassis infused with subtle minerals. This massive offering possesses unreal levels of extract, full body, intensely ripe, but abundant tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. Classic and dense, it displays the potential for 50-75 years of longevity. Although still an infant, it would be educational to taste a bottle." (06/2000) 96 points Wine Spectator: "Fabulous aromas of crushed raspberries, plums and blackberries. Mind-blowing nose. Full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins and a long caressing finish. Hard not to drink now, but leave it alone.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. (Web Only - 2007)" 95 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Saturated ruby-red. Dark berries, violet, licorice and a note of torrefaction. Explosive, pure flavors are almost too big for the mouth. Finishes with big, sweet tannins and expanding, exhilarating flavors of pruneaux and crystallized dark berries. Perfectly integrated oak. A great Latour." (06/1999)

• 1999 Latour, Pauillac ($339.00)
  94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Readers looking for a modern day version of Latour's magnificent 1962 or 1971 should check out the sensational 1999 Latour. It is a big, concentrated offering, exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color, and a classic nose of minerals, black currants, leather, and vanilla. The wine is long, ripe, and medium-bodied, with high levels of sweet tannin. This surprisingly full, concentrated 1999 should be drinkable in 5-6 years; it will last for three decades." (04/2002) 93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Full red-ruby. High-pitched aromas of red- and blackcurrant, minerals and leather. Wonderfully harmonious in the mouth, with compelling sweetness of fruit but also superb grip. A lush, rich wine that already displays impressive inner-mouth perfume. Finishes with broad, essentially gentle tannins. Doesn't quite possess the grip or thrust of the '01, but this is wine-of-the-vintage material." (06/2002) 93 points Wine Spectator: "Focused and fresh, with milk chocolate and berry aromas. Subtle and refined on the nose. Full-bodied and very elegant, featuring a solid core of ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. So much finesse here. Still tight, needing time in the bottle to open. No longer big, this is in just the right proportions for the vintage.—'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Best after 2012. (Web-2010)"

• 1995 Latour, Pauillac (Was $549.00) ($369.00)
  96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050." (06/2000) 94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Deep ruby-red color. More expressive aromas of crystallized dark berries, dark chocolate and animal fur. Lush and sweet; thick but delineated. Wonderfully concentrated. This, too, seems rather withdrawn today, but the strength of material is clear to see. Finishes with firm tannins and explosive fruit that goes on and on." (05/1998) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Black licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and very structured, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Needs time. (Web 2007)" K&L Notes: From a great Bordeaux vintage (Wine Spectator rated 1995 96 points--classic), this perfectly cellared Latour demonstrates why this First Growth is one of the most sought after wines in the world.

• 2004 Bandol Rouge Domaine Terrebrune ($22.99)
  93 points Wine Spectator: "This big red has a meaty aroma, with chiseled flavors of dark plum, mineral and dried raspberry. The supple finish lingers with white pepper and truffle. Distinctive, balanced and full of character. Drink now through 2013." (5/31/09) K&L's notes - Terrebrune was founded in 1963 by Georges DeLille and is now run by his son Reynald. The domaine now comprises 30 hectares and the grapes are farmed organically and hand harvested. The wine is a blend of Mourvedre, Cinsault and Grenache with classically wild and rustic flavors. Floral tones, smoked meat, black plums and a hint of graphite. This wine will be wonderful with bouillabaise, grilled pork over fennel fronds or anything braised. (Keith Mabry)

• 2007 Côtes du Rhône-Villages, Grand Veneur "Champauvins" ($16.99)
  91 points Robert Parker: "The top Cotes du Rhone, the 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Les Champauvins, is a serious effort that could easily be mistaken for a Chateauneuf du Pape. Sweet black cherry fruit, seaweed wrapper, licorice, pepper, and spice aromas are followed by a wine with a broad, savory mouthfeel, sweet tannin, and a long finish. It should drink well for 4-5 years." (10/09) Grand Veneur's "Champauvins" is always one of my top picks for those seeking a Châteauneuf-du-Pape-esque wine without the accompanying $30-plus price tag. Broad and expansive, with beautifully fine tannins and a nice thread of underlying acidity, the 2007 Champauvins pulls its all off, despite its prodigious 15% abv. Garlic-studded roast leg of lamb? Grilled sirloin steaks with fresh herbs? A hunk of salami? Anyone? (Mulan Chan-Randel, K&L Wine Merchants) 15% abv.

• 2007 Vinosia Primitivo di Salento IGT ($9.99)
  90 points Wine & Spirits and named one of that magazine's "Year's Best" and "Top 100 Values": "There's a spicy, peppery edge to freshen the ripe black cherry fruit in this primitivo. The texture is broad and rich, with lasting flavors of blackberry and wild flower honey." (06/09) And, according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Readers looking for a tasty, value priced red will want to consider the 2007 Primitivo from Vinosia. A juicy, mouth filling red, the wine is loaded with fragrant dark red fruit in a soft, seamless style showing no hard edges. This is a strong candidate for casual, informal drinking and would make a great house wine. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011." (04/09)

• 2007 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha Calatayud ($9.99)
  90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "There are 18,000 cases of the delightful 2007 Las Rocas Garnacha, a wine sourced from Calatayud vineyards ranging in age from 70 to 100 years. Dark ruby in color, it delivers alluring aromas of spice box, mineral, cherry, and black raspberry. Layered on the palate, it has superb depth, succulent flavors, and a pure, lengthy finish. It will provide pleasure over the next three years." (02/09) Consistently one of the most pleasurable wines produced in Spain, the Las Rocas does not dissapoint with their newest release. Sourced from old vine fruit, there is tremendous ripe cherry fruit, mulled spices and a tobacco-laced finish. Always a little stylized but with a beautiful purity of flavor that belies its humble price. (Keith Mabry, K&L Hollywood)

• 2006 Paloma Napa Merlot ($49.99)
  93 points and one the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Plush, ripe and elegant, with fragrant currant, caramel and olive aromas and supple, beautifully layered plum, cedar and loamy, toasty oak flavors that are wrapped around a dense, complex core." (02/09) 93 points Robert Parker: "An excellent Merlot from proprietor Jim Richards, this 2006 reveals flamboyant, sexy, chocolaty, mocha, and coffee notes intermixed with oodles of black cherry and berry fruit. Full-bodied, silky textured, and mouthfilling, this hedonistic effort will provide enormous pleasure over the next 5-8 years." (12/08) According to K&L's Bryan Brick, this is easily the best Merlot made in California every year. In 2003, the Wine Spectator took that praise one step further, naming the 2001 vintage the wine of the year. The fruit for this wine comes from the Paloma estate, at the tippy top of Spring Mountain, and is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon in 2006. The wine is then aged in a combination of 1/3 new French oak barrels and 2/3s 2- to 4-year old French oak barrels. The 2006 vintage is precocious, with lots of up front red and black fruits complemented by a wave of cocoa, tobacco and spice. Wonderfully textured, this wine has great balance and structure, and should age quite well, really starting to show its stuff with another 4 or 5 years in bottle.

• 2007 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier ($9.99)
  90 points in the Wine Advocate's "Value Issue": "2007 Chenin Blanc/Viognier is a beauty, very perfumed (flowers, melons, tropical fruits), medium-bodied, super pure, with no oak and a dry, crisp finish. Drink it over the next year." (08/08) And, according to Wine Spectator: "Offers pretty jade blossom and peach aromas, with subtle green apple, pebble and lime flavors. Drink now." (07/08) A truly fabulous California blend - combing the best of the Loire and the best of the Rhône to create a wine as light and sun-drenched as the Golden State. White flowers and sweet exotic lychee fruit complement subtler citrus aromas on this chenin blanc-viognier blend. Bright on the palate, fresh pear and citrus flavors are framed by clean, refreshing acidity. The wine's off-dry style lends a touch of sweetness to the otherwise grapefruit-kissed, crisp finish.

NEW ARRIVALS...
(items coming into our inventory for the first time)

Austria - Austria and Hungary - Old and Rare

• 2008 Weingut Allram Grüner Veltliner 1.0L ($10.99)
  Wine Club Price: $7.99.
  
  This years Allram liter is again packaged with the ever popular crown cap and is a fantastic start if you have never experienced Gruner Veltliner. The aromatics are full of pepper and spice with hints of citrus zest and earthy nuances of fresh pea shoots and lentil. A wonderfully fresh and vibrant wine that is snappy but with just the right amount of texture to let the juicy, mouthwatering acid structure take you home! Will get better over the next two to three years….

Chile - Argentina and Chile

• 2007 Santa Ema 'Reserve' Merlot, Maipe Valley, Chile ($9.99)
  90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2007 Merlot Reserve is a glass-coating opaque purple. The nose offers up coffee, mocha, and cherry leading to a wine with no hard edges and plenty of character. If all Merlots offered this much pleasure, Pinot Noir would never have become so popular." (12/08) On the nose, the Santa Ema is effusive: sweet mocha, ripe red and dark fruits, fig compote all compete to grab your attention, and just when you think you’ve assimilated the array of aromas, a trace of nutmeg reveals itself with a deeper whiff. Textbook Merlot on the palate, which in my mind is as much about supple, velvety texture as it is the flavor. Flavors are a bit drier than the nose would suggest, a good thing for pairing with food - grilled hamburgers would work great. Ripe plum and cherry fruit flavors are pure and tasty, with very mellow, easy-going tannins on the finish. When it comes to making delicious Chilean wines, which taste like the grape on the front label and consistently over-deliver for value, Santa Ema continues to impress. (Joe Manekin, K&L South American wine buyer)

France - Alsace/Loire - Old and Rare

• 2008 Bernier Chardonnay Vins du Pays Jardin de la France ($6.99)
  There are many great bottles of Chardonnay and this is no exception, yet not many leave you with such satisfaction while not draining your wallet. It does not pretend to challenge the established icons of the wine world; it is merely delicious, friendly and under 7 bucks, a perfect bottle for Tuesday night, something to reach for to quench your thirst and that of your friends. The wine is produced by the three brothers Couillaud at the Château de la Ragotière a few minutes from the Atlantic near the mouth of the Loire River where the Maritime climate is ideal for producing whites that are refreshing and bright. The Couillaud's age most of this wine on its lees until bottling to add weight and texture with around 10% being barrel fermented in French oak for the faintest touch of toastiness. You will love the abundant citrus aromas, juicy, slightly rich mouth feel and refreshing mineral finish. The perfect wine for all of your holiday gatherings and a stunning value, buy this buy the case and drink anytime you have a thirst.

• 2006 Domaine Eric Morgat Savennieres "L'Enclos" ($23.99)
  For the past decade, the young Eric Morgat has quietly been producing some of the Loire Valley’s most interesting and complex Chenin Blancs. Though he has not sought certification, Eric’s viticultural practices are organic and he continues to explore the benefits of biodynamic vine culture. Every vineyard decision is based on attaining the highest quality possible in a given vintage. He severely limits yields, picks by hand and makes a strict selection during harvest despite the economic consequences of reducing production. Quite different from the Chenins of Vouvray and Montlouis grown on limestone chalk, Eric’s Savennières, grown on schist soils, can rival great white Burgundies in richness, complexity and ageability.

• 2007 Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Sec "Cuvee Silex" ($19.99)
  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 in the soil. The Silex is intensely mineral with quarzite clearity and a finish that goes on for miles! According to Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright yellow. Mineral-driven bouquet of pear skin, white flowers and toasted hazelnut. Pliant on entry but gains a firm edge in the mid-palate and offers dried orchard fruit and lemon rind flavors. Has the power to handle rich foods and finishes with a subtle, faintly dusty mineral quality and an echo of bitter pear skin. These grapes are Ecocert-certified organic." (May/June 10)

• 2008 Jasnieres, Pascal Janvier "Cuvee du Silex" - 9 available ($18.99)
  92 points in the Wine Advocate: "Janvier’s single-vineyard 2008 Jasnieres Cuvee du Silex is more restrained as well as more delicate, buoyant, elegant, and creamy than his regular bottling, which offers more sheer grip and refreshment. Nectarine, kiwi, and quince tinged with anise, green tea, and citrus zest in the nose lead to a remarkably layered palate, with pit fruits, berries, herbal concentrate, and saline, chalky, alkaline mineral elements all vying for attention, and with a finish of impressive, subtly bitter-sweet persistence. Enjoy this over the next 5-6 years, perhaps longer. I don’t yet have experience with older wines from Janvier, so I have to go on my intuitions and my experience with the Jasnieres appellation." (09/09) If you don't know the appellation of Jasnières, get to know it through the wines of this talented vigneron. Jasnières will never be mainstream. It hails from a tiny, stony hillside along the Loir River (a tributary of the Loire River), north of Vouvray, and the grape grown here is the Pineau de la Loire, otherwise known as Chenin Blanc. Janvier's 'Silex' takes minerality to the extreme, and this wine is redolent with crushed stone and citrus skin aromatics and flavors. Intense, and very clean and long, this will age beautifully thanks to its naturally high acidity.

France - Bordeaux - Old and Rare

• 2000 Charmail, Haut-Medoc - 9 available ($39.95)
  93 points Robert Parker: "This is the finest effort I have ever tasted from this estate. It possesses great intensity, an inky purple color to the rim, a tremendous nose of minerals, white acacia flowers, creme de cassis, and black cherries, with some licorice, vanilla, and smoke in the background. It is truly great stuff, although I would not push its aging capacity beyond 10-12 years. This intense, full-throttle offering is made from a blend of 50% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: now-2014." (04/03)

• 2000 Grands Maréchaux, Premieres Côtes de Blaye - 12 available ($14.99)
  According to the Wine Spectator: "Beautiful aromas of bright berries and Indian spices, with a hint of chocolate. Medium-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long, silky finish. Best after 2005." (03/03) According to Robert Parker: "An excellent wine from this backwater appellation, this blend of 70% Merlot with the balance split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc has a medium deep ruby color and a sweet nose of black cherry liqueur intermixed with licorice, spice box, dried herbs, and earth. Spicy, medium-bodied, and tasty, it should be drunk over the next 2-4 years." (03/03)

France - Burgundy - Old and Rare

• 2007 Mâcon Villages, Domaine des Vercheres ($11.99)
  Wine Specator picks this as a Top Value, writing: "This lively white has fine balance and attractive flavors of peach, legume and grapefruit. Full-bopdied and rich." (WS. 09/09) Our Notes: From two plots, one of which is a clay sub-soil, while the other has more limestone. The result is a pretty Macon with the richness on the plate you want, accompanied by the minerality you desire. Vines average 30 years of age, on south-east facing slopes. The Dupuis borthers plant grass in every second row, and have gone to Guyot pruning to reduce yields, and ferment with wild yeasts. This is a terrific value! (Keith Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer) Stelvin Closure (Screwcap).

• 2007 Pouilly Fuissé, Domaine Gilles Morat ($19.99)
  Very lovely and mineral-driven Pouilly Fuissé from Vergisson, with both focus and richness. NIce complexity, long finish. Aged in a mixture of stainless steel tanks and older oak barrels, this is clean and bright, reflecting the terroir of Vergisson. (Keith Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer)

• 2006 Puligny Montrachet, Domaine Henri Clerc ($39.99)
  Lovely, finely detailed and mineral-driven, with toasty oak notes and a long finish. This could only be Puligny! Farmed and made by Vincent Girardin, and a terrific deal! (Keith Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer)

France - French Regional Wines

• 2004 Bandol Rouge Domaine Terrebrune ($22.99)
  93 points Wine Spectator: "This big red has a meaty aroma, with chiseled flavors of dark plum, mineral and dried raspberry. The supple finish lingers with white pepper and truffle. Distinctive, balanced and full of character. Drink now through 2013." (5/31/09) K&L's notes - Terrebrune was founded in 1963 by Georges DeLille and is now run by his son Reynald. The domaine now comprises 30 hectares and the grapes are farmed organically and hand harvested. The wine is a blend of Mourvedre, Cinsault and Grenache with classically wild and rustic flavors. Floral tones, smoked meat, black plums and a hint of graphite. This wine will be wonderful with bouillabaise, grilled pork over fennel fronds or anything braised. (Keith Mabry)

France - French Regional Wines - Old and Rare

• 2008 Jurancon Sec Clos Lapeyre ($14.99)
  This dry and racy white from the French Pyrenees is incredibly fun to drink! Comprised of 100% gros manseng, this is a firm, mineral driven white with notes of fresh herbs, green apple and quince. This Jurancon sec white is delicate and refreshing, however, its complexity and concentration will undoubtedly impress you. Enjoy a glass while cooking dinner, or pair with sizzling garlic shrimp! 13% abv.

France - Rhone Valley

• 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Grand Veneur ($39.99)
  91 points Robert Parker: "The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre from 65-year-old vines) is an exceptionally strong effort. Aged in tank (80%) and small oak barrels (20%), it is a dense, full-bodied wine revealing an inky/purple color along with notes of graphite, blackberries, and cassis. With a sumptuous, layered, full-bodied texture, sweet, velvety tannins, and zesty freshness as well as acidity, it should drink well for 12-14 years." (10/09) 88-91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright purple. Exotically perfumed nose displays scents of fresh blackberry, white pepper, incense and potpourri. Lush and creamy on the palate, with sweet dark berry flavors supported by slow-mounting tannins. The peppery note repeats on the focused, brisk finish." (Jan/Feb '09) 15% abv.

Germany - German - Old and Rare

• 2007 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Estate Riesling - 5 available ($22.99)
  According to Wine & Spirits: "From 17 acres in the renowned Scharzhofberger vineyard the Müllers have repeatedly produced stunning wines that have become archetypes of their genres." (2005) The "Scharzho" is an off-dry wine that typically balances its sweetness with minerality from the slate soils and the acidity of the Saar. It is meant to be drunk young, but can be aged for 5 to 8 years. Please note - This wine is a Special Order item and will arrive in 2-4 weeks.

• 2007 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett - 6 available ($45.99)
  90 points Wine Enthusiast: "Very perfumed and floral, with added scents of lime and strawberry. On the palate, slaty, stony notes and lime flavors balance the considerable sweetness, ending long and stridently tart. The crisp acids give this the backbone to age 10 or more years." (10/09) Wine & Spirits writes: "From 17 acres in the renowned Scharzhofberger vineyard the Müllers have repeatedly produced stunning wines that have become archetypes of their genres." (2005) 89 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Smoky aromas of peach and lemon oil. The soft, sweet papaya fruit is tweaked by an effusive spiciness. Offers more weight than elegance for a kabinett, and needs some time in bottle. Finishes with appealing length." (Jan/Feb '09) Pair this with sushi, soft cheeses, salmon, lobster, fish, crab and Asian cuisine. Please note - This wine is a Special Order item and will arrive in 2-4 weeks.

• 2008 Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" Riesling Kabinett ($15.99)
  Always a spectacular value, this Riesling from Gunderloch packs in the flavor for very little money year after year. According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Coming from among other celebrated sites Hipping, Pettenthal, and Oelberg, the Gunderloch 2008 Riesling Kabinett Jean Baptiste smells of lemon, honeysuckle, green tea, and quince in a manner highly reminiscent of its 2007 predecessor, which it also imitates in its delightful sense of delicacy and refreshment. The sweetness and acidity are a bit unknit, though, and I’d like to revisit this - perhaps not until 2011 -– and expect several years of pleasure thereafter." (02/10)

• 2008 Schloss Lieser Estate Riesling - 12 available ($15.99)
  90 points Wine Spectator: "In a drier style, this offers plenty of slate, spice, white peach and white pepper aromas and flavors. Fresh and delicate, with good intensity and a lingering aftertaste. Drink now through 2014" (06/10) Weingut Schloss Lieser was established around the turn of the century. It was one of 99 holdings under the control of Baron von Schorlemer, Germany's Secretary of Agriculture. His ancestral seat was in his castle (Schloss) in the town of Lieser. At one time the Lieserer vineyards were quite highly regarded, but then followed years of neglect. In 1992, a very successful real estate broker from Cologne, Wolfgang Reichel, acquired the estate. His goal - make wines that live up to the potential of the Lieser vineyards. As manager and cellar master he hired Thomas Haag. Thomas was a recent graduate from Geisenheim and son of Wilhelm Haag, proprietor of the Fritz Haag estate. In 1997 Thomas Haag bought the estate. Thomas Haag's winemaking philosophy is quite closely aligned with that of his father. The vineyards are maintained to yield quality not quantity. Great care in selection during harvest, little handling in the cellar, reductive cellar work and no Suessreserve are standard modus operandi. Thomas wants to achieve wines that exhibit the typical Riesling character: ripe acid structure, vibrant and petillant palate, the pure expression of fruit, racy and light without sacrificing impact on the palate.

• 2007 Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Spätlese "303" - 10 available ($49.99)
  91 points Wine Spectator: "Offers a combination of peach and apricot flavors, with a tangy citrus accent. A mineral note emerges as this plays out on the palate. It's elegant overall, with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2022." According to importer Terry Theise: "It hails from a micro-cru called Eiserberg, from which a TBA with 303° Oechsle was gathered in 1920 by Spreitzer’s great-great grandfather, and which was the record must-weight for Rheingau Riesling until 2003 came along. A gauzy rendition of this, or at least it seems so after the obdurate density of the Jesuitengarten, but it isn’t at all slight, just a lovely quiet birch alongside a patriarchal elm. A breezy flutter of spice and this amazing mineral clarity, as if a bouquet were opening its very petals on your palate. Almost too intricate to grasp."

• 2007 Weingart Bopparder Hamm Ohlenberg Riesling Kabinett ($22.99)
  91 points Wine Spectator: "Sleek and delicate, displaying intense flavors of peach, papaya and orange, backed by a vibrant structure. Beautifully integrated and expressive from start to the long aftertaste. Drink now through 2022." (04/09)

Italy - Italy

• 2005 Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella - 12 available ($48.99)
  90 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a relatively straightforward wine but I loved it for its superb balance and harmony. Sweet red cherries, herbs, leather, spices and earthiness are buffered by finessed tannins as this soft-textured wine opens in the glass. This is a great introduction to Amarone. Curiously, the 2005 comes across as more advanced than the 2004, and I would choose to drink it on the young side. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015." (10/08) According to Wine Spectator: "Displays aromas and flavors of raisin and nutty spices on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, with a fine texture and clean, spicy fruit on the finish. Best after 2009. 6,000 cases made." (04/09)

• 2004 La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino - 9 available ($45.99)
  91 points Wine Enthusiast: "La Gerla delivers a soft and succulent texture with rich tones of milk chocolate and fudge behind layers of cherry and wild berry. The plush and rich nature of this wine sets it apart and this Brunello is long-lasting and caressing on the close with bright tones of cherry and vanilla." (06/09) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Strawberry and cherry aromas follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Long and full of character, yet balanced. Best after 2010." (Web Only, 2009)

• 2007 Vinosia Primitivo di Salento IGT ($9.99)
  90 points Wine & Spirits and named one of that magazine's "Year's Best" and "Top 100 Values": "There's a spicy, peppery edge to freshen the ripe black cherry fruit in this primitivo. The texture is broad and rich, with lasting flavors of blackberry and wild flower honey." (06/09) And, according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Readers looking for a tasty, value priced red will want to consider the 2007 Primitivo from Vinosia. A juicy, mouth filling red, the wine is loaded with fragrant dark red fruit in a soft, seamless style showing no hard edges. This is a strong candidate for casual, informal drinking and would make a great house wine. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011." (04/09)

South Africa - South Africa

• 2009 Mulderbosch Rosé, South Africa ($10.99)
  This sexy, sophisticated dry rosé combines mouthwatering flavors of cherry and wild strawberry with graceful notes of lavender and herbes de provence. It's a versatile and accessible pink for all seasons!

Spain - Spain and Portugal

• 2007 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha Calatayud ($9.99)
  90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "There are 18,000 cases of the delightful 2007 Las Rocas Garnacha, a wine sourced from Calatayud vineyards ranging in age from 70 to 100 years. Dark ruby in color, it delivers alluring aromas of spice box, mineral, cherry, and black raspberry. Layered on the palate, it has superb depth, succulent flavors, and a pure, lengthy finish. It will provide pleasure over the next three years." (02/09) Consistently one of the most pleasurable wines produced in Spain, the Las Rocas does not dissapoint with their newest release. Sourced from old vine fruit, there is tremendous ripe cherry fruit, mulled spices and a tobacco-laced finish. Always a little stylized but with a beautiful purity of flavor that belies its humble price. (Keith Mabry, K&L Hollywood)

United States - Domestic Cabernet Sauvignon

• 2006 Cakebread Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - 12 available ($69.99)
  Cakebread's 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with fresh, smoky, cassis, blackberry and boysenberry aromas augmented by subtle cedar, black tea spice and sweet oak scents. Supple on entry, the wine’s big, extracted, black fruit flavors coat the palate, while its firm underlying structure transports the rich fruit and zesty black tea spiciness into a long, savory finish. Impressive now, this concentrated, yet elegant Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will age gracefully in bottle for another 5-7 years. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec

• 2007 Kirkham Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.99)
  Wine Club Price: $13.95.
  
  From the great 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet pool. "Mr. Robert Parker told me and several others in October of 2008 that the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa Valley could be one of the greatest vintages ever! Here is our first entry." (Clyde Beffa, K&L Wine Merchants) Deep ruby in color, the nose explodes with cassis, currants and Rutherford dust which carries over into its hugely complex, broad, viscous, structured, focused mouth presentation. There is a core of sweet varietal fruit here that is supported by cedary oak and really fine, silky tannins. It will age easily another 7 to 10 years. Get some air to it if you plan to drink it near term.

• 2005 Lancaster Estate Alexander Valley Sophia's Hillside Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.99)
  Wine Club Price: $24.99.
  
  Extremely limited availability with only 1,700 cases produced. 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "It's fair to call this a junior version of Lancaster's more expensive, superb Bordeaux-style wines. Like them, it's rich in black currant and cedar flavors, and quite tannic, a wine that needs a few years to come around. Three-quarters Cabernet Sauvignon, one quarter Merlot."

• 2007 Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99)
  90 points from Robert Parker: "I am also including their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, a 290,000-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest the other Bordeaux varietals. An exquisite value, this is a seductive, fleshy, fruity wine with excellent texture, body, and balance. Lots of cassis as well as silky tannins characterize this top bargain pick! Drink it over the next 5-7 years." (12/09) Martini's 2007 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from several of Sonoma County's most prestigious appellations and blended seamlessly to bring together the unique characteristics of each, creating a superbly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine offers many layers, featuring aromas and flavors of red cherry, blackberry and fresh sage with an underlying dry creek dustiness. Subtle herbal notes are complemented by additional layers of chocolate and vanilla, resulting in a complex, yet easy drinking wine. From Wine Spectator: 'Ripe and supple, offering plum and black cherry fruit that's elegant and polished, complex and easy-drinking. Drink now through 2013." (11/09) And from Wine Enthusiast: "Here's a nice, elegant Cabernet that shows some special qualities for the price. It's dry and smooth, with classic Cabernet flavors of black currants, spices and cedar, and rich, sweet tannins. Ready now." (12/09)

• 2006 Tête Brûlee Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon - 6 available ($89.99)
  Only 90 cases of the Tête Brûlée (meaning daredevil) Cabernet Sauvignon exist and we feel privileged to have just a few of them. The fruit comes from the famed Mount Veeder AVA, known for producing wines of structure and intensity. Josh Klapper of La Fenetre and partner Eric Shevin have crafted this beauty with their sites set on ageability. Cab drinkers will be pleased by this wine early on but those "daring" enough to wait will be rewarded after years of proper cellaring.

United States - Domestic Merlot

• 2006 Cakebread Napa Merlot - 12 available ($54.99)
  This Merlot impresses right off the bat with pretty black cherry and dark plum aromas that gain complexity from subtle earth, hazelnut, black tea, cocoa and toasty oak tones. On the beautifully structured palate, the wine offers pure, concentrated, black cherry and plum flavors balanced by bright acidity and round, supple tannins, concluding in a long, elegant finish that showcases a refreshing minerality and savory black-tea spice tone. Delicious now, this cool-vintage Merlot will blossom further with another 2-3 years of bottle age. 87% Merlot, 9% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Petit Verdot.

• 2008 McManis California Merlot ($7.99)
  An everyday Merlot showing fruit aromas of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and cassis that are joined by notes of vanilla, hazelnut, milk chocolate and caramel from months of oak aging. The wine is soft and round in the mouth, the abundance of fruit present in the nose is replicated and lingers in the clean finish.

United States - Domestic Old Misc.

• 2008 Jezebel Oregon Blanc - 9 available ($12.99)
  This fascinating white is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurtztraminer, and Riesling. Crisp, aromatic and fruity. Pairs well with anything from seafood to Asian dishes and vegetarian dishes. It is also lovely by itself. 550 cases produced.

• 2008 Kalinda Napa Valley Chardonnay ($17.99)
  From one of the most famous Napa Valley wineries, this lush, exotic Charonnay will dazzle you with its richness and balance and sheer power. "You must try our newly released Kalinda 2008 Napa Valley Chardonnay ($17.99), made for us by the same "cult" winery that produced our 2007, which sold out from our stores within six weeks after its release after some of you discovered who it was. This is a full-blown Chardonnay that provides a real tropical, white peach and spicy cinnamon apple set of varietal smells and flavors enclosed in a creamy/vanillin tone that provides richness, viscosity, and lushness. There's good acidity here to not make it flabby and finish is long and intense. Sort of like a Rombauer, but unlike "R," it is dry and offers structure, and at half the price. This Gem will be one of our house whites according to The Beaner. 15.4% abv" (Jim Barr)

• 2006 Paul Hobbs "Walker Station" Chardonnay Russian River Valley - 10 available ($69.99)
  92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light, cloudy yellow. Spicy lemon and green apple on the nose, with zesty herbal and floral qualities adding complexity. Tangy citrus and orchard fruit flavors offer impressive depth and vivacity, picking up white pepper and minerals on the close. Leaves a light smoky quality behind, along with a kick of lemon zest. Hobbs told me that wild mint grows in this vineyard and that it must somehow work its way into the wine." (May/June '09) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Wonderful spiced apple and pear flavors are pure and ripe, picking up a touch of fig and honeydew melon and then joined by smoky, toasty oak, which gives this a creamy, rich mouthfeel. Drink now through 2011." (10/08) 90 points from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "No slouch either, this third member of the Hobbs Chardonnay clan is just a touch less deep in compelling fruit than its mates but it never stints on depth or richness, and its creme brulee overlays to citrusy, chalky, minerally fruit works wonders in pulling its tight pieces together. Like it mates, it will reward a bit of cellaring." (10/08) ETA: July 15th, 2009.

United States - Domestic Other Misc. Red

• 2004 Trinitas Mataro ($15.99)
  Mataro, a.k.a. Mourvèdre, was made famous near the banks of the Rhône River in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in Southern France. Like the Mourvèdre grown in Rhône, this Mataro is planted near the banks of a river (the Sacramento River) in California's Contra Costa County. This is a strapping red, with ample tannin and dark, mysterious fruit. Just the thing for ribs cooked outside or for smoky barbequed brisket.

United States - Domestic Pinot Noir

• 2007 Jezebel Oregon Pinot Noir ($14.99)
  90 points Wine Enthusiast: "In the $20 Pinot category, wines to love are few and far between. This is one of them. A beautiful nose opens with just the right mix of spice, leaf and roasted coffee. Substantially more concentrated than it has any right to be, the wine grips the palate with authority and hangs ten, letting you surf it into a broad, smoky, delightful finish." (07/09)

• 2008 McManis California Pinot Noir ($9.99)
  Yes, inexpensive Pinot Noir can be delicious! McManis's is a case in point. This 2008 shows aromas of cherry, strawberry and raspberry accompanied by hints of vanilla and cocoa. Round and soft in the mouth, with bright red berry flavors, fruit and oak are well balanced in the finish.

• 2007 Merry Edwards 'Olivet Lane' Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - 12 available ($89.95)
  93 points Wine Enthusiast: "There’s tons of cherry, cola and licorice flavor in this vigorous young Pinot. It also shows an earthy streak of herbs and mushrooms, suggesting a sautéed Portobello splashed with balsamic. The result is complex and fascinating, yet vigorous tannins and keen acidity warrant time in the cellar." (12/2009) Wine Spectator: "Complex, fragrant floral and berry aromas are supple and refined on the palate, displaying elegance and finesse and gaining depth and richness on the finish. Drink now through 2015. (Web 2010)" Connoisseurs Guide: "Ms. Edwards's Olivet Lane bottlings are typically tight and vibrant, and this latest wine very much proves the point. It teams pert, red-cherry fruit with a fair measure of sweet oak and runs to firmness even while showing fairly good depth. While its acidy angles and slight bent to hardness might militate against early enjoyment, a few years of smoothing will set things right." (02/2010) K&L Notes: The Olivet Lane vineyard is one of a few remaining Pinot Noir vineyards out on the Santa Rosa Plains, and it is farmed by the Pelligrini family. Merry Edwards' small allocation of this fruit is consistently made into one of the winery's best Pinots. The 2007 is gorgeous, the color of summer cherries and aromas of the same with hints of toffee and white pepper. In the mouth, the fruit on the palate is fabulously focused, with hints of rose confit balanced by velevety smooth tannins and good acidity.

• 2007 Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - 11 available ($69.95)
  92 points Wine Enthusiast: "Marked by fresh, sleek acidity and firm, dusty tannins, this is a Pinot to stash in the cellar for a while. It’s just too tough and hard now. Give it 4-6 years to soften, and let the black cherries, red currants and cola mesh with the oak and transform with the magic of bottle age." (12/2009) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Tight, firm and vibrant, full-bodied, with a mix of fresh earth, mineral and dusty berry fruit that gets a nice lift on the finish, where this is the most complex and tempting. Drink now through 2015. (Web 2010)" 90 points Connoisseurs Guide: "While solidly on the varietal track and showing a good sense of well-ripened cherries as its major theme, this weighty working stands slightly apart from its cellarmates by dint of its accents of roasted walnuts and earth. It is full, fleshy and fairly rounded in feel, and its fruity finish is firmed by a bare touch of tannin that provides both a nice bit of grip and the potential for a few years of improvement." (02/2010) K&L Notes: The personality of this wine conveys a strikingly pure fruit character. The deep garnet color is a prelude to its ripe, dark fruity aroma. Nearly all the descriptors common to Pinots from the Russian River Valley come to mind: black cherry, cola, blueberry, black currant and raspberry are tinged with rich cocoa, chocolate and nutmeg. Each time you return to the glass, another intriguing layer reveals itself. The rich fruit carries forward into a boldly structured palate which is bright yet smooth with a seamless, luxurious finish.

• 2008 Saintsbury "Garnet" Carneros Pinot Noir ($15.99)
  The Saintsbury "Garnet" is the winery's lighter-styled, earlier-drinking Pinot Noir - harnassing the freshness of the 2008 vintage. Raspberry and cherry aromas and flavors are complemented by a soft texture from barrel aging and bright acidity. The "Garnet" is a reflection of the semi-precious stone it's named for. It has character and grace, but it won't break the bank like a ruby, and you won't need to keep it locked up for special occasions.

• 2007 Vergari Russian River Pinot Noir ($23.99)
  This tiny production Pinot shows a pronounced spice bouquet with sour cherry/earth aromas. Fruit-driven entry that gives way to firm, acidic mid-palate and lengthy, balanced finish. This wine will evolve in your glass and stay with you for days. 106 cases produced.

United States - Domestic Syrah and Petite Sirah

• 2006 La Fenêtre Élevage Reserve "Santa Barbara Highlands, South Mesa" Syrah ($44.99)
  94 points in the Wine Enthusiast: "Appeals now for extraordinarily rich, soft flavors of caramelized vanilla cream infused with blackberry essence, cassis and pepper, with exotic notes of butterscotch, candied violets and Maraschino cherry glaze. One hundred percent new French oak is not too much for this elaborate, hedonistically rich Syrah. Best opened soon." (Aug 2009)

United States - Other Spirits

• AEppeltroew Winery Pommeau, Wisconsin 375ml - 12 available ($21.99)
  This domestic Pommeaux is inspired by the traditional farm beverage from Normandy and Brittany called pommeau. This Wisconsin version of pommeau is made from the last, best cider pressing of the season: Golden Delicious, Winesap, Arkansas Black, Fameuse and other rich apples. This 'sweet cider' is then mixed with apple eau de vie distilled from Great Lakes cider apples. The result is so intense, it must be tried to believed.

BACK IN STOCK...
(items we've carried in the past that have just arrived again)

Argentina - Misc. Import - Old and Rare

• 1999 Luca Argentina Cabernet Sauvignon - 1 available ($49.99)
  93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun '01: "Deep, dark red. Smoky aromas of plum, raspberry, toffee and brown spices. Plush and smooth in the mouth, with sappy red berry and leather flavors intensified by integrated acidity. Seamless and suave, but with solid underlying structure. Finishes with dusty tannins and a whiplash of red berry and tobacco flavors. Gracefully made wine with impressive material." Luca is the latest creation from the Catena family of wineries. Laura Catena, the visionary behind the Luca products, is striving to make artisan wines. She is dedicated to the expression of terroir in a land where so many other winemakers only care about quantity. The Cabernet is dense and rich…a perfect wine for the cellar. From the aromas - currants, ripe berries and vanillin oak - to the long deep finish, this wine will bowl you over with its complexity and depth.

France - Bordeaux - Old and Rare

• 2000 Destieux, St-Emilion - 8 available ($29.99)
  90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "This beautiful wine, which is just hitting full maturity, reveals plenty of truffle, forest floor, black cherry, black currant, plum, and soy aromas with hints of espresso and white chocolate in the background. The tannins have fallen away in this medium to full-bodied St.-Emilion which offers a fleshy mid-palate in addition to lots of succulence. Enjoy it over the next decade." (06/2010) Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright ruby-red. Roasted nuts, red berries, mocha, and a suggestion of smoky, meaty reduction. Fat and sweet in the mouth, with good volume and silky texture. Not especially complex but pliant and attractive. Finishes with big, dusty tannins and good length. " (06/2001) Wine Spectator: "A firm, slightly lean 2000, with berry and tobacco character, medium body and a fresh finish. (Barrel Tasting - Web 2001)"

• 1996 Domaine des Gartieux, Pauillac - 3 available ($39.99)
  Pichon Lalande's third wine. A stunning value packed with cedar fruit and cassis flavors. For those of us who can't afford $100 a bottle Pichon.

• 1998 Latour, Pauillac - 1 available ($299.00)
  91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Red-ruby. Deep aromas of cassis, licorice and lead pencil. Deeper than Les Forts but currently rather mute in the middle. Strongly minerally. Offers classic Latour structure and spine. Finishes with sneaky, subtle persistence." (05/2001) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Plenty of raspberry, dark chocolate and mint on the nose. Full-bodied, with licorice and sweet tobacco character and a cedar undertone. Outstanding. Pop the cork. (2009)" 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "...The 1998 possesses a dark garnet/purple color in addition to a complex bouquet of underbrush, cedar, walnuts, and licorice-tinged black currants." (04/2001)

• 1985 Latour, Pauillac - 1 available ($399.00)
  93 points Wine Spectator: "Rich and ripe wine. Dark red color with an amber edge. Loads of meat, berry and tobacco character on the nose. Very rich. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, ultraripe fruit finish. Still very fresh and young.--Latour vertical. Best from 2000 through 2015." (08/2000) Jancis Robinson: "Very dark crimson still and marked by the easy sweetness of the year. Only with time in the glass did it lose a bit of focus and become a bit leathery with a hint of rusty nails, suggesting this wine is now at its peak. 18/20 points." (09/2011) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "This wine was tasted from my personal collection, following the Latour tasting. The 1985 Latour is a soft, open-knit example, without much structure, delineation, and depth. The dark ruby color displays amber at the edge. The bouquet of tobacco, black fruits, herbs, earth, and new oak is pleasant, but neither intense nor persistent." (06/2000)

• 1996 Latour, Pauillac ($599.00)
  99 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A spectacular Latour, the 1996 may be the modern day clone of the 1966, only riper. This vintage, which is so variable in Pomerol, St.-Emilion, and Graves, was fabulous for the late-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon of the northern Medoc because of splendid weather in late September and early October. An opaque purple color is followed by phenomenally sweet, pure aromas of cassis infused with subtle minerals. This massive offering possesses unreal levels of extract, full body, intensely ripe, but abundant tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. Classic and dense, it displays the potential for 50-75 years of longevity. Although still an infant, it would be educational to taste a bottle." (06/2000) 96 points Wine Spectator: "Fabulous aromas of crushed raspberries, plums and blackberries. Mind-blowing nose. Full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins and a long caressing finish. Hard not to drink now, but leave it alone.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. (Web Only - 2007)" 95 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Saturated ruby-red. Dark berries, violet, licorice and a note of torrefaction. Explosive, pure flavors are almost too big for the mouth. Finishes with big, sweet tannins and expanding, exhilarating flavors of pruneaux and crystallized dark berries. Perfectly integrated oak. A great Latour." (06/1999)

• 1999 Latour, Pauillac ($339.00)
  94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Readers looking for a modern day version of Latour's magnificent 1962 or 1971 should check out the sensational 1999 Latour. It is a big, concentrated offering, exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color, and a classic nose of minerals, black currants, leather, and vanilla. The wine is long, ripe, and medium-bodied, with high levels of sweet tannin. This surprisingly full, concentrated 1999 should be drinkable in 5-6 years; it will last for three decades." (04/2002) 93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Full red-ruby. High-pitched aromas of red- and blackcurrant, minerals and leather. Wonderfully harmonious in the mouth, with compelling sweetness of fruit but also superb grip. A lush, rich wine that already displays impressive inner-mouth perfume. Finishes with broad, essentially gentle tannins. Doesn't quite possess the grip or thrust of the '01, but this is wine-of-the-vintage material." (06/2002) 93 points Wine Spectator: "Focused and fresh, with milk chocolate and berry aromas. Subtle and refined on the nose. Full-bodied and very elegant, featuring a solid core of ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. So much finesse here. Still tight, needing time in the bottle to open. No longer big, this is in just the right proportions for the vintage.—'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Best after 2012. (Web-2010)"

• 1995 Latour, Pauillac (Was $549.00) ($369.00)
  96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050." (06/2000) 94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Deep ruby-red color. More expressive aromas of crystallized dark berries, dark chocolate and animal fur. Lush and sweet; thick but delineated. Wonderfully concentrated. This, too, seems rather withdrawn today, but the strength of material is clear to see. Finishes with firm tannins and explosive fruit that goes on and on." (05/1998) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Black licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and very structured, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Needs time. (Web 2007)" K&L Notes: From a great Bordeaux vintage (Wine Spectator rated 1995 96 points--classic), this perfectly cellared Latour demonstrates why this First Growth is one of the most sought after wines in the world.

• 1995 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien (Was $139.00) - 5 available ($110.00)
  94 points Wine Spectator: "A beautiful wine, with layers of ripe fruit, berry, cedar, vanilla and light spice. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Very, very classy stuff. (Web, 2007)" 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Somewhat closed and reticent after bottling, but still impressive, this 1995 possesses a dark ruby/purple color, as well as an oaky nose with classic scents of cassis, vanillin, cedar, and spice. Dense and medium to full-bodied, with softer tannin and more accessibility than the 1996, but not quite the packed and stacked effect on the palate, the 1995 is an outstanding textbook St.-Julien that will handsomely repay extended cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025." (02/1998) 91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Very good ruby-red. Currant, tobacco, game and roasted nuts on the expressive nose. Full, supple and sweetly oaky. Also wears its oak more gracefully. Very long on the finish, with ripe, tongue-coating tannins." (06/1998) K&L Notes: Jancis Robinson: "Very dark lustrous ruby. Quite evolved nose. Scented. Hint of linseed oil. Solid, well balanced, lots of stuffing and the tannins are well managed - almost imperceptible until the very end of the palate." (3/2011)

• 1997 Pavillon Rouge, Margaux - 1 available ($59.95)
  According to Robert Parker: "As I have noted previously, Chateau Margaux's second wine, Pavillon du Chateau Margaux, has come of age over recent vintages. The 1997, a 40% Merlot/60% Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is a slightly herbal, up-front, lushly-styled wine with plenty of pure fruit, medium body, and no harshness or aggressiveness in the finish. Look for it to drink well during its first 10-12 years of life." (04/98)

• 1997 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac - 8 available ($59.95)
  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "This hedonistic, luscious, sexy, opulently-textured Pichon-Lalande is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Exhibiting a dark ruby color with purple nuances, it is open-knit, with plentiful quantities of roasted herbs, smoky oak, vanillin, and creamy black currant fruit. A lush texture, low acidity, and an accessible, velvety-textured style will have many admirers. Consume it over the next decade." (04/2000) Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Moderately saturated red-ruby. Plum and smoky oak on the nose. Soft, easygoing and harmonious, with modest complexity. Supple finish features light tannins and a note of woodsmoke. " (06/2000) Wine Spectator: "A pretty wine, even though it's rather light for this estate. Medium- to light-bodied, with berry, spice and toasted oak character. Soft finish." (01/2000) K&L Notes: Ripe, jammy slightly herbal aromas. Complete wine with good length and fine concentration. Licorice flavors and quite ripe fruit. Mid term ager. Ready to drink by the year 2002. Lots of sweetness-reminds me of the ‘81 or ‘85.

• 1994 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac ($99.95)
  91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "One of the stars of the vintage, this opaque purple-colored wine possesses a gorgeously perfumed, exotic, smoky, blackcurrant, Asian spice, and sweet vanillin-scented bouquet. It is followed by thick, rich, moderately tannic flavors that exhibit medium to full body, good structure, outstanding purity, and a classically layered, long, pure finish. This terrific Pichon-Lalande should evolve effortlessly for 18-20 years. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020." (02/1997) Wine Spectator: "An extremely well-balanced and well-crafted wine. Shows impressive dried cherry, cassis and dried herb character. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a mineral, cassis aftertaste. Better after 2000." (11/1997)

• 1983 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac - 12 available ($199.00)
  92 points Wine Spectator: "This wine has always been underrated. Shows wonderful aromas of chocolate, berry and earth. Full-bodied, with full, velvety tannins and a sweet berry finish. Drink now or hold." (11/1997) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "For much of its life it has been a stunning wine, not far off the mark from the prodigious 1982. The color is still a healthy dark garnet with some amber creeping in at the edge. The wine shows a very distinctive nose of asphalt, tobacco, and cigar box, intermixed with some sweet cherries and black currants. In the mouth it is medium to full-bodied, but the fruit seems to be ever-so-slightly fading." (01/2003) Decanter: "Very intense colour with no brownness. Good complex nose with touch of toasty oak. Nice soft middle flavours with a real complexity of finish and good characters."

• 1991 Pichon Lalande, Pauillac - 2 available ($99.95)
  89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Pichon-Lalande's 1991 is among only a handful of 1991s worthy of being the "wine of the vintage." Only 30% of the harvest went into the final wine, resulting in a deeper-colored, richer, more concentrated, and complex wine than the 1990, which was atypically light - even for the elegant Pichon-Lalande style. The 1991, which possesses plenty of tannin, displays an opaque, deep ruby/purple color, and a sweet nose of chocolate, cedar, and ripe, plummy, blackcurrant fruit. Round, medium to full-bodied, and opulent (atypical for a 1991), this wine finishes with considerable length and authority." (02/1994) Wine Spectator: "Satisfying and delicious, this shows pretty cherry, chocolate and tobacco flavors and aromas. Medium-bodied, with firm tannins, plenty of toasted oak and a medium finish." (11/1997) K&L Notes: From Jancis Robinson: "Slightly bricky rim but garnet core. Fresh and cedary but less fragrant than the 1996. A little sappy and nutty. Touch of undergrowth on the nose and comes through more on the palate. Dry, fine tannins, fully resolved and sweet. Some sweetness of undergrowth and red fruit. Just enough fruit to be in balance now but I wouldn't keep it much longer. Good for current drinking. Opens up to liquorice and cigar box and then some pure cassis comes as a surprise with a floral edge on the palate. Nice freshness but on the lighter side." (12/2009)

• 1998 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac - 2 available ($79.95)
  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Aromas of tobacco smoke, cedar, cherries, and black currants emerge from the moderately intense, complex bouquet. This wine has evolved nicely, revealing less austerity than it did last year in its medium-weight, delicate personality. Drink it over the next 15-16 years." (04/2001) Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Moderately saturated medium red. Slightly shallow aromas of currant, chocolate, leather and smoky oak. Then fruity, suave and gentle, with subtly sweet flavors of cassis, licorice and lead pencil. Finishes with sneaky length and rather silky tannins for the vintage." (06/2001) K&L Notes: This is a more elegant-styled wine, a bit atypical for the '98 vintage. This wine has more red fruit aromas of raspberry and red licorice. Very ripe and rather soft, round tannins. Quite approachable for the vintage. Lacking a bit of concentration, but very well-balanced. Should be very good in near future. Pichon-Lalande was especially proud of the quality of the merlot fruit in 1998. That merlot makes up 30% of the blend, along with 55% cabernet sauvignon, and 15% cabernet franc. Those of us who have been extremely fond of recent vintages of Pichon-Lalande will be happy to learn that the recent acquisition of Chateau Bernadotte means that Pichon-Lalande now has even more outstanding Pauillac vines to work with. Don't bet against this legendary producer.

• 1999 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac ($89.99)
  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "It offers a complex, evolved bouquet of cedar, underbrush, red currants, and spice box. The dark ruby color is not as saturated as many 1999s, and the wine possesses the weight and style of the 1979 and 1981 (both of which are superior to 1999). There is medium body, excellent ripeness, and an angular finish, without the persistence typically found at this chateau." (04/2002) Wine Spectator: "A delicate and refined red. Fresh aromas of raspberries and minerals follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a delicate, refreshing finish." (03/2002) K&L Notes: Long-time K&L favorite, Pichon-Lalande, made a killer ’99. The blend is 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot. Cedar, oak, cinnamon and spice notes mark this soft, fruity wine. Nice strength, grip, and length on the finish. This Pichon should drink well fairly early on.

• 1979 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac - 2 available ($199.00)
  93 points Wine Spectator: "A surprise, showing plenty of ripe and exotic fruit for the vintage. Dark-ruby in color, with ripe plum and earth character. Full-bodied, with a long chocolate, berry finish." (11/1997) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Undoubtedly a top success for the vintage, Pichon-Lalande's 1979 exhibits a dark garnet color with some amber at the edge. It offers a fragrant, cedary, roasted herb, and cassis-scented nose. Rich, with medium body, well-integrated tannin, and some acidity, this is the quintessentially elegant style of Bordeaux that is found nowhere else in the world." (01/1998) K&L Notes: The second vintage made by May Eliane Lencquesaing and it is delicious. Superb elegance and breed. (Clyde Beffa Jr, K&L Wines)

• 1998 Pichon Lalande, Pauillac (1.5L) - 1 available ($134.99)
  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Aromas of tobacco smoke, cedar, cherries, and black currants emerge from the moderately intense, complex bouquet. This wine has evolved nicely, revealing less austerity than it did last year in its medium-weight, delicate personality. Drink it over the next 15-16 years." (04/2001) Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Moderately saturated medium red. Slightly shallow aromas of currant, chocolate, leather and smoky oak. Then fruity, suave and gentle, with subtly sweet flavors of cassis, licorice and lead pencil. Finishes with sneaky length and rather silky tannins for the vintage" (06/2001) K&L Notes: This is a more elegant-styled wine, a bit atypical for the '98 vintage. This wine has more red fruit aromas of raspberry and red licorice. Very ripe and rather soft, round tannins. Quite approachable for the vintage. Lacking a bit of concentration, but very well-balanced. Should be very good in near future. Pichon Lalande was especially proud of the quality of the Merlot fruit in 1998. That Merlot makes up 30% of the blend, along with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Those of us who have been extremely fond of recent vintages of Pichon Lalande will be happy to learn that the recent acquisition of Chateau Bernadotte means that Pichon Lalande now has even more outstanding Pauillac vines to work with. Don't bet against this legendary producer.

• 1995 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac (1.5L) - 5 available ($309.99)
  96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "What sumptuous pleasures await those who purchase either the 1996 or 1995 Pichon Lalande. It is hard to choose a favorite, although the 1995 is a smoother, more immediately sexy and accessible wine. It is an exquisite example of Pichon-Lalande with the Merlot component giving the wine a coffee/chocolatey/cherry component to go along with the Cabernet Sauvignon's and Cabernet Franc's complex blackberry/cassis fruit. The wine possesses an opaque black/ruby/purple color, and sexy, flamboyant aromatics of pain grille, black fruits, and cedar. Exquisite on the palate, this full-bodied, layered, multidimensional wine should prove to be on e of the vintage's most extraordinary success stories." (02/1998) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Crushed blackberries, with licorice and light spice. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a caressing, delicious finish. Starting to come around. Rich, racy and balanced. (Web 2007)" 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Deep red-ruby color. Currant, loam, tobacco and smoky oak on the nose. Silky, sweet and tender in the middle palate; leather, game and chocolate notes add complexity to the wine strong currant component. Showing slightly less harmoniously than the '96, perhaps due to the bottling, but this thoroughly seductive wine has all the components for future greatness" (05/1998)

France - Burgundy - Old and Rare

• 1990 Chassagne Montrachet, Chateau de la Maltroye (Alain Corcia) - 2 available ($39.95)
  

France - Champagne - Old and Rare

• 1998 Krug Vintage Brut Champagne - 12 available ($319.00)
  97 points Wine Spectator: "*A Collectibles Designation* Displays precision focus and detail, framed by well-honed acidity and offering fine, pointillist-like texture. Rich, with layer upon layer of flavor, showing fruit and floral notes of dried apricot and pineapple, chamomile and crystallized honey and savory notes of ground coffee, roast almond, dried herbs and oyster shell. Ends with a long, long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2028." (12/2011) 96 points Wine & Spirits: "An ornate and powerful vintage for the cellars of krugistes, this is breathtaking Champagne. It is as layered and complex as a grand cru Burgundy, though more searing in its adolescent acidity, leaving a tooth buzz in its wake. With air, the layers of the wine begin to show in flavors of marzipan, fresh cream and an underlying essence of limestone. It's severe on the surface, kinder underneath. Altogether complete and needing five to ten years of bottle age to build into its full grandeur." (12/2009) 96 points Wine Enthusiast: "*Cellar Selection* Although the aromas are toasty, the flavors are still so fresh, rich, complex. This is a wonderful expression of taut minerality, pure citrus zest and then a wood-toast character that gives the wine both richness and sophistication. Given the fresh, intense fruit, this will certainly age for many years." (12/2010) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 1998 vintage has a very alluring nose of brioche, crushed stones, allspice, peaches and fresh pears plus a hint of praline. The palate is still very tight and youthful with a fine acid backbone, commendably persistent bubbles and a long minerally finish." (05/2012) 94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Vivid gold. Deeply pitched aromas of candied citrus fruits, pear skin, peach, anise and smoky herbs, with slow-building florality. Toasty and broad, showing impressive power and focus to its ripe orange and pit fruit flavors. Brighter on the finish, which hangs on with excellent tenacity and leaves behind notes of candied nuts, flowers and citrus pith. This Champagne has loosened up a bit since I tasted it last year and is showing more complexity, but it still deserves some patience, or at least an hour of air." (10/2011) K&L Notes: From Jancis Robinson: "Very, very fine bead. Very discreet and beautifully constructed. Very dense. Like a ship, constructed bit by bit. Dry finish. Needs food! A great rarity: a Krug with more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. 19.5/20 points" (03/2012)

France - French Regional Wines

• 2005 Jurancon Moelleux Clos Lapeyre "La Magendia" (375ml) ($16.99)
  From Clos Lapeyre comes this unctuous 100% Petit Manseng, fermented in new oak barrels. Nuances of exotic fruits (pineapple, mango, passion fruit). Powerful, yet controlled toast and vanilla flavors, with a hint of additional wood spice. Plenty of fat on the palate is accented by a citrus note on the finish which helps lift the fruit to new levels. Rich, sweet and delicious, with fine length. 13.5% abv.

France - French Regional Wines - Old and Rare

• 2008 Bandol Rosé, Domaine Le Galantin ($18.99)
  The Domaine Le Galantin Rosé is a classic Provencal rose with delightful fresh berry fruit flavors and a crisp finish. It is composed of 50% Cinsault, 25% Mourvedre and 25% Grenache. After the grapes are hand-harvested from their organic vineyards, they cool down the bunches to 50 degress for a two day cold soak in order to extract fruit, color and aromatics. The juice is then racked off and the grapes are pressed to stainless steel tanks. 10% of the wine is Saignee, the rest comes from grapes treated as for making white wine.

France - Rhone Valley

• 2007 Côtes du Rhône-Villages, Grand Veneur "Champauvins" ($16.99)
  91 points Robert Parker: "The top Cotes du Rhone, the 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Les Champauvins, is a serious effort that could easily be mistaken for a Chateauneuf du Pape. Sweet black cherry fruit, seaweed wrapper, licorice, pepper, and spice aromas are followed by a wine with a broad, savory mouthfeel, sweet tannin, and a long finish. It should drink well for 4-5 years." (10/09) Grand Veneur's "Champauvins" is always one of my top picks for those seeking a Châteauneuf-du-Pape-esque wine without the accompanying $30-plus price tag. Broad and expansive, with beautifully fine tannins and a nice thread of underlying acidity, the 2007 Champauvins pulls its all off, despite its prodigious 15% abv. Garlic-studded roast leg of lamb? Grilled sirloin steaks with fresh herbs? A hunk of salami? Anyone? (Mulan Chan-Randel, K&L Wine Merchants) 15% abv.

Germany - German - Old and Rare

• 1992 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Spätlese ($34.99)
  According to Wine Spectator: "Round and off-dry,