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Staff Favorites - Steve Greer

Steve Greer | Send Email | Subscribe to My Sommelier Service

I think I started down the path into the wine world with my first job, at 16, bussing tables in a Chinese restaurant. Blue Nun Riesling was the big seller (this in 1985, so don't laugh). While the Blue Nun Riesling was not an "epiphany" wine, I drank a lot of it. It was a magnum of Robert Sinskey Claret that I shared with friends while watching the 1994 World Cup that got me started reading about wine (Brazil won). My first "wow" wine was that same year, when a customer gave me a glass of 1982 Haut Brion. It was amazing. Next I found pinot noir, specifically a 1994 Whitcraft Bien Nacido, and I was hooked. I knew I wanted to sell wine so I moved from restaurants to wholesale wine sales, working for Metamora in Ohio and Kentucky. But after continued consolidation of distributors and the realization, that in wholesale you wear blinders, tasting only the wines you sell, I knew I wanted to move to the retail side. I would like to say I moved from Cincinnati just for K&L but I left the "Red" state for Los Angeles (a Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals fan in San Francisco just would not do) and I was very lucky to find the K&L store in Hollywood. The rest is history.

Reviews

2009 Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 03-12-2014

This year’s blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Petite Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc. The nose is sexy, filled with floral, dark fruit and cedar. The polished palate has more of a currant flavor along with raspberry.

Price: $69.99

Ferrand Dry Orange Curaçao (750ml)

Review Date: 01-23-2014

This is a drier version of Grand Mariner. Tastes like orange marmalade and fresh oranges with dry finish. Excellent!

Price: $29.99

WE: 93

Tequila Fortaleza Blanco Tequila

Review Date: 01-23-2014

The Forteleza line-up is fantastic but the Bianco shows the purity of the spirit with tons of depth. Vegetative, roasted herbs, spice, orange peel and coriander shows this is a sipper to be enjoy.

Price: $69.99

Limit of 1 per customer

2010 Lynch-Bages, Pauillac

Review Date: 12-12-2013

Tight and tannic with rich blackberry fruit. Long spice and black fruit on the finish.

Price: $249.99

2009 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac

Review Date: 03-05-2013

I think the wines produced in 2009 and 2010 by this Château are amazing. The 2009 had graphite, black tea and currant on the nose, and there were so many layers to this wine that it continued to show over the hours (and two days later) the same graphite and black tea, plus flinty, rocky minerality, currants, garrigue and cedar. There is a refinement to the structure and mouthfeel of this wine. Just wait until the 2010!

Price: $144.99

2010 Gloria, St-Julien

Review Date: 02-18-2013

Sweet fruit, naturally extracted.

Price: $79.99

2010 Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan

Review Date: 02-04-2013

Oak spice, extracted blue fruit, modern.

Price: $229.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut

Review Date: 07-19-2011

I think this is turning out to be the company's favorite under $15 sparkling. It is finally back. There is a great balance between mineral, citrus, fruit with a nice mouth-feel.

Price: $14.99

2010 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

Review Date: 07-05-2011

Fantastic. This vintage is the first year they are certified biodynamic. They also are using a horse to farm about 60 acres, and Alfred Tesseron wants to add one horse a year. This attention to detail in the vineyard is paying off in the finished wine. Very expressive on the nose, it has lovely floral qualities, blackberry and spice. There’s pure black fruit on the palate finishing with some astringency, but the fresh fruit balances the tannins. Buy this as soon as you can!

Price: $279.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

Review Date: 06-07-2011

This is our best value Champagne in the store. Comprised of all three grapes this Champagne shows you can have both good value and great taste. Nutty, brioche and apple fill the nose and palate with a mouth filling mousse. Only $24.99 and I promise everyone you poured this for would enjoy it.

Price: $37.99

Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Review Date: 06-07-2011

Every year this is one of my favorite Champagnes. Green apple and mineral on the nose and palate and the 3 years on the lees provides a fantastic mouth feel with plenty of acidity keeping it very crisp and clean. 100% Grand Cru fruit for only $34.99. Crazy.

Price: $39.99

2010 Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe

Review Date: 05-16-2011

Spice and currant with big, lush fruit and spice on the palate. Polished with balanced tannins.

Price: $299.99

2010 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

Review Date: 05-13-2011

Minerals and pure red fruits. Balanced structure. Fantastic.

Price: $224.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

Review Date: 12-28-2010

This is a perfect New Year's Eve Rose. On the nose bright cherry and strawberry aromas that carry through on the palate. The bright fresh red fruit flavors are surrounded by a more refined mouth feel. The price makes it affordable for a party.

Price: $14.99

Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne

Review Date: 10-27-2010

This could be one of the best deals in our Champagne section. If you like Billecart then you will like this as a alternative in price. Nice strawberry and cherry flavors and aromas with a nice rich texture and a long finish of strawberry. Great value and a great Champagne.

Price: $42.99

More Favorites

Steve Greer is also a fan of the following items. To become a fan of Steve Greer, click here to join Steve Greer's Personal Sommelier Service.

Tequila Fortaleza Reposado Tequila ($79.99)

St. George "Terroir" Mount Tamalpais Gin (750ml) ($29.99)

Domaine du Manoir de Montreuil "Reserve" Calvados Pay d'Auge (750ml) ($44.99)

Averna Amaro Siciliano (750ml) ($34.99)

Adrien Camut "Réserve de Semainville (25+ years old) Pays d'Auge Calvados (750ml) ($299.99)

El Dorado 15 Year Old Demerara Guyana Rum (750ml) ($59.99)

Russell's Reserve 6 Year Old "Small Batch" 90 Proof Kentucky Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($49.99)

Rock Hill Farms Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) ($99.99)

Seikyo "Omachi" Junmai Ginjo Sake 720ml ($29.99)

Lini "Labrusca" Lambrusco Emilia Bianco ($15.99)

Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne ($44.99)