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Staff Favorites - Clyde Beffa Jr.

Clyde Beffa Jr. | Send Email | Subscribe to My Sommelier Service

Had K&L co-owner and main wine buyer Clyde Beffa Jr. not read an article about the gentlemanly hobby of wine collecting in the February 1971 issue of Playboy, he might still be weighing the merits of Holsteins versus Jerseys instead of Château Margaux or Haut-Bailly. Beffa owned a dairy in Tracy, California, from 1967-1973, leaving the the business to co-found K&L Liquors, as it was known back then, in 1976. Clyde started traveling to Europe in 1982 and over the years, he has worked hard to build K&L into one of the nation's go-to sources for the world's diverse wines, developing relationships with winemakers and châteaux owners the world over. Clyde's passion is surely Bordeaux, especially the fabulous wines from Pauillac and St-Julien (like Pichon-Lalande and Léoville-Barton). When he's not drinking France's legendary reds, you'll likely find Clyde indulging in Sauvignon Blanc. A fan of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and white Bordeaux, he'll also tuck into a bottle of Kiwi Sauv Blanc if there's no corkscrew around. These days you'll likely find Clyde extolling the virtues of underrated Bordeaux vintages like 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2006, or playing with his German Shepherd Sadie. Or you may see him in his vegetable garden and, once in a great while, on the golf course.

Reviews

2009 Verdignan, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 09-21-2023

This baby will cellar well til the '30s. The ripe,forward fruit of the 2009 vintage mixes well with the hardness of the wines from Verdignan. Plenty of sweet blackberry aromas and flavors. Situated near Pauillac, these vineyards are planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 5% Cab Franc. On the stone lintel of the door's oldest vat of Verdignan there is ingraved a date: 1720! The 2009 is a great bargain from Bordeaux. I just tasted this wine in May (2023), and it is better than ever. The sweetness of the 2009 vintage shines through in spades. Sweet and sexy after decanting an hour. Beggs for juicy prime rib or a New York steak dinner. Cellar it 10+ years no problem.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $27.99

JS: 92

2019 Jalousie Beaulieu 'Prestige', Bordeaux Superieur

Review Date: 09-08-2023

What a value wine! And 92 points to boot if you are into points. Under $15 and you get plenty of sweet black fruit aromas and flavors. Quite rich on the palate and fine acidity at the back end. A lot going on here. Enjoy now with a steak dinner or cellar a few years. Fresh and lively.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $14.99

JS: 92

WE: 90

2022 Kalinda Russian River Sauvignon Blanc

Review Date: 09-08-2023

A great value Sauvignon Blanc just in this September. This Russian River beauty a bit of melon on the nose with some grapefruit nuances. Delicious on the palate with citric notes. Wonderful balance and ready to drink now. Very clean and crisp and only 16.99. A must try-enjoy at the end of your summer and into the winter.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $16.99

2009 Camensac, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 08-14-2023

I very much enjoyed this wine when I last reviewed it in 2012, and I like it even more now. Celine Villars has fashioned a wonderful 2009 here. Usually, Camensac is big and brawny, but the 2009 vintage shines through here. A rich and solid 2009 to enjoy now or for 5-plus years of cellaring. Sweet and elegant aromas of rose and toasted oak with some cassis. Sweet palate entry and full-bodied red with a touch of tannin at the back. Decant and enjoy with a juicy steak. And the price won't kill your pocketbook either. Just re-tasted Aug 1, 2023 - super wine - sexy like the 2009 vintage with the power of the property in balance. A steal!

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $49.99

Wine Club

$44.99

WE: 92 - 94

JS: 90

2019 Ballade de La Pointe, Pomerol

Review Date: 08-06-2023

We love the wines of Chateau La Pointe-i have been buying them since the 1970s. This is the first time we have carried their second wine. So Pomerol with spicy, toasty oak, and plummy aromas. RICH AND ROUND AND SWEET ON THE PALATE. The Merlot shines through--full-bodied and delicious now, but it will age well for another 6-8 years. Has plenty of stuffing for the cellar for 5 plus years.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $29.99

2016 Caronne Ste-Gemme, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 08-06-2023

WE have been carrying this wine since the 1980s--always a value in the past and this one is less than $20. 92 points James Suckling: " Some quite bold oak and lead pencil with ripe dark berries and plums in abundance. The palate has a firm array of rich and succulent tannins that drive a boldly flavored finish. A blend of 65 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 30 per cent merlot and five per cent petit verdot. " I agree totally. Great vintage-Lush, rich tasting value. Can't be beat.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $19.99

2018 Trébiac, Graves

Review Date: 08-06-2023

An old standby for many years at K&L. Coming in as one of the most lovely and forward value Bordeaux in our inventory, the Graves rouge from Château Trébiac is predominantly Merlot with about 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, earthy minerals onm the nose. Fine 2018 sweetness on the palate. Perfect tuesday nite hamburger wine. $15 steal--will cellar well for 5 plus years.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

WE: 90

2020 Chantegrive Blanc, Graves

Review Date: 08-06-2023

What a delicious white Bordeaux if you like your whites a touch on the richer, rounder side. This property makes excellent whites and reds-good values both. A decent amount of semillon makes for a soft, easy drinking, elegant wine with white flower aromas and a clean,finely balanced palate of citrus and earthy minerals. All this for $14.99! A steal for pool side sipping.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $14.99

2018 Branas Grand Poujeaux, Moulis

Review Date: 08-05-2023

One of the best tasting 2018s in the store. 70% Merlot from a warm, sweet vintage makes for this fine Calif style red. Full and lush on the palate-black fruit flavors. So sweet it may be sinful. Drink it now or cellar five years. I love the wines from this property.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $36.99

2016 Beaumont, Haut-Médoc (1.5L)

Review Date: 08-05-2023

For $40 you get a fine Bordeaux in magnum format. Like the late Anthony Barton always said: "The magnum is a perfect size for a dinner party of 2--if one person does not drink! Made by the Beychevelle folks, this wine from the great 2016 vintage has body, length, and great texture in the mouth. Black cherry aromas and good stuffing on the palate. Party wine for sure!

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $39.99

2020 Dalem, Fronsac

Review Date: 08-05-2023

A real up and coming property that has been making super value wines in the last 5 years. This 2020 is also available in magnums. Very rich and powerful on the palate. Blackberry jam aromas and flavors. Lush on palate--almost new wave style. Great Californai cross over wine at under $25. Best to cellar for a couple years, but if you drink now have a hearty meat dish and decant it an hour or so. Bring scores from some of the scorers.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $24.99

2018 Domaine de Larrivet Haut Brion, Pessac-Léognan

Review Date: 08-02-2023

The excellent second wine of one of my value oriented Pessac properties Larrivet haut Brion. Earthy aromas with black and blueberry nuances. It sure delivers on the palate with that 2018 vintage sweetness we all love. Ripe and forward fruit makes it easy to drink now, but the round tannins insure some ageing possibilities. All this for under $30. Try with a pork roast or rabbit dish. Or cellar it a few years.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

2020 HB (Haut-Bailly), Pessac-Léognan

Review Date: 08-02-2023

The new label for Haut bailly designating their third wine. HB II is their second wine. This third wine is typical Pessac red with fine minerality and earthy aromas mixed with black fruits. Fresh, lively and very well made wine with a sweet long finish. Top quality and you can get 5 bottles for the price of the first wine.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

2019 Ferrand, Pomerol

Review Date: 08-02-2023

What a lovely wine from Pomerol, and it is under $30. I have tasted this wine for many years, but only bought it a few times. This 2019 could be their best yet. Plummy nose with tons of blackberry aromas. Full bodied with fine 2019 acidity. Fresh, long, and lasting finish. Delightful young and will cellar well.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

JS: 92

2018 Le Crock, St-Estèphe

Review Date: 08-02-2023

This property is located very near Cos Estournel and Montrose and we have been tasting the wines since the 80s with Bill Blatch. Known to be on the rustic side, the property was purchased by the Cuvelier family of Leoville Poyferre fame. They have modernized everything from the vineyards to the winery. This 2018 is so elegant for a St Estephe property. It has that 2018 vintage sweetness on the nose and palate. Lovely wine and quite rich on the palate. Tons of ripe red fruits with black cherry undertones. Delightful now if decanted for an hour and it will cellar well into the 30s.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $34.99

2015 Poujeaux, Moulis

Review Date: 08-01-2023

One of my old time favorites—I just drank a heavenly bottle of their 1997. You can never go wrong with Poujeaux. Just tasted again in 2023. The sweetness of the 2015 vintage shines through here. Very fruit forward and delicious wine to enjoy with a roast beef dinner. Ripe red fruits and some cassis notes on the nose and palate. Will cellar well--decant an hour and enjoy.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $34.99

JS: 94

DC: 92

VN: 90

2014 Tour de Pez, St-Estèphe

Review Date: 08-01-2023

One of the fine value Pez wines from St Estephe-this one is the least known and least expensive by a lot. Under $20 for a firm Merlot based (55%) wine from a fine northern medoc vintage of 2014. Excellent black cherry aromas and fine black fruit flavors with a bit of tannin at the back. Try it with short ribs. Decant one hour and enjoy

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $19.99

WE: 91

2007 Bellevue, St-Emilion

Review Date: 08-01-2023

This property has great terroir across the street from Angelus! 100% Merlot plot that makes fruit driven wines. Never too big-always like blackberry infusion. The 2007s like the 1997s were said to be too light- that is BS from snobby wine critics. 2007 Bordeaux are value drinkers -not for 30 years in the cellar. A high class wine with so much sweet fruit and very round tannins-for a very good under $50 price.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $49.99

ST: 89 - 91

WS: 87 - 91

2015 Castera, Médoc

Review Date: 08-01-2023

A perfect 5 for value. So much wine fore such a low price. The sweetness of the fine 2015 vintage shines through here. Lots of merlot in the blend so blackberries abound on the nose and palate. Not hard edges here. Drink it up now-it will go for several more years in the cellar. First time we have carried this property-it won't be the last. It stood up to several high priced California cabs in the tasting. The Perfect hamburger wine-or serve it at your next big party.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $18.99

2010 Balestard La Tonnelle, St-Emilion

Review Date: 08-01-2023

This is by far the best wine I have tasted from this property. Though it is from the powerful and tannic vintage of 2010, the wine is subtle and quite elegant. Just a lot of sweet black fruit aromas-a touch of oak, and plenty of palte sweetness. James Suckling loved this wine and scored it 94. I say 95 for sure. Great vintage and fine St Emilion for under $50. A must buy or at least try. great with a sweet pork roast. Plenty of stuffing for five years in your cellar.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $49.99

JS: 94

WS: 90

1997 Beau-Séjour Bécot, St-Emilion (1.5L)

Review Date: 08-01-2023

A perfect 5 for a delicious 26 year old Right bank beauty. SO elegant on the nose and palate-Lots of bottle bouquet here with some sweet blackberries and toasted oak. Very sweet on the palate too-still lively and seductive-round, soft tannins and the fruit just jumps out at you. I have always loved the 1997 vintage, which some critics said were too light for the long haul. This wine is perfect in 2023-so 26 years old and still going strong. This is a superb winner in all respects. Rack of lamb anyone?

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $189.99

2016 Tertio de Montrose, St-Estèphe

Review Date: 07-23-2023

The first time we have carried this wine-the third wine of the fabulous Chateau Montrose property. We tasted this wine a year and half ago, and it finally arrived. Very perfumed aromas of roses and blackberries-Fresh and fruity and lively wine. Delicious now with a juicy hamburger. We love the 2016 vintage from Bordeaux, and this wine fits the bill as a great value. Just a step behind the Dame de Montrose. A must try. clyde

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $24.99

2015 Le Borderon, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 06-05-2023

A perfect five for value here. Eight years old and at its peak. I bought it one and a half years ago and it has finally arrived. Sweet and forward-just like the vintage 2015. Merlot really shines here with blackberry aromas and flavor. Great party wine that will stick around a few years.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $15.99

2019 Margaux de Brane, Margaux

Review Date: 06-05-2023

Chateau Brane Cantenac has become, in the last 20 years, one of the top Margaux properties. They had a rough time in the 70s and 80s. This second wine from a great Bordeaux vintage is singing. So Margaux on the nose with violets and toasty oak. It is quite soft and feminine on the palate. Elegance personified. Can cellar for a while, but delicious now with a pork chop.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $24.99

JS: 90

VN: 90

2015 Larmande, St-Emilion

Review Date: 06-05-2023

65% Merlot and 30% CF and 5% CS. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for this property-ever since I visited it in 1985-my first trip to Bordeaux. This 2015 is so good-as are many 2015 St Emilion wines. Black raspberry aromas-very forward and ripe. Really opens up after one hour open. Full flavored on the palate. Very sweet and ripe. Perfect with a lamb chop or veal chop. A must buy and well priced. Back in stock in 2023 and good as ever. Big wine with layers of flavors. Decant and enjoy in 2023-2028

Drink from 2021 to 2021

Price: $34.99

JS: 93

WE: 91 - 93

JD: 91

2019 L'Esquisse de La Tour Figeac, St-Emilion

Review Date: 06-05-2023

La Tour Figeac is an excellent property on the right bank-no relation to chateau Figeac. This wine is their second wine. While it is hard to pronounce (the word means the sketch), it is sure easy to drink. We ordered this wine after tasting it at the paris vinexpo in january of 2022. It must have taken a slow boat here-but the wine is delicious and a great hamburger wine for Tuesday nites. Ripe black fruit aromas that follow to palate. Ready now with one hour decanting. Fine vintag eand a fine wine.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $24.99

2022 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux

Review Date: 05-29-2023

This was one of the five best wines i tasted in Bordeaux during premier week. Fabulous passion fruit aromas with some boysenberries in the mix. Super ripe upfront fruit flavors-sweet at the start-integrated tannins--lovely long finish. A fabulous wine-better than their mindblowing 2015! Margaux elegance at its finest. clyde beffa

Drink from 2025 to 2025

Price: $64.99

2010 Soudars, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 03-21-2023

From the Miailhe stable of Medoc wines in the far north of Bordeaux. The other wines are Coufran (we sell tons of this property) and Verdignan (another KL fav). We only buy Soudars in certain years and two of those years are 2009 and 2010. Both sell for 21.99-a steal for wines from the two best vintages of the 2000s. The 2010 has that typical 2010structure and power on the palate-especially the mid palate. More tannins here to go with the blackberry fruits. Big wine. Buy some 2009 to drink and 2010 to cellar a few years. If drinking now, decant 2 hours-serve with a pot roast or short ribs.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $14.99

JS: 91

2009 Soudars, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 03-21-2023

From the Miailhe stable of Medoc wines in the far north of Bordeaux. The other wines are Coufran (we sell tons of this property) and Verdignan (another KL fav). We only buy Soudars in certain years and two of those years are 2009 and 2010. Both sell for 21.99-a steal for wines from the two best vintages of the 2000s. The 2009 has that typical 2009 sweetness on the palate-especially the mid palate. Very fine balance here with crisp acidity and round tannins to go with the blackberry fruits. Easy drinker-sexy for a Medoc wine. Serve with prime rib--or hamburger.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

JS: 90

2019 l'Enclos, Pomerol

Review Date: 02-21-2023

Great Pomerol for under $40? Owned by American family who also own Fonplegade in St Emilion. This Pomerol property is quite small and situated on plots near Le Pin and Clinet-good terroir. 85% Merlot here and the wine really opens up after 20 minutes of air. Quite spicy on the nose, with black fruit undertones. Sweet and lush on the palate. Some tannins at the back end, but they are round and soft. We just got in a small allocation, so try it soon with some lamb chops.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $36.99

2018 Bellegrave du Poujeau, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 11-27-2022

Tons of Red fruit aromas with a bit of cassis thrown in. That sweet 2018 round and forward fruit on the palate. Rich style and great lingering finish. Superb value at under $16.00. Try it with a nice pork roast.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: $15.99

DC: 90

JA: 90

JS: 90

2016 Pierre 1er, St-Emilion

Review Date: 11-11-2022

Chateau Croix Figeac was relabeled in 2013 and became Chateau Pierre 1er. Plenty of ripe-plum and walnut aromas with hints of chocolate and leather. Full body, juicy fruit and soft, velvety tannins. Flavorful finish. DEecant 2 hours now or cellar it another 5 years. Full-flavored.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $22.99

2020 La Tour de By, Médoc

Review Date: 11-11-2022

From gravel-rich vineyards of the Médoc, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend is soften by the addition of Merlot and Petit Verdot, and aged for 12 months in oak barrels. Solid and structured, young but ready to drink now, this wine is an excellent value as an "everyday Bordeaux." We have been carrying this property since the late 70s when our good friend the late Eddie Lefcourt represented the property. 60% Cabernet, 35% Merlot, 5% Petite Verdot for the 2020--our first major 2020 Bordeaux to arrive. Great core of red fruit flavors. Decant one hour and enjoy.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: Hidden

2005 de Sarenceau, St-Emilion

Review Date: 11-04-2022

Château de Sarenceau is a family property and the 4th generation runs it today. This small estate of only 9 hectares allows a precise and careful work of the vines. This is the first time we have carried this property and it was our biggest buy on April 2022 trip. Rare enough to be underlined, this Saint-Emilion is a 100% Merlot! It offers an evolved nose, with notes of truffle, plum and licorice. The mouth opens with a lot of fruit and freshness, and finishes with ripe black fruit flavors. A great wine from a great vintage. Will cellar well 10 more years. Decant and enjoy. Great value for under $25

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: $27.99

Wine Club

$23.99

2019 L'Avocat Rouge, Graves

Review Date: 11-02-2022

We have been carrying this great value red for quite a few years. The 2019 is focused and powerful. It really opens after one hour decanting. Plenty of ripe black fruti flavors--perfect for tuesday nite hamburger nite. Château L’Avocat is from the small commune of Cérons, which is located just north of Barsac and Sauternes in the southern Graves appellation. The vineyards were purchased by the Allisons in 2002. Prior to that, the fruit was sold to Mouton Rothschild. Located on a plateau 300 feet above the Garrone river, the vineyards have stunning views of the lovely Côtes de Bordeaux. This elevation is a key factor for the great drainage that leads to concentrated grapes.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: Hidden

2011 Bernadotte, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 10-30-2022

Bernadotte was in the Pichon Lalande stable back when May Lencquesaing was running the property. Always a good value wine and made by the Pichon team, it has flown under the radar for years. This wine shows an attractive currant and chocolate character. Medium body, with soft tannins and a delicious finish. Well worth the $22 price tag. Only $2 a year. For fans like myself and Gary Westby who like old school Bordeaux-no fancy 200% new oak modern bemouth here. Your Tuesday nite hamburger wine.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: $21.99

VN: 90

ST: 88 - 90

2021 Goudichaud "Graves de Vayres" Blanc, Bordeaux

Review Date: 10-23-2022

85% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscadelle, 5% Semillon. Lovely wine from a great white Bordeaux vintage. The label is not so beautiful, but you don't drink the label. The Muscadelle gives it a great aromatic complexity. The elegant nose has a blend of floral and slightly exotic fruits. A complex wine with an explosion of aromas on the palate. Elegant with a great persistence. Finely balanced with a rich texture. Very pleasant to drink as an apéritif-or better yet with crab or lobster.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: $14.99

2020 Kalinda Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Review Date: 10-21-2022

This wine comes from one of the more renowned Cabernet Sauvignon producers in Napa Valley. We offer this beauty at a price much lower than what you’d pay at the winery, as for decades now, our Kalinda private label has been providing K&L customers with awesome wines at a fraction of what they'd normally pay under the producers' mainstay labels. Naturally, no producer wants their wines on the market for less than what they'd usually sell for, so the trade-off is anonymity. The 2020 Cabernet is quite rich and elegant-full-bodied, but sweet and fruity on the palate. And easy drinking now, but the abundant fruit is covering the latent Tannins.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: Hidden

2018 Clos la-Gaffelière, St-Émilion

Review Date: 09-10-2022

This wine is stunning and one third the price of the first wine Chateau La Gaffeliere. Since 2017, the property has been making probably the best value red wine in St Emilion. I love the label on this 2018-a replica of a label used at property many years ago. Sweet, silky, sexy wine-so smooth you will drink the whole bottle at one seating. Perfect with a stuffed quail. Will cellar well for several more years.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: $29.99

JS: 92 - 93

DC: 91

2000 Camensac, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 09-03-2022

Twenty two years have been kind to this wine. When young it was tight and tannic. Now it is sweet and lovely with a bit of that 2000 power in it. Sweet core of red frits dominates the wine--prime rib perfect with this.

Drink from 2022 to 2022

Price: Hidden

WS: 90

2021 Haut-Brisson, St-Emilion

Review Date: 06-14-2022

Big frost problem here. They lost over 65% of crop. Only 10000 bottles made. Deep black color and re licorice aromas mixed with clovelike spices. Very spicy on the palate. Quite delicious. Mid weight on the palate.

Price: $21.99

2021 Suduiraut, Sauternes

Review Date: 06-14-2022

Only 500 cases made for the world, but it is very good. Super botrytis and the wine is perfectly balanced. Very rich and thick on the palate. Definitely buy!

Price: $89.99

2021 Phélan-Ségur, St-Estèphe

Review Date: 06-14-2022

Very fruity aromas and entry. Some tannins at back. These guys/gals are on a roll here.

Price: $39.99

DC: 94