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Bordeaux wine information with The French Wine Guide: Bordeaux region vineyards and chateau produce a third of the good quality French wine production.more
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French Wine Guide 2010
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A large selection of rare and hard-to-find french wine (55000 references since 1787 vintage) Bordeaux: Mouton, Lafite Rothschild, Margaux, Haut-Brion, ...more
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Bordeaux wine tours for wine lovers in France, for French wine tours to Bordeaux , France wine tasting vacations, and Bordeaux gourmet wine country travel ...more
Bordeaux wine tours for wine lovers in France, French wine tasting tour in Bordeaux, tour Bordeaux First Growth chateau on France wine country travel - The Bordeaux Wine Experience Experience the absolute best Bordeaux has to offer
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France - Bordeaux Wine |
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That's a lot of wine. And while Bordeaux is often associated with expensive bottles meant for decades in the cellar, the majority of Bordeaux wine is meant ...more
France - Bordeaux Wine
Geography: Located off the Atlantic Ocean in southwest France, Bordeaux is most often separated into two parts ?the right bank and the left bank. On the left bank, Cabernet Sauvignon rules, and the Médoc region hugs the west side of the Gironde river. Within the Médoc are the four top communes of (from north to south) St.-Estèphe, Paulliac, St.-Julien and Margaux. These communes make some pretty sought-after red wines from chateaux with big names. Being that the main grape is Cabernet Sauvignon, the wines are fairly tannic and muscular. Below the Médoc, following the river as it turns, lies the Graves region. Named as such for its gravelly soils, Graves is home to some top white wine regions like Pessac-L?ognan (for dry whites) and the sweet wine regions of Sauternes and Barsac. The right bank of Bordeaux is where Merlot and Cabernet Franc shine best. Merlot is typically used more in the blends, which means the wines of the right bank are often slightly softer and rounder than the left bank Cabernet-based wines. The heart of the right bank is the city of St.-?milion and the wine region that surrounds it. Next door is Pomerol, a small but intense red wine producer. Other areas include C?tes du Bourg & C?tes du Blaye, Fronsac & Canon-Fronsac, and Côtes de Castillon. Bordeaux has other regions that are making wine ? some of it great value! To perform a search, enter a keyword, phrase or item number in the search field and click "search." We offer two ways to locate information:
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2009 Bordeaux Barrel Tasting | Barrel Tasting | News & Features ... |
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Mar 19, 2010 ... Is 2009 another classic vintage for France's most famous wine region? James Suckling is in Bordeaux for three weeks to find out if the hype ...more
2009 Bordeaux Barrel Tasting | Barrel Tasting | News & Features | Wine Spectator
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Home > News & Features > Barrel Tasting How to Buy Bordeaux Futures
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Bordeaux's 1855 Classification Vintage Chart: Left Bank Vintage Chart: Right Bank Vintage Chart: Reds Pre-1995 Background on the 2009 Vintage 2009 Vintage Report Card Harvest Blog: 2009 Should Be Exceptional
Harvest Blog: Fermentations and First Impressions In France?s most famous wine region, Bordeaux, some people are touting the 2009 vintage as the mother of great modern vintages. Though the young wines are still aging in the ch?teau cellars, the year already has been compared to the classic modern vintages of 2005, 1990, 1989 and 1982. Some people go further back to such legendary years as 1961, 1945, 1929 and even 1899. I can?t yet tell you how much is hype and how much is real. But I believe the vintage is a great one, from my limited tastings and discussions on the vintage last December in Bordeaux. I will certainly be able to tell you more following a three-week trip to the area beginning March 22. Each day, I will be tasting barrel samples of the young wines and interviewing Bordeaux?s top winemakers, then filing tasting notes, blogs, videos and other reports. We will all soon know just how great the 2009 vintage is for red, white and sweet wines of the region. Can 2009 be any better than 2005, 2003 and 2000?three classic vintages? Already, the Right Bank earned a vintage rating of 99 points for 2005 and the Left Bank earned 99 points for 2000. Yet, some wine producers I respect highly are saying the vintage is their best ever. ?I have never seen anything like it in my career,? said Christian Moueix, whose family owns or manages some of the most prestigious estates in Bordeaux?s Right Bank, including P?trus, La Fleur-P?trus, and Trotanoy. Moueix personally has been making wine in Pomerol and St.-Emilion since 1971. ?The wines are rich and powerful, yet smooth and refined at the same time, and the acidity is very good,? said Jean-Charles Cazes, whose family owns such top ch?teaus as Lynch-Bages and Les Ormes-de-Pez. His father, well-known vintner Jean-Michel Cazes, compares 2009 to the great 1982 vintage. Many estates thought that 2009 would be an early harvest because of the warm summer, Cazes said, but in his area, they picked their grapes during the third week of September, which is fairly normal. The clear, warm weather during the harvest allowed them to slowly pick their grapes, choosing just the right moment of ripeness. He said the grapes were near perfect at harvest. Determining just how perfectly Cazes and the rest of the top names in Bordeaux were able to change their grapes into wine is my mission for the next three weeks. Stay tuned ?. April 9, 2010
2009 Bordeaux Prices and My Favorite Wines
One estate has released its wine as futures so far, and its prices are 14 percent higher than for the 2008. But Ch?teau Petit Bocq is too little-known to be a trendsetter, and the big names are likely to go much higher, considering the high quality of the 2009s. Regardless, I compiled a list of the top 12 red wines I would buy, if price were no object. April 5, 2010
Be Happy
It seems everyone wants to know about prices for 2009 Bordeaux, but they haven't been released yet, and I'd like to bring the conversation back to the vintage's exceptional quality. I love the way the wines have such opulent fruit backed by powerful tannins. Yet the tannins are round and polished with the top wines. In addition, the reds are fresh and vibrant. A lot of people make comparisons to 1982, which I have to agree with to some extent but, honestly, I think they are better. April 2, 2010
More Thoughts on 2009
I was chatting with Patrick Maroteaux, the head of St.-Julien's classified-growth Ch?teau Branaire-Ducru, about 2009 Bordeaux pricing. While I think there will be hundreds of good value wines from the 2009 vintage, the top names, including the first-growths, will have no need to lower prices despite the global economic downturn. March 31, 2010
The Demand Appears to Be There for 2009 Bordeaux
I watched as about 1,000 people showed up for the 2009 Pessac-L?ognan tasting at Ch?teau Smith-Haut-Lafitte today. Despite the global economy and overabundance of quality wine in the marketplace, no one looks worried in Bordeaux about the current market for his or her new top wines. You won't believe what one wine merchant told me to expect when the 2009 futures go on sale. March 30, 2010
Clarity of Fruit
Today I visited with St?phane Derenoncourt, who consults for wineries around the world, and is a master in Bordeaux. I blind-tasted more than 50 of his 2009 Bordeauxs, from Margaux, Pessac-L?ognan, St.-Emilion and more, and his winemaking style works beautifully with this amazing vintage. I found some potential classics among his lineup. March 29, 2010
Still One of the Most Exciting Wine Regions
I think that for value and style, Bordeaux is still one of the most exciting wine regions in the world. Despite that 2009 may not match 2005 for overall quality, I am especially impressed with some of the smaller, lesser known producers in some of the top appellations such as Margaux and St.-Est?phe. They seem to have made some wonderful rich, ripe and structured young reds, and I have written "best ever" in many of their tasting notes. March 26, 2010
Letting the Wine Be Itself
I've been continuing my tastings on the Right Bank, and despite the obvious excellence of 2009 in Bordeaux, some wineries overextracted the tannins during the maceration and fermentation, resulting in dry tannins on the finish. This was not the case, however, at Lafleur, La Conseillante and Vieux-Ch?teau-Certan, which all made impressive reds. March 25, 2010
Not Really Lost in the Translation
I tasted some amazing 2009s today on Bordeaux's Right Bank, and many more that were excellent. The vintage may not have been as easy as some make it out to be, but the 2009 Bordeauxs from Cheval-Blanc, Ausone and P?trus will all be exceptional wines. March 24, 2010
Good Energy, Good News
I have tasted all the first growths' 2009 barrel samples, and I can say that some have made truly amazing wines, notably ch?teaus Latour and Mouton-Rothschild. March 23, 2010
First Impressions on 2009 Bordeaux
I am just getting my first impressions of the highly anticipated 2009 vintage in Bordeaux. It may not prove to be as great as 2005 in terms of across-the-board quality, but I have already found some undeniably great wines. Today I drove up the M?doc to taste at some of the famous ch?teaus, including Cos-d'Estournel, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Giscours, Latour, L?oville-Las-Cases, L?oville-Barton, Malescot-St.-Exupery, Margaux, Palmer, Pichon-Longueville-Baron and Rauzan-S?gla. March 22, 2010
Older and Wiser
As I am about to arrive in Bordeaux, I can't wait to start tasting the 2009 barrel samples. The Bordelais are comparing the vintage to the legendary 1982. Wine Spectator?s James Suckling visits Bordeaux each spring to taste the new vintage from barrel to determine the quality and character of the young wines, in order to inform wine lovers who may be considering buying them en primeur, or as futures. While spending a few weeks in the region, Suckling visits numerous ch?teaus, interviews many vintners and evaluates hundreds of wines, some at the ch?teaus and most in blind tastings organized by Wine Spectator at independent locations. As these are unfinished wines, they are scored in four-point ranges (eg. 89-92 points) to indicate that the ratings are still preliminary. When the wines are released in bottle, they will be reviewed with their peers in blind tastings and given a final score. Jordan Horoschak —
Houston, TX —
March 19, 2010 6:08pm ET
Very exciting!! James, we'll count on you to sort through what is hype and what is real. I hope I live long enough to taste these wines at their peak! Karl Mark —
Geneva, IL. —
March 19, 2010 7:37pm ET
This must be very exciting for you as well James? In a vintage with such aclaim as this, how do you approached the upcoming weeks? Chris Carrad —
New Zealand —
March 19, 2010 7:56pm ET
It sounds like the quality is there, but are they going to price themselves out of the market??? Matt Scott —
Honolulu HI —
March 19, 2010 8:09pm ET
Can't wait James! Percy Yung —
Hong Kong —
March 19, 2010 9:55pm ET
From Bill Blatch's report on 2009 Bordeaux vintage, 2009 is an altogether gentler and fatter style, not as scorching as in 1990 and 2003, nor dry as in 2000 and 2005, it is something in ilk of 1970 or 1982, do you agree so?Although it's going to be a highly acclaimed vintage, do you think the economical plight will somewhat lower the release price?Thanks James! Christopher Brookhouser —
Wichita Kansas, United States —
March 20, 2010 12:18pm ET
James- If this vintage turns out to be legendary, do you think they will have a higher release price? Also, Do you think if this vintage turns out great will it impact the current prices of the most recent vintages such as the 2003 and 2005 etc (reducing current prices)? Happy Tasting, Your Job has to be one of the best in the world! Chris Doug Daniell —
Ontario/Canada —
March 20, 2010 1:54pm ET
James,Safe travels to Bordeaux and happy tasting. Looking forward to seeing your scores and notes.Cheers,DD Johnny Espinoza Esquivel —
Wine World —
March 20, 2010 5:05pm ET
James:Well, well this is the time of the year. Happy Hunting! I did follow Harvesters' report blog last year, specially on Bordeaux and it seems everything is pointing to greatness. The only black spot would be high prices. Although economy has not fully recovered, this can affect En Primeur sales. I'll be paying close attention, very close attention to your reports. Be safe and ENJOY. . . Matthew Letson —
Wilmington, NC —
March 20, 2010 9:14pm ET
Glad to hear 2009 is so terrific... this will only help to continue the great current and anticipated bargains from 2006, 2007 and 2008. Bradley Wright —
Cincinnati, OH —
March 21, 2010 9:44am ET
Wow James, you have a rough few weeks in front of you, I mean having to taste through potentially some of the greatest Bordeaux ever. How do you do it? By the way, if you need someone to carry your tasting glass and note pad for the next three weeks, please let me know. James Suckling —
—
March 21, 2010 10:42am ET
Sorry for not answering. I am in Basel for the weekend and my friend doesn't have internet access! James Suckling —
—
March 21, 2010 10:43am ET
Karl. I am very excited as well. I am taking my time evaluating the wines over three weeks. I want to give an honest, personal opinion on these young wines. I have been doing barrel tasting since the 1982 vintage. James Suckling —
—
March 21, 2010 10:44am ET
Chris. The Bordelais price themselves out of the market? What wines and what market? The top wines have a global following. We will see first the quality, then the prices and then the market. James Suckling —
—
March 21, 2010 10:49am ET
Percy. I have not tasted many wines yet and what I did were just various components in blends. So I will know more next week. I think prices are going to be high regardless of the downturn in the global economy. James Suckling —
—
March 21, 2010 10:54am ET
Christopher. I am curious to see the affect on 2000, 2003 and 2005 with the release of prices for 2009. I don't want to guess. But we know that prices are down on all those vintages, although there is some upturn at the moment. Moreover, I think that 2008s are going to be given away one day very soon like 2007s. Jean Pierre Beauchemin —
Quebec City, Qu?bec, Canada —
March 21, 2010 6:56pm ET
Bonjour James!Si 2009 est effectivement une grande ann?e ? Bordeaux et qu'elle se compare ? 1982, quel ?ge aurai-je quand ces bordeaux 2009 seront pr?ts ? boire? (J'ai aujourd'hui 52 ans!) Peut-?tre pour mon fils? Bravo pour votre travail! If 2009 is a great vintage in Bordeaux (as 1982...)At what age can I expect to drink these wines? (I am 52 years old!)Will it be for my son? Good job! Dan Smetana —
ottawa canada —
March 21, 2010 8:57pm ET
James, does the hype of a great year make your job harder or more exctting? Preassure packed?.. Especially given your opinion will ultimetly effect primeur pricing! Guessing we better get our wallets ready! P.S. Given the initially depressed low 2008 pricing do you really think they can go lower Percy Yung —
Hong Kong —
March 22, 2010 3:26am ET
Thanks James for your reply out of such tight scheduling.I belive the prices of those iconic 1st growths are going to soar with this legendary vintage which the noueau riche form the growing economies keeps persuing.Some of my friends from Beijin know nothing but Lafite, and they will drink 1982 mixing with Sprite! David A Zajac —
Akron, OH —
March 22, 2010 4:14pm ET
James, I envy you to taste all these great wines, but pardon my sarcasm here, here is the fourth vintage of the century and greatest wines ever made and we are only ten years into the 2000's - which is best? 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009??? I am sure its 2009 since they are selling it as futures now - sorry for being tired of hearing about it, I have bot futures in all the vintages up to 2005, bot only one case of 2008's and will skip 2009 - why buy when the next vintage of the century is only a year away? Marc Dubrow —
southampton, n.y. usa —
March 23, 2010 5:43pm ET
i agree with some of the former comments on the "best" ever vintage. seems like a selling hype especially with the economic uncertainties we are experiencing. i wonder what kind of price point the 09 bordeaux' will come in at? Martin Diehr —
Jacksonville, FL USA —
March 29, 2010 8:55pm ET
Certainly glad to hear about the first barrel samples showing well and that alot of vintners seem to compare 09 to legendary vintages, but will that mean a price increase? I certainly hope not, as the market is still suffering for on premise as is! Tone Kelly —
Webster NY —
April 5, 2010 9:09am ET
When will comments and reviews for Sauternes and dry whites be available? Daniel Ades —
PANAMA —
April 6, 2010 2:26am ET
Keep talking like that and Petrus will be selling at $20000 the bottle! Dr John Rempel —
Winnipeg, Canada —
April 20, 2010 1:53am ET
If sticker shock will be a problem with the '09 Bordeaux, consider the recommendation of one James Suckling in the 31 May WS "Advance":Dow 2007 Vintage Port (100 points, & currently available here for about $90 Canadian a bottle!)The great vintage Ports remain incomparable wine bargains. . . . Want to join or start a discussion? Become a WineSpectator.com member and you can! To protect the quality of our conversations, only members may submit comments. To learn more about member benefits, take our site tour. MEMBER LOGIN = members only Keep me logged in
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The Pour - Bordeaux Loses Prestige Among Younger Wine Lovers ... |
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May 18, 2010 ... For young Americans in particular, Bordeaux has become downright unfashionable.more
Bordeaux Loses Prestige Among Younger Wine Lovers - NYTimes.com Paul Grieco?s wine bars serve no Bordeaux.
THE hyperbole over 2009 Bordeaux began building even before the harvest last fall. Ripples of praise grew into waves this spring as critics and the trade descended on Bordeaux for the annual ritual of tasting the most recent vintage from barrels. Their ecstatic reviews reverberated through Britain, which takes its claret extremely seriously. They rang out in Hong Kong, the leading edge of what Bordeaux hopes will be a huge Asian market. Post a Comment on Diner's Journal
In the United States, the huzzahs resonated with collectors and wine investors, and with high-end restaurants whose clients don’t mind spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on renowned bottles. These people paid attention when Robert M. Parker Jr., the wine critic whose opinions most influence Bordeaux prices, wrote, “For some Médocs and Graves, 2009 may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux.”
But for a significant segment of the wine-drinking population in the United States, the raves heard around the world were not enough to elicit a response beyond, perhaps, a yawn. For these people, Bordeaux, once the world’s most hallowed region and the standard-bearer for all fine wines, is now largely irrelevant.
What happened? Plenty of Bordeaux is still consumed in the United States. In 2009, 1.29 million cases of Bordeaux wine were imported, accounting for 0.46 percent of all still wines, domestic and foreign, distributed in the country. While this percentage rises and falls year to year, it is still a far cry from its highs in the mid-1980s. Bordeaux shipments accounted for 1.69 percent of all still wines distributed in the United States in 1985, for example.
While the drop stems from far more competition in the lower-priced market, it also reflects a shift in the demographic of Bordeaux aficionados. For young Americans in particular, Bordeaux has become downright unfashionable.
Not so long ago, young wine-loving Americans were practically weaned on Bordeaux, just as would-be connoisseurs had been for generations. It was the gateway to all that is wonderful about wine. Now that excitement has gone elsewhere, to Burgundy and the Loire, to Italy and Spain. Bordeaux, some young wine enthusiasts say, is stodgy and unattractive. They see it as an expensive wine for wealthy collectors, investors and point-chasers, people who seek critically approved wines for the luxury and status they convey rather than for excitement in a glass.
“The perception of Bordeaux for my generation, it’s very Rolex, very Rolls-Royce,” said Cory Cartwright, 30, who is a partner in Selection Massale, a new company in San Jose, Calif., that imports natural and traditional wines made by small producers, and who writes the Saignée wine blog. “I don’t know many people who like or drink Bordeaux.”
But the lack of interest is not just a question of perception. Nor is it solely a reflection of the weak economy, which drove down sales of most higher-priced wines in the last two years.
The more troubling sign for Bordeaux is that it has largely lost the loyalty of people like sommeliers and neighborhood wine shop proprietors, who can help build an audience for wines. The high-end, big-name wines will always have a market, but the less expensive, less familiar names, the natural points of embarkation for young wine explorers, may not fare as well without the support of those crucial intermediaries.
“I don’t know any young sommelier who I’ve encountered in the last 15 years who is a Bordeaux hound,” said Paul Grieco, an owner of the restaurant Hearth as well as two innovative wine bars, Terroir and Terroir Tribeca, all in Manhattan. Mr. Grieco has been a mentor for many young sommeliers. He himself learned about fine wine by drinking Bordeaux. Nonetheless, at his wine bars, he serves 50 wines by the glass, and not one is a Bordeaux. His shift has left him with mixed feelings.
“I think, ‘I’m a history guy, how can I not revere Bordeaux?’ ” he said. “If even one person came in and said, ‘I want a glass of Bordeaux,’ I might think I really have to serve a Bordeaux. But not one person has said that. Not one! That’s pretty sad.”
For many younger sommeliers and wine lovers, the new standard of excellence is Burgundy.
Unlike Bordeaux, where many of the best-known chateaus are run by corporations or wealthy absentee owners, Burgundy is full of estates, including many of the leading ones, that are essentially small businesses. Dealing with Bordeaux often requires working with middle management and marketing specialists. It’s much easier to visit a Burgundian estate and find the one person who has dirt on the boots, wine on the hands and a name on the bottle.
“For people of my generation, 30 to 50, I don’t think we’ve had the same magical Bordeaux moments, not in the same way we’ve connected to Burgundy or even the Rhone,” said Laura Maniec, who runs the wine programs for more than 15 restaurants in the B. R. Guest group.
She still buys a lot of Bordeaux for restaurants like Primehouse, a Manhattan steakhouse, and Blue Water Grill, a Manhattan seafood restaurant that hosts plenty of corporate parties where Bordeaux is nearly obligatory. “But there’s a passion and a spark and a personal connection that are missing,” she said.
For restaurants 30 years ago, having a serious wine list meant offering a lot of Bordeaux. That’s no longer the case, except for steakhouses and very high-end restaurants. Nowadays, people in the wine trade say, Bordeaux is sold largely through retail establishments like Sherry-Lehmann in New York, Zachys in Westchester and K & L Wine Merchants in California.
“Young people are not exposed to Bordeaux in restaurants as much,” said Clyde Beffa Jr., vice president of K & L, one of the country’s leading sellers of Bordeaux. “Sommeliers, they want to find their own little thing, it drives me crazy. They can have five grüner veltliners or rieslings because they’re discovering these things, and they’re not recommending Bordeaux as much. And, it’s the price thing.”
Good Bordeaux might start at $35 to $50 retail, and $85 to $100 in a restaurant, and soar from there — far more than, say, reds from the Loire, Beaujolais or Alto Adige, darlings of the sommeliers and neighborhood wine shops.
Another significant barrier between young wine drinkers and Bordeaux is the absence of a charismatic advocate for the wines. The audience for Mr. Parker and the other leading wine critics tends to be older and more established. Meanwhile, boutique wine importers and distributors like Kermit Lynch, Neal Rosenthal and Louis/Dressner, who have won passionate followings, do very little business in Bordeaux, which has long been the domain of big companies.
For younger startup importers like Mr. Cartwright, the size and complexity of the business is the reason he is not searching for Bordeaux wines to bring in.
“Everything is too commerce-driven,” he said. “You’re never sure who is making the wine. I think for me and people my age, we’re going back to grower-producers — people who are there the whole way — and Bordeaux seems the opposite of that.”
While Bordeaux may have lost much of its mystique and allure, it still has its defenders, even among the sommelier crowd. Belinda Chang, the wine director at the Modern in Midtown Manhattan, acknowledges that Bordeaux has become a brand name, and that it’s often too expensive, but argues that its intrinsic high quality and classic appeal make it irreplaceable.
“I’m a fan and I’m not afraid to say it,” Ms. Chang said. “Who would not be excited to have a glass of Château Pétrus, if you’re not footing the bill?”
Exactly right. Order Amanda Hesser's new cookbook - "The Essential New York Times Cookbook: Classic Recipes for a New Century" Also in Arts » Should regulators cut off student loans for ‘career’ colleges whose graduates can’t pay back their debt? The only way to recognize victims of genocide is to engage in an honest debate about the past.
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K&L Wine Merchants - Bordeaux |
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I voted this wine as one of the top 100 Bordeaux values at a tasting in New York in 2008. Plenty of vibrance and richness and structure for the cellar. ...more
K&L Wine Merchants -
Bordeaux
Below is a listing of the wine review scores we frequently reference in our notes. While these sources remain an excellent source of information, we always recommend that you trust your own palate. Scores in these publications often represent the personal taste of an individual critic, which may not always coincide with your own. We have a huge team of excellent wine professionals that can match wines you've had in the past with new arrivals that meet your flavor profile.
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Wines
We're extremely focused on Bordeaux - several staff members fly over to the region on multiple trips each year to taste new vintages from barrel and older vintages from bottle. K&L also enjoys excellent relationships with negociants and ch?aux, and over the years we've established outstanding allocations on the top wines. It hasn't hurt that one of K&L's owners is a complete Bordeaux fanatic and our main buyer. The top red wines are typically blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc and the white are primarily Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, though the blends vary substantially depending on which part of the region you're talking about. Within Bordeaux you'll also find the sweet wines of Sauternes. Interested in great Bordeaux? Look no further...
2008 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (Pre-Arrival)
$99.99
2005 Carbonnieux, Pessac-Léognan
$34.99
2009 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival)
$99.99
2010 Beychevelle, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival)
$99.99
Sure, it's not technically ros?eason in this part of the world, but this wine is so delightfully delicious, and so great with a range of foods, you won't turn up your nose at it even in the dead of winter! Rol Valentin made magic happen in 2009 (getting 94-97 points from the Wine Spectator) with their red wine, and this wine is a portent of great things to come! Bright strawberry and raspberry fruit, notes of green herbs and lots of crisp acidity to balance the big, ripe fruit. A lovely wine for Turkey day or any day.
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Take home this third wine (of sorts) from St-Julien's grand Ch?au Beychevelle for a song! Who said you couldn't drink great Bordeaux every day? Just don't wait, this steal sold out quite quickly the last time we had it. This wine is elegant and consists of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged partially in new oak barrels, the wine is rich and round, medium to full-bodied and has luscious ripe red fruit flavors, spice and a touch of new oak. Superb value. The label has a picture of the mythical galleon of the famous Ch?au Beychevelle.
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92 points from Robert Parker: "A stunning effort from this property in St.-Christophe des Bardes, this 25-acre vineyard is planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Made in a flamboyant style for the vintage, it reveals a dense purple color along with an expressive, ostentatious nose of sweet cherry liqueur intermixed with creme de cassis, toast, spring flowers, incense, melted licorice, and chocolate. Full-bodied with high but sweet, velvety tannins, it is already approachable, but promises to develop more nuances over the next decade. It should l...
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A spectacular value for Sauvignon Blanc, no matter where and the world you compare 'em! Under Jerry David, owner of Sauternes property Ch. Liot. The vineyard is situated along the western bank of the Ciron river (stream). This wine is 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon. It has a citric (grapefruit) undertone on the palate. A great classic Graves white to enjoy in the near term.
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The Chateau Des Valentons Canteloup is in the commune of St. Loubes just across the Dordogne west of Libourne and south of Fronsac and about 9 miles east of the city of Bordeaux. The estate has been in the Meynard family since 1916 and is planted to 65 % Merlot with 20% Cabernet sauvignon and 15 % Cabernet Franc. Yields are limited to an average of 58hl per hectare by green harvest. The soil is clay and silt on iron rich alluvial gravel subsoil. The grapes are hand harvested, hand sorted and destemmed before a maceration of 25 to 45 days with some bleedi...
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This is the second wine of Stephan von Neipperg's Chateau d'Aiguilhe, which is fresh, pure merlot with some spice - a perfect everyday Bordeaux. K&L's Steve Greer says: "Sweet fruit aromas dominate this wine's nose as well as its palate with a nice background of spice. The beauty here comes from the polished tannins and lower-than-usual acidity, which combine to give this wine its elegant mouthfeel. A lovely wine with a slightly spicy finish."
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This new wave and super fruity value offers flashy and sexy aromas and flavors. Lush and lovely, you might think of it as a California style cab. 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot aged for 14 months in barrique. Yep, a lot like its much spendier neighbors. And, like the wines from those chateau around it, there is great M?c character here with black fruits, nice structure and an extremely likeable freshness that makes this 2006 lovely to drink now.
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89 points Robert Parker: " am not sure this wine does not deserve an outstanding score. It is one of the finest Lanessans I have tasted over the least 20 years. A generous Lanessan, with a deep ruby/purple color and a classic nose of cedar, spice box, black currant, plum, and earth, the wine has sweet tannin, medium to full body, loads of concentration, and a long, layered finish, with light to moderate tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015." (04/03) According to the Wine Spectator: "Perfumed red, with floral, currant and dark chocolate aromas. Medium...
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According to the Wine Spectator: "Blackberry and mineral aromas follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a fruity finish... balanced and attractive. Best from 2011 through 2013." (03/10)
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According to Robert Parker: "...medium-bodied wine with good ripeness, fine color, and moderate tannin in the finish. It offers good flesh and concentration in an uncomplicated style. It should drink well for 7-10 years." (04/96) From Clyde Beffa, "Big, Rustic style wine from a rustic vintage. Heavy on the cabernet. Enjoy now through the next five years." (2/11)
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The stunning wine estate of Chateau Grand Pierre lies midway between Bordeaux and Bergerac in Southwest France. The vineyard has a great reputation for its wine. Clyde and his cousins tasted this wine at Chateau Ormes de Pez in September and all of them loved it. The richness and sweetness of the 2009 vintage shines through here. Very fruit forward wine with blackberry aromas and flavors. This is a wine to enjoy in the next few years. Best to serve with a prime rib or steak dinner. Decant one hour. -Clyde
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91 points Robert Parker: "Surprisingly reminiscent of a Burgundy grand cru such as Corton, this 2005 Pessac-Leognan offers a dark ruby hue as well as beautifully sweet, leafy, black cherry, and smoky aromas intermixed with hints of oak and earth. Not a blockbuster, it is a wine of finesse, delicacy, and purity with lovely balance, good acidity, ripe tannin, and a sweetness that permeates the flavors as well as the tannic structure. It should be drinkable at a relatively young age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025." (04/08) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: " so...
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93 points Robert Parker: "A top-notch success, the dense ruby/purple-colored 2006 Smith-Haut-Lafitte offers aromas of smoky, juicy black currants, graphite, earth, truffles, and forest floor. Full-bodied with superb purity, noticeable but sweet tannins, this round, generous, long wine should drink nicely for 15-20+ years." (02/09) 92 points Wine Spectator: "Gorgeous aromas of dark chocolate, cappuccino and berries lead to a full body, with luscious fruit and round tannins. Long and voluptuous for the vintage. Impressive. Best after 2014." (03/09) 92 po...
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Ch. L?Avocat is from the small commune of Cerons, which is located just north of Barsac and Sauternes in the southern Graves appellation. I met Nicola Allison at a small conference of Women from Bordeaux and Napa Valley in Napa earlier. She followed my advice by sending her wines to our hotel in April to be tasted and Clyde and I liked them. I followed up by visiting the estate almost 8 weeks later and was shown the gravely, plateau vineyards by her husband Sean who manages the vines. The vineyards were purchased by the Allisons in 2002; the fruit was pr...
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90 points Robert Parker: "Already complex, the 2008 displays notes of loamy soil intermixed with creme de cassis, white chocolate and cedar. Deep, medium to full-bodied and pure with supple tannins, it will provide pleasure over the next 7-8 years." (05/11) From Wine Spectator: "Fresh, featuring raspberry and cherry notes, laced with sweet spice and licorice hints. This has a lightly firm, toasty edge on the finish. Drink now through 2013." (03/11)
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91-93 points Parker: "2010: A quintessentially elegant style of Bordeaux, the opaque ruby/purple-tinged 2010 Cantemerle possesses elegant floral notes intermixed with hints of blueberries, raspberries, sweet red cherries and currants. Medium-bodied with impressive purity, concentration and texture, it is not a heavyweight, but rather a well-proportioned, stylish red that should drink nicely for 15-20 years." (05/11) 93-94 points James Suckling: "Layered and rich with lots of blueberry character and ripe velvety tannins. Lovely texture. Best wine from he...
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90 points Wine Enthusiast: "Powered by wood and tight fruits, this is a wine with some potential. The tannins are solid, foursquare, but the fruit is ready to fill out the structure with sweetness and perfume. There is a final rich, juicy black currant character." (4/1/2010) We buy direct from this property and K&L has always loved the wines of Ch?au Caronne Ste Gemme, which is located on the fringes of St-Laurent-du-M?c, St-Julien. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 3% petit verdot and 37% merlot.
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Montalon proudly holds the title as the 3rd highest vineyard in the entire Gironde department, at 86 meters above sea level. Though replanted in 1978, vines have been growing here since at least 1639 when the parcel was mentioned in a family archive. The vineyard is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This vineyard yields Medoc-like juice that shows bright fruit and spicy flavors young but develops lovely, complex, deep, exotic flavors when aged. Manual harvest, Barrel-aged, indigenous yeast is used, bottled unfined and lightly filtered.
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90-92 points Robert Parker: "Another impressive Fronsac, Villars? 2010 possesses an extra level of concentration as well as a dense purple color, hints of graphite, spring flowers, blue and black fruits, good tannin, sweet fruit and a lingering finish. It should drink well for a decade or more." (05/11)
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42% Merlot, 36% Cabernet, 22% Cab Franc. Owned by the folks of Chateau Siran so you know the wine is good. Very spicy with a rich, round texture on the palate. Great value.
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91 points Wine Enthusiast: "With its high proportion of Merlot, this is a slinky, rich wine, smooth and ripe. Yes, there are tannins, but the jammy fruit softens the dark corners. It should age, but is not for the long-term." (06/08) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Round, soft and very velvety, with gorgeous fruit and tannins. Full-bodied, chewy and seductive. This is big and juicy. Best after 2012. " (03/08) 89 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 La Fleur de Bouard (85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue, rel...
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According to Wine Spectator: "Shows currant bush and sweet tobacco, with berry underneath on the nose. Medium-bodied, with an earthy, funky finish. Good enough. The second wine of Brane-Cantenac. Best after 2010." (Web only, 2008)
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According to Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 08: "Good ruby-red. Sexy aromas of black cherry and minerals. Supple, sweet and easygoing if a bit reduced today. In a round, slightly chunky style. Finishes with decent purity of fruit and slightly drying tannins." According to the Wine Spectator: "Soft and fruity, with plum and light chocolate character. Medium-bodied, with a light finish..." (Web only, 2008)
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This is not a big bruiser of a Bordeaux, but rather an extremely drinkable strawberry- and cassis-nuanced red with a touch of herbs on the nose and a palate that is forward and supremely appealing. Enjoy now.
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This is the second wine of Ch d'Aiguilhe in the far east of Bordeaux. Proprietor and winemaker Stephan von Neipperg is also responsible for the greatness that lies in each bottle of Ch?au Canon-La-Gaffeli?, Clos l'Oratoire, Ch?au Peyreau and La Mondotte, in case you are wondering about this obscure (and unpronounceable) chateau's pedigree. The cepage is overwhelmingly merlot, with a small percentage of cabernet franc. Drinkable now, this elegant and red-fruit scented wine will serve very nicely indeed over the next five years.
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91-92 points James Suckling: "Soft and silky, with lovely fruit and a long and caressing texture. Excellent core of fruit. Solid for the vintage. An excellent Lanessan." (JS Online 2011) K&L's notes: *+V An elegant wine from good terroir. Full-flavored, sweet, lush and sexy. A great value. TB: Juicy, ripe aromas of red cherries and spice. Focused and balanced with hints of minerals and slate. AP: Impressive balance, pretty bright red fruits and lots of complexity. A super sleeper.
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92-95 points Wine Spectator: "Dark color, with a spiced nose of cloves and cardamom. Tar too. Full-bodied, with round and velvety tannins and a rich, fruity aftertaste. Gorgeous young wine." 92-94 points Wine Enthusiast: "A fine and spicy wine, the wood toast well integrated with the sweet fruit. Deliciously ripe Merlot vies with the Cabernet tannins to give a dark, complex wine." (04/10) K&L's Notes: *1/2V Remember this property from 1990 and 1989? Well, it is back and fit as a fiddle. Red raspberry and black cherry aromas and flavors. Long and linge...
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96 points Wine Enthusiast: "A gold-colored wine. The palate has intense freshness as well as ripe apricot and orange zest flavors. The acidity cuts through the intense richness, leaving a wine that needs time to fully integrate, and then many more years to mature." (06/10) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Guiraud 2007 has a typically unabashed, exuberant bouquet with tangerine, pear, white peach and honeysuckle. The palate is medium-bodied with a lovely viscous entry, very good weight of fruit, and a lot of botrytis; smooth and very harmoni...
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90 points, a Smart Buy and one the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Blackberry and raspberry jam aromas follow through to a full body, with very soft tannins and pretty berry and currant character. This is seamless and well done for the vintage." (03/09) The 24-hectare Ch?au Malmaison in Moulis was purchased by the Rothschilds in 1973 and lies adjacent to Ch?au Clarke. The abandoned vineyard was renovated between 1974 and 1978. This 2006 is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only 8,000 cases produced. Light cherry aromas that follow to ...
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93 points Wine Spectator: "Fabulous aromas of crushed raspberry, blackberry, mineral and licorice follow through to a full-bodied palate. This is chewy yet silky, with a long, long finish. Balanced and powerful. Best after 2012." (03/08) 91 points Robert Parker: "The superb second wine, the 2005 Clos du Marquis, reflects the utter brilliance of the 2005 grand vin. It boasts an inky/ruby/purple color along with a sweet perfume of lead pencil, ripe cherries and black currants, and hints of earth and vanillin. Dense, chewy, fleshy, and full-bodied, this be...
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This red is forward and fresh with red berries and blackcurrant fruit and an foresty/mineral quality. Surprisingly powerful, it finishes with a kernel of rich dark fruit.
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93 points Wine Enthusiast: "A richly liquorous wine, ripe and packed with harmonious sweet textures. At the same time over the ripe structure there is a layer of lively lemon, spice and ginger, spiked with fresh tangerines. The end result is smooth, balanced and vibrant." (03/09) 90 points Stephen Tanzer: "Bright yellow-gold. Good citrus zest lift to the aromas of apricot, orange peel, marzipan and honey. Smooth, sweet and nicely concentrated, with a tactile, chewy quality to the honey and orange blossom flavors. With aeration, this showed a building fr...
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92 points Robert Parker: "This huge, historic property, owned by Stephan von Neipperg, appears to have produced their finest wine to date. The dense purple-tinged 2005 offers up notes of creme de cassis, charcoal, camphor, and espresso roast. A sleeper of the vintage, it is a full-bodied, layered, super-concentrated, smooth as silk blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Enjoy this superb bargain-priced claret over the next 8-10 years." (08/08) 92 points Wine Spectator: "Displays gorgeous aromas of vanilla bean, mineral, raspberry and blackberry. Fu...
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The Bordeaux Blanc of Ch?au Ducasse is very different from others in this appellation: Winemaker Herv?ubourdieu blends a high proportion of S?llion (60%) and a splash of Muscadelle (5%) with Sauvignon Blanc (35%), creating a rich, full, aromatic mid-palate to complement the clean finish. This is the perfect go-to white to pair well with anything from fish to poultry, picnic fare to Indian curries.
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94 points Robert Parker: "A marvelous sleeper of the vintage from Dominique Hebrard, this 2005 exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, a smoky, blackberry liqueur-filled nose with hints of licorice, earth, and truffles, full body, powerful flavors, and dramatic, but sweet tannin. Moreover, this beauty is still available at a realistic price. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030." (04/08) 93 points Wine Spectator: "Beautiful aromas of crushed blackberry, dried lavender and licorice lead to a full-bodied palate, with supervelvety tannins and a long, long finish. B...
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88-91 points Wine Spectator: "Pretty blueberry and coffee bean character. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a medium finish. A beautiful Reignac. Whether it will ultimately be better than the 2005, we will see." According to Robert Parker: "Yves Vatelot has produced a dark purple-colored 2009 Reignac offering attractive black cherry and cassis fruit intermixed with spicy new oak and earth. The wine is bigger, more powerful, and higher in alcohol than usual, but it possesses good freshness and lots of personality. Enjoy it over the next 5-7 y...
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90 points Wine Spectator: "Delivers blackberry and pretty, toasty oak, with flowers. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long finish of ripe fruit, espresso and a hint of licorice. Balanced and refined. Best after 2011." (Web only, 2008)
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92-93 points James Suckling: "A beautiful core of ripe fruits and berries, with currants and spices. Full and silky. Very polished." 88-91 points Wine Spectator: "Rounded and enticing, with a mix of crushed blueberry, plum and raspberry fruit backed by spice and toasty vanilla hints. Not shy about the toast, but there's plenty of fruit as well." (03/11) According to Parker: "2010: One of the finest over-achievers in the southern Medoc, Belle-Vue is a 36-acre vineyard situated close to Giscours. The 2010's final blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merl...
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70% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and their first vintage is 2008. G?rd Perse, owner of the renowned Ch?aux Pavie, Pavie-Decesse, Monbousquet, and Bellevue Mondotte, has produced a new wine called "Esprit de Pavie" under the Bordeaux appellation.This wine is produced on Bordeaux's finest terroirs of gravel, clay, and clay-limestone soils situated on the fully south-facing slopes of the Dordogne valley. Like the other wines in the Perse collection, Esprit de Pavie receives the same care and attention which produces a distinctive level of quality.The vine...
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92 points Robert Parker: "The brilliant St.-Emilion-based consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt, is working his magic at this great vineyard in Leognan. The 2006, a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, is a revelation of sweet, lush, black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with subtle notes of scorched earth and barbecue spices. Round, luscious, sexy, and exceptionally complex, the wine is dominated by that smoky minerality that comes from this area. It is the quintessentially elegant yet subst...
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This is the "third wine" from the venerable estate of Pichon-Lalande, perhaps K&L's favorite Bordeaux estate, and a producer of silky yet powerful wines year in and year out. The Grand Vin got 94 points from the Wine Enthusiast in 2004. This is aching to be opened and drunk now, with red and black berry fruits, spice and a touch of oak.
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92-94 points Robert Parker: "This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the Cabernet dominating, looks to be the best they have ever produced, even eclipsing the 2005. Dense purple in color, with extraordinarily elegant floral notes intermixed with raspberry, black currant, cherry, and spice box, it is medium to full-bodied, not massive, but again, very seamless, with beautiful precision, sweet tannins, and an endearing fleshiness and depth of flavor..." (04/10) 90-92 points Wine Enthusiast: "Dense tannins over freshness, the wine is packed with ...
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91-94 points Wine Spectator: "Juicy, with a beam of cassis and spice bread, laced with smoke, graphite and crushed plum on the velvety finish." (03/10) 93-94 points James Suckling: "Mineral, lemon grass and berries on the nose. Full bodied with ultra-fine tannins and wonderful finish. Lasts for minutes. This is the best Beychevelle in years. Maybe decades. $$" (03/11) 90-92 points Parker: "2010: Flowery blueberry, red and black currant fruit notes intermixed with a hint of damp earth emerge from this wine?s moderate aromatics. Elegant with medium body ...
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95 points Robert Parker: "Denis Dubourdieu conjured one of the best 2007 Barsac wines with the 2007 Doisy-Daene, even though it showed a little subdued on the nose and demanded a great deal of coaxing. Touches of lemon curd, mango, white flowers and crushed stone. The palate is very tense on the entry, excellent acidity here and beautifully balanced. There is a sense of ?urgency? to this Doisy-Daene: coiled up energy that explodes on the finish with lemongrass, apricot, clear honey and white peach. Superb length and chutzpah. This is a wonderful wine. Dr...
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90 points Wine Spectator: "Wonderful aromas of cassis and berries, with hints of spices. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicious fruity aftertaste. Harmonious wine. Kirwan makes serious wine now. Best after 2004." (03/02) According to Robert Parker: "The aromatic, oaky, modern-styled 1999 Kirwan boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as considerable size, depth, and muscle (atypical for the vintage), abundant texture, and loads of flavor (primarily licorice, cassis, and earth). Anticipated maturity: 2004-2015." (04/02) According to Decanter: "L...
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95-98 points Wine Spectator: "Almost flashy, with stunning fruitcake, licorice, blueberry and plum sauce flavors. There's lots of definition already, with a gorgeous chocolate-filled finish. Merlot with 30 percent old-vine Cabernet Franc. Tasted non-blind." (03/10) 94-96 points Parker: "2010: There are approximately 1,500 cases of this 80% Merlot/20% Cabernet Franc blend. Owned by Christian Moueix, Hosanna was carved out of the old estate of Certan Giraud with the finest parcels going in to Hosanna. The dense purple-hued 2010 exhibits a sweet bouquet of...
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88-90 points Wine Enthusiast: "Lots of spiced wood, with sweet blackberry fruits. The wine is initially soft, but the tannins do kick in. The fruit finally has vivid freshness." (04/10) 87-90 points Wine Spectator: "A fruity and clean wine, with chocolate and berry character. Delicate finish." And, according to Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Inky ruby. Captivating aromas of strawberry, violet, graphite and sexy new oak. Enters very smooth, offering a beautifully tactile mouth feel and flavors of very ripe plum and red cherry complicated by...
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This wine is a great spicy value. Good blackberry aromas and spicy flavor. Very good substance and body. (Clyde Beffa, K&L Bordeaux buyer)
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Redwood City
San Francisco
Somewhat unusual for white Bordeaux, this is 100% Sauvignon and from a vineyard more than 60 years old. Le blanc de la Graside is fermented, made and matured in casks. Though dry, it is not astringent or super acidic, as the grapes are harvested when fully ripe. For the varietal, this wine is round and full of fruit, very pleasant to drink young, when served cool, but not icy and ideal with shellfish and grilled fish.
Inventory:
Hollywood
Main Warehouse
Redwood City
San Francisco
This is the second wine of Clos Manou, and like its sibling, it is made in a new wave, decidedly garage style with tons of ripe raspberry fruit and smooth, silky tannins. Owners Francoise and Stephane Dief are passionate newcomers to the wine world, and their enthusiasm shows in this value-priced crowd pleaser. Blended from 44% merlot, 56% cabernet sauvignon aged for 12 months in one-year-old barrels (50% American and 50% French oak) and bottled without fining or filtration, this heady unctuous red is ready to drink now.
Inventory:
Hollywood
Main Warehouse
Redwood City
San Francisco
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The Bordeaux Wine Festival |
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Lovers of wine, food, celebration, and culture are cordially invited to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the Bordeaux Wine Festival. ...more
The Bordeaux Wine Festival
The Art of Festivity and Discovery !
Lovers of wine, food, celebration, and culture are cordially invited to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the Bordeaux Wine Festival. Visitors can also take advantage of an outstanding programme to discover the architectural beauty of Bordeaux (listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO), its cultural assets and surrounding vineyards, as well as the many attractions of the Aquitaine.
QUEBEC, guest of honour ! After Porto, Munich, Fukuoka and Saint-Petersburg, the town guest of honour this year is Quebec. This city has a number of technical, economic and cultural exchanges with Bordeaux. A pavilion is dedicated to it with different activities on the agenda.
Bacchus Festival
Quebec Pavilion
Le Belem
The Guild parade - 24th june
Day of the Connétablie de Guyenne
26th june
The barrel rollers of Lussac St-Emilion
26th & 27th june
Tasty stopovers
Gastronomy pavilions
Bordo Mundo
Harmony 1855, exhibition
Taste workshops
Giant Bacchus banquet - 26th june
Wine trails
Pavilions of the 80 appellations
Wine School
Magical evenings
The Senses of Wine, sounds and images
every evening, 11 p.m.
Bordeaux in colour, fireworks
every evening, 11.30 p.m.
Bordeaux Music Festival
Quebec à Coeur - 24th june
Voix de la Solidarité - 25th june
Marciac in Bordeaux - 26th june
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