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The 2025 Tenuta Roveglia “Limne” Lugana is a fresh white with real flesh on it, and that combination is the whole point. The nose is clean and clearly drawn: crunchy apple, citrus and white flowers, with almond underneath adding a quieter, savory note. Then the palate fills out through the middle in a way that would surprise anyone expecting a lean, austere lake white. What makes Limne interesting is how that supple texture and its nervous energy work together: the freshness keeps the fruit defined without stripping the wine of substance. It is 100% Turbiana — genetically a Verdicchio, not a Trebbiano — from vines averaging 25 to 35 years old, and it spends four to five months in stainless steel, so nothing from a barrel gets between you and the fruit. The best cross over into Italian wine if you like Sauvignon Blanc!

Refined and earth-driven, showing tightly wound black-fruit aromas with underlying notes of graphite, bitter chocolate and cured meats. The palate is focused and pure with finely tuned tannins and a generous yet precise palate. A lovely wine to drink now or to cellar. Drink or hold.

Year after year, Signatory brings us some of the best casks anywhere in the industry, and over the past two years they have recommitted to putting absolutely insane deals on the table for us. This year it’s a selection of classic Islays alongside this impeccable Ben Nevis. There was a period just a few years ago when similar casks were trading for twice this price, but here we have an absolutely perfect refill sherry butt, still very active, that simply transcends the market. There’s almost nothing anywhere in the world that’s better on the market today in this style, dollar for dollar. Here we go! This is ridiculously dark for a second fill sherry cask, a gorgeous mahogany (1.6). The nose is a huge mélange of waxy, earthy funk, pulverized rock, and sweet roasted nuts. It’s clearly holding so much at bay in its cask strength form, and air opens it into a basket of walnut brittle, loose leaf tobacco, dried cranberry, carnauba wax, old bike parts, semi dark chocolate, and dashi broth. Not at all for the faint of heart. We love an idiosyncratic Ben Nevis, but for the uninitiated we may need to take baby steps. On the palate it’s rich and oily, offering huge savory underbrush and salty nuts balanced by sweet raisin fruit and an underlying oily texture. It’s simply quintessentially, unapologetically original Ben Nevis. With water it softens and sweetens somewhat, though in this rare case I truly prefer it with air and time rather than the softening effect of water. The only complaint might come from those hoping for a Nevis in skimpier clothes, but the sherry is so well integrated and never overwhelms the density of the spirit that even the most staunch anti oak brigadier general might admit the superiority of this style. If you have only $80 to spend on malt this quarter and don’t need something peaty, this is the obvious slam dunk you’ve been looking for. I’m buying three.

A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Laroque is deep garnet-purple in color. A little subdued to begin, offering subtle notes of crushed rocks and damp soil, it opens out to a core of ripe black and red plums and fresh blackberries, plus a fragrant waft of lilacs. The full-bodied palate is bursting with taut, muscular black fruits and amazing tension, framed by ripe, rounded tannins, and finishing with great length and depth. (LPB)

Blending 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro from an estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley purchased in 1972, the 2023 Zinfandel Lytton Springs exhibits initial chewiness that leads to fine tannins, with a good heft and underlying acidity. Well-woven oak supports a moderately ripe, medium-bodied frame of structured elegance, aged in 100% air-dried American oak. Enjoy now through 2033. (VB)

The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle is dynamic and complex in the glass, a wine that shows everything Gaiole is capable of. Dark-toned fruit, lavender, mocha, licorice and cloves soar from the glass as the 2020 showcases its pedigree and sheer allure. Hints of floral and savory overtones blossom with aeration. What a wine! (AG)

This is the second edition of Anonymous that we’ve produced in partnership with this incredible, world-renowned winery—a relationship that dates back to earlier editions of our emeritus house label, Kalinda. The last release was a single-vineyard, single-block wine. This time, working hand in hand with the winemaking team, we felt the synergy of multiple components created something even more compelling than any one individual element. The blend brings together estate-grown fruit with several barrels sourced from highly renowned, Grand Cru–level single vineyards. The wine is composed primarily of heritage clones—Hyde (Calera selection), Swan, and Pommard—with smaller portions of Dijon clones. The fruit was fermented in small, open-top tanks with native yeast and approximately 20% whole-cluster inclusion. After fermentation, the wine was aged for 15 months in French oak (30% new) before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Working with this team is a true pleasure. With decades of winemaking pedigree and multiple 100-point wines to their credit, this partnership embodies everything the Anonymous Wine Project stands for. Under its own label, this wine typically retails for $80–$100. The value made possible through anonymity is simply sensational.

Hooten Young’s Jack Carr Warrior Proof hits all the right targets for the bourbon bros out there, and to be honest, there was a time when this whiskey was nearly impossible to get. It’s got the age, high proof, dark color, and plenty of that cultural appeal that’s become synonymous with the category. The owners bring serious military credentials to the table, and in a whiskey business where relationships still count for an awful lot, they’ve certainly found some interesting lots to bottle. We were happy to offer this limited release to those who found value in its age and identity, but as availability improved, the compelling store wasn't enough to keep in on the shelf. Not because it’s bad whiskey, but because at around $160, there’s a lot of competition. Put this bad boy out there at $60, however, and you’ve got one of the best buys in American whiskey today. This isn’t an official price reset. We’re taking advantage of a local distributor’s inventory reduction and passing those savings on to you. What that means is sixteen-year-old American whiskey, made from 99% corn and 1% barley, bottled at 125 proof, for a remarkably reasonable price. Let’s see how it fares. The color is a surprisingly dark russet (1.4), particularly striking for a whiskey in a category that doesn’t require maturation in new charred oak. The nose is packed with sweet character: brown sugar, marzipan, maple syrup, vanilla extract, candied pecans, hints of caramel candy, and old leather. The palate adds a buttery biscuits, cooked apples, baking spice, and a full bodied texture. The proof is evident but not obtrusive, and a bit of water actually adds weight and spice to the whole thing. All in all, for $60, this is an awesome buy and a fun change of pace from the classic bourbon profile. Whether you like to read Jack Carr and chill or you’re simply looking to expand your understanding of American whiskey, this is an easy win. Just don’t count on finding it here at this price again once this parcel is gone!

Founded in 1815 by Donald and Alexander Johnston on Islay’s rugged south coast, Laphroaig has long been one of Scotland’s most distinctive distilleries, famed for its medicinal peat smoke, iodine richness, and unmistakable maritime intensity. There was a period not long ago when independent bottlers across Scotland were sounding the alarm about the availability of Laphroaig. Widespread consensus held that named Laphroaig would no longer trade on the open market as it once had, and for a time many teaspooned or unnamed Islay malts took the place of clearly identified stock. The result was significantly higher prices for casks bearing the Laphroaig name due to their perceived scarcity, and the few we encountered were often too expensive to consider. Fast forward three years and the market remains largely devoid of named Laphroaig, save for a few scattered casks, usually with the requisite markup. So when our friends at Dornoch indicated they had access to well priced, decade old Laphroaig, we knew we had to act quickly. This young and punchy Laphroaig features the famed Bessie Williamson and a peat fork on the label, an ode to the old ways. The whisky in this barrel was distilled on June 6, 2016 and bottled in March 2026. Matured in refill bourbon barrels, it drinks like a single barrel version of the classic 10 year cask strength at a healthy discount. A classical style with plenty of iodine and smoke, balanced by a creamy purity that is undeniable.

Crushed blackberries combine with rosemary, crushed stone and hints of olive as the 2024 Rosso di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. This is cool-toned and silky with sleek red berry fruits and crunchy mineral tones. A web of fine tannins frames a tart raspberry resonance on the long, classically dry finish. This is easily one of the most enjoyable Rossos I've tasted from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona. (EG)

This lively, bright tequila will please purists. A light hand with the oak means a straw hue and brisk aromas of jalapeño and citrus. The palate melds flavors of bell pepper, fresh rosemary and roasted jalapeño that lead into mild coconut and graphite notes on the midpalate, finishing with a fresh herb exhale. *Top 100 Spirits 2021* (KN)

The region of Menetou-Salon lies just southwest of Sancerre, and its vineyards share much of the same prized clay and limestone soils that have made its neighbor so famous. That continuity of terroir brings similar detail, tension, and depth — but often without the same level of attention. One of our core Direct Import Sancerre producers, Cherrier Freres, farms a small, separate property here known as Domaine Loriot. The soils at Loriot contain a higher proportion of terres blanches, the dense clay-limestone mix that tends to lend more weight and breadth to the wines. In the hands of the Cherrier family, that translates to a lush yet focused Sauvignon Blanc layered with Meyer lemon, white peach, and Red Delicious apple. Subtle notes of fresh grass and bay leaf nod clearly to the variety. Pure, expressive, and beautifully balanced — and at nearly half the price of many Sancerres — this is one of the strongest values in the category today.

Fattoria di Scannano is the Calì family’s farm at Rapolano Terme, on the eastern edge of the Crete Senesi, where Chianti drops the word Classico along with a good deal of its price. 90% Sangiovese with 10% Ciliegiolo, the old Tuscan companion grape that softens Sangiovese and adds the cherry, grown organically, fermented in steel, a few months in oak, lightly filtered, bottled fresh. In the glass, it pours a bright ruby with violet edges. The nose is open and frank: black plum, sour cherry, wild myrtle, a touch of violet and dried herb. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and juicy, with round tannins, lively acidity and a clean, savoury finish that asks for food rather than attention.

Seven percent red wine added to the blend to make the NV Champagne Brut Rosé, which is based on the 2020 harvest and is 45% Chardonnay, 25% Meunier, and the rest Pinot Noir, with about 45% reserve wine. A classic pink salmon hue, the nose is classic and pretty with notes of fresh peaches, raspberries, roses, and chalky earth. Medium-bodied and rounded, it’s approachable and fresh in style, with lovely purity and a pretty feel throughout. It’s delicious now but has the ability to age with ease over the coming 10 years. Disgorged in the first quarter of 2023, 4.7 grams per liter dosage (although interestingly, they are now including the total grams per liter, in this case 5.3 grams per liter in the final wine). (AF)

Supple yet zesty at the core, with expressive flavors of cherry, savory anise and cracked pepper that finish with briary tannins. Drink now through 2033. (TF)

I always love the "Aux Chailloux" vineyard because of its close proximity to St. Veran. The vineyard of "Aux Chailloux" is one of the first vineyards you come across leaving St. Veran and entering into Pouilly Fuisse. Always mineral-driven the 2023 Domaine Renaud Pouilly Fuisse 1er Cru "Aux Chailloux" is bright and zippy with citrus zest and flinty notes that give the wine great cut and drive. This is a fresh and lively white with excellent acidity and verve.

A recent Corpinnat standout for me has been the 2021 Huguet de Can Feixes Brut Nature, which is a steal at just $19.99. The primary grape here is Parellada, which is the most fruit-forward of the local Penedès varieties and represents 55% of the total blend, balanced by 35% Macabeo (a.k.a. Viura in Rioja) and 10% Pinot Noir. On the palate, classic yeasty notes of sourdough come through, and the Brut Nature style results in a lean, crisp and racy style of Corpinnat. There’s just such a nice balance between the fresh acidity and the dense fruit notes – this would be a great wine to have on hand for the festive season.

There is just no way that deals like this can last. The fact that this excellent brandy was distilled more than five decades ago and we're able to offer it to you for less than $150 just blows my mind. It's a complete distortion of the space-time continuum, and we should all take full advantage. There is no product as old and delicious in the store at any price, let alone one as reasonable as this. The nose is like sitting down in a gorgeous old leather chair with a bowl of dried plums. As you dive deeper, splendid spice and subtle stone fruit come forth. The palate is round and easy, with tons of dark cocoa, quince jam, sweet old wood, and Christmas spices. Armagnac remains the undisputed king of awesome values, and it's hard to imagine finding a more delicious old spirit at this price. We're extremely lucky to have found more of these old stocks and pray to unearth another treasure trove one day, but this is likely the last we'll ever see from this now-defunct estate.

Aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries with hints of grapefruit peel, dried rosemary and wet stone. Medium- to full-bodied, spiced and racy with a core of ripe fruit and glossy tannins. Flavorful and rich. Drink now.

There’s simply no question that the great producers in Scotland are going to need to shift their strategy to recapture the hearts and minds of many drinkers who have abandoned the category. The softness in the broader Scotch category has almost nothing to do with changing tastes or the economy, but rather with the increased knowledge and expertise among consumers of single malt and the prices producers felt comfortable asking for their products. This all made sense when consumption spiked and it seemed like the world would be guzzling malt indefinitely. But the truth of the matter is that part of the reason consumption increased so much was that these products were creating a huge amount of value for their customers—not simply because people during COVID had extra money and nothing to do. Even the simplest economic theory should have informed the forecasters at the large producers that if you’re going to raise your prices while lowering the quality of the product available, you should expect to see a slowdown in sales. But instead, people continued to buy. So prices kept going up and quality kept going down. Now, faced with a consumer base that remembers the great deals and exciting whiskies of just a few years ago, producers are struggling to continue to connect. We’ve been incredibly lucky to be positioned in a way that allows us to continue offering great whiskies at incredible prices, thanks to our direct imports and incredible relationships with independent bottlers. But very few of the big brands are nimble enough to react in a meaningful way to the current market conditions. That’s why it’s so exciting to see a brand so near and dear to our hearts bring such an incredible whisky to market and offer it at an altogether reasonable price. Ardbeg at 15 years old is simply wonderful, and this expression does everything I want it to do. Let’s have a go! The color is a simply lovely deep gold (0.8). The nose is exquisite and perfectly Ardbeggian, with sooty white smoke, sweet lemon oils, hints of lanolin, ginger root, and craggy, salty ocean rocks. The smoke is so well integrated at this age that it almost seems approachable to a novice nose—but I know better. The beautiful, oily texture on the palate holds those aromas perfectly, offering green peat, tarry white smoke, sweet, lemony grassy malt, and a tense, wafting sweetness that balances everything perfectly. It’s simply so pleasurable that, in my opinion, it’s an instant classic. They say this will be VERY available, but I’m still buying as much as they’ll give me. I have a feeling they’ve forgotten just how much Ardbeg we can drink when the price and flavor are both there.

For 50 years now K&L Wine Merchants has set the standard for high quality independent wine & spirits retail in the United States and around the world. Our store is committed to sourcing the world's finest products and offering them to our customers at the very best possible price. We do this by hiring the best buyers in the industry to create direct relationships with producers across the world. From New Zealand to sunny Scotland, if there's someone making a great wine or spirit, we want to get it on ourshelves for our customers. Our relationship with wonderful Dornoch Distillery and their prioriotors the brothers Thompson is represents the perfect example of why K&L does it differently. This small scale bottler is consistently putting the best whiskies available anywhere in Scotland and bottling them for prices that feel almost antiquated. But there's nothing old fashioned about the Thompson Bros. They are the future of Scotch industry and represent the path forward for this storied category. This spectacular 50 year old single grain whisky was bottled especially for K&L's 50th anniversary and reminds us a time when ultra-aged grain whisky was more or less available. That said we may have NEVER seen such a wonderful old whisky sold for such a compelling price in our entire 5 decades doing this. Bottled at full cask strenght of 42.1% alc by vol without chillfiltration or additions of any kind. We may never see another cask as delicious or old at this price ever again.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is very fine. It remains young and quite vibrant, with lovely floral overtones that add freshness throughout. This mid-weight, energetic Cabernet is terrific. In time, it may surpass the Rubicon, given its greater freshness. This is a fine showing. (AG)