Trending

This brand-new bottling under The Anonymous Wine Collective is just beginning to come into its own. Bottled only a few months ago, it’s really starting to shine! The wine comes from two famous, highly regarded vineyard sites in the Petaluma Gap AVA, part of the broader Sonoma Coast. This is a truly special growing region thanks to the constant cooling breezes that funnel in from the Pacific through a gap in the coastal ranges. That relentless wind plays a fundamental role in producing world-class grapes: it naturally reduces yields and concentrates flavor, slows ripening to build greater complexity while preserving natural acidity, and encourages thicker grape skins that contribute texture and structure to the finished wine. Combine all of that with the region’s rocky volcanic soils, which lend a lively mineral character, and you have the magic of Petaluma Gap. This wine had so much natural flavor and concentration that we decided nine months in mostly neutral French oak was more than enough to frame the fruit. It simply didn’t need any additional “makeup.” The quality of the vineyards and the fruit speak for themselves. The result is a classic coastal California Chardonnay, with beautifully crystalline golden orchard fruit, fresh, stony minerality, vibrant acidity, and subtle, seamlessly integrated oak nuances. Fruit from these vineyards typically goes into single-vineyard-designate wines selling for $60-$80 a bottle. By keeping the source Anonymous, we can bring it to you for just $20. Cheers!

Awesome levels of blackcurrants, darker cherries, roasted herbs, chocolate, and scorched earth all emerge from the 2022 Château Malartic-Lagravière, an incredibly concentrated, rich, layered beauty that has velvety tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. It's easily the finest I've tasted from this château and is a riveting 2022 that deserves 4-6 years in the cellar and will keep for two decades or more. The 2022 is based on 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, with the élevage spanning 20 months in 60% new French oak. There are a little over 8,000 cases of this brilliant wine.

Aromas of honeydew melon, guava and golden apple. On the palate, the wine has buttery textures, sustained acidity and spiced-citrus length. *Gold Medal*

A depth of brambly black and blue fruit dazzles on the well-structured palate of the 2024 Pinot Noir, layered in light bolts of baking spice, forest, and black tea. Balanced acidity keeps it fresh and lively and inviting in its youth. Drink now through 2032.

What a knockout! With subtle brioche, incredible freshness and a dry, chalky finish that goes on for days, this wine gets its texture from around seven years of ageing on the lees, it's incredible finale from massal selected vines planted to the pure chalk of Bouzy and dry snap from very low (around 2g/l) dosage. If you want a real terroir experience, it is in this bottle, but if you just want generous, rich champagne that still finishes definitively dry, that is here too! Maison 76 is our private label here at K&L, but we wanted it to be about true value, not just the lowest price. I think this is one of the best wines on the shelf in any category at this price, and a true marvel of champagne. Don't miss this one!

This is perhaps the most exciting Anonymous Wine Collective release to date! The name I chose for this bottling is more than a subtle hint at the truly world-famous source of this extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon. "Summum Bonum" is Latin for "highest good" or "highest virtue." Now, it shouldn't take too much detective work to figure out that there's a very famous place in Oakville that has historically been known by a remarkably similar name...except in Greek rather than Latin. Have you figured it out yet? I'm certainly not going to spell it out here, especially since this particular name has been the subject of some rather intense legal battles over the years. Got it now? I thought so! That's right, this wine comes entirely from a parcel of vines in the very heart of one of the most celebrated stretches of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard land on the planet. We're talking genuine "Grand Cru," "First Growth" pedigree here. The vines are rooted in the gravelly soils of a gently sloping alluvial fan along Oakville's western bench, at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains. This is truly hallowed ground for Cabernet Sauvignon, a place that has produced some of the most legendary and sought-after wines in Napa Valley history. The winemaker, who must also remain anonymous, brings decades of experience crafting exceptional wines in both Napa Valley and Bordeaux. They've been instrumental in producing wines for some of the valley's most prestigious estates, with plenty of perfect 100-point scores to their credit. Suffice it to say, the pedigree behind this bottling is nothing short of extraordinary. But beyond the famous vineyard source and remarkable winemaking credentials, what makes this wine so special to me is the care, craftsmanship, and traditional approach behind it. This is a genuine, handcrafted labor of love, meticulously tended from vine to bottle with an unwavering commitment to quality. The artisanal techniques employed here are increasingly rare in modern Napa Valley winemaking. There's a distinctly classical, almost nostalgic character to this Cabernet that transports me back to the legendary Oakville wines of a bygone era. It's a style that speaks of the vineyard, the vintage, and the timeless character of great Cabernet Sauvignon rather than chasing the latest trends. I can't wait to hear what you think when you pull the cork. For me, this is one of the most compelling and exciting wines we've ever had the privilege of bottling under Anonymous!

Cranberry, cherry and earthy rhubarb aromas meet with bold chai spice on the nose of this bottling. The palate is rounded with warm baking spices that are wrapped in lush, creamy tannins, proving easy to quaff.

Sotto Nebbia, "under the fog," takes its name from the nebbia that settles over the Langhe in late October, when Nebbiolo is finally picked, and the label exists to do one thing: bottle a Langhe Nebbiolo that tastes of its hills rather than of a cellar. The fruit comes from Monforte d'Alba, inside the Barolo appellation, on the compact, sandstone-laced marls of the Lequio formation that give the commune its grip, and the wine is raised like a Barolo in miniature: twelve months in wood, then three months in bottle before release, a longer élevage than most Langhe Nebbiolo ever sees.

We can never get enough Launois Quartz at K&L. Unfortunately; the production is limited as Bernard Launois only has so many grapes each year in the great Mesnil plot of Les Chetillons. Having access to single vineyard, estate, grand cru Champagne from one of the best growers in the region at such a fair price makes me proud to be the Champagne guy at K&L. If you look around for other producers Chetillons, it is almost always made as vintage and is always way over $100! This wine has a fabulous white fruit quality that few Champagnes get at any price, and a chalky laser beam finish that is pure Mesnil. No Champagne we carry sells out faster!

Introduced in 1989 to mark Suntory’s 90th anniversary, Hibiki is the house’s blended whisky range. Japanese Harmony combines malt whiskies from Yamazaki and Hakushu with grain whisky from Chita, bringing three Suntory distilleries into one blend. This 700ml release presents Japanese Harmony in the Chiso Limited Edition Design for 2026.

Of the three New Zealand gins from National Distillery Company, this one is my favorite. I love how herbal and spicy it is. The native botanicals produce wonderful and exotic aromatics and the taste is unique. These are crazy deals for the price. These gins punch way above their price point and are a PERFECT holiday gift for the gin lover on your list (and why not take a case or two for yourself?).

The 2014 Tronquoy-Lalande is medium to deep garnet in color. Intense notes of Morello cherries, creme de cassis, and plum preserves spill from the glass, plus touches of mint tea, iron ore, and dried roses. The medium-bodied palate is taut with muscular black fruits and fantastic tension, framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and fragrant. Simply beautiful! (LPB)

One of the best Sauvignon Blancs in the world, the 2023 Château Couhins Blanc is based on 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sauvignon Gris and was aged eight months in 25% new French oak with the balance in neutral barrels and tank. Its medium gold hue is followed by a killer perfume of mineral-laced citrus, honeyed orange, crushed stone, and mint, with an almost Riesling-like minerality and very subtle diesel character. Medium-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it has bright, racy acidity and a great finish. This château needs way more attention in the market, and this beauty will keep for two decades.

This ridiculous lot of bourbon from our friends at Rare Character was distilled by an undiclosed distiller to a mashbill of 60%, 36%, and 4% malted barley. They won't confirm it, but this is going to be almost certainly Bardstown Bourbon Company and would be one of the oldest BBC bourbons on the market. It doesn't really match the current distillery profile and whether this is stock that was distilled for a client that's since walked away or experimental stuff that was deemed out of profile, we're damn lucky to have gotten any because it's easily the best we've seen from this slick Bardstown operation. Expect a dense woody profile which offers deep dark red fruit rather than the typical softer stone fruit character of the normal BBC distillate. The label was created by Raylene Gorum and is titled "Bird Math." Raylene is a Bay Area public artist who creates large-scale, site-specific installations that transform the built environment through metal, wood, acrylic, plastic and intricately cut vinyl. Trained in architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and École d’Architecture in Paris, she has exhibited internationally and created major civic works, including Lady Bayview, a permanent 5,500-square-foot artwork on San Francisco’s India Basin waterfront. Her collaborative practice brings art into public spaces and everyday life.

A softer, more aromatic energy surrounds this Pinot. Whispers of flowers, fresh cut herbs and cranberries swirl on the nose, while the palate brings flavors of dried cherry, anise, and some nice crunchy tannin to balance the dancing acidity.

From the Anderson Valley comes a single-vineyard rosé of Pinot Noir from a site established in the Deep End in 1972. Brilliant aromas of pink florals, candied raspberries and basil leaf. The palate is linear and taut, with crisp mineral framing that propels salted watermelon and grapefruit flavours, finishing with a crisp ocean-borne salinity. Fantastic. (CP)

The 2024 Gamay Noir Baytree Lane Vineyard is from a first and perhaps last-time source for the grapes, a site also sourced by Tom Darling that overlooks the town of Sonoma. White pepper, raspberry, and layers of earth form a delicious, light-bodied core that’s aromatically floral and inviting and ultimately delicious. Foot-stomped and 100% whole-cluster fermented, 30% of that carbonic, it aged 11 months in neutral French oak. This is a delightfully quaffable wine that’s still complex and interesting, well worth your time. Drink now through 2034. (VB)

This flagship wine is designed to show the best qualities of the Denner estate. It evokes a Chateauneuf vibe, blended from 33% grenache, 32% mourvedre, 22% syrah, 5% cinsault, 4% counoise, 2% tannat and 2% carignan. Nicely layered red and black fruit with meaty, peppery accents. Full-bodied and moderately tannic, showcasing the vineyard rather than any new oak influence. Drink or hold.

Take the classic Lagavulin and make it sweet? Keeping the peat and adding a chunk of sweet elements so that even the most vehement peat-haters are swayed? Sweet Peat is Lagavulin’s first new permanent expression in nine years. The whisky spent a full 11 years aging in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, known for bringing sweeter vanilla notes to the palate, and that certainly shows here. Sweet on the nose, with peat smoke, sea foam, cedar, and pronounced honey and vanilla. Mellow on the palate, syrupy and smooth—peated but not overly peated– it still shows the classic (heather) bonfire and iodine notes along with strawberry jam, dark chocolate, and coffee. The finish has spice and peat to keep the fruit in balance. In general, it is light and sweet, almost candy-like. From the brand, “Sweet Peat presents peat in a way that tastes more approachable, while still delivering the depth and complexity long associated with Lagavulin.”

The aromas include seaweed, shoe leather, cigarette smoke, smoked fish, oaky vanilla, pork rind and bacon. Entry is sweet, caramel-like and smoky; the midpalate features long, oily, cocoa bean flavors that crescendo into a sweet peat-reek taste of smoke, vanilla and cinnamon. Concludes oily and honeyed.

Founded in 2011 by Eric Railsback and Justin Willett, Lieu Dit was created around a shared interest in Loire Valley grape varieties. Its name is the French term for a named vineyard site, reflecting the project’s focus on place. This 2025 Chenin Blanc comes from California’s Santa Ynez Valley.

Each year on Ardbeg Day, the Islay distillery opens its doors for the Feis Ile festival—and the global Ardbeg Committee celebrates with a bold limited release. The 2025 edition, “Smokiverse,” debuts an experimental High Gravity mash: less water, more grain, and a denser, richer fermentation that amplifies intense flavor. Crafted to mark this year’s theme, “Experience High Gravity,” Smokiverse is peaty, fruity, and otherworldly in depth. This is Ardbeg at its most innovative—a high-intensity dram for the smoke-loving faithful. Tasting Notes from the Distiller: "Color: Gold. Nose: Bright gold. An explosion of fruity notes, reminiscent of smoked bubblegum, fuse with whiffs of ripening barley and toasted sourdough bread. A splash of water reveals dense, sweet, and aromatic peat smoke, accompanied by gently smoked tropical fruits. Taste: A rich, creamy mouthfeel drifts into sharp, sooty and spicy notes of creosote, aniseed, and clove. Tempered by the distinct sweetness of muscovado sugar, robust woody notes orbit rich charcoal. Finish: Finally, in an almost infinite finish, earthy peat moss fuses with sizzling bonfire embers." Limited availability.

The NV Brut Cuvée Ste.-Anne (base 2022) is terrific. I tasted it in the middle of the range after many of the single-vineyard Champagnes, but the wine did not suffer at all from its placement. If anything, this tasting reinforced my long-held view that the Ste.-Anne is one of the very finest grower Champagnes in its price range. This release, based on 2022, is brisk and energetic to its core. Citrus, white pepper, chalk and floral top notes are finely cut. This is an especially brisk edition of the Ste.-Anne. Chardonnay planted on chalk increasingly plays a leading role in this bottling. Superb. (AG)

Light amber color. Fantastic spice on the nose. Layers of caramel and nougat swirling around here. Good structure and body delivers an earthy palate. This bottle delivers a lot of whiskey for the price! Kudos to the buyers on this one.

Nebbiolo and Barbera share the stage in Alba DOC, a Piedmont denomination that requires both grapes in its red wines. Ermanno Costa’s 2021 Alba DOC takes its appellation name from Alba, the historic town at the heart of the Langhe wine country.

The best 2020s seem to be confident without showing off or shouting too loudly and this Carmes does just that. Focused and precise, this is complex and characterful, rich yet vibrant with a texture and taste that makes an impact straight away. Fresh black fruits, floral notes and sensational minerality do the talking - it has weight, density and structure - broad and bold yet svelte, it has direction and persistence, building quickly then settling and elongating with such clarity and purity. This is a wine you want to drink. Cool, classic, sharp and decisive with a flawless texture. (GH)