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Staff Favorites - Jacques Moreira

Jacques Moreira | Send Email | Subscribe to My Sommelier Service

Having been born in Rio de Janeiro into a very proud French/Portuguese family, and living in France and the USA for almost 25 years, gave me the best of all worlds, one very old, and another very new. I’ve always had three different perspectives on everything growing up, three different opportunities to understand the world around me and to try to make sense of it all. From Ipanema Beach, to the bluest of seas in the Côte d'Azur and Nice, to the wonderful Big Sur. Caipirinha and Feijoada, codfish and Vinho Verde, Daube and Bandol, and the always present Rosé, and…beer for those 110 degree summertime days in Rio! I always worked in the food business, in Paris, Nice and San Francisco. While working at Jules Verne in Paris, I decided to devote my career solely to wines and eventually got my Sommelier certification through the International Sommelier Guild.

Reviews

2025 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Review Date: 11-19-2025

Fun, fun, fun - Whenever I taste Beaujolais Nouveau, images of merry-making villagers having a blast after the harvest comes to my mind. And it's with that spirit that I approach these wines. Utter simplicity, uncomplicated, just-bottled freshness. And yes, in America it's got a rightful place at a Thanksgiving table.

Price: $14.99

2025 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau

Review Date: 11-19-2025

Beaujolais Nouveau has always been about getting together and having a great time. It's about people, about joy and a casual attitude. Fresh, fruity, with loads dark berries, cherries, and flower petals. The Nouveau-Villages delivers a tad more concentration, and a touch of spiciness thrown into the fun mix. And, let me tell you... It's really good with turkey!

Price: $16.99

2025 Georges Duboeuf "Orange Nouveau" Vin de France (Orange Wine)

Review Date: 11-19-2025

An Orange Nouveau? Pourquoi pas? I believe this is a new endeavor chez Duboeuf, and they are nailing it this year! It's as fresh as it gets, with beautiful aromatics, and definitely "orange". A blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Viognier, 10% Muscat, along with other white grapes, that will please our orange-wines afficionados but also can be offered as a gentle introduction to these geeky wines. And since it's Thanksgiving season, I would suggest serving this with the pumpkin pie! Go on, give it a try...

Price: $16.99

2024 Turley California Rosé of Zinfandel

Review Date: 05-15-2025

A very surprising and very limited rosé wine from Turley. Made 100% of Zinfandel that was picked early, to maintain freshness. Fermented with native yeast and not fined nor filtered. Let's just say this is not your 90's white Zinfandel... Rich on the palate and yet low in alcohol at 12.5%. The floral, strawberry notes are balanced with a vinous viscosity that reminded me of a Tavel from Provence. Pair this with spicy, garlicky foods for a match made in heaven.

Price: $23.95

Allimant Laugner Cremant d'Alsace Brut

Review Date: 10-24-2022

Allimant Laugner produces one of our most sought after rosé sparking wines ever outside of Champagne! Their blanc is just as delicious "inside secret" of ours, but I decided to let he word out. Perfect for an elegant aperitif, parties or anytime when a celebration is called for. Enjoy.

Price: $20.99

2016 Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol

Review Date: 11-11-2019

A great offering from Lalande-de-Pomerol, showing a robust core of ripe fruit but never heavy-handed. Beautiful aromatics of plums, berries, and coffee beans. They follow on the elegant palatealong with very polished tannins now. Very much a wine to enjoy now as it is already delicious and a great bargain for its quality.

Price: $24.99

2015 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien

Review Date: 09-23-2019

The 2015 Branaire Ducru is a textbook perfect example of a magnificent Saint-Julien. The ripe fruit nose and palate profile is full of cassis, plums, pencil lead and cola. The fruit is framed by its perfectly ripe tannins. It is a very pleasant experience to drink this now, but make no mistake, this wine will easily last another 20 years or more. So, a couple of cases in the cellars, and some bottles on the wine fridge are in order...

Price: $74.99

Patrick Bottex "La Cueille" Méthode Ancéstrale Bugey Cerdon Rosé

Review Date: 06-03-2019

Fun, fun and more fun! Here’s a wine bursting with raspberries and bright red apples. Very light in alcohol (8%) and full of bubbles. Rosé from gamay and the very indigenous "poulsard" . For me this wine is picture perfect for Thanksgiving— the last thing I would want is a heavy and cumbersome wine for this late afternoon dinner. Instead this is a light, refreshing, food-friendly wine, with just enough residual sugar to pair just about perfectly with turkey, cranberry and everything that goes with it. And it doesn’t give me a headache! I could give this wine nothing less than 5 stars for what it is!

Price: $21.99

RP: 90

W&S: 90

Paolucci Amaro CioCiaro Liqueur (750ml)

Review Date: 04-08-2019

Very interesting amaro, with delicious notes of cola, and loads of bitter orange followed by a soft sweetness that will make a perfect digestive for those new to the amaro world. Highly recommended.

Price: $34.99

WE: 90 - 95

Allimant Laugner Cremant d'Alsace Rosé (1.5L)

Review Date: 04-02-2018

I would say this is the very best Rosé sparkling we carry at this moment. Very elegant and delicate and yet it has raspberry and strawberry galore on the nose and on the palate. Very focused and quite dry. Beautiful!

Price: $44.99

Allimant Laugner Cremant d'Alsace Rosé

Review Date: 04-02-2018

Price: $20.99

JS: 91

Avuá "Prata" Cachaça Brasil (750ml)

Review Date: 04-02-2018

Very nice Cachaça. Very floral, soft and with a touch of honey. Great for tropical cocktails.

Price: $34.99

WE: 91

2014 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

Review Date: 02-20-2018

A very elegant nose of black currant, plums, brown sugar, coffee and graphite, which follows on the palate. It is all a bit restrained now, not surprising being such a young wine, but it is all there. The body is medium to full, and the acidity gives it a nice freshness throughout It will blossom into an incredible wine. I liked very much. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot

Price: $139.99

2014 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

Review Date: 02-20-2018

A very enticing nose of blood oranges, tobacco, forest floor and a touch of vanilla. Very fine tannins on the palate making it all round and balanced. Very nice wine. I expect it to receive high scores for sure. 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot.

Price: $129.99

2012 Lanessan, Haut-Médoc

Review Date: 06-08-2015

A staple at K&L – Showing elegant notes of crushed stones, wood spices and cassis. On the palate, it is medium body, with cassis fruit, dark cherries. The touch of spices and earthiness lend its elegance. An absolute no-brainer.

Price: $21.99

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur (750ml)

Review Date: 05-04-2011

I love it to bits! A little drop of its magic will transform a simple bubbly into the most amazing Champagne cocktail. Thumbs up!

Price: $34.99

WE: 96 - 100

Leblon Natural Cane Cachaca Brasil (750ml)

Review Date: 01-05-2011

Very nice Cachaça. Very floral, soft and with a touch of honey. Great for tropical cocktails.

Price: $28.99

Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne

Review Date: 08-09-2010

Profound and fun at the same time. Deliciously rich but still delicate, with an explosion of berry fruit. My first choice for a Lobster Bisque, hors d'oeuvre, sushi or to accompany a romantic sunset...

Price: $42.99

Ledaig 10 Year Old Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 12-27-2009

I was a Scotch drinker in my 20s, but for some reason that I can't remember, I stopped drinking them. After being around David Girard for awhile, he became sort of a "mentor" to me, and I am having a lot of fun being reintroduced to the world of Scotch. The Ledaig has been, so far, one my my favorites, with a very balanced amount of peat (which I love), and a quite intriguing whiff of white flowers, leather and lots of spices. I will keep you posted about this exciting journey with other reviews.

Price: $69.99

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Review Date: 10-20-2009

If there is such a thing as a Champagne for everyday use, well this has to be it. Not because of the price, but for its quality and poise. Very crispy, citrousy end elegant. Perfect for hors d'oeuvres, seafood, egg dishes, guacamole, goat cheeses, and "fantastic" with caviar!

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

More Favorites

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

Eric Bordelet "Tendre" Sidre (Apple) Cider ($13.99)

Eric Bordelet "Poiré l’Authentique" Sidre (Pear) Cider (750ml) ($17.49)

Velho Barreiro Cachaça (1L) ($15.99)

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($24.99)

Siembra Valles Blanco Tequila (750ml) ($69.99)

St. George "Botanivore" Gin (750ml) ($29.99)

Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne 375ml ($39.99)

Franck Bonville Brut Rosé Champagne ($59.99)

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (375ml) ($26.99)

Fallet-Dart "Grande Selection" Brut Champagne (375ml) ($19.99)

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne ($37.99)

Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth (1L) ($34.99)

Billecart-Salmon "Le Reserve" Champagne (1.5L) ($139.99)

Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne (375ml) ($39.99)

Billecart-Salmon Le Rosé Champagne (375ml) ($59.99)

Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne ($69.99)

Taittinger "La Française" Brut Champagne ($54.99)

Ruinart Brut Rosé "2nd Skin" Champagne 750ml bottle (ships as a 1.5L due to shape of bottle) ($109.99)

Lazzaroni Amaretto (750ml) ($32.99)

Cimarron Reposado Tequila (1L) ($29.99)

Cimarron Blanco Tequila (1L) ($26.99)

Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila (750ml) ($77.99)

Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne ($94.99)

Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($39.99)

Lustau Almacenista "José Luis Gonzalez Obregon 1/143" Fino del Puerto Jerez (500ml) ($22.99)

Charles Baur Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé ($12.99)

Lillet Blanc Aperitif Wine (750ml) ($23.99)

Chartreuse Green ($69.99)

Pommery "Brut Royal" Champagne ($54.99)

Lustau "East India Solera" Cream Sherry Jerez ($29.99)

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne ($37.99)

Nocino della Cristina Napa Valley Walnut Liqueur (375ml) ($32.99)

Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur (750ml) ($39.99)

Luxardo Maraschino Cherries (400g) ($19.99)

Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne ($44.99)

Domaine de Canton Ginger & Cognac Liqueur (750ml) ($34.99)

Launois "Quartz" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($49.99)