By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/14/2026 | Send Email

The Anonymous Willow Creek bottling captures all of the best elements of Paso Robles with any of the pit falls. The wine is wonderfully balanced with an explosive brambly nose, tons of rich, expressive fruit, a silky suave texture on the palate, and balances all that power with great lift and freshness from the limestone soils. The wine shows ripe, brambly red and black berry fruits, baking spice, hints of cracked pepper, violets, rock dust, a subtle flourish of toasty oak. Medium to full bodied, lush and velvety on the palate with sublime purity and polish. I'm so stoked on how this Anonymous bottling came out, it's undeniably delicious and such a remarkable value given the quality of the wine.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/12/2026 | Send Email

This is a fairly singular expression that feels like very intensely concentrated Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. While there's a lot of gooseberry, grapefruit zest, and citrus, there's also this tomato leaf meets pyrazine note that is seemingly everywhere through the nose kind of like having a really nice fruit salad that you also cut up some green peppers into. As you get deeper and deeper into the wine, the green notes start to fall off and more of the bright and pretty fruit starts to come through - this bottle might be worth decanting just to give it a little head start. The palate itself is crisp and so refreshingly dry, pretty citrus with a nice lemony finish that's broken up slightly with some remnant pyrazines. I could see this being an amazing pairing with risotto or a creamy pasta, or even a ratatouille or an herby fish dish.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/12/2026 | Send Email

You know, more and more lately, I've been thinking to myself that I really kinda like Albariño. It's easy, it's friendly, it's got really pretty fruit on it when it's a little fruitier, and when it's not it's got this beautiful citrus profile. It's one of those, even when it's not what you're looking for it's pretty darn good kind of wines. This is nice, very much up my alley, there's a mix of peach and lemon on the nose, ripe enough to make me lean in but citrus enough to make my mouth start to water. The palate is like just underripe peaches, an apricot in the background, and lemon curd. It's really good, super delicious, and exactly what I need as Summer fights the descent into Fall. This is porch wine all the way through, something that I want to have a bite of food with but could easily also just drink the whole bottle sitting on the porch looking at the world slowly changing around me.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/12/2026 | Send Email

There's always something intriguing in the nose of the Ata Rangi wines, something a little more interesting than I expected for some reason. Which, I really should have figured out if it's always, but anyhow - the nose just draws me in. There's this kind of vague dark cloud around this really lovely core of fruit both crunchy and ripe. Cranberry skin, tart cherry juice, little bits of flowers, and a little bit of vanilla and spice give this a really lovingly complex bouquet. It feels like a wine someone cared 110% about. The palate has this beautiful fruit up front that slowly gives way to barrel spice and earth before a little flash of bright red fruit comes back in at the end. This is maybe the best release of the Ata Rangi Pinot Noir that I've had during my time here, it's definitely one of the first I'm going to buy into and get a couplefew bottles, especially some to lay down.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/12/2026 | Send Email

The cute little note on the side of this bottle ends with "... abstinence from immediate consumption will reward." It's a great little note that I think often follows true for a lot of wine, but at the same time here we are doing a review and it must be immediately consumed. A conundrum. The nose is really pretty, with some crunchy fruit in the background but a little bit of sweeter fruit on the nose, like a juicy cherry and a craisin (for those who didn't enjoy their brief cultural relevance, it's a cranberry that has been sweetened and raisined, kinda exactly what it sounds like). I would say that the nose is really pure fruited, it really smells great. The palate is delightful, with some good balance of fruit and savory, with some dense and crunchy fruit on the palate that gives way to spice and tannin and then comes back to a darker fruit. This is really compelling at this price point and would be great with a VERY slight chill on it to make the fruit pop bit a more.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/12/2026 | Send Email

I think I've enjoyed all the releases of the Crimson that I've tried, it's just such an approachable and easy lighter style of Pinot Noir typically, let's find out if that holds true for this release. The nose is really pretty with some crunchy reds, cranberry, tart cherry, pomegranate seeds, and this really pretty floral cushion it's all sitting on. The palate is light and very savory, there's pretty fruit on the sides but in the middle there's this savory slightly herbal note that holds on, this is going to be a massive food wine, just super easy to pair with. Another good one from them, something easy and approachable but sophisticated enough to hold interest.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/11/2026 | Send Email

I really enjoyed a bottle of this savvy last night! Absolutely classic Marlborough Sauv Blanc done really well. Not really surprising when you have a winemaker with several decades of experience at the helm, and fruit from a mature vineyard in one of the best subregions of Marlborough. Wines from the Dillon's Point area like this one often have a wonderfully lifted aromatic profile and even a little salinity from the proximity to the ocean. The Ahi Ka has good texture and length on the palate especially at this remarkably affordable price point! If this late summer heat keeps going I can see several more bottes if this in my future!

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/11/2026 | Send Email

This elegant, savory Pinot Noir impressed me a lot, but after I saw the price, I really got excited. This tastes like the very expensive stuff from the most sought after producers; it has that great beetroot and black cherry that you can only get from a very cold site, and a long classy finish that you would be surprised to find even in a Pinot that cost twice as much. Don't miss this one!

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/11/2026 | Send Email

Today we have a stunning deal on a great bottle of Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnay from longtime stalwart Thomas Fogarty! This absolutely delicious bottle of Chardonnay has had the wonderful benefit of getting a few years to settle in bottle and is drinking in it's prime like a nice bottle of white Burgundy...without the huge price tag! I'm a big fan of Fogarty and what winemaker Nathan Kandler has been doing there for many years. This wine shows great concentration from their estate-grown, mature vine Chardonnay, mostly grown around 2000ft elevation up near Skyline Blvd that runs along the ridgeline of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The wine is packed with that signature rocky minerality, golden orchard fruit, toasted almond and salted citrus. The wine is showing a lovely light golden hue but has tons of energy and freshness with tangy minerals and wonderful length on the palate. Seriously good Chardonnay in a beautiful spot to drink over the next 2-3 years. Incredible value thanks to our winery direct Insider's Advantage discount that get you 50% off!

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

This is the wine that really sealed the deal for me with Two Mountain. It’s a total showstopper. Wildly aromatic and packed with blackcurrant, elderberry, unsmoked cigar, briar patch, crushed rock, leather, toasted spices, and subtle lavender. Fuller-bodied than the Merlot or Cabernet Franc, but still very much in the mid-weight class, it prioritizes varietal expression and balance over sheer power and ripeness. The wine aged for 19 months in a judicious 25% new French oak, just enough to gently polish the edges. Something like Bordeaux meets Mount Veeder? It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what this wine reminds me of. Maybe it’s simply pure Washington goodness at a ludicrously accessible price point.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

Once again, this wine doesn’t shy away from the true character of the variety. This is a Cabernet Franc lover’s Cab Franc. Soaring aromas of dried flowers, tobacco leaf, camphor, redcurrant, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Medium-bodied with a silky mid-palate and lots of energy and drive on the finish, loaded with dusty red fruits and leafy tones. This one evolves beautifully in the glass, so give it a 20–30 minute decant and watch the layers emerge. Again, what a value!

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

One of my favorite wines in the Two Mountain lineup. This bottle makes a great argument for a Merlot resurgence. Juicy, fresh black fruits, huckleberry, cocoa nib, and hints of cigar box lead into a suave texture and lovely balance. Bright acidity keeps the plush fruit nicely linear and energetic. Excellent Merlot for a song!

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

A really fun, crisp, dry rosé made from estate-grown Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wonderfully tart red berry fruits, hints of freshly picked herbs, and spiced citrus peel. Super refreshing and seriously easy drinking.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

A bright, fresh style loaded with citrus and tropical fruit. Fermented entirely in stainless steel to preserve all that zesty fruit character, with a dash of Sémillon for good measure. An amazing value!

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

Composed of 100% Gamay, the 2025 Fabien Collonge Beaujolais Rosé is a lot of fun. It’s chock full of strawberry preserves, cherries, rose petals, and zero pretense. Pair with meals that could use a sip of levity or enjoy during relaxed afternoons in the sun with friends or a good book. This would also make a perfect base for a lively rosé wine spritzer—pour over ice, add a handful of raspberries or sliced strawberries, float with sparkling mineral water, and garnish with a citrus sliver of choice. Not sweet enough? Add a ½ oz. shot of Italicus or St. Germain liqueur. Cheers!

By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

If you want something with real age and complexity, this is the one. A single-vineyard Champagne aged over 15 years on the lees and made with a good amount of Chardonnay, it pours deep gold and smells like baked pear, dried flowers, toasted nuts, and even a bit of spice. It’s rich and layered, with caramelized apple and nutty, earthy tones coming through. But what makes it special is that it’s still fresh—there’s acidity, tension, and a kind of quiet power to it.

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 9/10/2026 | Send Email

A great example of why Albarino has become the most important white varietal from Iberia. It has the classic flavors of stone fruits laced with seashore salinity. The palate is medium bodied, it has crisp, mouth-watering acidity, and there is concentration and persistence to the flavors. This can be enjoyed by itself, but the combination of acidity and minerality makes it so versatile at the dinner table.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/9/2026 | Send Email

Like all great examples of Albariño, this tastes like optimism in a glass. Vivid pear and white peach notes followed by fragrant white blossoms, grapefruit, and at risk of sounding pretentious, Lyle’s Golden Syrup—a sumptuous, golden sugar flavor but without the sweetness. Lyle’s is basically evaporated sugar cane juice. I could simply say sugar cane syrup, but the first sip triggered such a distinct memory, I can’t let the impression go. This delightful but dry sugar cane note is tempered by a refreshing, sunny Meyer lemon finish. Pair this with fried chicken, light seafood dishes, or your good friends on the back patio at sundown.

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/9/2026 | Send Email

Without a doubt, Albariño is one of the most consistently delicious white wines available from Spain — and really, from the entire wine world. There’s a lot to like about the variety: juicy stone fruit aromas, stony minerality, brisk acidity, and a telltale sea spray note that speaks to the wine’s Atlantic origins. The 2024 Valmiñor Albariño is another fantastic example of this flourishing region, balancing serious palate weight with lively, fresh acidity. White nectarine, apricot, orange blossom and Meyer lemon peel burst from the glass, followed quickly by a stony mouthfeel and classic salinity that drives the wine into a long finish. Fermentation and aging in stainless steel enhance the crisp, refreshing feel of the wine. Snappy, brisk and so drinkable, this is the type of wine that is hard to put down. Easy enough to drink on its own, it’s also incredibly food-friendly and would be fantastic paired with crab, shrimp, ceviche, soft cheeses like fresh chèvre, or even just an assortment of salty snacks. For anyone looking for a serious step up from their everyday white, this is an absolute no-brainer at an incredible price.

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/9/2026 | Send Email

We just received the last 200 bottles of our longest aged current release. This is profound, majestic single vineyard champagne, which just arrived direct from the estate where it was grown and made! This wine blew my mind with extraordinary brioche and white flower notes on the nose, subtle elegance in the mouth and a nearly all night finish. I am convinced that this is not only one of the best bottles at K&L, but also an incredible piece of affordable luxury at the price. One of my top releases of the year... But it will not last!

By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 9/9/2026 | Send Email

Baltic Porters are hard to come by, and this one really showcases how wonderful this obscure porter style can be. Rich, full bodied, and complex with notes of tobacco, leather, stewed plums, dried figs, and treacle on the nose. Dark stone fruit, espresso, and molasses are the more prominent notes on the palate. Pohjala makes some killer beers, and this one does not disappoint!

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 9/9/2026 | Send Email

This is an Ata Rangi to seek out. The 2021-2022 was a very good growing season, potentially too good. How can a vintage be too good? When the vineyards that they usually separate out for their reserve bottlings didn’t differentiate themselves enough from each other. So all of that great fruit went into this bottling. This has that classic red fruit profile that I loved from previous bottlings. It has that subtle savory tone that I associate with this wine and the entire region. This is more concentrated than the previous vintage; it carries that extra-ness easily, and it does not feel overstuffed. The winemaking here is incredible: great mouthfeel, driving acidic backbone, a long, lingering finish. This does what next-level Pinot should do: it balances elegance and intensity. Delicious now; I cannot wait to see how this wine evolves. This is serious Pinot Noir.

By: Walden Pemantle | Review Date: 9/8/2026 | Send Email

Usually the most approachable of Boroli's cru wines, the Cerequio is irresistibly charming in 2021. Crushed raspberries, cranberries, rose, and pine needles lead the attack followed by a distinctive truffle note across the palate. Texturally, there is crisp acid and surprisingly resolved tannins for such a young wine. While this is ready to drink now, it will be well worth revisiting over the next 5-10 years as more sous bois and dried fruit aromas add to the impressive chorus.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/8/2026 | Send Email

Don't broadcast this one too much...but we have a very special hidden price on this stunning Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir. Our price today is $26 per bottle below the national average and $10 per bottle lower than our nearest competitor! K&L has a 30+ year history working with the wonderful wines of Eyrie in the Dundee Hills. This iconic estate did as much as anyone to put Oregon wines in the map. Originally planted in the mid-1960s this incredible estate in the heart of the Willamette Valley is renowned for world-class, incredibly age worthy wines and a steadfast dedication to organic and regenerative farming. Second generation vigneron Jason Lett carries on his father's work keeping Eyrie at the very pinnacle of what Oregon can do. However, even the great producers aren't immune to market fluctuations and so here's a great chance to snap up this 97-point Pinot at a killer price and stock up your cellar for years to come.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/6/2026 | Send Email

The 2019 Clendenen Family Vineyards “The Pip” Santa Maria Valley Nebbiolo (Winery Direct Library Release) is absolutely lovely to sip. As I write this, it’s late at night, and I’m having it with crackers and some cold leftover steak after receiving it as a reward from an esteemed K&L colleague for catching (and later releasing in the wooded area of my backyard) a massive wolf spider in her bathroom. I wasn’t planning on drinking wine or even eating dinner, but I couldn’t resist opening this bottle as soon as I got home. After the first sip, I felt more than fairly compensated for my efforts. Black plum, juicy berries, dried rose petals, lemon balm, rooibos tea, and a subtle tarry note unfold across the palate, with a stony mineral quality adding another layer of complexity. It’s light on its feet, with food-friendly acidity and the kind of easygoing character that makes it just as enjoyable with a few casual snacks as it is at the dinner table. At full price, it’s an excellent value. At more than 45% off right now, it’s a screaming deal. Buy this for dinner with friends who know and love wine, particularly fans of the late, great Jim Clendenen and Au Bon Climat. As a library release from such a storied producer, it’s the kind of bottle your host or fellow guests will appreciate without ever knowing how little you paid for it. True to Italian tradition, “The Pip” spent three years aging in large 500-liter Hungarian oak puncheons, followed by another year in bottle before its original release. It has now had an additional seven years to rest and is still going strong, a thoughtful and elegantly rendered expression of Nebbiolo. Dog lovers may also get a kick out of the fact that the Pip series is named for Jim’s beloved late Border Collie, Pip. I can’t help smiling at the thought of the two of them being together again. I like to think that all dogs and great winemakers go to heaven.

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 9/6/2026 | Send Email

There was once a time when we could have nearly anything we wanted in the wonderful Willett warehouses. Back in the day, our friends the Kulsveens didn't have every liquor store in America breaking down their doors to get a barrel of their special bourbon. Until 2012, they had sourced every drop, yet something about those special ricks on the hill behind Bardstown seemed to uniformly create exceptional whisky. Honestly, they were extremely ahead of their time in almost every aspect of their business, but when the distillery opened, the doors to those rickhouses closed. Now we're extremely lucky to get our one barrel a year. It's funny because those stocks are actually controlled by the distributor, and so while we definitely feel like we should be getting the lion's share of the barrels for K&L - after all, we were some of the first to jump on the single barrel bus long ago - it's hard to fault them for only giving us one, considering they have to split their allocations between five states and thousands of stores. But, as I am wont to do, I must push every button when there's something I love and believe my customers will benefit from owning. So the choice to pick a 15-year-old barrel as our only Willett seems easy on paper - an incredibly delicious and rare barrel from the pre-distillation sourced stock - but it was actually incredibly difficult. That's mostly because of this special barrel. This is easily the best own distillate I've yet to taste, and while I'm sure there are many other, perhaps superior, barrels distilled since they opened in 2012, this one was so perfectly balanced and delicious that it absolutely sang to me. So while I ultimately picked the 15-year, I asked Ethan - the single barrel guru at Willett - to hide this sample for a few days while I worked my magic. I began to prod and pester our distributor for an additional barrel allocation, but their hands were tied. They'd already committed every barrel, and I was one of the few in California to get access to a 15-year, so my political capital seemed to be spent. Our final option was to get to the New York market, where our newly opened store had not qualified for an allocation because we were so new to the local distributor there. I begged and pleaded, but the rules in New York are extremely strict. You simply can't be allocated a barrel if there are other accounts that qualify ahead of you. So I simply left it up to fate and begged Ethan to continue guarding that sample. In an amazing stroke of luck, not a few weeks later, I got a call from our supplier in New York saying one of our competitors had backed out of their pick and the allocation had opened up. Without hesitation, I mentioned this incredible barrel, and the rest is history. K&L's first Willett barrel in New York and one of the greatest modern Willetts I've ever tasted. Sometimes the stars align and the gods of bourbon allow you to step through the gates. I'm very lucky to have people in every aspect of this business who care about what we do. They know how much I care for them. They are the bourbon angels who made this possible. I won't go into tasting notes or anything like that here today. I've already been effusive enough, but rest assured, no one who understands the potential greatness that modern Willett can deliver will open this bottle and be disappointed. The barrel is named for the song that came on as we drove up that special drive to the legendary spot, "This Must Be the Place" by Talking Heads. It's true of Willett and that special spot at 270 Madison Ave in the great state of New York. We have arrived.

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 9/5/2026 | Send Email

Long a fan of both the Ata Rangi Pinot Noir's and Rose wines, this newly arrived 2022 fits neatly into my admiration of their past releases. I first noticed the floral rose petal and baking spice infused nose that melds with the scents of tart strawberry compote. On the palate, the first thing I get is some white pepper and ripe strawberry flavors with a touch of dried orange peel. The mouthfeel turns rather plush before the minerals and fine acidity balance the finish. What a very elegant Pinot Noir this is!

By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 9/4/2026 | Send Email

Another great everyday value from our Anonymous Wine project, this blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre is packed with ripe blackberry fruit flavors. The nose is expressive, with plenty of brambly berries alongside a gentle whiff of vanilla. For a wine this powerful and brooding, there is surprising freshness and lift here, concluding with a stoney minerality. A great Paso GSM blend priced to enjoy whenever!

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 9/4/2026 | Send Email

Fitou is one of those regions that has always stuck with me. Many years ago, while visiting some of the cru appellations of the Languedoc, I was able to spend some time with a couple of producers there. It’s the only time I’ve had a chance to visit Fitou, but that landscape left a lasting impression. I was particularly taken with the soils—and those of you who know me know that I needed to add a few samples for my rock collection. Driving through the region, I actually pulled the car over a few times just to look at the incredible stratification of schist exposed along the roadside. And maybe grab a few rocks along the way... That schist is an important part of the character of the inland vineyards of Fitou. Carignan is the signature grape here, and it does really well in schist. It is generally joined by Grenache and Syrah, and together they produce wines with plenty of dark fruit, spice and a distinctly Mediterranean savory personality. Fitou is a rugged, somewhat remote part of the Languedoc and it very much feels well off the beaten path. Château de Ségure has an especially interesting history. Perched above the village of Tuchan, the château dates back to the 11th century and was once connected to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide, with wine produced for the monastery. Today their vineyards encompass schist, limestone and clay soils, with the Fitou centered around Carignan, Grenache and Syrah. It’s exactly the kind of property that makes this region so compelling—distinctive terroir, plenty of history and wines that can still offer tremendous value. This vintage is a blend of 40% Carignan, 40% Grenache and 20% Syrah. The wine opens with notes of blackberry, toasted herbs, roasted fig and grilled meat. That savory edge gives the wine plenty of personality and firmly plants you in the Mediterranean. The fruit is ripe but never sweet, with layers of spice and supple tannins carrying through the finish. This is another great addition to my weeknight rotation and should appeal to fans of Spanish reds, Côtes du Rhône and the rustic, savory reds of southern Italy.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 9/4/2026 | Send Email

If you like big, powerful, mountain-grown Cabernet, sit up and pay attention! Once known as Hidden Ridge, Immortal Estate is a project from Tim Martin of cult Napa winery Tusk. The winemaker at Immortal is Tim Milos, who has consulted for some of the biggest names in the region. This estate has a long history of producing intense, rich, bold Cabernets that combine tremendous fruit concentration and flesh with an underlying savory, rocky minerality. Robert Parker himself once proclaimed, “These are clearly world-class Cabernet Sauvignons and should be considered by any serious collector for their cellars.” Hailing from the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder, this wine shares plenty of character with its Napa neighbors on the southern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. Here, extremely rocky soils force the vines to struggle, producing intensely concentrated flavors, while the wild chaparral covering the mountainsides lends another layer of savory complexity that has become part of the estate’s signature. The 2019 Immortal “Slope” Cabernet is just beginning to come into its own, as its muscular structure starts to relax and the savory complexities of the site begin to peek through the lush, powerful fruit profile. This is serious mountain Cabernet with both richness and a distinctive sense of place. We have incredibly sharp pricing on this beauty, and while it’s drinking beautifully now, there’s plenty of upside for continued cellaring. Enjoy!

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 9/3/2026 | Send Email

This lovely little barrel was selected in the winter of 2025 and bottled in late spring of 2026, just before its 8th birthday. This beautiful style from Heaven Hill is totally distinct from the others we see, offering another window into the massive operation that represents the second-largest stocks of bourbon in the world. Within the structure of this massive operation, the Heaven Hill single barrel seems to be the most elusive. We've technically selected another almost a year prior to the release of this barrel, but it seems to have never been bottled, so this is the first and maybe the last we'll ever see. Heaven Hill's barrel program is in flux and always changing. It's one of the best out there, but we sometimes lose opportunities that we love, like the recently retired Rittenhouse barrel program. Every year is a new surprise with our wonderful friends at Heaven Hill, and we'll keep showing up to see what they do next. Let's have a taste! The color is a classical burnished hue (1.1). The nose is zesty and inviting with sweet peach skins, honey-covered oats, tangerine peel, light-roast Arabica, and complex sweet herbs, woodruff & hyssop. The palate is extremely open and drinkable with a beautiful medium body and a rich roasted pecan backbone. The sweet herbs and stone fruit compete on the palate, but ultimately it's extremely well balanced and opulent without being overwrought. This is some of the most elegant bourbon we've ever had grace our glasses and a welcome departure from the big, oaky, intense style that we're often getting these days. Maybe it leans slightly into the aperitif styles, but isn't at all lacking in character. A wonderful pick I'm proud to get behind.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 9/3/2026 | Send Email

I’ve been watching Brane-Cantenac closely over the past decade as they’ve steadily raised their game, delivering some of the most refined and rewarding releases in Margaux during that time. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re among the kindest and most welcoming people in Bordeaux. But while their wines have been on the rise, the 2022 is on an entirely different level. Neal Martin even called it out in his recent Southwold tasting as "a wine for the ages," where it ranked fifth in the entire vintage, outscoring a few First Growths. The 2022 Brane-Cantenac leads with tons of typicité, showing unmistakable Margaux notes of florals, blackcurrant, and spice. The palate has a Cab-forward character, oscillating between black and red fruits, plum, cedar, graphite, and more. But the true mastery lies in its incredible freshness, textural refinement, and precision—the tannins are so pure, and the wine endlessly refreshing and long. To find this kind of ethereal expression in such a powerful vintage is a real tribute to the work being done at Brane-Cantenac. This deserves to be in the conversation for the top wine of Margaux—and one of the greats of the Left Bank in 2022. Considering that, the asking price is also very impressive.

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/2/2026 | Send Email

The younger sibling to Ata Rangi’s estate Pinot Noir, the Crimson Pinot Noir is made from younger vines on the property and offers a more youthful, zesty style. Packed with crunchy red fruit notes – cranberry, rhubarb, red currant – this wine also has surprising grip and tension on the palate, framed by elevated acidity. Bright, focused and anchored by definitive New Zeland purity of fruit, this is another fantastic and very classic release from Ata Rangi. This wine would be delicious served with a slight chill, alongside a charcuterie plate or even wood-fired pizza. Uncomplicated and very pretty on the palate, with an almost lacey mouthfeel, this wine is a wonderful entry point to the benchmark wines of Ata Rangi.

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/2/2026 | Send Email

I can’t think of many wines that capture the essence of New Zealand quite like Ata Rangi does. Quintessentially New World Pinot Noir, bursting with youthful red fruit notes of pomegranate, cherry and wild strawberry, there is also a vibrancy and clarity to this wine thar speaks to its New Zealand roots. It’s just so pure, so crystalline and almost electric in feel on the palate. There is also a quiet tension and underlying current of savoriness that adds complexity. Medium-bodied but remarkably persistent, this is a wine that favors finesse and transparency over sheer power, ending with a long, lingering finish. Easily one of the top examples of Pinot Noir in the Southern Hemisphere, this is a wine that should be in every collector’s cellar. It’s delicious now, but has the fine-boned structure, bright acidity and ample concentration that will allow it to age for years to come.

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 9/2/2026 | Send Email

A zesty, lemony cream pie of a nose waves an enthusiastic hello, followed by perfectly tart apple and bits of almond butter around the edges. On the palate, this rips with a push pull between freshness and texture that leaves you wanting (re: needing) another glass. Fortunately, you can have one, because this bombshell is only $34.99. A great reminder that great Burgundy doesn’t have to cost great sums of money.

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 9/1/2026 | Send Email

There's something so interesting about what Rare Character does with each of these special lots. The first thing is that the product is basically the same price whether it's 8 or 12 years old. The value comes from their incredible ability to source excellent small lots. The second is that every lot has some specific trait or attribute that distinguishes it from the last. We've done several Indiana bourbons with Rare Character, but not one has been similar to the next. Meanwhile, we still have brands coming to us trying to sell 9- and 10-year-old Indiana bourbon for $150+ a bottle. It's crazy! The distillery itself has seen the writing on the wall and released a 10-year-old, small-batch, high-proof product for under $100 this year. And of course Rare Character lets its customers choose the barrels, so any pick is only as good as the person selecting. Luckily, I've got the edge here. We tend to get first crack at any set of samples that hits the California market. It's rare that I find a sample in an RC set that I think is outright bad. Maybe it's never happened. But getting first crack at those samples definitely has its advantages, and this killer barrel is proof of that. On paper, what we've got here is an unusually high-quality barrel filled with nicely aged bourbon at a lower-than-standard entry proof. That lower entry proof is a super unique factor here. Combined with the heavy-char Canton barrel, it creates an extremely unusual set of characteristics that is simply not the norm in bourbon production, a category that can sometimes feel remarkably uniform. Let's have a go at it! The color is a shimmering chestnut (1.2). The nose bursts forth with beautiful aromas of honey, jasmine tea, honeysuckle, and dried apricots, punctuated by dense savory herbal aromatics of evergreen, mint, charred oak, baking spice, and dill. The palate is bold and spicy, with the barrel and rye spices duking it out up front: peppery, clove-y, and pointed. That tense front palate is juxtaposed perfectly against an almost tropical finish, moving quickly from hearty woody spice into overripe pineapple, sweet wildflower honey, candied peaches, and sweet vanilla bean. I can't tell if it's the barrel, the low entry proof, or just the dope lot, but this is one of the most enjoyable MGPs we've bottled in many years. It falls way outside the norm in the best possible way.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/31/2026 | Send Email

The 2022 Fuligni "Ginestreto" Rosso di Montalcino is a fiercely unmanipulated translation of the Cottimelli estate’s high-elevation, northeast-facing slopes. It opens with an cold-toned aromatic array: dried blood orange peel, crushed slate, wild rosemary, and a distinct ferrous minerality. Ultra-fine, chalky tannins frame the mid-palate with strict precision, keeping the wine focused through the back half. This is a radically structured, terroir-driven benchmark that punches far above its classification and demands serious culinary pairing. This is the definition of Baby Brunello.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/31/2026 | Send Email

Poggiarellino’s 2024 Rosso di Montalcino is a masterclass in raw site transparency. Rooted in the calcareous-clay soils of their small estate, this vintage is fiercely unmanipulated, reflecting the quiet, hands-on ethos of traditional Sangiovese production. It opens with an austere, cold-toned aromatic strike of wild Mediterranean macchia, dried pomegranate, and crushed terracotta. On the palate, the fruit profile is intensely crunchy—brimming with sour red cherry and tart wild strawberry skin, a classic old school Rosso that as a lot to offer at this price point.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/31/2026 | Send Email

Securing a significant parcel of 2019 Brunello di Montalcino at this stage in its evolution is a massive coup. Universally recognized as one of the greatest vintages in the history of the denomination, the 2019s possess a rare, effortless power. We managed to land a prime allocation of their flagship bottling right as it enters an absolutely perfect drinking window, offering a masterclass in unmanipulated Sangiovese that completely rejects the modern, heavy-handed playbook. What makes this specific parcel so compelling right now is how seamlessly those structural elements have integrated. The finish is relentless, tapering into a long, mineral-etched crescendo that culminates in a brilliant, mouth-watering saline snap. It is a thrilling, terroir-driven benchmark from a legendary vintage, ready. Now.

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 8/31/2026 | Send Email

From the same area of Oak Knoll that produced the 1973 Judgement of Paris-winning Chardonnay—and it drinks like that lineage. White peach, green apple, and jasmine over a whisper of honeycomb, all in tight focus. Entirely neutral oak and only partial malo keep it lean, crisp, and mineral, the volcanic-and-marine-shale soils lending real cut. Medium-bodied, energetic, and pure. Anyone expecting oaky-buttery Napa Chard will be happily disarmed. Absurd value at $15.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/31/2026 | Send Email

A piece of history in the bottle! This Chardonnay comes from the legendary Muir-Hanna Vineyard on the western edge of Oak Knoll. This small sub-region of Oak Knoll produced the now-legendary 1973 Chardonnay, which took top honors at the Judgment of Paris tasting in 1976. This part of Oak Knoll has long been renowned for producing world-class Chardonnay. Ancient marine sedimentary soils eroding down from Mount Veeder meet gravels laid down by the Napa River. The cool climate and daily fog allow for long, slow ripening while preserving bright, fresh acidity. Trois Noix's expression of this legendary site allows the pristine fruit to do all the talking, with native fermentation and aging entirely in neutral oak. This is much more Chablis-inspired and mineral-driven than a big, oaky butter bomb. Crunchy orchard fruit, chalky minerals, and a long, salivating finish. A great bottle that will only continue to improve over the next 2-4 years. A ridiculous price for great Chardonnay.

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/31/2026 | Send Email

There is so much to love about a good Côtes du Rhône. They’re food-friendly, offer a wonderful mix of terroir and fruit, and seldom do much damage to your bank account. Outside of a few other southern French reds and a handful of delicious Spanish and Italian regional wines, Côtes du Rhône remains one of those categories that—dare I say it—consistently punches above its weight class. Gravennes was a discovery through one of our local import partners, who I always enjoy working with. They have a knack for hunting down fun, eclectic wines with little or no representation in the market, and quite often we’re able to secure an exclusive. Gravennes is one of those sweetheart deals. A top performer at the Decanter World Wine Awards, this was already a wine I had on my radar. Luckily, our partner was able to track it down and get a sample in front of me—and it was terrific right out of the glass. Brambly blackberry fruit leads the way, with notes of tobacco, wild thyme, candied strawberry and lightly smoked meat adding the savory complexity that can really drive this style of wine home. Few things speak more loudly in the glass than a humble Côtes du Rhône that overdelivers, and this one projects its voice beautifully. Sadly, we weren’t able to secure nearly as much inventory as I think the wine could support, so we only get one pass at it. Grab a few bottles—or a case—before it disappears. This is exactly the kind of wine you’ll want in the weekly rotation as summer gives way to fall.

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 8/29/2026 | Send Email

This is a delightful Sauvignon Blanc. It has fresh, lifted aromatics. The wines mouthwatering acidity is buffered by its surprising concentration and nice mouthfeel. This wine has a lot going for it and is reasonably priced.

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/28/2026 | Send Email

Very few developments from the KY side of Suntory have been met with such enthusiasm as their decision to start bottling these Knob Creeks at full cask strength. The brand has long been a stable on our shelves at the classic 120 proof, but being able to pick barrels at full strength brings them up to par with their competitors -Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses- who have offered proper cask strength product now for many years as single barrels. But what's really interesting is that Beam has seemed to simulateounsly expand the available flavor profile of these special casks, so while it seemed that previous expressions were offered in a relatively narrow range of flavor profiles, this new program is offering incredible diversity of character. And while a single barrel of Stagg Junior at 7-8 years old would sell out in an instant at $150, Knob Creek needs to over deliver in terms of quality to be at all viable in the current market. This impeccable barrel does so and so distinctly outside of the Beam profile, we're reminded of the massive diversity of flavor that this excellent old distillery really can offer. Here we go! The color is a classical mahogany (1.5). The nose begs a deeper whiff with dense red cherry sauce, deep sweet undertones of roasted sugar, tense sarsaparilla, caramel sauce, pomegranate syrup, vanilla cream and tinned peach. The palate is powerful red fruit and deep charred oak with no typical Beam peanut notes at all. If this was in a Stagg bottle no one would blink an eye at paying $200 a bottle for a 9+ year old product, but people still need convincing that knobs got the goods. This is the perfect blinder to trick your friends into loving Beam products. Absolutely delicious stuff.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/28/2026 | Send Email

The 2020 Randi Burson “Randi Selezione” Ravenna IGT is a wine that looks like a void and tastes like a mouthful of ripe forest berries. It’s imbued with violets and all sorts of fresh forest notions: coniferous trees, wet stones, damp earth, pure wilderness. Dark, inky, and luscious, it makes me feel like a foraging bear, and I’m ravenous for more. With real energy and lift, it’s rich and full-bodied but invigorating at the same time. I’ve never tasted anything quite like it, which makes sense when you learn that it’s made from Uva Longanesi, a little-known indigenous variety from Emilia-Romagna. Approximately 70% of the fruit is dried for 60 days prior to fermentation, then it spends 24 months in French oak tonneaux. That appassimento step is everything here. It’s a labor of love that clearly comes across in the glass. This is the kind of wine I love discovering—a wine that takes me places, stirs my imagination, and makes me think about who I want to drink it with. It’s distinctive without being weird or difficult, full of flavor without losing its sense of place, and it over-delivers for the price. Hat tip to our Italian wine buyer Orazio Campoli. I’ve never bought as much Italian wine in my five years at K&L as I have since he took over the program.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/28/2026 | Send Email

The 2024 Cascina Alberta Nebbiolo Langhe is composed of Nebbiolo sourced from Treiso—one of Barbaresco's four communes—and is basically Barbaresco on the down low. It’s also one of the best Langhe Nebbiolos for the buck. Made from organically farmed young Nebbiolo grown at high elevation and aged in large Slavonian oak casks, it’s pale garnet, refreshing, and wonderfully atmospheric. It reminds me of a gentleman’s outfitter in London, with Earl Grey tea, tobacco, violet pastilles, and rose petals framed by fresh raspberry and hibiscus. You could even give it a slight chill. It’s the sort of Nebbiolo that makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Nebbiolo.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/28/2026 | Send Email

The 2024 Contrada Soarda Vespaiolo is made from a native grape grown in the volcanic soils of the Breganze DOC, in the foothills of northeastern Italy’s Veneto region. Vespaiolo is sometimes dried to make the region’s sweet Torcolato wines, but this expression is decidedly dry, with bright, refreshing acidity. Its name comes from the Italian word for “wasps,” which are famously drawn to the grape’s naturally sugary berries. Again, this rendition is dry—it's so flavorful, and simply a joy to drink, with notes of honeyed pear, white peach, Meyer lemon, white tea, and a hint of jasmine. It would be lovely with light fish dishes like petrale sole, baked cod, or halibut, and equally at home alongside a chicken salad or a few simple snacks. Or you could just come home from work and drink it, like I did. Dress it up or keep things casual—this is an effortlessly versatile wine. I especially like bringing bottles like this to dinner because it offers something a little unexpected. Plus, it’s not Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, so guests can check their preconceived notions at the door. Everyone can simply pour a glass and enjoy it.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/28/2026 | Send Email

I'm so happy to see another edition of TWR rosé hit our selves! I've been enjoying this wine for over a decade now and it never fails to impress. Jason and Anna truly craft this wine from vine to bottle specifically for rosé. This is an intentional, deliberate, thoughtfully made rosé and it shows in the purity and vibrancy of the wine. Incredibly aromatic with alpine strawberry, pomegranate, orange oil, baking spice. Pristine red berry fruits on the palate and some wet river stone mineral. Hints of spiced citrus peel and blackcurrant leaf, too. So refreshing and quaffable. Love this wine! Cheers.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/28/2026 | Send Email

Caraccioli’s Escolle Vineyard is quickly establishing itself as one of the finest vineyards in coastal California. This small, family-owned estate in the beautiful Santa Lucia Highlands has earned a formidable reputation in recent years, with wines from Escolle increasingly topping vintage reports, earning massive scores, and drawing effusive praise from some of the country’s most respected critics. Now in the hands of the fourth generation of the Swiss-Italian Caraccioli family, this is a true family endeavor, with meticulous attention paid to every detail in both vineyard and cellar. Across the wines, there is a distinctive signature: concentrated, crystalline fruit, vibrant acidity, and a deeply saline mineral core. Escolle sits just a few miles inland from Monterey Bay, where cold winds funnel relentlessly down the Salinas Valley. This is a genuinely ultra-cool-climate site. The vines are planted in decomposed granitic loam on an elevated bench tucked against the mountains rising toward Big Sur, producing fruit with remarkable intensity while preserving incredible freshness and tension. Once that pristine fruit reaches the winery, everything remains small-scale, hands-on, and traditional. The grapes are even pressed in a Champagne-style Coquard wooden basket press. Caraccioli initially became renowned for its stunning sparkling wines, crafted for many years by the late Michel Salgues. While those wines remain world-class, the estate’s still wines have increasingly stepped into the spotlight - and this Chardonnay makes it very easy to understand why. Fermented in stainless steel and then aged in large-format French oak puncheons, the wine has a piercing streak of stony minerality running straight through its core. Bright, juicy citrus fruit is mouthwatering and vivid, joined by crushed quince, salted lemon, golden peach, and peach pit. More savory notes of Marcona almond, rock salt, white oak, and barley flour emerge with air, all beautifully delineated across the palate. The tension is stunning, the length impressive, and the balance between power and precision is exceptional. This is serious Chardonnay: layered, complex, and wonderfully expressive, with a personality that continues to build as it opens in the glass. It’s a wine you can study as it unfurls over the course of a meal, but it also has the structure and energy to develop beautifully in the cellar. If you haven’t yet experienced Escolle Vineyard or the wines of Caraccioli, this is a great place to start. It captures everything that has made this site one of the most exciting vineyards on the California coast - and once you taste it, all the recent hype suddenly makes perfect sense. Enjoy, cheers!

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 8/27/2026 | Send Email

This is a superb Champagne from one of the best vintages and it is magnificent in its structure and power with lovely brioche and saline minerality that lingers for a long time. Lemon curd and almond paste compliment the boldness of acidity and balance it perfectly. This is a beautiful and complex Champagne worthy of any celebration.