K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2024 Ata Rangi "Crimson" Pinot Noir Martinborough

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.

Price: $29.99

2022 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough

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.

Price: $69.99

2023 Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc "Les Sétilles"

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.

Price: $34.99

JS: 93

DC: 90

WS: 90

Rare Character 11 Year "Untitled by Chris King" K&L Liquors Exclusive Single Barrel #HRC-5018 Cask Strength Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

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.

Price: $109.99

2022 Fuligni "Ginestreto" Rosso di Montalcino

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.

Price: $39.99

VN: 93

DC: 92

RP: 90

2024 Poggiarellino Rosso di Montalcino

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.

Price: $24.99

2019 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino

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.

Price: $89.99

Wine Club

$82.99

2024 Trois Noix "Muir Hanna Vineyard" Oak Knoll District Napa Valley Chardonnay

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.

Price: Hidden

TWP: 94

2024 Trois Noix "Muir Hanna Vineyard" Oak Knoll District Napa Valley Chardonnay

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.

Price: Hidden

TWP: 94

2024 Domaine des Gravennes "Lou Pitchoun" Côtes-du-Rhône

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.

Price: $16.99

DC: 95

JS: 90

2024 Ahi Ka "Blackmore Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough

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.

Price: $14.99

BC: 92

VN: 92

Knob Creek 9 Year and 9 Month Old "Cask Strength Single Barrel Select - Warehouse J Floor 3 Rick 38" K&L Exclusive Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

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.

Price: $64.99

2020 Randi Burson 'Randi Selezione' Ravenna IGT

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.

Price: Hidden

2024 Cascina Alberta Nebbiolo Langhe

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.

Price: $24.99

Wine Club

$19.99

2024 Contrada Soarda Vespaiolo

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.

Price: $24.99

Wine Club

$19.99

2024 TWR (Te Whare Ra) "SV5182 Single Vineyard" Rosé Marlborough

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.

Price: $19.99

BC: 95

SK: 95

RP: 92

2023 Caraccioli "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

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!

Price: $34.95

JD: 98

VN: 94

2022 Brane-Cantenac, Margaux

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

’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.

Price: $119.99

2009 Chadenne "La Fleur" Fronsac

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/27/2026 | Send Email

Wow! The nose on this 2009 Chadenne "La Fleur" Fronsac is gorgeous. Composed primarily of Merlot and hailing from a much-lauded vintage, especially on the Right Bank, it's still fresh and vibrant as it uncoils in the glass after being cooped up in a bottle for 17 years. This is exactly what I look for in a proper claret. It's sitting next to my mouse as I type, and I'm captivated by the wonderful aromas coming off the glass: juicy plums, blackcurrants, tobacco, soft spice, and earthy tones invite the first sip. It's all the more exciting given its ridiculously low price. On the palate, it's surprisingly reserved and refined, neatly structured with the refreshing snap of skin as you sink your teeth into a ripe plum. Cassis, blood orange, black tea, vanilla, and hints of iron oxide round out the mid-palate, while its blackcurrant core lingers on the finish alongside whispers of orange zest and sandalwood. It wears its age and opulent vintage well — don't we all aspire to this? The pricing is phenomenal for the quality, making it a solid case-buy candidate, whether for special events or simply to hoard all for yourself. I intend to do a little bit of both.

Price: $19.99

2009 Chadenne "La Fleur" Fronsac

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/26/2026 | Send Email

This new discovery is almost too good to be true. Chateau Chadenne's La Fleur is a gorgeous Fronsac from the famed 2009 vintage, a wine that I fell head over heels for when tasting a few months back and couldn't wait to share with folks at K&L. It's now here and stands tall as one of the best buys in Bordeaux, the kind of combination of value, vintage, and age that you really don't see anywhere else. Just as when I first tasted it, I'm enamored with how fresh and lively this 2009 is. When I think about how the style and panache of the 2009 vintage should evolve with time, it tastes like this. Floral and wild berry aromas lead to a palate that's full of red-to-black fruit, terrific acid lift, and well-integrated tannins that follow through to a finish with a stony, mineral edge that feels very much at home in Fronsac's clay-limestone hills, along with a touch of spice. A beautiful combination of freshness and richness, it hits all the hallmarks of this celebrated vintage. A remarkable wine that defies its low price, this is one to buy by the case. It will impress wine drinkers of all stripes and, given how fresh, composed, and vibrant it remains today, should continue to evolve gracefully for another ten to twenty years. This is a modern classic and a not-to-be-missed value.

Price: $19.99

Daniel Bouju "Royal" Brut De Fut Grand Champagne Cognac

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/25/2026 | Send Email

This is a monster. We rarely see high-proof Cognac that's both affordable and delicious, but the Royal is exactly that. The Royal is bottled at an astonishing 120 proof, yet the nose exhibits no bitter ethanol or burn. The high proof is a vehicle for aroma and flavor here. Instead of harshness, we get a pungent mixture of dried stone fruit, varnishy old wood, tobacco, and wooden cellar. The palate is ultra-textured and concentrated, with a building peppery spice that overwhelms the fruit by the finish. A heavy, almost thick, and sweeter-than-expected entry leads to a bold, spicy, dry finish. It's an absolute treat. Bouju claims to add absolutely nothing to this special Cognac, and that big, dry finish might confirm his claims. A stupendous product with a cult following. It never lasts long when we have it.

Price: $99.99

Daniel Bouju Tres Vieux "Brut de Fut" K&L Exclusive Premier Cru de Cognac Grand Champagne Cognac

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/25/2026 | Send Email

This is one of the most exciting Cognacs we've ever stocked, particularly now that we're able to offer it at a price that better reflects just how extraordinary the age and pedigree are. It's a total bomb, not suited for most large-house Cognac drinkers, but it will easily win over lovers of old, unobtainable American whiskey, intensely sherried malt, or cask-strength Armagnac. Lovers of dense and powerful dark spirits of any kind, take note. This is a selection from Bouju's oldest stocks, with a minimum age of around 40 years and a not insignificant proportion of brandies much, much older, perhaps 80+ years old. According to M. Bouju, it's bottled without coloring, filtration, or reduction of any kind. He insists the excessively dark color is the result of that lack of reduction, something that normally happens several times during an eau-de-vie's maturation and blending. Instead, he distills and reduces slightly before barreling, then does absolutely nothing else for the next four decades. When it reaches 100 proof naturally, it's transferred into a special vat, from which only a portion is removed for each bottling. So the young, 40-year-old Cognac mingles with small portions of every previous batch that has gone into the vat. The resulting Cognac is a force of nature. The nose puts us squarely in bourbon land: dense, dry, and woodsy, with fruit compote of figs and plums, cacao nibs, sweet herbs, and all kinds of baking spice. Relatively gentle on the palate considering the high proof, but very dry, with dark fruit and a huge minty, herbal finish. A benchmark by any standard. 5 Stars.

Price: $199.99

2023 Trois Noix "Rancho Pequeño Vineyard" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/25/2026 | Send Email

Rancho Pequeño is the Araujo family's own estate vineyard on the prime east Oakville bench at the foot of the Vaca Mountains. This small vineyard just off Silverado Trail sits on an alluvial fan of volcanic rocks that have tumbled down from the neighboring mountainside. This small part of Napa is famed for producing some of the most highly prized Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in the entire region. As you might expect, Jaime produced this Cabernet in a very Old World-inspired style, favoring structure, savory varietal character, and complexity rather than chasing an overtly ripe, super-fruity style. In many ways, this is quite the opposite of what one might expect from east Oakville fruit, feeling perhaps more Coombsville-esque. The wine has brooding dark fruit with sage, mulberry, camphor, cedar, graphite, and iron. It's long and linear on the palate rather than thick and jamy, with savory cedar and leather emerging as well. The noble tannins here suggest a good decant if drinking young, allowing the wine some time to relax. There's a long life ahead here for sure. I think this will be a fascinating 10 - 15-year wine and probably a 20-year wine if cellared well.

Price: Hidden

DC: 97

2024 Trois Noix "Ryan's Vineyard" Oak Knoll District Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/25/2026 | Send Email

Ryan's Vineyard is one of the best sites in Napa Valley for Sauvignon Blanc. This 30-year-old, organically farmed parcel in the cool Oak Knoll District of southern Napa Valley enjoys daily fog and deep silt soils that are perfect for the variety. Meticulously farmed by Jim Verhey, this is a longtime source for Accendo's Sauvignon Blanc, which sells for $80 a bottle. The 2024 Ryan's Sauvignon Blanc is predominantly made from Musqué clone (66%), famed for its floral aromatics and more tropical fruit profile. The remaining 34% comes from a crisper, more citrus- and mineral-driven clone that balances the blend beautifully. The wine was aged entirely in neutral French oak barrels for five months to build texture and complexity. I LOVE Sauvignon Blanc, and this has quickly become my new house white.

Price: Hidden

JS: 94

TWP: 94

2021 Jonata "Todos" Ballard Canyon Red Blend

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/24/2026 | Send Email

I have always loved the Todos bottling from Jonata. As a "whole" assemblage of what they grown on the estate, this wine gives a perfect snapshot of time and place without the big price tag many of the other wines carry. In many vintages, such as this, I think the wine is just as impressive as some of its more expensive stable mates. As per usual, the 2021 Todos is a Syrah driven blend (66%), with a good amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (18%), and Petite Sirah (12%) in the mix that bolsters the mid-palate richness. Jonata estate sits in the hills above Ballard Canyon. The vines grow in fine sandy soils over limestone bedrock. The wines from here are potent with soaring aromatics, deeply concentrated fruit and powerful structure. Winemaker Matt Dees (considered by many as one of the most talented winemakers in the state) has elevated Jonata to be one of the crown jewels of Santa Barbara County. The quality and consistency here is not surprising when you consider Jonata is under the same ownership as Screaming Eagle in Napa Valley! Jonata's Todos is an everyday steal at the typical $60 price point...but today on our Insider's Advantage program we're offering another 33% off making this an absolute no-brainer.

Price: Hidden

2023 Argyros Estate "Cuvée Palatia" Assyrtiko Santorini Greece

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/24/2026 | Send Email

Argyros is one of the most historic properties on the island of Santorini. The winery was established in 1903, though the family had been growers long before that. Today, Matthew Argyros helms the estate, following in the footsteps of his father, Yiannis Argyros, one of the classic vignerons of Santorini. The wines have always had tremendous appeal, and the estate itself is a captivating visit, showcasing the rugged terrain and difficult growing conditions that make the wines of Santorini so complex and intriguing. Cuvée Palatia is a selection from top sites, showcasing the beautiful volcanic character and intensity that Santorini’s dry climate brings to the wines. It is brimming with succulent mineral aromas of wet stone and a wisp of sea breeze, balanced by ripe peach, brined apple, smoked lemon peel and white pepper. There is plenty of intensity here, but also freshness and precision. Argyros goes beyond simply making great wine—they are one of the benchmark estates of Santorini, and their wines consistently deliver the distinctive character that makes this region so compelling.

Price: $64.99

RP: 95

DC: 93

VN: 92

2023 Caraccioli "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/22/2026 | Send Email

Sourced from a cool site known for producing mostly sparkling wines, the 2023 Caraccioli "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay is a huge mouthful of Chardonnay fabulosity. It’s spectacularly zaftig; there’s really no other way to put it. The mouthfeel is plush and the flavors are vivid with baked apple, poached pear, amber honey, bergamot and lemon zest followed by waves of baking spices, vanilla bean, toasted hazelnut, and golden laminated pastry. The grapes are mostly Hyde Wente Clone planted in decomposed granitic loam soils. The fruit was whole-cluster pressed in a wooden Coquard basket press, fermented in stainless steel, and then aged in large French oak puncheons. This is a treat bottle for me, the kind I reach for when I want flavor and I want it now. I have a bottle waiting for the right moment, and I bought one for a friend who I hope won’t be as hung up as I am about finding the perfect occasion. I need to practice what I preach. Just drink this! It's one of those John 2:10 wines. So very, very good. Hat tip to buyer Ryan Woodhouse for sussing out this exquisitely rendered little treasure.

Price: $34.95

JD: 98

VN: 94

Baron-Fuenté "Quinconce" Grand Cru Brut Champagne

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/21/2026 | Send Email

Finding Grand Cru Champagne for a reasonable price is becoming as rare as hen’s teeth these days. The Baron-Fuenté "Quinconce" Grand Cru Brut Champagne falls squarely into the best-value category for elevated everyday sipping. It’s dry yet remarkably generous thanks to seven years of beauty sleep on its lees. Notes of golden apple, toasted brioche, Marcona almond, and candied lemon peel provide a beautiful lift and freshness to its racy, lightly textured frame. Pair with friends and a charcuterie board for a lovely evening.

Price: $49.99

Wine Club

$39.99

JS: 92

VN: 92

Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #27 Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/20/2026 | Send Email

The Grand Siècle from Laurent Perrier is true tête de cuvée; the tiny amount of this wine is selected out from only the very best parcels and vintages of their quite large production. The tank room for the reserve wines is smaller than my living room! The 27th iteration is an audacious blend of three vintages: 2015, the hottest in history up to that point, 2013, the only cold October harvest of my career in champagne and 2012, the “has it all” vintage to tie it all together. This wines 10 years on the lees has given it a classy, subtle brioche frame, but the star of the show is the freshness and the high-quality citrus fruit. I love the Puligny like lime and rich Meyer lemon in this wine. We paired it at home with stuffed avocados and the spicy tuna brought out the cut and highlighted the minerality of this delicious champagne.

Price: $274.99

JS: 99

JD: 98

2019 Lété-Vautrain "Echo" Blanc de Noirs Champagne

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/19/2026 | Send Email

A K&L Direct Import, the 2019 Lété-Vautrain "Echo" Blanc de Noirs Champagne is composed of 75% Meunier and 25% Pinot Noir and aged a minimum of six years on the lees. My first impression was, “Oh. Wow. This is unique indeed.” My palate raced past the usual golden apple, crème anglaise, and lemon notes, wanting to cozy up to the sensory notions lingering in the shadows. Quince, honey, ginger, and orange blossom water—oh, hello there. It took a few sips to capture, but this is exquisite. The bead is so fine. It’s perfect for those who think they’ve tasted it all in Champagne.

Price: $49.99

Wine Club

$39.99

WE: 91

2023 Tua Rita "Rosso dei Notri" Toscana Super Tuscan

By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 8/19/2026 | Send Email

I was absolutely blown away when I saw this wine hit our shelves at 19.99 (even better, for wine club members, just 14.99). Tua Rita is quite possibly my favorite Supe Tuscan house - from their Merlot to Syrah, anytime I am able to enjoy and savor a bottle from Tua Rita it's an absolute gem. But we cant always be opening Redigaffi or Per Sempre - sometimes you want the elegance and complexity, without the huge price tag. This wine here delivers on all fronts - beautiful acidity, integrated but strong tannin, and incredible length on the finish - it feels like such a steal. The wine opens with notes of fresh cherries with a hint of spice and earthiness, and on the palate you are met with intense red fruits, zingy acid, and even a bit of citrus and saline from the coastal influence of the vineyards. You'd be missing out if you didn't take on of these home - or even 3-6.

Price: $19.99

Wine Club

$14.99

JS: 93

K&L Liquors 15 Year Old Single Barrel #179 Cask Strength Organic California Brandy (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/19/2026 | Send Email

I've done some crazy things here at K&L over the years. $180 barrel aged Japanese Gin? 20 barrels of delicious single malt, declassified from that coveted category to meager Blended Malt to avoid tariffs? A whole barrel of Fernet?! Hell yes. Of all the crazy things I've done though, this one might just be the craziest. I was honestly astonished when my Oliver McCrum rep waltzed into the store one morning with six barrel samples from the lovely little Biodynamic farm in Fresno known for producing unusual spirits and collaborating with Thad Vogler and Bar Agricole on one of the best California brandies on the market. Even more intriguing were the random numbers and weird scribbles across the samples: 204 150 prof, 203 150 pr, 200 159pf, 199 160 proos, 178 164 p, 179 174 pF. 174 proof? Holy hell, there’s no way this is real. As is customary, I started with what appeared to be the lowest proof, a mere 75% alcohol by volume. Solid, oaky fruit, but hot. On we went until reaching the silliest of them all, barrel 179 at an astonishing 174 proof, or 87% alcohol. And somehow, it was absolutely incredible. Powerful citrus, deep florals, woodsy aromatics, tremendous concentration. I couldn’t believe I was enjoying it. It seemed almost too good to be true, but amazingly they agreed to bottle the barrel without additions or subtractions. As it turned out, the original proof reading was a bit off, and the final bottling strength came in at a mere 160 proof. It is remarkably drinkable even there, but slowly adding small amounts of good mineral water opens the spirit into something truly otherworldly. Give it a little time in the glass and it becomes so intensely orange confectionary that you might be forgiven for thinking our friend Thad had created some bizarre new Curaçao. This feels somewhere between an aged aromatic varietal of pisco and one of the funky single barrels we used to taste in the cellars at Copper & Kings back in the day. It is utterly delicious and completely unique, but do add the water slowly and give the aeration time to work its magic. So yes, this may be one of the craziest things I’ve ever bottled, but it is also, without question, the best single-barrel California brandy we’ve ever released. Bar none.

Price: $109.99

2023 OLG "Our Lady of Guadalupe Estate" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/19/2026 | Send Email

Today we have a truly special price on a truly special vineyard - Our Lady of Guadalupe. We have the best price in the country on this highly acclaimed, absolutely delicious single vineyard Pinot Noir! Typically sold for $80...today we have it under $50. If you've not experienced this wine before, you're missing out. This is one of the most exciting vineyards planted in California in recent years. Our Lady of Guadalupe or OLG for short, is a vineyard planted right up to the ultra-cool western boundary of the Sta Rita Hills AVA. Here constant winds off the pacific just a few miles away consistently cool the vines, lower yields, and slow ripening. At this dramatic site the vines are draped in small, parcellated blocks over steep, undulating terrain with dozens of different slopes and aspects. The soils here are largely diatomaceous earth, ancient seabed up lifted by the fault. The diversity of blocks and mixture of clones planted across the estate allows the OLG team to combine numerous components with different character and complexities into one fascinating wine with so much layered depth. The wine combines a bold richness and purity of fruit, with brightness and freshness from the cool climate. Dark cherry, sassafras, Asian spice, bramble fruit, hints of black raspberry preserve, dusty earth, and a framing of exotic French oak spice. A wine that has plenty of upfront appeal but also appears to have plenty of stuffing and acidity to age nicely, too. I'm very excited to see where this incredible project from Dave Phinney goes. In just a few years they're already making wines this good...the sky is the limit for OLG.

Price: Hidden

2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Late Release Brut Champagne (direct from Roederer 2026)

By: Kai Pedreno | Review Date: 8/18/2026 | Send Email

Made for the 150th anniversary of Cristal! This is an absolutely amazing blend of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, made with 33% of grapes coming from these three estates "La Riviere", La Montagne, and "La Cote". This Cristal spends an additional 4 years on the lees and has poignettage done to it once (the vinotheque series has this done 4 times). the wine is Chalky, with beautiful ripe fruit, amazingly soft bubbles, and a finish that lasts a long while. Just awesome! everything you've come to expect from Cristal just dialed up a notch with a bit of extra creaminess and power that is owed to the poignettage. A must try along with the cristal rose!

Price: $565.00

VN: 100

2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Late Release Brut Champagne (direct from Roederer 2026)

By: Simon Li | Review Date: 8/18/2026 | Send Email

Truly profound. Spending a full 14 years on the lees has given this late-release Cristal an off-the-charts level of tension and a razor-sharp mineral spine. It’s wonderfully layered, showing off bright candied citrus and warm toasted almond notes on the palate. The way it wraps up with an incredibly long, saline finish is just unforgettable. An absolute benchmark.

Price: $565.00

VN: 100

2009 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/18/2026 | Send Email

At the core of the Discovery Series is a mission to showcase wines of impeccable quality, unmistakable regional typicité, and exceptional value. As I often say, we’re not just placing a label on someone’s latest release—we’re curating standout selections from our deep, trusted network of sources. Each wine must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup. And speaking of high bars, we just set the standard for remarkable value in the Discovery Series, with a delicious St-Emilion with over fifteen years of bottle age for under $15. Only a dollar a year, which is an incredibly high standard at any stage in the game. I adored this opportunity when we first tasted it, and through tough negotiations, and even after a round of tariffs, I'm still shocked that we're able to offer a wine this solid, with this kind of age, all for this price. It is a generous expression of St-Emilion, but the broad, delicious quality of the vintage also shines through. Approaching maturity with a long life ahead, it carries beautiful aromatics of red fruits, leather, and florals, with a palate that has a core of plum and cassis, wild berry, and a soft, easygoing finish. Everything is in place, and I'm certain there's not a better buy in today's market for a perfectly aged Bordeaux from a signature vintage.

Price: $14.99

2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Late Release Brut Champagne (direct from Roederer 2026)

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/18/2026 | Send Email

One of the top wines from the greatest vintage of my career, now improved by longer ageing! Clean, toasty brioche aromas give way to incredible silky texture in the mouth followed by a peacock's tail finish that carries endless amounts of chalk on a wave of crisp 2008 acidity. Words fall short- this is real greatness. This late release bottling was kept a full 14 years on the lees and an additional 4 years on the cork in the cellar. It has been made more rich not only from this extraordinary ageing, but also because of an old technique called "poignatage" where the yeast was shaken up in the bottles at regular intervals to increase contact. What a wine!

Price: $565.00

VN: 100

2025 Domaine Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage Blanc

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/17/2026 | Send Email

Finding inspiration in Burgundy—where Daphné Chave spent time studying winemaking—this is a lovely expression of Marsanne and Roussanne. Oily and mineral-driven, it unfolds with layered notes of nectarine, wet stone and marzipan. There is a wonderful subtlety and nuance here that becomes even more expressive at the table, particularly alongside richer white meats and fish dishes.

Price: $39.99

2023 Domaine Yann Chave Hermitage Rouge

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/17/2026 | Send Email

The 2022 was one of my WOW! wines of last year. It was packed with explosive Syrah fruit and a savory, floral edge, with tremendous length on the palate. It just kept delivering with every sip. The 2023 follows a similar profile but with a little more elegance and lift. The fruit comes from two parcels, Beaume and Pelléat, on the eastern side of the hill, where the vines catch more of the morning sun. Like me, it’s an early riser, but one that will deliver even more as the day grows long—or with just a few more years in bottle. This is a beautifully balanced expression with plenty to offer now and even more to come with time.

Price: $149.99

RP: 96

DC: 94

VN: 94

2023 Domaine Yann Chave "Le Rouvre" Crozes-Hermitage Rouge

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/17/2026 | Send Email

I adore this wine. This is a much deeper and more profound expression of Crozes-Hermitage, with floral and herbal notes layered over deep, savory fruit. There is so much terroir on display here. It is never heavy or hedonistic, but it has tremendous presence and depth. I first tasted this from barrel in 2025 and again from bottle in 2026, and it has continued to impress me at every stage. This is a magnificent expression of Syrah that encapsulates just how good a great Crozes-Hermitage can be.

Price: $44.99

RP: 94

JS: 93

VN: 91

2023 Domaine Yann Chave St-Joseph

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/17/2026 | Send Email

The inaugural release of this wine. This is all fruit from Tournon, the heart and soul of deeper flavored St-Joseph wine where they are in good company with Jean-Louis Chave and Pierre Gonon. Sweet loamy fruit with savory spice. The classic bacon fat character looms in the background but should emerge more forward in a few years. Gorgeous potential!

Price: $44.99

2024 Domaine Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage Rouge

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/17/2026 | Send Email

Perfumed and elegant. This is consummate Crozes. Great purity of Syrah fruit character showcasing the vibrant raspberry and and spice filled character of the region. Fine tannins and easily accessible in its youth.

Price: $34.99

VN: 91

JD: 90

2024 TWR (Te Whare Ra) "SV5182 Single Vineyard" Rosé Marlborough

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/14/2026 | Send Email

One of the most exciting days of the year at K&L is when the new vintages from longtime customer favorite Te Whare Ra, or TWR as we like to call it, arrive on the shelves. TWR is one of our longest direct import partnerships at K&L, and with good reason – the wines are just very, very good, vintage after vintage. Of the many wonderful wines they release, their Marlborough Rosé has quickly risen to the top of the list for me. A dry rosé made from mostly Pinot Noir with a dash of Syrah, all of the fruit is grown on the estate and farmed biodynamically, which is somewhat of a rarity for Marlborough. It opens with beautiful aromas of fresh strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate, followed quickly by faint orange peel and cherry blossom. What really sets this wine apart from other rosés, however, is the combination of zesty acidity, fine phenolic structure and mouth-filling texture. This is not a simple, fruit-forward summer rosé, but a serious food wine with enough savory depth and grip to work beautifully at the table. Stephen Wong MW awarded the 2024 95 points and named it the top-ranked 2024 rosé from both Marlborough and New Zealand, following the winery’s 2023 vintage being named New Zealand Rosé of the Year, a testament to just how good this rosé it. It is an sophisticated wine that manages to be both refreshing and immediately delicious while offering the texture, complexity and restraint to make you want to keep coming back to the glass. This is the perfect end of summer wine, refreshing enough to enjoy on its own, but with the structure and depth to drink with food year-round.

Price: $19.99

BC: 95

SK: 95

RP: 92

2024 Ahi Ka "Blackmore Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/14/2026 | Send Email

Ahi Ka is our newest direct import partner from New Zealand, and I couldn’t be more excited that the "Blackmore Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc has landed on our shelves. A collaboration between acclaimed Marlborough winemakers Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW, the husband-and-wife team behind Marlborough winery Blank Canvas, and grower John Blackmore, Ahi Ka was created to show just how much individuality and quality can be found in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. This project centers on Blackmore’s exceptional single vineyard in Dillon’s Point, one of Marlborough’s most highly regarded sites for Sauvignon Blanc, where the fruit benefits from cool maritime conditions and fertile, well-drained alluvial soils. The Ahi Ka “Blackmore” Sauvignon Blanc is simply delicious – and also one of the best values I’ve seen in a long time – offering up notes of lime zest, passionfruit, and classic gooseberry alongside floral and subtle saline notes, with bright acidity and a surprisingly rich texture on the palate. The wine is made with the same meticulous, site-focused approach that defines the Blank Canvas wines, and the connection is more than just a marketing association: Matt and Sophie are the founders of both projects, while Matt has known and worked with Blackmore’s vineyard for more than 20 years. In fact, Matt considers the Blackmore vineyard potentially one of the very best sites for Sauvignon Blanc in the world, making this a rare opportunity to experience the kind of single-vineyard focus and precision normally associated with Blank Canvas at an incredibly reasonable price. The 2024 vintage recently earned 97 points and Double Gold at the New Zealand International Wine Show, proving just how exciting this new project is. For anyone who thinks they already know Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Ahi Ka “Blackmore” is definitely worth trying. It delivers the varietal exuberance you’d expect from Marlborough, but with added depth, texture, and sense of place, This might just be your new favorite Sauvignon Blanc!

Price: $14.99

BC: 92

VN: 92

2021 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Reserva Rioja

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/13/2026 | Send Email

I’ve been saying this for a while now, but the 2021 vintage in Rioja is quickly proving to be one of the best in decades. All the wines I’ve tried, though different in style, share a noticeable sense of elegance and restraint, and the 2021 “Selección Especial” Reserva Rioja from Muga is no different. A longtime K&L customer favorite and always a powerhouse of a Rioja, with deep intensity and lush concentration, the 2021 also delivers a gorgeous aromatic profile that is slightly more black-fruited, framed by secondary notes of violet, polished leather and the faintest hint of cedar. Rather than lead with sheer muscle, extra-fine-grained tannins melt into the palate, creating a mouthfeel that is improbably delicate for such a big wine. Twenty-six months in French oak adds notes of vanilla, baking spice and mocha, but the oak is remarkably well integrated with the fruit rather than overwhelming it. This is a classic Muga “Selección Especial” that is somehow both bold and sophisticated at the same time. A classic Rioja with a very modern sense of precision, this wine is rich enough to be appealing now, but structured and complex enough to justify tucking away a few bottles in the cellar. The 2021 vintage is not one to be missed—that much I am certain of.

Price: $44.99

2024 Finca Sophenia "Altosur" Malbec Gualtallary Mendoza

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/13/2026 | Send Email

One of the most exciting regions in Argentina, and particularly for Malbec, is Gualtallary. Located in the northern Uco Valley at roughly 3,300–5,000 feet above sea level, at the foot of the Andes, Gualtallary is known for its combination of extreme elevation, cool nights, intense sunlight and very poor, rocky soils. Some of the most famous names in Argentina now produce their top wines from this region, many of them commanding equally lofty prices. So when a bottle of the 2024 Finca Sophenia “Altosur” Malbec from Gualltallary crossed my desk, I was intrigued by its very affordable price, as compared to its esteemed neighbors. While many examples of Malbec from warmer, lower lying regions are full-bodied and heavily oaked, this bottle is an excellent example of what makes the region so special. The concentration of red plum, currant and cassis notes is impressive for the modest price, and just the faintest hint of oak frames the wine. The palate is so fresh and bright, speaking to the wine’s high elevation origins, and this bottle achieves concentration and depth while still managing to feel nimble and light-footed on the palate. I’ve said it many times before, but one of the hardest categories of wine to buy are those under $15. There might be a lot available to choose from, but much of it is forgettable. The Altosur Malbec is a wine that stands out in comparison – easy to drink, bright and fresh, this is a just a great weeknight wine.

Price: $12.99

DC: 92

DS: 90

JS: 90

2016 Olivier Rivière "Cadastro" Arlanza Castilla y León

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/13/2026 | Send Email

A Frenchman by birth, Olivier Rivière was born in Cognac and later studied enology in Bordeaux. After working in both Burgundy and Bordeaux, he seized an opportunity in 2004 to work with the famed Telmo Rodríguez in Spain, helping to convert his vineyards to biodynamic farming. Rivière fell in love with the ancient, own-rooted vines of northern Spain, and unable to afford land of his own in Rioja, he began sourcing fruit from old-vine parcels in some of the region’s lesser-known corners. One of these was Arlanza, a tiny appellation tucked between Rioja and Ribera del Duero that remains remarkably under the radar despite sharing many of the same attributes as its more famous neighbors: high-altitude vineyards, a continental climate, limestone and clay soils, and old-vine Tempranillo. Here, Rivière found exactly what he was looking for: very old vines capable of producing wines with both concentration and freshness. As you might expect from someone with a Burgundy background, site-specific terroir is everything to Rivière, far more important than appellation boundaries or time spent in oak. The 2016 “Cadastro” Arlanza is an excellent example of this philosophy: neither overly extracted nor oak-driven, it is energetic and expressive, with loads of upfront plum, orange peel and fig alongside savory dried herbs and licorice. A small amount of Garnacha interplanted in the vineyards adds juicy red cherry and strawberry notes, while several years of bottle age have softened the tannins. For lovers of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Arlanza is a region worth exploring, and wines like this prove that you can get the old-vine character, intensity and complexity of those more famous regions without paying a premium for name recognition. This is simply an incredible deal!

Price: $17.99

RP: 94

VN: 93

JD: 92

2016 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/13/2026 | Send Email

For me, this is right up there with the 2009 and 2010 as one of the finest releases of the modern era at Pontet-Canet. It has that undeniable character the estate does so well, somehow deeply Pauillac and luxurious at the same time, never fussy and always delicious. What stands out in 2016 is the added level of precision and refinement it brings to the richness and sheer appeal that made the 2009 and 2010 so famously adored. That’s no easy feat, and it gives this wine a sense of completeness that puts it among the very best Pontet-Canets of the past two decades. The nose is deep and dark, with black cherry, graphite, plum, and tar, immediately speaking to both the power of the vintage and the character of the appellation. The palate, however, is fresh, focused, and lively, with blackberry, cassis, hints of baking chocolate, and a fine, polished texture that keeps the wine from ever feeling heavy. There’s impressive concentration here, but also real lift and energy, with beautifully integrated tannins and a long, persistent finish that just carries on and on. This is a blockbuster, no question, but one with tremendous poise, balance, and detail. What I love most is how naturally all of those elements come together. It has the scale and depth you expect from a great Pontet-Canet, but also a sense of control and harmony that makes it compelling even at this relatively young stage. There’s plenty of structure for the long haul, but the fruit and texture are already expressive enough to make it enormously enjoyable today with some air. This is one of my favorite Pontet-Canet releases in a long time and still represents remarkable collectible value among the Left Bank’s finest wines from this unforgettable vintage. It has the pedigree to age for decades, but just as importantly, it already has that unmistakable Pontet-Canet quality that makes you want to keep coming back to the glass.

Price: $189.99

2022 Montrose, St-Estèphe

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/13/2026 | Send Email

2022 Montrose has potential legend written all over it. With endless 100-point scores and comparisons to every banner vintage in the estate’s storied history, it’s no wonder many consider Montrose a de facto First Growth in quality, complexity, and, well, just about everything but price. The 2022 vintage also gave the wine a relative accessibility you don’t normally see in Montrose, but beyond that, it has all the hallmarks of an epic St-Estèphe. Deeply pitched but bright fruit lines an incredibly concentrated yet elegant palate, full of cassis, plum, graphite, and a seemingly endless mélange of flavors that coat the perfectly fine tannins and lead into a long finish. It’s one of those wines that keeps showing another dimension with each sip, while everything remains in exactly the right place. A joyful wine, it encapsulates the one-of-a-kind character of this address, and its quality and caliber are already unmistakable at this young stage. It’s a wine you simply want to spend time with. Montrose has made the most of the brilliant 2022 vintage, and when you consider it alongside its peers, whether the First Growths or the pantheon of Montrose’s own legends, it still remains a remarkable collectible buy. This is a wine that will be talked about for decades to come.

Price: $239.99

2022 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/13/2026 | Send Email

2022 Branaire-Ducru is one of my favorite wines from the entire Left Bank in the 2022 vintage, no faint praise when considering the caliber of the vintage in question. At its heart, this is an incredible buy in collectible Bordeaux: it has the composure and caliber to stand up to peers at multiples of the price, yet is refreshingly and undeniably delicious at a price where it’s all too easy to pull corks. It’s also a great credit to François-Xavier Maroteaux and his team, who have clearly mastered the estate’s state-of-the-art winemaking facility without losing the thread of what has made Branaire distinctive across generations. For all the polish and precision of a top-tier vintage, it remains deeply of its place and quintessentially Branaire. Full of bright red fruits throughout, there’s a viscosity to the palate that speaks to a concentrated wine, but it still comes off bright and airy, with remarkably fine tannins and a long finish that brings out a slight minerality at the end. It is so composed, and somehow retains a classic St-Julien profile. The refinement and detail are just next level. I’ve considered this a special wine since tasting it En Primeur, and it’s done nothing but confirm its status among St-Julien’s elite since then. I’m thrilled to have this in my cellar, and I think anybody with a deep stash of 2022 Branaire-Ducru will be drinking like royalty for years to come.

Price: $69.99

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