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Staff Favorites
| If you’re going to have Robert Parker or Stephen Tanzer over for dinner, selecting a wine they’ve rated highly will be a nice choice. However, when you’re buying wines for yourself, we’d love to see you find wines that match up your unique palate and pocketbook. We have a large staff of friendly and knowledgeable wine professionals that taste hundreds of wines each week. They can put you in touch with bottles that you are likely to love, often at a much lower cost than the highly-rated gems that often see a run-up in price and frequent availability issues. Like any great group of opinionated professionals, our staff has varied tastes themselves. Often our customers will find a particular staff member with a style that corresponds to their own. That concept works extremely well in our retail stores, and this section is our effort to bring you the same online. Don’t get us wrong, we love the highly rated wines from the press and will continue to offer them, but we think you’re missing out if you’re not augmenting those selections with picks from our excellent staff. Here are their favorites. (Click on a name to see their other selections - or to drop them a line.) Cheers! |
Reviews
2022 Larcis Ducasse, St-Emilion
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 7/8/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 7/8/2026 | Send Email
There’s something special about this 11‑hectare property in the heart of St‑Emilion. Its proximity to Pavie may once have been its claim to fame, but these days the truth might run the other way. Over the past two decades, David Suire has worked real magic here, and the 2022 is arguably his finest achievement. Jeb Dunnuck certainly agrees, awarding it a 100‑point score and naming it Wine of the Year.
For me, it’s the combination of remarkable terroir—pure limestone that echoes the greatest sites of the Right Bank—paired with incredible depth of fruit delivered without weight, and a price that feels almost too rewarding. As one of the true stars of the benchmark 2022 vintage in Bordeaux, this level of acclaim would justify a much higher tariff, which is just one more reason Larcis Ducasse holds such a cherished place among collectors.
2024 Rendez-Vous Sauvignon Blanc Touraine by K&L Wine Merchants
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 7/8/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 7/8/2026 | Send Email
Welcome to the newest addition to our Rendez-Vous collection: Touraine Sauvignon Blanc.
Why did we choose Touraine? Simply put, it offers one of the greatest values for Sauvignon Blanc anywhere in the world. The region's clay-limestone and calcareous soils share many similarities with those of its far more famous neighbor a couple of hours to the east—Sancerre. As prices in Sancerre have continued to climb, many of its top producers have turned to Touraine to craft their value-focused wines. We realized we could do the same.
So we reached out to one of our longtime partners with a simple proposition: let's take one of our favorite everyday Touraine bottlings and create the next Rendez-Vous. If you've been a fan of Roches Touraine over the years, here's a little secret—you've found it. This wine is the foundation for the project.
I've been buying and tasting these wines for well over a decade, and they've never disappointed. The 2024 is everything I look for in Touraine: sleek, vibrant, and mineral-driven, with notes of lemon oil, fresh verbena, and a lightly chalky finish. There's also a subtle tropical lift that I always love in Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. It gives the wine an open, inviting personality that's equally at home on a Tuesday night or at a weekend gathering.
That's exactly what Rendez-Vous is meant to be: exceptional quality at an everyday price. One of our goals with this label is to redefine what a daily-drinking wine can be by leveraging the long-standing relationships we've built with outstanding growers to deliver remarkable value without compromise.
We hope this new Rendez-Vous earns a permanent place at your table. Santé—we have a feeling we'll be seeing you again soon.
Price:
$12.99
2024 Pencarrow Sauvignon Blanc Martinborough
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 7/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 7/7/2026 | Send Email
I taste a lot of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, so it's always exciting when I come across a winery that immediately earns a spot among my favorites. The 2024 Pencarrow Sauvignon Blanc, made by esteemed Martinborough winery Palliser, delivers everything I want in a young Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand: zesty citrus flavors, racy acidity, underlying minerality and a clean-as-a-whistle finish. Unlike Marlborough to the south, the climate in Martinborough is slightly warmer and the growing season shorter, leading to more restrained aromatics and a more textural mouthfeel. While the Pencarrow is unmistakably New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, it doesn't overwhelm with pungent flavors. Instead, it offers finesse and balance. Freshly cut green herbs like tarragon, Thai basil and lemon verbena mingle with grapefruit and lime peel notes. The finish is clean and crisp but also lingering, making it a wine that's just as enjoyable with food as it is on its own. Add this one to your summer wine list – it would be perfect well-chilled, either poolside or on the patio!
2022 Clos Puy Arnaud, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 7/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 7/7/2026 | Send Email
I’ve been excited to share this gem from one of Bordeaux’s up‑and‑coming producers, a domaine that’s making undeniably great wines these days—especially in the amplified 2022 vintage. Run by Thierry Valette, who previously worked at both Pavie and Troplong Mondot, Clos Puy Arnaud’s 2022 is the result of years spent building a world‑class operation in the Côtes de Castillon.
Focused on the more finessed, precise style now defining the Right Bank, and shaped by the limestone character of the appellation’s best sites, this is a genuine, age‑worthy, and deeply characterful wine. Once again, the 2022 vintage shows its quality, delivering an impressive balance of accessibility, structure, and irresistible charm.
It’s no surprise Jane Anson named it her top value buy of last year, especially given its modest retail price. This is one to load up on and enjoy anytime over the next decade or two—just don’t miss it while it’s available, as it stands tall among the best buys in Bordeaux.
2022 Newton "Unfiltered" Napa Valley Chardonnay
By: Devin Elting | Review Date: 7/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Devin Elting | Review Date: 7/7/2026 | Send Email
Our team found another outstanding value! This Napa Chardonnay offers ripe tropical fruit, a touch of creaminess, and a beautiful flinty character. Vibrant and well-balanced, it captures the warmth of Napa while remaining fresh and never heavy-handed.
Price:
Hidden
2006 Kathryn Kennedy "Estate" Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon (Winery Direct Library Release)
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/6/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/6/2026 | Send Email
This wine is absolute magic in a bottle - a simply stunning, perfectly aged, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon that can stand toe-to-toe with any challenger. Its local competition would be neighboring Ridge Monte Bello or Mount Eden, and I would happily put this wine side-by-side with an aged Monte Bello without hesitation. It would have no problem rising to the challenge. Run it against the most famous names from Napa Valley, too. Trust me, this is as good as aged California Cabernet gets, period.
This is a truly unprecedented opportunity to offer a 20-year-old library release with incredible historical pedigree from one of the most unique and singular vineyards in the country. The price we’re offering is almost too good to be true - $150 less per bottle than the wine is currently selling for elsewhere.
I recently drank a bottle of this wine with my family and was floored by the quality, and by the absolutely perfect stage of development it has reached. After 20 years in bottle, the wine still has beautifully rich, pure Cabernet fruit, but it also shows the suave and sophisticated complexity that can only come from graceful aging. The once-formidable mountain tannins are now silky, elegant, and perfectly resolved.
Since the 1970s, Kathryn Kennedy’s postage-stamp vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains has been renowned for powerful, age-worthy, Bordeaux-inspired Cabernet Sauvignon. Since 1981, Kathryn’s son Marty has been crafting the wines, and after Kathryn’s passing in 2009, he continued the legacy of producing exceptional wines from this small but mighty terroir.
K&L has long carried these wines. A quick check of our database shows SKUs going all the way back to the 1970s and 1980s. I have known Marty personally since 2010 and have always admired the way he continues to honor his mother’s legacy, producing wines of integrity and quality above all else. Recently, Marty and I struck a deal to sell some parcels of library wine at extra-sharp pricing. I asked him which vintages he thought were particularly compelling right now, and he immediately suggested 2006 as one of the favorite wines of his long career. The bottle he sent me confirmed what I already knew would be a heartfelt recommendation, and here we are with today’s offer.
If you enjoy beautifully aged Cabernet, be it from Napa, Bordeaux, or anywhere else, you have to try this wine. If you already know the wines of Kathryn Kennedy and saw the price, you’ve likely already filled your cart. Do not miss this opportunity: perfect provenance, a 20-year library release, and once-in-a-lifetime pricing. Enjoy!
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 7/5/2026 | Send Email
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 7/5/2026 | Send Email
The Vieilles Vignes always has a bit more depth, power and richly structured fruit with the first note of oak found in any of the Chateau Vitallis offeirngs. Stone and orchard fruit notes are ever-present here with spice notes buffered by racy acidity and vibrant fruit flavors.
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château"
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 7/5/2026 | Send Email
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 7/5/2026 | Send Email
Sourced from vines surrounding the property, this is what great Pouilly Fuisse should be ! Perfectly delineated fruit, great spice notes and racy acidity and vibrant energy flow seamlessly thru this beautifully fruited wine. A great introduction to the fabulous quality of Puilly Fuisse from Chateau Vitallis.
2024 Château Vitallis St-Véran "A La Côte"
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 7/5/2026 | Send Email
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 7/5/2026 | Send Email
St. Veran as an appellation may soon garner 1er Cru vineyard status and it shows in the consistently high quality of wines emerging notes and spice notes abound. Pure fruit with gorgeous acidity and energy make this a great step up from the Macon Fuisse.
Price:
$24.99
2023 Domaine Louis Jadot (Domaine des Heritiers) Beaune 1er Cru "Clos des Ursules"
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
I think that I kind of have a soft spot for the wines of Louis Jadot. While in late high school/early college, my mom and stepfather would have their Pouilly-Fuisse in the house. I distinctly remember the angel on the label and that it was usually served with fresh caught abalone off the Pacifica pier (and garlic bread!). Those days of that abalone off of that pier are long gone! What remains are the fond memories of Louis Jadot wines. This Beaune is really a bump up on the complexity scale! Round cherry fruit, baking spices, light and fragrant) pipe tobacco and orange peel. Mouth-watering texture and some very nice tartness on the finish. Super elegant and really just a pleasure to taste.
2023 Domaine Rossignol-Fevrier Volnay Vieilles Vignes
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
This has become one of my favorite go-to red Burgundies. Particularly with the price to quality ratio. You get a lot here! Medium to full mouthfeel and viscosity, with deeper red fruits, bordering on being black fruited. Very dark cherries and plum with a little blackberry and clean oak. The overall effect is both a depth of the fruit and balancing oak and very subtle earth. This one can hold up gracefully even to a steak!
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
Of the entire collection of the Vitallis Pouilly-Fuisse, I found this one to be the most rich and round. It is yellow orchard fruit dominant (apple and pear) with some light spice and juicy peach flavors. A very affordable alternative to Puligny-Montrachet or Chassagne-Montrachet!
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
This is not your typical Champagne, and the care behind the winemaking shows in every sip. Even the name hints at its story, loosely translating to “a blend of historic varieties.” While most classic Champagnes revolve around three main varieties, this cuvée takes a different path with approximately 40% Petit Meslier, 40% Arbanne, and 20% Pinot Blanc. The grapes are harvested later in the season and co-fermented, two choices that set it apart and give the wine its layered complexity. What comes through in the glass is something both bright and textured. There are fresh citrus notes, sweet apple, and a smooth creaminess that keeps everything balanced. The lees influence is present, adding depth and character without overpowering the palate. If you think you’ve already experienced everything Champagne has to offer, this bottle is a reminder that there’s still plenty left to discover. It feels fresh, distinctive, and thoughtfully made- exactly the kind of wine that grabs your attention and keeps it.
Price:
$119.99
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château"
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
This moderately rich Pouilly-Fuisse has mid-palate minerality with fresh and clean stone fruit and citrus flavors. After this, it fills out a bit and poached white pear fruit comes to the forefront with a very nice caramel overlay. Delicious and a great deal, too!
2024 Château Vitallis St-Véran "A La Côte"
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/3/2026 | Send Email
This Burgundy gem starts out somewhat rich but, this quickly commits itself to flavors of golden and green apple. There are also some lighter stone fruit flavors with baking spices and buttery pastry background notes. There is a lingering finish of citrus. More balanced than the 2023.
Price:
$24.99
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
The 2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes is sourced from the domaine’s oldest vines that are rooted in clay-limestone soils. Some vines are 85 years old! The wine fermented naturally with ambient yeasts and aged in barrel on its lees for a year. The wine vividly radiates peach, ripe pear, a hint of fresh ginger, crushed stones, and soft spice notes. Refreshing touches of peach and lemon linger on the palate. Lovely!
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
I am not allowed to have favorite Champagnes, but any survey of my recycling bin would reveal that this holds a very special place in my heart. This wine is single vineyard, from the very steep Gouttes d’Or site in Brouillet, and has a very different style than the Chardonnay from the Côtes de Blancs. This is creamy, decadent wine, and great on its own or with any shellfish. I love how this wine is always clean and refreshing, but has depth that makes me always come back for more!
Price:
$44.99
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Gin (1L)
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
I can’t really say I am a “gin” person, but I know what I like when I taste it. This is it! This is what I like! I tried it ‘neat’ and really under-estimated what this bottle was capable of. Let’s start out with pretty flowers and juniper popping out of the glass! Another whiff and I was hit with jasmine blossom and orange peel! I didn’t have to take a sip to know that I was going to be taking some of this home. I took a little sip anyhow, and some of the loveliest spices, pepper, and juniper just washed over my tongue and filled my mouth. As I try to convey into words, what this gin tastes like, it is selling out from under us! Once you get the bottle home and into your glass, it’ll all make perfect sense.
Price:
$79.99
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Gin (375ml)
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
I can’t really say I am a “gin” person, but I know what I like when I taste it. This is it! This is what I like! I tried it ‘neat’ and really under-estimated what this little bottle was capable of. Let’s start out with pretty flowers and juniper popping out of the glass! Another whiff and I was hit with jasmine blossom and orange peel! I didn’t have to take a sip to know that I was going to be taking some of this home. I took a little sip anyhow, and some of the loveliest spices, pepper, and juniper just washed over my tongue and filled my mouth. As I try to convey into words, what this gin tastes like, it is selling out from under us! Yes, the bottle is a little expensive, but once you get the bottle home and into your glass, it’ll all make perfect sense.
Price:
$39.99
Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Prestige" Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
This is an exciting Champagne that we are anticipating in the near (I hope) future! You're getting a lot of wine for the money! A brilliantly complex sparkler that has a really creamy mouthfeel. Hints of exotic spice and dried fruits play well with the mineral tone that permeates the entire experience. Bright acidity, and fresh apple fruits, bring your mouth a tantalizing, mouthwatering, lengthy experience.
Price:
$39.99
Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
The wine that Billecart is probably most well-known for is their rose and it's done very well! I usually choose blanc de blanc, or blanc de noir when I'm getting my bubbles on. Mostly because I tend to feel that rose' sparklers need a bit more time, after popping that top, to open up, and I just really don't have time to wait when I'm trying to celebrate! Get in my glass, and "get in mah belleh", to quote a favorite actor of mine. This needs no extra time to blow off the funk that can sit in the glass for a bit. It's pretty, fresh, and crisp, right from the start. High toned bright fruit really make this a fresh, lifted, wine to toast to any great occasion. Although it's quite dry, it still shines through with a nice measure of sweetness from the fruit. This is the sparkling rose to beat!
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
An impressive Champagne by any standard. At this price, it would be hard NOT to purchase it by the case! Bright, fresh, and floral. The wine has a nice mineral tone throughout, and a citrus tone on its lengthy finish! A seriously incredible value!
Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Tradition" Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
An elegantly textured Champagne with good weight that's still bright and lifted in profile. This all-Pinot Meunier Champagne just shines! Bright, juicy red fruits, with a nice hint of baking spice in the background make this a versatile wine with food, or without. Refreshing? Check! Zesty? Check! Complex? Check! Inexpensive? CHECK! You're going to want to put this on your list of bubbles to try.
Price:
$29.99
Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
When people call in asking for something delicious, fresh and easy to drink, and not a lot of money, this is the first thing I look for inventory on. I can always get behind this and know it will be a huge hit. This recent bottling comes across as a little more complex, with a little more richness than the last bottling. Don't get me wrong, it's still fresh, and bright, but there's a real mineral backbone to it. The mouth-feel is more substantial this time around and I can't help but think that it's growing into an even more serious version of itself. Incredible value!
Price:
$37.99
Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
If it has to sparkle, have superb quality and a big-house name, this is the wine to grab! I don't always drink name-brand champagnes, but when I do, this is the one for me. In my opinion, the Brut Reserve checks all of the bubbly boxes. Fresh, bright, crisp fruit, juicy acidity, lifted aromatics. Like many of my favorite styles of sparkling wines, it also has a beautiful nerve of mineral, but a counter-balance of sweetness of fruit to keep everything right where it should be. No national brand offers more for the money at, or near this price!
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
You don't get this fine of a wine without putting in a lot of effort. If I had to give a gift and it needed name recognition, and it had to be epic, and it had to be less than 100 dollars - This is it!! Intense, spicy musk, with a serious presence. Lots of weight and complexity to explore. Great minerality and plenty of apple flavors to enjoy. A perfect bottle of bubbly!
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
Of all of the sub-50 dollar champagnes we have in stock right this moment, this is the one I'm taking home. Incredible vibrancy, amazing texture from it's seriously lengthy time on the lees, and some of the most elegant (fine) bubbles I've had in a long time. Although it's easy to consume, it's still a nicely complex Champagne that is filled with spice, and freshness in a lengthy finish. You can't go wrong with this as your party Champ!
Baron-Fuenté "7" Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 7/2/2026 | Send Email
My favorite Champagne in the Baron Fuente lineup. You get the value that you've come to expect from B.F., but in this instance, there's a lovely richness, with a nice round texture to it. Lots of mineral drive, and bright acidity to help the nicely textured wine go a very long way. Beautiful, long-lasting savory finish!
2021 La Rioja Alta "Viña Alberdi" Selección Especial Reserva Rioja
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
Bearing the designation Selección Especial, the 2021 La Rioja Alta “Viña Alberdi” Rioja might just be the finest vintage ever produced. This distinction, rather than the standard Reserva, is awarded for exceptional harvests and has been used only once before, in 2001, making the 2021 a particularly noteworthy release. In line with the classic La Rioja Alta style, this wine ages for two years in American oak barrels coopered on site – the first year is spent in new oak, and then the wine is transferred to seasoned American oak barrels to help the oak aromas integrate into the wine. After bottling, the wine ages for another two years in bottle, as is common for Reserva Rioja. The result is a traditionally-styled Rioja that weaves vibrant aromas of red plum, Bing cherry, blood orange, and dried rose petals with classic notes of vanilla, cedar, sweet tobacco, and baking spice. On the palate, the wine feels silky and supple, with bright acidity carrying layers of juicy raspberry, cranberry, and red plum across a finely textured frame. The oak is seamlessly integrated, contributing subtle hints of coconut, dried herbs, and saddle leather, all without ever overshadowing the purity of the red fruit. There is an effortless elegance here, with gorgeous savory notes emerge on the lingering finish. This is traditional Rioja from one of the greatest wineries in Rioja at its most charming. It is graceful, complex, and highly drinkable. Enjoy it now with everything from grilled lamb to roast chicken, or tuck a few bottles away, as this remarkable 2021 has the balance and structure to reward another decade or more in the cellar.
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château"
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
Sourced from vines averaging of 35 years of age and planted on clay-limestone Jurassic soils, the 2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château" takes on a rounder and more subtle guise. Notes of fresh pear, honey, white blossoms, and sunny lemon in the finish. I can see this being dangerously easy to drink. Be sure to have plans to share with a friend or two. Ideally paired with seafood, a lightly dressed salad, or your favorite evening snacks.
2024 Château Vitallis St-Véran "A La Côte"
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
The 2024 Château Vitallis St-Véran "A La Côte" turns the complexity up a notch in the Vitallis lineup with delicious notes of baked apple, fresh-from-the-hive honeycomb, and soft touches of brioche and holiday baking spices. A crisp, juicy apple and lemon finish refreshes the palate for the next sip, and the next.
Price:
$24.99
2023 Cordant "Radian Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
Radian is undoubtedly one of the greatest vineyards planted on the Central Coast in the past few decades. Owned and farmed by The Hilt Estate, under the same ownership as Jonata and Screaming Eagle, this vineyard continues to raise the bar for quality in the entire region. A remote, hilltop site in the frigid southwestern portion of the Sta. Rita Hills, Radian flirts with being too cold to consistently ripen fruit. But as we all know, marginal sites that have winemakers biting their nails most vintages also tend to produce magical wines that are beyond comparison. The grapevine often does its best work when pushed to the limit of viability. Radian has soils composed of mixed diatomaceous earth, calcareous clay, and fractured chert or flint. The vineyard has many undulations and varied aspects, all contributing to the power, tension, and complexity of the wines grown here.
2023 Cordant "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
Escolle Vineyard is perhaps not quite as well known as the other vineyards in this formidable lineup, but it is not one to be overlooked. In the past five years or so, Escolle Vineyard has very quickly established itself as a premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay site. Owned and farmed by the multigenerational Caraccioli family, much of the fruit grown at this very cool, windswept hillside vineyard goes into the production of traditional-method sparkling wines. The rocky, decomposed granite soils, constant winds off Monterey Bay, and northeastern-facing aspect of the vineyard mean that fruit here retains wonderful freshness and purity, with a complex underlying mineral component.
Immaculate attention to detail in the farming of the vineyard means that grapes from Escolle are highly sought after. Several recent releases from Escolle have reached 98 points from esteemed wine critics, firmly establishing its place in the upper echelon of single-vineyard sites. Cordant’s expression is fragrant and pure, showing bright red fruits, lifted baking spices, floral notes, alpine herbs, crushed raspberry, clove, and wet clay. So silky and fine on the palate, with wonderful vibrancy and energy. An exciting wine from a vineyard quickly gaining a reputation for brilliance.
2023 Cordant "Bien Nacido Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
I love Bien Nacido Vineyard. I have worked with fruit from this OG vineyard since my formative years in the California wine business at Bonny Doon nearly 20 years ago. Planted in 1973, this incredible vineyard on the northern bench of the Santa Maria Valley has long been held in high regard as one of California’s Grand Crus. Wines from Bien Nacido rose to fame with the likes of Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, Adam Tolmach of Ojai, and Bob Lindquist of Qupé consistently producing exceptional, ageworthy wines from the site. Others, such as Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non, followed as the vineyard’s reputation grew in stature. Still family-owned by the Miller family after more than 50 vintages, the quality of fruit grown at Bien Nacido is beyond reproach.
Cordant produced a stunning wine in 2023 that is a faithful representation of this historic vineyard. The vineyard’s signature wild, sauvage, bramble-like edge to the fruit is immediately apparent. Ripe dark red fruits, warming spices, blackcurrant leaf, truffle, and dried herbs mingle with the brooding dark berry fruit. Classic Bien Nacido in every regard. Delicious now with a nice 30- to 40-minute decant to allow the structure to relax, or enjoy it over the next decade as more complexity builds around the primary core of fruit.
Launois "Quartz" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 7/1/2026 | Send Email
This has always been my favorite bottling from Launois. All of them are good, but his just speaks to me differently. Superficially, it is the green on the label. But truly, it is the fruit, or the wine beneath the bubbles. There is a dazzling purity that makes me want more and more! Is it the softer pressure? Probably, there are not that many other Champagnes out there to compare it against. It tastes great. And if you are inclined, it is fun to taste this against the Reserve. But when is more Launois not fun?
Price:
$49.99
Baron-Fuenté "7" Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
At first, I found this unique release to be chalky with spiced nuts (on the nose) and saline scents. Once the air hit it, yellow apple and guava came to the forefront and then, the chardonnay citrus definitely took over. Creamy, with lemon and spice flavors dominating on the palate until finish. To date, one of the most interesting releases that we have had from this venerable producer!
Baron-Fuenté "7" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
It has been a number of years since we were able to get some of this tete de cuvée Champagne from Baron Fuente, and I am thrilled to finally be able to offer it! This wine has concentration and focus that is up their with the best Champagne that we offer. It is the first time that they have introduced a proportion of barrel fermented Champagne in one of their wines, and just like the vintage offerings from houses like Billecart and Roederer, it only shows in texture- there is no wood flavor at all! This is vibrant, mineral driven Champagne that has the pin point streamers and fine texture that only a long seven years of ageing on the lees will bring. This is one of the great deals in top notch Champagne that we offer!
2024 Lagar de Costa Albarino Rias Baixas
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
Sourced from old vineyards close to the Atlantic Ocean, the 2024 Lagar de Costa Albariño delivers an electric sense of freshness, amplified by an extra layer of salty complexity. Aromas of Meyer lemon, white peach, lime blossom, and crushed oyster shell emerge from the glass, while the palate is taut, energetic, and wonderfully precise. On the palate, bright citrus and juicy orchard fruit give way to a distinctly saline finish reminiscent of a cool ocean breeze. There's an effortless balance here between vibrant acidity and subtle textural richness, making this as compelling on its own as it is alongside fresh shellfish, grilled fish, or just about anything that comes from the sea. Lagar de Costa has long been one of the benchmarks for coastal Albariño, and the 2024 vintage beautifully captures the purity and mineral drive that have made the estate such a favorite.
2022 Lagar de Costa "Calabobos" Albarino Rias Baixas
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
Drawn from the estate's oldest coastal vineyards and aged for an additional year in concrete eggs, the 2022 Lagar de Costa Calabobos Albariño is a richer, more nuanced expression than the estate bottling, offering up an additional layer of textural complexity. Notes of yellow plum, green apple, chamomile, and preserved lemon unfold slowly, underlined by a thread of wet stone and Atlantic salinity. The palate is broad and textured yet remains remarkably focused, with bright acidity carrying the wine through a long, savory finish marked by hints of sea spray. There's a Burgundian sense of weight and complexity here, but with the unmistakable character of Rías Baixas. For anyone who thinks Albariño is simply a light, easy-drinking summer wine, Calabobos offers a compelling—and delicious—argument to the contrary.
Launois "Quartz" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
The NV Launois “Quartz” is a half-pressure (three atmospheres of pressure versus the typical six) bottling in the crémant style. It is at once delicate, mouth filling and zesty. Composed of 100% chardonnay from the world-renowned chardonnay producing area of Mesnil (and Aviz and Oger), it has flavors of green apples, brioche, creamy vanilla and lemon zest. Loads of cream and vanilla at the back of the palate make this a great way to start a meal with light appetizers.
Price:
$49.99
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
Wow! I can honestly say that I have never tried a Champagne like this before! I first had it at one of our Champagne Tent Events in Redwood City (early 2000's!). A very exotic blend of Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbanne. These varietals were more common 150 years ago. It has white fruits such as pear, lychee and white nectarine. Add toasted pine nuts, almond, lime skin, green apples, some chalk and there you have it. One of the most interesting Champagnes in the company! After all these years, this beauty continues to hold my interest and admiration. If you are obsessed with Champagne and want to taste a historical bottle, here it is. So unique and sooooo delicious!
Price:
$119.99
Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
As is standard with this gem, it still has that bread dough, yeast and toast quality but, this latest version has a nice hint of zippy acidity, minerals, and lemon curd. Also, it still retains the caramel and vanilla bean background that we love so much. Buy some to drink and some to lay down for a year or so. The caramel comes out even more as it ages. The quality has increased quite a bit over the past several years, so it just keeps getting better and better! A staff favorite.
Price:
$37.99
2025 Alpha Estate "Turtles Vineyard" Malagouzia Florina Greece
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
For many people discovering the wines of Greece, Assyrtiko has been the gateway grape. But beyond its crisp, mineral-driven style lies a wealth of fascinating indigenous varieties waiting to be explored. One of my personal favorites has always been Malagouzia.
A little softer and more floral than Assyrtiko, Malagouzia is wonderfully inviting and generous without sacrificing freshness. Alpha Estate's latest bottling captures everything I love about the variety: fresh pear and lemon verbena layered with delicate notes of lily blossom and a hint of jasmine tea on the finish. It is expressive without being overtly aromatic, balancing richness with remarkable lift.
This is one of Greece's most versatile white wines at the table. It's a natural alongside a spread of mezze, but I also love it with grilled shrimp skewers or a bubbling plate of saganaki. If you're ready to venture beyond Assyrtiko, this is one of the most rewarding places to start.
2023 Alpha Estate "Hedgehog Vineyard" Xinomavro Amyndeon Greece
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
I've been fortunate enough to visit Alpha Estate twice over the years, and it's one of those wineries that leaves a lasting impression. The estate sits high on the Amyndeon plateau, surrounded by mountain ranges that create dramatic day-to-night temperature swings. Those cool evenings slow ripening and preserve freshness, while the chalky clay soils lend remarkable precision and energy to the wines.
The region produces some of Greece's most compelling wines. The whites combine generous fruit with incredible tension and minerality, while the reds—especially Xinomavro—show a level of finesse and elegance that is distinctive from the more powerful wines of Naoussa. During both of my visits, I made a point of asking to see the Hedgehog Vineyard, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of its namesake residents. Unfortunately, the hedgehogs remained elusive, though I was assured they do make the occasional appearance.
Having purchased Greek wines for K&L for more than 15 years, Alpha Estate has always been a cornerstone of my selections. I've long admired how consistently the wines balance authenticity with approachability, making them some of the easiest recommendations for customers looking to explore Greece beyond the more familiar. Their Xinomavro has been a perennial favorite on our shelves, and I believe the 2023 release may be the finest version I've tasted.
Xinomavro is often called the "Nebbiolo of Greece" because of its naturally high acidity and firm tannic structure. Yet the wines of Amyndeon remind me less of Barolo's muscular intensity and more of the graceful, lifted character of Valtellina. The 2023 captures that balance beautifully, offering savory spice, hints of sanguine meatiness, vibrant cherry and blackcurrant fruit, a touch of black olive and an underlying mineral freshness that keeps everything focused.
What elevates this vintage is the texture. The tannins are certainly present, but they're polished and beautifully integrated, gently wrapping around the fruit rather than dominating it. They have an almost caressing quality that makes the wine remarkably inviting even in its youth.
For me, this sets a new benchmark for Alpha Estate's Hedgehog Vineyard Xinomavro and is destined to become another customer favorite. If you've never experienced Xinomavro before, this is exactly where I'd begin. It captures everything that makes the variety so compelling while remaining irresistibly drinkable from the very first glass.
Launois "Quartz" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
I have to say, not only do I love to drink the special wines from Launois, I'm legit proud that we're the only source for this incredible products. The quality-to-price ratio is unprecedented and it's easy to argue that Launois should be considered one of the region's top producers. The fact that we can get this gorgeous cuvée to our customers for this price is nothing less than a miracle. Vibrant, complex and so absolutely quaffable, the Quartz is a go-to for literally any occasion, but is especially fabulous with oysters. Just saying.
Price:
$49.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne (375ml)
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
A perennial favorite, the rosé does not disappoint on this go-round. Pretty raspberry and black cherry notes highlight the freshness and richness of the wine. Unbelievable quality at the price.
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
A perennial favorite, the rose does not disappoint on this go-round. Pretty raspberry and black cherry notes highlight the freshness and richness of the wine. Unbelievable quality at the price.
Price:
$42.99
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
It may seem like a geeks-only Champagne and it definitely fits that requirement with its blend of Arbanne, Meslier and Pinot Blanc but this is not made strictly for the sake of geeky. Full bodied with more stone fruit flavors, creamy notes. Long on finish, this a true Tête de Cuvée!
Price:
$119.99
Launois "Quartz" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
We can never get enough Launois Quartz at K&L. Unfortunately; the production is limited as Bernard Launois only has so many grapes each year in the great Mesnil plot of Les Chetillons. Having access to single vineyard, estate, grand cru Champagne from one of the best growers in the region at such a fair price makes me proud to be the Champagne guy at K&L. This wine has a fabulous white fruit quality that few Champagnes get at any price, and a chalky laser beam finish that is pure Mesnil. No Champagne we carry sells out faster!
Price:
$49.99
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/30/2026 | Send Email
I sometimes feel guilty for impacting the world supply of this tiny production Champagne with my greedy consumption... But never while I am drinking it. The Cepages D'Antan is made from one press load of the near-extinct champagne varietals Arbanne, Meslier and Pinot Blanc, and yields only about 3,000 bottles per harvest. Nothing is more electric, satisfying and complete than this exotic beauty. With more than eight years of ageing on the lees and the fantastic verve and acidity of Arbanne and Meslier, this is super complete champagne. This is the perfect gift for the Champagne lover who has "had it all"... If I leave any behind for them and you can resist drinking it yourself!
Price:
$119.99