Locations
Login
Reviewers
- - Operations Culver City (1)
- Aaron Hughes (10)
- Adam Winkel (96)
- Alex Pross (794)
- Alex Leonardini (54)
- Andrew Nunes (1)
- Cary Herrman (3)
- David Othenin-Girard (338)
- Dejah Overby (147)
- Gary Westby (541)
- Jacques Moreira (703)
- Jason Marwedel (73)
- Joel Nicholas (29)
- John Majeski (296)
- John Downing (80)
- John Flanigan (1)
- Jonathan Parnell (3)
- Kai Pedreno (3)
- Kate Soto (11)
- Keith Mabry (433)
- Kerry Kennell (1)
- Kirk Walker (276)
- Lilia McIntosh (44)
- Matthew Landau Hassan (4)
- Michael Benoit (7)
- Michael Pires (14)
- Michael Hulihan (1)
- Orazio Campoli (5)
- Rachael Ryan (2)
- Ralph Sands (222)
- Ryan Woodhouse (899)
- Ryan Moses (616)
- Sal Rodriguez (32)
- Scott Beckerley (306)
- Scott Turnbull (61)
- Simon Li (3)
- Stephanie Manning (2)
- Tom Martinez (1)
- Will Blakely (27)
K&L Email Alerts
Sign up to receive custom alerts, new arrivals and the latest happenings from K&L Wines
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
2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/14/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/14/2026 | Send Email
The 2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret is more than half Syrah with Grenache in the balance, all destemmed for pure fruit expression. It's plush and fruity with notes of ripe plum, black cherry, and soft hints cocoa with a touch bouquet garni. It would go great with burgers, BBQ, or your favorite savory snacks. Pretty bottle too!
2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/14/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/14/2026 | Send Email
I met Alex Suter of Domaine de l'Amandine, years ago at a wine expo in Paris. I had lost my luggage a few days earlier and was still waiting for it to turn up, yet somehow still had an entire trade fair to work through. I was feeling rumpled, tired, and more than a little out of sorts. Worse yet, I had tasted plenty of wines that day that were perfectly fine, but very few that felt memorable.
Then I stopped at Alex’s table. His warm demeanor and welcoming energy were an immediate antidote to my grumpy mood — and the wines were every bit as uplifting.
The estate’s vineyards straddle two of the most compelling villages in the Southern Rhône: Séguret and Vaison-la-Romaine. Séguret is famous for its hillside village, protected by ancient stone walls originally built to spot invaders from miles away. Vaison-la-Romaine, meanwhile, is best known for its Roman ruins and the picturesque village built along one of the Rhône’s tributaries. While history draws most visitors there, the area is also home to some wonderfully characterful wines — l’Amandine’s included.
Alex and I immediately hit it off, and later that year I visited the estate. I was greeted by his daughter, Mathilde and a rather sassy Jack Russell terrier mix who seemed deeply suspicious of me getting out of the car. At the time, Mathilde was home from school, where she was studying oenology. She walked me through the vineyards before taking me into the cellar, proudly showing off the large concrete tanks her grandfather, Jean-Pierre, had installed by hand.
I fell in love with the spirit of the place: three generations actively involved in the winery, crafting wines that are every bit as charming as the family behind them.
Fast forward to today, and I often run into Mathilde at wine fairs around the world. She now plays a major role in both the winemaking and day-to-day operation of the estate, supported by her father Alex and even her grandfather, who still spends plenty of time managing the vineyards.
Mathilde and I recently caught up at Wine Paris this past February, where I tasted the newest bottling of the 2023 Séguret. One of the things I always love about this cuvée is how prominently the Syrah shows itself. Made up of more than half Syrah, it brings savory spice and warm blackberry tones that beautifully complement Grenache’s lifted red fruit and subtle tobacco notes. The palate feels harmonious and complete, with ripe yet balanced fruit and supple tannins.
When we talk about terroir, the conversation usually centers around soils, drainage, or exposure. But one of the most important elements is the people themselves. This is one of those wines where you can genuinely taste the passion and care of the family behind it — and that spirit shines clearly through the glass. Santé!
2023 Charles Père et Fille Volnay Clos de la Cave"
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
The 2023 Charles Père et Fille Volnay "La Cave" is sourced from 40-year-old vines perched on a hill above 1er Cru vineyards. Neatly structured, deeply expressive, and light on its feet — it's utterly charming. Red cherry, waves of alpine strawberry, dewy violets, and fresh hints of forest floor after a rain. Hello, gorgeous!
Price:
$49.99
2024 Anne de Joyeuse "VERY" Chardonnay Haute Valle de l'Aude
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
Quite pretty on the nose, with fresh aromas and flavors of quince, honeydew, crunchy pear slices, fennel, almond slices, some chalkiness on the thirst quenching finish. A delicious, well made, easy to drink, value driven Chardonnay.
Perfect for the summer.
2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
Quality strawberry jam, cherry cola, kirsch, a touch of peppercorn, and leather. Refreshing and expressive on the palate, would pair well with a variety of roasted meats. Bring this to a party or a pic-nic!
2025 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
The Domaine de Chevalier Rouge is always a wine the overperforms, and the 2025 vintage is no exception. This year I found a polished, expressive wine, with layers of dark red fruit and ripe tobacco, supported by cedar and pencil shavings. Medium-plus acidity keeps the wine lifted and structured, while a subtle smoky note adds complexity through the lingering finish. Elegant and well-composed with classic savory depth.
2025 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
The Domaine de Chevalier Blanc remains a bright spot of Pessac in 2025. Cheerful yet rounded on the palate, showing impressive mineral depth over sharp acidity. Notes of freshly-cut grass and yellow bell pepper mingle with tropical fruit flavors, supported by medium-plus acidity and a persistent finish. Balanced and expressive, with a pleasing weighty texture carrying the wine as much as its freshness. (Made from 70% SB and 30% Semillon)
2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne
By: Devin Elting | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Devin Elting | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
A commemorative release celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, this 2018 vintage from Billecart-Salmon is composed of 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. It opens with bright lemon zest and ripe Honeycrisp apple, rounded out by lightly toasted brioche and a persistent mineral crispness. The mousse is delicate and fine. A refreshing splash of salinity makes for a truly delightful sip.
Price:
$119.99
2013 Cosimo Taurino Salice Salentino Riserva
By: Devin Elting | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Devin Elting | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
Finding this kind of value in a bottle with 10-plus years of age is a joy. This Negroamaro led blend from Puglia nails it, balancing tart red fruit, a hint of cola, and earthy southern Italian soul. Soft tannins and bright acidity keep it lively, and it plays well with just about anything off the grill or out of the summer garden. Throw it in the fridge for 20 minutes, you won't regret it.
Price:
$19.99
1999 L'Encantada 22 Year Old "Del Cassou #32" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
The stupendous bottler that we’ve followed from its inception is simply one of the finest brands in any category. But along with its incredible selection of rare and extinct distillers, we’ve seen a massive increase in prices. I cannot blame them for trying to maximize the value of these incredible brandies. On occasion, however, we still have the opportunity to create incredible value with this amazing brand. The tiny consortium of local Gascogne brandy lovers in Vic-Fezensac has built this brand through an unparalleled passion for the products they sell. We are equally passionate, and when we find deals like this, we have to impress upon our customers how extremely rare and special they are. We won’t see a continuous supply of old Del Cassou for less than $100 like this, so this may be your only chance to snag a great old single barrel from this incredibly unique estate. Domaine Del Cassou is a tiny Bas Armagnac estate in Arthez-d’Armagnac, one of the small, old-school producers that gives the L’Encantada portfolio its cult appeal. Distilled from ancient Baco vines and aged in a wet cellar in 100% Gascon oak, the rich and complex style isn’t as barrel-driven as something like Lous Pibous, but is nonetheless extremely concentrated and deep. This stupendous opportunity to improve your Armagnac stash is not going to last indefinitely. Act now or forever pay more for brandy.
Price:
Hidden
2013 Cosimo Taurino Salice Salentino Riserva
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
Cosimo Taurino is the historical standard-bearer for traditional Negroamaro, and this wine shows why.
With over a decade of age, this wine has completely shed any primary baby fat. The nose doesn't try to wow you with cheap, sweet plum; instead, it is a profound, brooding dive into roasted earth, dried tobacco leaf, black olive tapenade, and that unmistakably savory, sun-baked Mediterranean scrub. Beneath that lies a "crunchy," dried sour cherry and blood orange core that feels so unique.
On the palate, it vibrates. You would expect a wine from the deep south with this much age to feel heavy or tired, but it absolutely refuses to be fat. It drives forward with a tense, vertical spine of acidity and the signature, mouthwatering bitterness that literally gives Negroamaro its name. The tannins are traditional, dusty, and firmly integrated.
Finding a perfectly cellared, traditional benchmark like this—with over ten years of age—is almost impossible in today's market.
Price:
$19.99
2025 Larcis Ducasse, St-Emilion
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
Larcis Ducasse is continuing to produce landmark wines that deserve attention among the finest on the Right Bank. Now under the direction of David Suire, who also crafts the incredible wines of Laroque, the estate has been going from strength to strength over the past decade. A literal stone’s throw from Pavie, the limestone, hillside soils of Larcis Ducasse have long yielded distinctive wines, but the refinement, tension, and complexity now seem to be operating on another level.
Deep black‑fruit aromas hint at an imposing wine, yet waves of vivid red fruit, bright acidity, beautiful texture, and soft, integrated tannins reveal something far more expressive, precise, and endlessly compelling. A long, saline‑tinged finish keeps you coming back to the glass for this impeccable, delicious wine.
At our En Primeur pricing, it remains one of the great values in the region, thanks to the combination of terroir, limited production, and remarkable quality.
2024 Anne de Joyeuse "VERY" Chardonnay Haute Valle de l'Aude
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
Anne de Joyeuse is based in the region of Limoux, one of my favorite corners of the Languedoc. Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Limoux benefits from limestone-rich soils and higher elevations that make it an ideal growing region for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and even Chenin Blanc. The area is perhaps best known for its outstanding sparkling wines, which consistently deliver remarkable quality for the price.
I’ve had the chance to visit the town and walk these hills on several occasions, and this is easily one of the most memorable still wines I’ve tasted from the region in quite some time. I usually focus my attention on Limoux’s sparkling wines because they can be incredibly special, but this little Chardonnay caught me off guard and I was immediately smitten.
Stylistically, this lands somewhere between a Mâcon-level Burgundy and a Central Coast California Chardonnay. It jumps from the glass with aromas of ripe peach, Golden Delicious apple, and a hint of passion fruit, while touches of toasted brioche and sweet spice round out the profile beautifully. The Joyeuse strikes a lovely balance between freshness and texture, showcasing vibrant orchard fruit, a touch of tropicality, and subtle mineral notes. There’s just enough richness here to give the wine depth, yet it never feels heavy.
More sips, please! It’s rare to find a Chardonnay with this much energy and character at such an inviting price. Another stellar find to add to your weeknight rotation.
2013 Cosimo Taurino Salice Salentino Riserva
By: Rylind Yeomans | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Rylind Yeomans | Review Date: 5/13/2026 | Send Email
Value truly meets quality! Subtle, well-integrated tannins frame this elegant wine, which glides across the palate with surprisingly low acidity. Layers of baked dark fruit unfold first, followed by a splash of ripe cherry and a whisper of dried orange peel. Gentle baking spices add warmth, while the age calms the finish. The color is beautiful, showing the faintest signs of bricking at the rim. Ready to enjoy right now.
Perfect alongside your favorite tomato-based dishes—whether sun-dried, slow-sauced, or even raw. Also, a natural fit for any Italian-inspired protein.
Coming from the sun-soaked heel of Italy’s boot this wine takes an unconventional path, maturing in small oak barrels rarely seen in the region. The production, combined with minimal filtration, yields a captivating and character-driven pour every time.
I’m looking forward to testing it against some fresh Italian recipes this Spring. Grazie, Orazio, for this awesome find!
Price:
$19.99
2023 Charles Père et Fille Volnay Clos de la Cave"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Really beautiful and compelling aromatics, there's a lot of purple flowers and this really lovely deep-fruited core with ripe raspberry, dark cherry, and a little bit of bruised strawberry. There was some reduction when it was first opened, but it's totally blown off by now so a healthy decant would do it well unless you're into that kind of thing. The palate is mid-weight with a really nice tension and complexity, there's a delicate balance between the acidity and the tannin and they're warring over the fruit and yet again it's us that's winning. The palate has a rich and dark cherry, ripe raspberry, underripe strawberry, and some pretty aromatics and some barrel spice rounding it all out. This is really an impressive bottle for the price, super well done and definitely going home with me a few times.
Price:
$49.99
2024 Nicole Chanrion Côte-de-Brouilly "Domaine de la Voûte des Crozes"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Really lovely nose on this, it might be my favorite of the tasting, it's just so fresh and lovely and inviting and there's almost this innocence to it, it doesn't even know I'm about to drink it. I feel bad, but it's the job. I think that "innocence" is just this kind of powdery floral note that surrounds the fruit almost giving it kind of this fuzzy glow. The palate is crunchier than the nose lead me to believe, and I feel slightly lied to, but it's fine. It's bright and crunchy and has really great acidity pushing through the whole thing, cranberry, underripe raspberry, white tea, pie cherry, and some light white flowers.
2024 Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Bright crunchy red fruit on the nose, with some dried herbs, bay leaf, and then a little blackberry. The palate is bright with a really nice acidity, some underripe cherry, pomegranate seeds, and a little bit of ripe cherry on the finish, along with just this little touch of barrel spice and roundness. Easy and friendly, this is a go to bottle year and year from this fantastic producer and of course one of our favorite importers, Kermit Lynch. Just great stuff through and through.
2024 Château Thivin Brouilly "Reverdon"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Slightly herbal nose with some bright red and black fruits, the herbal notes become more bay leaf the longer it sits in the glass. There's a pretty roundness to the fruit, not quite fully ripe but not quite crunchy to the nose. The palate has some juiciness, very slightly crunchy with some pie cherry, cranberry skin, and barely ripe raspberry. This is easy and friendly, a reasonable amount of tannin but nothing crazy and it could take a chill but I wouldn't really throw it into the category of unequivocal chillable. There's a great acidity here pushing through the whole palate, and it works with the tannin balancing itself out. I'm thinking about some braised short ribs with this maybe, both with this in the glass and in the dish. I know you often want something deeper or bigger, but this acidity and pretty fruit might just work. I'll let you know if it doesn't.
Price:
$25.99
2024 Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon (Non-Sulfur)
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Really fantastic nose, little bit of cinnamon hiding in there, but raspberry and then cherry come out towards the end. There's something comforting about the nose that kind of reminds me of a candle I smelled once and really really enjoyed, but I can't really place it beyond that. Either way, this nose pops. There's such a clean purity of the fruit itself. The palate has a juiciness, but also some black tea tannins, definitely more spices mingling with the fruit, there's some clove and mace, I think, working in as well with really crunchy fruit, pie cherries, cranberry skin, pomegranate, and underripe raspberry, with some white flowers in the mix as you crunch that fruit. This is really phenomenal stuff, and one of my top picks from today's tasting.
2025 Domaine Marcel Lapierre "Raisins Gaulois" Vin de France
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Crushable and chillable red alert! Alert! Oh good, you heard the alert. We've got another great contender for best chillable wine for the summer with this little number. The nose is bright strawberries, crazy bright florals like a bouquet in the glass, stewed rhubarb, bubblegum, and black pepper. The palate is light and bright, super crunchy red fruits, not a lot of tannin, and a little touch of those carbonic bubblegum notes, but it has enough acidity it really finishes cleanly. I really like this and it's definitely going in a bunch of hands for people who want that next chillable red.
Price:
$23.99
2023 Domaine Guillaume Curveux Pouilly Fuisse 1er Cru "Les Menestrières"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Very pretty and floral on the nose, this has opened up so really nicely with this really kind of winding nose that goes down into this fruit baskets that's surrounded by flowers, lemons, apples, pears, and white peaches all nestled together being all seductive and stuff. Like, palate seductive. Anyhow, so on the palate there's a really lovely line of fruit and acid pushing through the whole palate, there's touches of barrel spice and roundness. This is really easy to drink, and easy to love, with enough fruit for people who think that's a requirement like me, but nothing overdone, it's really a lovely bottle of wine.
Price:
Hidden
2023 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé "Autour de la Roche"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
There's an almost waxy quality to the nose, and it's really compelling in all the best of ways, I feel like it's a promise of texture and weight on the palate, but first let's work on this bouquet. Underneath the light waxy note, there's golden apple, lemon zest and lemon juice, this super light umami touch in the middle of the nose, white flowers around the edges, and dry stones. The palate has a nice little pop at the front, green apple with lemon, then wet river rocks, lingering sort of white peach and roundness. It is as hoped really lovely and textural, with a serious and lingering denseness that sticks with you, maybe not on your palate but in your mind between sips. It's very fun to drink, and what else could you want from a wine?
Price:
$49.99
2022 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru "Les Fourneaux"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Light, almost ethereal on the nose even after several hours to open up, I don't think it's shy I think it's just this style of much more elegant wine than we're sometimes used to, not you though K&L customer - you know elegant that's why you're with us. It's very apple and lemon, with some white flowers when it shows itself, and there's this lithe gracefulness that really is appreciated. By me at least. The palate has just really great acidity pushing through the whole thing, and there's some savoriness mid-palate with a touch of pithiness on the end, this is a trifecta of super tasty pairings. I really like how the fruit on this one pops just a bit on the finish, there's this bruised apple and lemon candy note that comes back around and it really lingers beautifully, a really great finish to an incredibly enjoyable wine.
Price:
Hidden
2022 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru "Les Lys"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/12/2026 | Send Email
Incredibly classic and incredibly alluring nose, there's a ripeness to the lemon that kind of coats that bruised golden delicious apple, it's a little sweeter and more welcoming lemon, a friendly lemon. Around the edges of the nose, I get a little bit of ocean spray, and there's some roundness. The palate has this really amazing texture, and some mid-palate phenolics that give this a more serious and savory tension. The fruit is on the front and on the end, a dense lemon twist with apple and a little hint of floral pear. This is serious and intense Chablis, definitely heavier than some, it's really delicious and that savory note will make this such a fun and easy wine to pair with.
2022 Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/11/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/11/2026 | Send Email
Is there a more custom-fit vintage for Lynch-Bages than 2022? This wine takes full advantage of a landmark Left Bank vintage, delivering loads of Pauillac character while showcasing the irresistibly delicious yet remarkably complex style that has defined the estate’s reputation over the past few decades. Aromatically compelling and striking in its balance of richness without excess weight, this is a long, extremely fine, and undeniable Lynch-Bages. I see a bit of the 2010 in this one, but with an added level of elegance and precision, thanks to tireless work in the vineyard and the revolutionary new winemaking facility. Combining the accessibility of the 2022 vintage with the depth and density that promise a long, graceful evolution, I expect we’ll be talking about this 2022 as a reference point for the estate for years to come.
2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion 6-Pack in OWC
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/11/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/11/2026 | Send Email
Cheval Blanc has long stood among the most coveted estates on the Right Bank, and indeed in all of Bordeaux. That reputation is likely to be even more pronounced with the 2025 vintage, as yields at the château were dramatically reduced by the summer heat, resulting in the smallest harvest in 35 years. What was harvested, however, was of exceptional quality: intensely concentrated fruit that has produced a wine already been hailed by many critics as one of the wines of the year. Layers of black bramble fruit, dark chocolate, and baking spices unfold over a framework of bright acidity and finely sculpted tannins, while the oak remains seamlessly integrated throughout. The resulting wine has a lifted character that is charmingly refreshing, (wearing its lower alcohol of 12.7% in style), presenting its complexity through restraint. Given the dramatically limited yields in 2025, collectors considering Cheval Blanc would be wise not to delay in securing an allocation at the earliest opportunity.
2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/11/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/11/2026 | Send Email
Cheval Blanc has long stood among the most coveted estates on the Right Bank, and indeed in all of Bordeaux. That reputation is likely to be even more pronounced with the 2025 vintage, as yields at the château were dramatically reduced by the summer heat, resulting in the smallest harvest in 35 years. What was harvested, however, was of exceptional quality: intensely concentrated fruit that has produced a wine already been hailed by many critics as one of the wines of the year. Layers of black bramble fruit, dark chocolate, and baking spices unfold over a framework of bright acidity and finely sculpted tannins, while the oak remains seamlessly integrated throughout. The resulting wine has a lifted character that is charmingly refreshing, (wearing its lower alcohol of 12.7% in style), presenting its complexity through restraint. Given the dramatically limited yields in 2025, collectors considering Cheval Blanc would be wise not to delay in securing an allocation at the earliest opportunity.
2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion
By: Andrew Shaheen | Review Date: 5/10/2026 | Send Email
By: Andrew Shaheen | Review Date: 5/10/2026 | Send Email
Record low yields and high expected demand will almost certainly make this one of the most limited releases of the 2025 campaign. A perfumed, floral nose of cassis, dark cherry, and plum opens with subtle hints of cacao and delicate herbal notes. The tannins are soft and fine, the texture silky and remarkably fresh, the wine stays light on its feet throughout. The finish carries the seamless elegance that defines this estate at its best, and all signs point to a bright future in the cellar. Those interested should act quickly to secure an allocation.
2022 Croix de Labrie, St-Emilion
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 5/10/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 5/10/2026 | Send Email
This is Saint-Émilion turned all the way up—opulent, hedonistic, and impossible to ignore. Waves of black cherry, crème de cassis, espresso, and dark chocolate explode from the glass, wrapped in a velvety texture that feels almost decadent. Beneath all the richness is a polished mineral spine that keeps the wine focused and dangerously drinkable. The 2022 vintage gives this bottle enormous presence, but there’s still a seductive elegance underneath the power. A dramatic, modern Right Bank wine that feels built for candlelight, long dinners, and serious Bordeaux lovers.
2022 Réserve de la Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 5/10/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 5/10/2026 | Send Email
This is everything people love about Pauillac in a more seductive, earlier-drinking style. Layers of cassis, blackberry, graphite, and cigar box unfold slowly from the glass, carried by a classic Left Bank structure that feels both powerful and polished. There’s real depth and pedigree here—the kind of wine that immediately signals “serious Bordeaux”—yet the texture is seamless and remarkably inviting for such a young vintage. A stunning introduction to the Pichon Comtesse style for anyone craving the dark, aristocratic soul of Pauillac without stepping all the way into Grand Vin pricing.
Mantensei Kinoko Junmai Ginjo Sake (720ml)
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 5/9/2026 | Send Email
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 5/9/2026 | Send Email
I had a feeling this sake would be special just from the label- a playful bouquet of mushrooms in all shapes and colors, hinting at what’s to come. And it delivers! This Junmai Ginjo opens bright and lifted, yet surprisingly full, gradually developing into something richer and more layered. I especially like its complexity, balancing savory and sweet- earth and toasted nuts alongside notes of honey and sweet miso. The finish leans into umami, with a mouthwatering mushroom note that ties everything together. It made me think of a steaming-hot pan of juicy foraged mushrooms, deglazed with a splash of this sake to make the flavors burst even more. While I often serve lighter, more delicate styles chilled, this is one I’d gently warm so it can open up and show its depth.
Price:
$36.99
2012 Bunnahabhain 13 Year Old "Signatory" K&L Exclusive 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt #19 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
Bunnahabhain is one of those distilleries that’s as hard to singularly identify as it is to pronounce or spell from memory (BOO-nuh-ha-bin, if you were wondering). An outlier Islay house known more for its rich, oily texture than the unctuous, medicinal peat of its island brethren, it shows best in bolder casks that allow the dense distillate a sturdy canvas for expression. Unafraid to be simultaneously rugged and elegant, the liquid from this specially selected cask walks the line as if hiking through the Scottish brush, overlooking a windswept cove surrounded by bristling marsh and grazing cattle.
It is sherry-forward without being a one-note sherry bomb; it reminds you where it was born without overloading you with the island's signature smoke. It carries its 128 proof points delicately, reminding you of its strength with the quiet intensity of a Jedi master (our modern-day Obi-Wan is a Scotsman, after all).
With that, we taste. The nose immediately displays signature sherry notes, with antique leather, espresso beans, toasted walnuts, and dense fig jam arriving first. The palate explodes with dark chocolate, charred orange oil, Cavendish pipe tobacco, and stewed dates, followed by a wisp of island peat that takes more from the bog itself than the malt-drying process more common in Islay Scotch. The fruit leads the finish, with a mix of marmalade and caramelized artichoke hearts careening toward a final touch of mahogany bookshelf. Bold and welcoming, this is another stellar private selection from our friends at Signatory, bottled exclusively for the K&L family.
Price:
$99.99
2025 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux 6-Pack in OWC
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
The 2025 Château Malescot St. Exupéry delivers a compellingly dark expression of Margaux, showcasing both the ripeness of the vintage and the estate’s more classical sensibility. Deeply concentrated yet finely composed, this is a wine built on power and balance. The nose opens with intense aromas of black and wild bramble fruit, underpinned by cherry blossom and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is firm and commanding, framed by polished yet assertive tannins. A backbone of bright acid brings energy and precision to the dense fruit profile while preserving the wine’s elegance. While the wine bears all of the hallmarks of the 2025 Bordeaux vintage, Malescot St. Exupéry distinguishes itself through balance and a more traditional interpretation of Margaux terroir.
2025 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac 6-Pack in OWC
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
Pontet-Canet delivers yet another benchmark Pauillac in 2025, reinforcing its status as one of the Left Bank’s most compelling estates. Centered around an expressive core of crème de cassis and black fruit, the wine is fully ripe without being over-extracted. On the palate, it is expansive, with the vintage’s soon-to-be hallmark bright acidity working in tandem with lush fruit, dark chocolate, and baking spices. In 2025, only gentle pump-overs (with no punchdowns) were used to manage the tannins from berries kept small by the summer’s heat, a process expertly handled by the winemaking team. A hint of bitterness on the finish provides a pleasing coda, prompting a return to the glass. A subtle, appetizing touch of bitterness on the finish adds complexity and invites another sip, making this a wine that is as compelling as it is age-worthy. Pontet-Canet continues to set the standard on the Left Bank: this is a vintage collectors and enthusiasts alike will not want to miss.
2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Oakville Sauvignon Blanc
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
This is a seriously classy bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that combines purity of fruit and sheer quaffability with next-level complexity and depth. The source of this wine is a parcel of old-vine Sauvignon Blanc in the heart of Oakville, a subregion of Napa where precious little Sauvignon Blanc is grown anymore, simply because folks can replant the land to Cabernet and get two to four times the price for the fruit or wine. However, some growers realize it’s better to keep world-class Sauvignon Blanc in the ground than plant a few more acres of average Cabernet if the soils aren’t right. We partnered with one such estate to make this wine.
That old-vine fruit was then fermented and aged in a variety of different vessels to build texture and tension in the wine. Some was aged in 500L seasoned French oak. Some rested in concrete tank. Another portion aged in a handmade Italian terracotta amphora. I worked with the winemaker to combine these fascinating individual components into one cohesive blend, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.
As a young wine, the vivacious tropical and ripe citrus fruits are at the forefront, but there’s also a wonderful mineral tension and crystalline quality to the wine. The portion that spent time in relatively neutral oak boosts the texture just a touch, giving the wine wonderful length and presence on the palate. Despite its relatively inexpensive price point, this is not your typical, simple, stainless-steel, straightforward Sauvignon Blanc. There’s real sophistication and nuance here. I can’t wait to see how this wine settles in; I think it will continue to improve over the coming weeks, months, and probably years. Cheers!
Price:
Hidden
2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion
By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 5/8/2026 | Send Email
If you're a fan of Cheval Blanc's glorious Franc dominated expression, buy now or forever hold your peace - yields were down 50% in 2025 and all of their wine is being released during En Primeur. The good news? The wine delivers with elegant and lifted aromatics, a juicy and vibrant palate complex fruits, all carried along by excellent mineral freshness. Even at this young stage the wine is super promising with great persistence and focus.
2022 Le "C" des Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
What an incredible hidden gem in the sea of fantastic wines that hail from Pessac-Léognan.
The nose is elegant and refined, with notes of sour cherries, rose hip, and fresh berry bramble. On the palate, I was immediately blown away by the acidity of the wine - almost felt at first as biting into an underripe bing cherry.
Amazingly layered here, the initial red and blue fruit notes give way to a mid-palate of rosemary, thyme, a hint of gravel and pencil lead.
The finish was superb with even more back palate notes of bright red fruit and currant. If you're looking for something incredibly flirtatious, refined but still playful and fun, you should definitely reach right for this bottle here.
Scarlet K&L Exclusive "Fernet Cask Marriage Peated Cask #21" Japanese Amaro (700ml)
By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
Make no mistake, Scarlet's standard Fernet is fantastic, but this barrel selection is on a whole different level. This K&L Exclusive Amaro immediately hits you on the palate with notes of fresh mint, sugar, vanilla, herbs, and licorice, tied up with a salty, slightly bitter finish. The Laphroaig cask adds the aforementioned salty note along with a subtle smoky note that balances this smooth amaro perfectly. Only a small quantity made, buy while you have the chance!
Price:
$109.99
| Limit of 2 per customer |
2022 Eyrie "Estate - Sisters Vineyard" Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
There's this very slight matchsticky reduction on the nose, and just incredibly pretty and perfect where it is, which is confusing since I don't normally care for it but here, I'm totally into it. This is so lovely and elegant, the fruit seeps in around the edges and then is front and foremost, almost as if I could lean into it and touch the fruit itself with the tip of my nose. Underripe raspberry, bright cherry, and slightly bruised strawberry, the fruit runs the entire gambit back and forth and then there's a dark earthiness around the edges, almost in my nasal peripherals, which are a real thing. Don't look it up, though. The palate brings us back to a light and pure elegance once more, the fruit has a little crunch, but the texture and the gentle and integrated tannin structure is just really enjoyable with each and every sip. This is the kind of Pinot Noir that I really get into, something with grace that feels like it's dancing across my palate. It's just great all the way through.
2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
Yet another crazy delicious Champagne from the House of Billecart Salmon. I feel like there's this intense roundness on the nose that is starting to define Billecart for me more and more, but maybe I'm also deluding myself, it's entirely possible. Either way, I've had the opportunity to try this a couple times, and it's just been outstanding for both of them. The first time, we just opened and shared the bottle as a staff and remarked on how good it was, definitely thought that it wouldn't hurt to lay down and kind of just get a little more of that savory character developed. The second time, it was after Gary had opened the bottle earlier in the day and put a cap on it so it wouldn't go flat, and gosh, it opened up so incredibly nicely, I would definitely suggest laying it down for a few years all that development from it opening really helped encircle and showcase the fruit so prettily, making a little basket for it to delicately rest on. Just phenomenal.
Price:
$119.99
2023 Eyrie "Estate" Dundee Hills Trousseau Noir
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
We here at K&L love us some Trousseau Noir, but it's not super often we see one on the domestic side of things, but of course it's our friends at The Eyrie Vineyards that brings us this beautiful little creature here. The nose is so ephemeral and lovely, soft and highly nuanced there's a dozen different directions it comes from, with light and lovely red fruit undertones and overtones, white and red flowers, a lingering savory umami note in the midst of the bouquet and then a long dusty red-fruited note as I find myself at the bottom. The palate is bright and lovely, amazing acidity with this savory note in the middle again, bright crunchy fruits fleet across the palate, and there's a little bit of a light grip in the back and this would be perfect with a little bit of food, I can easily enjoy it by itself and definitely with a little chill it would be even that much better and pair that much easier. Just fantastic, thank you guys for making such a lovely wine.
Price:
$29.95
2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
What a lovely Anniversary cuvee from Billecart-Salmon! It offers great depth of flavor with slightly toasty and brioche driven texture, sea breeze notes, lovely citrus fruit nuances and floral aromatics. It's dry with vibrant mineral touch but also has incredibly supple finish. As with all Champagne from Billecart, this Cuvee seems to change and evolve once in the glass, revealing new layers of flavors and showing impressive level of complexity.
Price:
$119.99
2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | Send Email
This is a great bottle to be Billecart-Salmon’s anniversary champagne, as it represents the house so well. This champagne is defined by its elegance and minerality, despite the record-breaking heat in the 2018 vintage. The nose leads with crushed rock, and toasted sourdough, while crisp red apple notes give depth. The palate is consistent with the nose, and the warmth of the 2018 vintage lends lovely roundness and concentration of flavor. The finish is long and crisp. I have tasted this bottle twice within a week now and am already looking forward to the next time I get to enjoy it.
Price:
$119.99
2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/6/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/6/2026 | Send Email
Yields were low across Bordeaux in 2025, but then there’s Cheval Blanc, which produced roughly half of what many of its neighbors did. With fewer than 5,000 cases for the world, this is a wine to secure early for anyone who keeps the cherished Right Bank estate on their shortlist. But rarity alone does not make the wine—it’s what’s in the bottle that matters.
What I found was an incredibly elegant, ethereal, and lifted Cheval Blanc, a wine whose concentration is on full display while remaining feather-light on its feet. There is ample structure, but it never feels demanding—if anything, it is refreshingly graceful. At a mere 12.7% alcohol, this is a poised and refined Cheval Blanc that will be fascinating to follow over the years, singular both in its production and in its profile.
2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 5/6/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 5/6/2026 | Send Email
I love this- what a great combination of the elegance of Billecart-Salmon vintage champagne inside the bottle, and celebratory fun on the label! This celebrates not only the 200th anniversary of this house, but also 250 years of the USA. I love how the frame of baguette toast and dark cherry Pinot Noir power coalesce on the generous nose of this wine. It has great richness in the mouth without being heavy and features lovely white flowers as well as super salinity. This is a great 2018 from Billecart!
Price:
$119.99
2024 Samuel Louis Smith "Baytree Lane Vineyard" Sonoma Valley Gamay Noir
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 5/6/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 5/6/2026 | Send Email
There are few young winemakers in the business with more raw talent than Sam Smith. His wines have that magical balance of edgy, electric vibrancy, elegant refinement, and quiet repose all at the same time. They show incredible purity and a vivid sense of place. Made using very non-interventionist techniques, they remain polished and sophisticated nonetheless. The Baytree Lane Gamay is a new wine in his lineup, and it is immediately one of my favorites. Coming from a small vineyard above the town of Sonoma, this Gamay Noir is grown on red volcanic soils. Pouring it for our sales staff last week garnered the same reaction time and time again: “Ooohhh, now that’s just delicious!”
The wine has the perfect combination of upfront, bright red fruit - think ripe raspberry, pomegranate, and alpine strawberry, along with baking spices, a hint of black pepper, dried rose petal, hot volcanic stone, and bramble leaf. Elegant, light-medium-bodied, and translucent in the glass, yet packed with flavor, it has a refined, silky texture on the palate. Just an eminently quaffable wine. I absolutely loved it. The value here is also stunning given the quality in the bottle.
Scarlet K&L Exclusive "Fernet Cask Marriage Peated Cask #21" Japanese Amaro (700ml)
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
Look at this smile, oh right. You can't see me, well my picture is somewhere nearby look at that and my smile, the one I have on now is even bigger. This feels like more what I was originally expecting when I tried Scarlet's traditional Fernet, not that I came away disappointed before, but this is just wow. The nose is intense but alluring, I can't stop just going in deeper and deeper, trying to get ever more. There's mintiness, cola, medicinal herbs, and just so much going on, with this touch of that brine in the background. The palate is drier with just a little touch of heat, but really excellent bitterness that's fighting and pushing against the sugar the whole way, but the balance is impeccable this razor's edge brilliance with some chewy smoke in the background as it continues the long and inexorable finish. This is great, I love it, I'm going to marry it I love it so much (I'm kidding, Kristen) but yeah it's very good.
Price:
$109.99
| Limit of 2 per customer |
2019 Doisy-Védrines, Sauternes
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
First, you need to stop being worried about getting a full bottle of Sauternes. It will last in your fridge for ages, and is just a great excuse to indulge twice. This has that kind of fresher and younger Sauternes smell where there's a little touch of that noblest of rots, but it's also super clean and brightly fruited still, pineapple, guava, yellow peach, and sultanas. The palate is bright and fairly light, not rich or cloying at all with amazing acidity that tries to gaslight you, the sweetness is mild and this is something I would definitely pair with something savory, this really feels like a cheese plate or foie gras or something indulgent because we're worth it. This is really nice and an easy cheat code for Yumtown population you.
2024 Chantegrive Blanc, Graves
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
It's really a big shame that not enough people prioritize Bordeaux Blanc for their summers, because it's really awesome stuff. It's got a little more weight depending on the amount of Semillon, but that also gives it a little better mouthfeel, a little kind of gentle roundness. This has some grapefruit zest, white peach, and some gooseberry on the front of the nose with a little chalkiness following, and then the palate is just pure fun times. More peaches come to the party along with a little bit of weight, lemon candy, grapefruit zest and pith, and then a little bit of honeyed peel . This has great acid, totally dry, and for this price drinks surprisingly fun and complex. It's really great, why don't you drink more Bordeaux Blanc?
2022 Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email
I think this might be my favorite Bordeaux Chateau? I don't know, it's hard to pick a favorite but I've never had a bottle of Chevalier that bums me out at all, and there's really nothing nicer you can say about a winery, right? This is classic and rich, there's this really lovely depth that spirals down towards something I can't quite touch. There's ripe and fairly rich fruits, dark cherry, blackberry jam, bruised strawberry, and then there's a little bit of something floral and the barrel spice comes in. The palate is much the same, but more enjoyable because I think tasting is more fun than smelling, not to say I get more from it but yeah, I have opinions I guess. Either way, this is just fabulous and made me crazy happy when we had it. Big smile all day.