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- David Othenin-Girard (336)
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- Gary Westby (537)
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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
2023 Altavia Vermentino di Ponente
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
Let's be brutally honest about Vermentino for a second. Ninety percent of what hits the US market is lazy, flabby, tropical juice made for tourists to gulp down without thinking. It lacks any kind of spine, and frankly, it bores me to death. But when you head to the Riviera Ligure di Ponente—where the Alps practically crash right into the Mediterranean—the grape becomes a completely different animal.
The 2023 Altavia is exactly the kind of white wine I am constantly hunting for. It doesn't sit heavy or sweet in the glass. It is a straight-up slap in the face of sea salt, crushed pine needles, and wild coastal scrub. You smell this and you are instantly standing on the cliffs in Liguria.
On the palate, it’s all about nervous energy. It is razor-sharp, completely bypassing any hint of sweet melon or fat fruit to deliver a crunchy, electric hit of lemon peel and bitter green almond. The acidity acts like a live wire, driving a bone-dry, mouthwatering saline snap on the finish that absolutely demands a plate of fritto misto or raw seafood.
If you want a lazy, thoughtless pool wine, look elsewhere. If you want a coastal white with serious architectural tension, uncompromising cut, and pure Ligurian attitude, stock up on this immediately.
Price:
$37.99
2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Oakville Sauvignon Blanc
By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
An absolute masterclass in Napa Sauvignon Blanc. Clean and crisp with the perfect level of acidity, this wine has notes of green apples, peaches, honey, and lemon on the palate. A delicious, easy drinking white wine from an acclaimed winemaker at a wonderful price.
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2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Oakville Sauvignon Blanc
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
A brand-new release from the Anonymous line. In perfect sync for warm weather sipping! A fresh nose of white peaches, tart apples and ripe cantaloupe. Floral and inviting! On the palate, some very nice and rather rich mouthfeel, with melon, juicy stone fruits, sour apples and lemon cream on the finish. Like the nose, delightful and refreshing!
Price:
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High West "Double Rye" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Moscatel Finished Cask Strength Rye Whiskey (750ml)
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
The folks at High West know what they're doing, and their streak of outstanding creations continue to delight. Although this latest release may not appeal so much to the more discriminating rye aficionados, I think it will please most whiskey drinkers, and it may even attract new ones. It's flavor-packed with an overall complexity and balance that delights. A very impressive arrival from the great state of Utah.
Price:
$74.99
High West "Double Rye" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Moscatel Finished Cask Strength Rye Whiskey (750ml)
By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
High West's Double Rye already carries a reputation for lively spice and attitude, but this exclusive single barrel, finished in Moscatel cask, shows a softer, more charming side of the whiskey. The nose hints at gentle sweetness and light confectionery notes, setting the stage for a palate that opens with subtle brown sugar and mellow baking spice. The Moscatel finish seems to round the corners just enough, lending a touch of sweetness and polish without burying the rye's natural character. Bottled at cask strength, you might expect the usual blast of heat, but instead the whiskey arrives quite composed. The texture is light, controlled, and pleasantly clean. All told, this single barrel manages a neat trick. It keeps the personality and spice that make "Double Rye" such a crowd favorite while adding just enough Moscatel sweetness to make it feel a bit more dressed up. This is a playful but polished rye that drinks far easier than its proof may suggest.
Price:
$74.99
High West "Double Rye" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Moscatel Finished Cask Strength Rye Whiskey (750ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
High West is easily one of the most reliable names in American craft distilling. Since starting up in Park City back in 2006, they’ve consistently turned out great everyday bottles alongside stellar annual releases that enthusiasts hunt for year after year. While they still source a good portion of their liquid, they’ve become masters at blending those stocks with their own house-made spirit. Their private barrel program was actually on hold for a few years, so we’re beyond excited to have this one back on the shelf, with a couple more landing in the coming months.
For this selection, we have the classic "Double Rye", which uses a foundation of reliable 95/5 MGP rye blended with High West’s own 80/20 rye and malted rye mashbill, all aged between four and seven years before being finished in Moscatel casks for about 16 months. As a brighter, honeyed dessert wine, Moscatel brings a soft green grape and sweet coconut element to the whiskey, which is a nice departure from the heavier red fruits you usually get from Sherry or Port.
The nose leads with roasted honey and bright cotton candy grapes, backed by cinnamon bark, canned peaches, and sarsaparilla. That first sip brings out the rye spice you’d expect from this base, along with burnt marshmallow, gooseberry crème brûlée, nutmeg, and apple cider. The finish hits a lovely balance of spice and bright sweetness, with more of that dark roasted honey and root beer bringing the journey to a close. Thankfully, another sip is always right around the corner.
Price:
$74.99
High West "Double Rye" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Moscatel Finished Cask Strength Rye Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
This beautiful barrel of rye whiskey perfectly matches aromatic sweet wine with dry, spicy mountain rye. If you know anything about me, you know I'm extremely skeptical of wine-finished bourbon. While there are certainly great examples out there, I rarely feel that adding a wine finish significantly improves the whiskey. More often it simply makes the spirit taste different, which is fine I suppose, but if you're going to go through all that effort, why not make it better? Otherwise, it feels like a wasted opportunity.
Rye whiskey, however, has far more potential for added depth and nuance in my opinion, and this barrel is a perfect example. First, we have a relatively uncommon type of sherry cask that even in Scotland is rarely encountered, paired with a classic rye recipe from one of the original distillers of the American craft movement. Let's have at it.
The color is solidly dark, no doubt thanks to more than 16 months of finishing, a deep mahogany (1.6). The nose bursts forward with sultanas, jasmine, Seville orange, roasted clove, and sweet fresh herbs like fennel and dill. The pungent raisinated fruit blends beautifully with dark herbal tones and bright citrus zest. On the palate, the sweetness of the wine arrives immediately and in the most pleasurable way. It reminds me somewhat of Angel's Envy Rye, but instead of molasses you get a more balanced profile built around zesty citrus and plummy fruit. The mid-palate carries just enough spice to keep the whole package from feeling overly dessert-like, but not so much that it dries out the finish.
Altogether a lovely cask that proves those guys up in the snow can still surprise us when they want to. This is an easy bottle to recommend to nearly anyone with even a passing interest in American whiskey, but it also has the kind of broad appeal that could pull plenty of new drinkers into the fold.
Price:
$74.99
2025 Zephyr Riesling Marlborough
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
This Riesling is not shy! From the moment you take your first sip, you're hit with notes of petrol and stone fruit. This develops into dried nectarine and finishes with notes of tart tamarind. There are about 10g of residual sugar in this bottle, but you almost don't feel it from the acidity. If you're looking to explore Riesling outside of Germany and Alsace, this is a great start. Full of character and charm, this pairs well with anything savory or spicy.
2024 Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 3/20/2026 | Send Email
I love New Zealand whites for how expressive they are, and this is no exception. This is the kind of wine I want to drink with friends on a hot summer day. It's fresh and fun, with notes of grapefruit and sweet citrus on the nose that persist on the palate and give way to light notes of white nectarine on the finish. The acidity is fresh, balanced, and makes this a great wine for the summer.
St. George "Lot 25" Single Malt Whiskey
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
This is the 25th-anniversary release from the absolute pioneers of American single malt, and frankly, it is a staggering achievement. St. George has been playing this game since 1982, long before "American Single Malt" was even a legal category, and this bottling is a deep dive into their incredible library of casks. We are talking about a blend that incorporates some of their earliest distillations, with the oldest juice in the bottle hitting that 25-year mark.
What makes St. George so unique is their bartender’s palate approach to maturation. They aren't just using ex-bourbon barrels; this release is a complex tapestry of Kentucky bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, American oak, French oak, Port, and Sauternes casks. It is a masterclass in blending that managed to keep the distillery's signature cocoa and pear DNA while layering on a quarter-century of wood-driven complexity. This is bottled at 48% ABV, which provides just enough structural integrity to carry the massive weight of those older stocks without losing the delicate floral top notes that make St. George so recognizable.
Diving in, the nose is an absolute kaleidoscope of aromas. It leads with that classic St. George roasted cocoa bean and ripe Bartlett pear, but it is quickly joined by deeper notes of manuka honey, dried apricot, and a hint of sandalwood. As it sits in the glass, you get this wonderful old library mustiness that only comes with genuine age. The palate is incredibly plush and oily, delivering waves of salted caramel, dark chocolate, and orange marmalade. There is a refined cardamom spiciness here that balances the honeyed sweetness from the Sauternes casks. The finish is epic, trailing off with a whisper of pipe tobacco and a lingering, resinous oak that stays with you forever. This isn't just a whiskey; it is a piece of California distilling history.
Price:
$99.99
2023 Pyramid Valley Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
One of the most well-known names in New Zealand for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Pyramid Valley Vineyards has looked further afield from their North Canterbury estate in recent years, now offering their take on a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – and the result couldn’t be more delicious. This is such an elegant, restrained and mineral-driven style of Sauvignon Blanc, miles above the simpler, tropical fruit-forward wines the region is famous for. Delicately herbal on the nose, subtle tarragon and chervil notes mingle with classic lime leaf and grapefruit zest. Juicy white nectarine and kumquat follows quickly behind, along with a faint grassy note. On the palate, the wine has an almost electric feel. It’s just so fresh and crisp, with a brightness and nervy tension that lingers. The wine is also incredibly textural and ever so slightly savory, most likely thanks to a small inclusion of Pinot Gris in the fermentation, making it a great option for pairing with seafood, sushi or salads. With warmer days on the horizon, this is a serious example of Sauvignon Blanc to stock up on.
2024 Giant Steps "Circle of Fifths" Pinot Noir Yarra Valley Victoria
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
Perfumed and elegant, this Pinot Noir opens with aromas of red cherry, raspberry, and rose petal, layered with subtle spice and earthy undertones. The palate is vibrant and finely structured, with bright red fruit, silky tannins, and lively acidity giving the wine energy and lift. A gentle savory note adds complexity, while the finish remains long and refined. A beautifully balanced Yarra Valley Pinot that highlights finesse, purity, and precision.
2024 Vasse Felix "Filius" Chardonnay Margaret River Western Australia
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
Fresh and beautifully balanced, this Chardonnay opens with aromas of lemon zest, white peach, and subtle almond, with a touch of flinty minerality. The palate is vibrant and precise, combining bright citrus and orchard fruit with a gentle creaminess and well-integrated oak. Margret River's natural freshness shines through, giving the wine lift and energy without sacrificing texture. A polished, modern Chardonnay that overdeliver, offering both approachability and classic structure.
Found North "Season 6 - Cherry Liqueur Finish #6138" Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Canadian Whisky (750ml)
By: Jonathan Goldstein | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Goldstein | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
For the record this is Batch 6 Cask 6138 A combo of 12Yr Rye, 21 Yr Rye, 15Yr Corn, 17 Yr Corn, 22 Yr Corn and 25Yr Corn – this makes the composition 49% Rye, 48% Corn and 3% Barley.
Among all the brands that we actively follow right now, Found North is one of our favorites. We have been fans for a long time and when the opportunity presented itself to us to obtain a barrel, we were excited to say the least. Immediately this cask spoke to us – at least on paper – a cherry liqueur finished product could have easily been aged too long. Upon sampling, we were all very surprised at how subtle the liqueur showed. We equated this whisky to a Manhattan but only in the best – least cocktail like way. More as if you poured a shot of whisky into a glass that previously served a Manhattan – again subtle.
Price:
$119.99
2019 Clos St. Antonin Chateauneuf-du-Pape
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 3/19/2026 | Send Email
Though Châteauneuf-du-Pape is famed for its galets roulés (the giant rolled stones that cover the regions surface), Grenache sometimes shines even more brilliantly on sand. When Isabelle Sabon of Domaine de la Janasse acquired the Clos St-Antonin property, she deliberately transferred its sandy parcels to focus on crafting a pure Grenache from these cooler soils—and the results have been remarkable.
Freed from the heady ripeness often associated with galets, the wine shows a lifted, precise profile: red currant, strawberry, and black cherry layered with striking minerality and wild Provençal herbs. This is a refined, expressive take on Grenache, and given Isabelle Sabon’s track record at Janasse, it promises to evolve beautifully for many years in the cellar.
2025 Zephyr Riesling Marlborough
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
Bright, zesty, and a wonderfully expressive, this Riesling shows juicy lime, green apple, and white peach with a refreshing lift of acidity. A hint of floral perfume and citrusy snap makes it feel vibrant and clean from start to finish. Perfect for someone who is looking for an aromatic white with plenty of energy and charm.
2018 Tyrrell's "Vat 1" Semillon Hunter Valley New South Wales
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
A benchmark expression of Hunter Vally Semillon, this wine is restrained but deeply complex. The nose is subtle, showing lemon zest, green apple, and hints of wet stone. The palate is light bodied and razor-sharp, driven by piercing acidity and clean, almost citrus profile in its youth. With time in the bottle, it develops remarkable depth, gaining notes of toast, honey, and waxy richness while retaining freshness. A classic, age-worthy Semillon defined by precision, longevity, and understated power.
2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Oakville Sauvignon Blanc
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
Our new Anonymous Sauvignon Blanc is a warm climate tropical masterpiece! On the nose and palate, melon, papaya, guava, pineapple, green apple, and peach, framed by flowers and spice. This is a beautiful wine, just everything you want from a white wine on a hot day or on the dinner table.
Price:
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Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #26 Brut Champagne
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
The goal of every Grand Siècle release is to create the "perfect year," and Iteration #26 is as near perfect as you can get. The 100-point Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Iteration #26 is a blend from three exceptional years - 2007, 2008, and 2012. The 2008 and 2012 vintages are two of the highest rated Champagne vintages of the 21st century! The cepages is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir from 8 Grand Crus from 2012 (65%), 2008 (25%), and 2007 (10%) - all traditional cold weather vintages - and is aged for 10 years on the lees in LP's seven miles of caves dug out the Champagne's famous chalk soils. I've been very fortunate to taste man Grand Siècles and this is the best one I'ver had. It definitely lives up the hype of 100-point sore. A must have for your cellar or special event!
2016 Fallet-Dart Brut Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
Bright nose of bosc pear. Dry, yet full palate with delightful bubbles. Highly drinkable. Enjoy!
Price:
$49.99
Dérot-Delugny "Retour en Avant" Brut
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
Pale yellow color. Beautiful, crisp nose of yeast/marmite, toast & brioche. The palate gives young green melon while fine bubbles coat the palate. Pair with tonkatsu, fried whole fish, risotto and shrimp etouffee.
Price:
$49.99
2024 Union Sacré Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
Deep garnet color. Lush, illustrious nose of bramble, mountain forest (Jeffrey's butterscotch pine) and honey. The palate gives a luxurious, velvety mouthfeel of rich fruit and alpine herb with a slight note of sage. Fantastic!
Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #26 Brut Champagne
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
The house of Laurent-Perrier shows their blending prowess yet again with this iteration of Grand Siecle. Based around the 2012 vintage with 25% of reserves from 2008 and 10% from 2007, this champagne is elegant and fresh, but with an underlying brooding complexity from 10 years of ageing. Ripe citrus, Marcona almonds, and rich brioche aromas burst from the glass and continue on the palate, where they are joined by crisp apple flavors with an undercurrent of brambly berries and toast. With a bright, fresh attack, and a clean dry finish, this champagne is easy drinking, but with so much vinous power and complexity at its core. Grab a couple bottles while you can - this is drinking great today and will have even more to offer after a few years in your cellar!
Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #26 Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
This current iteration of the Grand Siecle is one of my very favorites! Even up there with my ultimate favorite Iteration, No. 22 in the magnum size. The No. 26 is an extremely memorable release! A nose of honeysuckle, nectarine, hazelnut, peach, and light smoke. On the palate, even better, with mellow citrus flavors, apricot, white peach, saline and toasted almond. There is a lot going on here and this release is at the top of the heap!
2024 Folk Machine "White Light" California White Blend
By: Elizabeth McManus | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Elizabeth McManus | Review Date: 3/18/2026 | Send Email
Bright, light, and ultra-smooth, this five-varietal Californian blend is utterly drinkable and punches well above its weight. The melon, citrus, and slight licorice on the nose give way to an aromatic and refreshing glass. The producer, Folk Machine, is a subset of Hobo Wine Company and is known for their inventive and esoteric blends. If this bottle were a movie, it would be '10 Things I Hate About You' (1999) – a flirty crowd-pleaser well on its way to becoming a classic.
Price:
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Binder's Stash Distilled By Willett 9 Year Old "Single Barrel #745" French Oak Wave Stave Cask Strength Kentucky Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 3/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 3/17/2026 | Send Email
We have here the first highly anticipated release from a celebrated partnership between one of the more lauded non-distiller producers in bourbon and one of the most legendary distillers in Kentucky. This single cask offering from Binder’s Stash features some of the experimental Willett distillate produced about a decade ago when they were still dialing in their house style. Because it was aged in a highly experimental barrel, the result is one of the most stunningly unique bourbons I have ever encountered.
While the wheated mash bill is present, it does not show up in the standard way. Instead of the typical soft, cereal-forward aroma, this comes in robust with deep roasted caramel, musty oak, and cedar. You get notes of petrichor, black cherries, and carrot cake, followed by blood orange zest and Earl Grey tea.
The special spiral-cut barrel really shines on the palate, with a combination of char and raw oak leading the way before baked red fruit, maple soot, anise, and pumpernickel take over. The finish seems never-ending, bringing you right back to that unique woodiness and forest herbaceousness that guided the journey. This is a truly singular expression. If it is a sign of what is to come from this partnership between Binder’s Stash and Willett, we are all in for some incredible bottlings.
Price:
$360.00
2023 Pyramid Valley Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/17/2026 | Send Email
Really pretty example of a slight step up in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, with a little bit of a more typical nose. There's a nice little spot of peach, some grapefruit zest, a little touch of jalapeno skin, and then a little touch of something edging up on tropical fruit. The palate is delicious and crisp, not overly fruited with some really nice savory notes at the beginning and middle, there's some softer fruit between and a driving line of acid that really pushes everything forward in a really delicious way. This is absolutely fantastic Sauvignon Blanc in a style that isn't overly flashy and has a good body to it. Definitely going to be picking up a few of these for the Summer. Heat's already here, white wine and rose is the vibe.
2024 Giant Steps "Circle of Fifths" Pinot Noir Yarra Valley Victoria
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/17/2026 | Send Email
One of my favorite wines from the tasting this morning, this really is just so pretty. The nose is bright and really pure fruited, bright red cherry, cranberry skin, the smell of pomegranate seeds in a cup, and a little bit of something slightly darker in the background, and then a little bit of anise and raspberry leaf are just floating in the far back, existing. The palate is bright and juicy with really great mouthfeel and enough acidity that the watering finish just goes on and on, but not so much that it remains tart for more than a brief moment, the moment I call "the pairing moment" where food would completely sand off that littlest edge and smooth out everything perfectly. This is really delicious and well-priced for the quality that you get, definitely recommended.
2023 Aurore Dezat "Les Montaignes" Sancerre
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
This wonderful Sancerre takes things to the next level. It's fuller and rounder than their regular cuvee and the use of some amphora along with a small amount of large oak barrels adds complexity and textural depth and roundness. The finish is long and satisfying. Great on its own but it shines at the dinner table.
Price:
$34.99
2024 Domaine de Reuilly "Les Pierres Plates" Reuilly Blanc
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
This remains one of my favorite value priced Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs. Reuilly hails from the Eastern side of Loire and has soils very similar to Chablis. This impressive white is not only subtle and refined but also offers lively intensity, especially on the mid-palate. It's an immensely satisfying wine that punches above its price.
Price:
$21.99
2023 Suduiraut, Sauternes (375ml)
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
When Suduiraut is at the top of their game, they easily rival the very best in Sauternes. That’s been happening a lot recently, with one spellbinding release after another. Is it the case with the 2023? The professional critics certainly seem to think so, with a 100-point score from Vinous to go along with best-in-class marks from nearly everyone else. And when you consider that acclaim alongside the going rate for Suduiraut, it quickly becomes one of the best buys in fine wine.
I think this may be their best wine since the simply stunning 2015 (with the impossible-to-find 2021 in the conversation as well!). Like the best of the 2023s, Suduiraut hits that magical combination of richness and brightness—luxurious yet refreshing. Gorgeous aromatics layer stone fruit, citrus peel, and orange blossom, while the palate delivers grilled pineapple, blood orange, honey, key lime, and a thread of spice. But it’s the balance and texture that really steal the show—just the right amount of everything. Add the fact that it promises an effortlessly long, broad drinking window, and you won’t have to wait too long to get the best from the 2023 Suduiraut. For Sauternes royalty at a song, I can’t recommend this one enough. How lucky are we to be able to pull the cork on a wine this good without having to think twice?!
Granalta 5 Anos Piloncillo Anejo Michoacan Rum (750ml)
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
I'm fairly familiar with most of the top tier Rums that line our shelves but only recently had the opportunity to sample this wonderful, more recent arrival. It's a Mexican made Rum that begs to be taken seriously. I was instantly taken with the smooth mouthfeel as well as the overall richness and balance. Delicious flavors of brown sugar , salted caramel and vanilla abound and zero sugar is added.
Price:
$49.99
Manuscrito "Chapter One" Single Estate Blanco Tequila (750ml)
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
Manuscrito "Chapter One" has quickly become one of our very favorite Blancos. This truly delvers a lot more than we were expecting at this price. It's bright and aromatic with focused citrus and pineapple aromas and offers creamy richness on the palate. This is a very fine Tequila that comes with our highest recommendation.
Price:
$49.99
Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #26 Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
Every year the whole K&L champagne team meets to taste the grande marque producers we carry- and this year we tasted 71 different wines from 21 producers, and this was flat out my favorite of all of them. The delicacy and balance of this masterpiece make words fall short- it is the ultimate cure for the jaded palate- and I am still thinking about it everyday. This champagne in the clean, stainless steel style, with a profound depth that is countered perfectly by an aqueux ease of drinking. I hope I'll be lucky enough to drink this again soon, and to encounter it for years into the future. After more than 10 years of ageing for its youngest component, this great tete cuvee is ready now, but will continue to develop for decades in your cellar. Wow.
Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #27 Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/16/2026 | Send Email
The Grand Siècle from Laurent Perrier is true tête de cuvée; the tiny amount of this wine is selected out from only the very best parcels and vintages of their quite large production. The tank room for the reserve wines is smaller than my living room! The 27th iteration is an audacious blend of three vintages: 2015, the hottest in history up to that point, 2013, the only cold October harvest of my career in champagne and 2012, the “has it all” vintage to tie it all together. This wines 10 years on the lees has given it a classy, subtle brioche frame, but the star of the show is the freshness and the high-quality citrus fruit. I love the Puligny like lime and rich Meyer lemon in this wine. We paired it at home with stuffed avocados and the spicy tuna brought out the cut and highlighted the minerality of this delicious champagne.
2022 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 3/14/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 3/14/2026 | Send Email
The 2022 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi is composed of 100% Piedirosso that grows on the mineral-rich volcanic soils on the dramatic slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Adding to the drama, local legend says that vines sprang from the tears Christ shed after Lucifer, cast out of heaven, tore away a piece of paradise and dropped it to Earth, forming the Gulf of Naples. I’m happy to go along with this legend because this Rosso is delizioso. It offers bright and lively notes of fresh cherry, Earl Grey tea, violet pastilles, and damp autumn leaves. With food-friendly acidity and a breezy 12.5% ABV, it’s a great match for pizza Napoletana, Mozzarella di Bufala, and light bites like taralli and Marcona almonds.
Price:
Hidden
2024 Joël Taluau "Expression" St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/14/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/14/2026 | Send Email
This new release from Joel Taluau is so pleasing, so fun and sooooo easy on the wallet. So much so that I hope Keith gets much more of it for us! The nose is of wild strawberries, dried lavender, bright minerals, roses, and dried herbs. There's a bit of a changeup on the palate, which is very clean, with tart minerals, some light chalk, black raspberries and red cherries. This wine is super versatile for picnics, with grilled foods, or smoked foods, whether these be meat related or vegetarian. Or simply a pleasure to drink all by itself!
Price:
$13.99
2020 Domaine de Pallus "Les Pensees de Pallus" Chinon
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/14/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/14/2026 | Send Email
This is, seriously, the best Chinon that I have had in at least a year. It is, at once, deep and dark but, it also has a magnificent tartness to back it up. Although I do have a soft spot for "dirty bird" Chinon's, this one hit the sweet spot for opulence. Dark red and black fruits with boysenberry fruit goodness, cola berry, spice and a hint of dried herbs. It pretty much has everything that I can think of and enjoy in a Cabernet Franc. Then there's that tart chalk and minerality to balance the whole thing out. We tasted about 24 Loire Valley wines on that day and although all of them were good or quite outstanding, this one really stood out to me!
2022 Yalumba "The Signature" Cabernet-Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
As Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, with a legacy stretching back to 1849, Yalumba consistently produces some of the best wines in the country, vintage after vintage. The Signature is one of the estate’s benchmark wines that clearly shows off this dedication to quality. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Shiraz, aged in a combination of French, Hungarian and American oak for 21 months, the Signature is rich, dense and highly complex, yet not overly extracted or heavy-handed in the least. Rather, it showcases what the Barossa does best: balance old vine intensity with elegance and finesse. It’s also so classically Barossa, showing off exactly why Cabernet and Shiraz combine so well in this Mediterranean climate. The wine has equal parts red fruit from the Cabernet – juicy red currant, Santa Rosa plum, pomegranate – and black/blue fruit from the Shiraz – wild blueberry, black plum – all tied together with a distinctly herbaceous streak through the core of the wine. Subtle toasty oak notes support in the background, letting the fruit take center stage. This wine is traditionally Australian in the best way, full-bodied and powerful, but refined and sophisticated at the same time, ready to drink now but also with the density and concentration to age for years to come. Like many countries in the world, Australia has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts, with new varieties and winemaking styles joining the conversation, but sometimes it’s most rewarding to stick to the classics. After all, there’s a reason why these wines have endured for decades – they’re simply delicious.
2022 Viña Zorzal Graciano Navarra
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
It is very rare to find a 100% Graciano bottling! This little rare bird is a fine example of the varietal. The first scents that were in the glass were a surprisingly clean chalk with bright red fruits, some fresh (dried) herbs and (most unusually!) honeycomb. On the palate, it retains its crispness but, leans into boysenberry and blackberry fruit. The honeyed aspect comes through at the upper palate, and the acidity hits you at the back of the throat. All in all, this wine is a little charmer that should have a wide appeal for those who like a bit of crunch in addition to generous (and very pretty!) red and black fruits. Super versatile!
2023 Suduiraut, Sauternes
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
When Suduiraut is at the top of their game, they easily rival the very best in Sauternes. That’s been happening a lot recently, with one spellbinding release after another. Is it the case with the 2023? The professional critics certainly seem to think so, with a 100-point score from Vinous to go along with best-in-class marks from nearly everyone else. And when you consider that acclaim alongside the going rate for Suduiraut, it quickly becomes one of the best buys in fine wine.
I think this may be their best wine since the simply stunning 2015 (with the impossible-to-find 2021 in the conversation as well!). Like the best of the 2023s, Suduiraut hits that magical combination of richness and brightness—luxurious yet refreshing. Gorgeous aromatics layer stone fruit, citrus peel, and orange blossom, while the palate delivers grilled pineapple, blood orange, honey, key lime, and a thread of spice. But it’s the balance and texture that really steal the show—just the right amount of everything. Add the fact that it promises an effortlessly long, broad drinking window, and you won’t have to wait too long to get the best from the 2023 Suduiraut. For Sauternes royalty at a song, I can’t recommend this one enough. How lucky are we to be able to pull the cork on a wine this good without having to think twice?!
2022 Inama "Vigneti di Foscarino" Soave Classico
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
What a delightful bottle of wine. Delicious flavors of bruised yellow apples, ripe pineapples, juicy quince, fresh ginger, chamomile tea, and a touch of white pepper. Quite round on the palate, with a nice, refreshing finish. One of the most satisfying white wines on the shelves at the moment.
2018 Remelluri Reserva Rioja
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
Telmo Rodriguez is one of Spain’s most famous living winemakers, responsible for several of the most exciting wines produced across the country today, including Yjar Rioja and Matallana Ribero del Duero, but his story begins with Remelluri. This historic site in Rioja Alavesa was purchased by his father in 1968, and Telmo later went off to France as a young man to study winemaking, including stints at Cos d’Estournel, Jean-Louis Chave, and Domaine de Trévallon. Famously, the father and son had a falling out when Telmo returned to Spain to work at the family property. While Telmo was eager to explore the potential of single village and single vineyard wines, his father was more interested in producing lower-priced wines with fruit sourced from across Rioja. In response, Telmo instead created the Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez, which explores historic vineyards across Spain, and he quickly developed a reputation as a winemaker to watch. He and his father eventually came to an understanding, however, and Telmo returned to the family property in 2009. Since then, all the wines at Remelluri have been made with 100% estate-grown fruit – and the quality has never been better. And while Telmo has gone on to explore the potential of the estate as he always wanted, with the spectacular Yjar Rioja – sourced from a tiny single parcel on the property – as well as his single village “Lindes de Remelluri” wines, the flagship Remelluri Reserva remains a steadfast traditional expression of the overall character of the high-elevation site. Supremely elegant, this is a gorgeous example of a fine-boned Rioja. Framed by well-integrated oak notes of vanilla, toasted almond and cocoa nib, the wine is dominated by fresh red fruit and faintly earthy notes of button mushroom and wild herbs. So typical of the cooler climate of Rioja Alavesa, this such a sophisticated style of Rioja that perfectly balances tradition with a very modern sense of transparency of terroir. If you haven’t had a Remelluri Rioja in a while, I’d highly encourage revisiting this historic estate. It seems like every vintage just gets better and better, thanks to the steadfast determination and vision of Telmo Rodriguez.
2021 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona "Pianrosso" Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
Then there’s Pianrosso. This is the big gun. It comes from a sun-drenched amphitheater of red, iron-rich galestro soil, and man, does it show. If the regular bottling is a wake-up call, the Pianrosso is a heavyweight bout.
It’s dark, it’s brooding, and it literally smells like crushed iron, wet stone, and wild mint. But here is the magic of the 2021 vintage: for all of its sheer mass and serious dry extract, this wine absolutely refuses to be fat. The acidity acts like a whip, keeping all that dense, macerated dark fruit perfectly in line. The tannins are monumental—chalky, demanding, and uncompromising—clamping down hard on a bone-dry finish that seems to last for five minutes. Do not open this just to casually sip on the couch. This is a massive, highly intellectual Brunello built for the darkest corner of your cellar.
2021 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
Look, Ciacci Piccolomini is absolute royalty in Castelnuovo dell'Abate. But let's be brutally honest for a second: the southern sector of Montalcino can sometimes get a little too baked. You often end up with wines that trade tension for pure, syrupy weight. Not here. Not in 2021.
This annata bottling is a total wake-up call. It completely ditches any of that heavy, jammy baggage. Instead, it comes flying out of the glass with this wild, untamed aromatic profile—roasted Mediterranean scrub, cracked earth, and a brilliant, sharp hit of blood orange and sour cherry. When it hits your palate, it doesn't just sit there like a lazy fruit bomb. It snaps. It has that nervous, electric energy that I am constantly begging for in Sangiovese. The tannins are sandy and traditional, offering a mouthwatering, saline grip.
2024 Viña Zorzal Garnacha Navarra
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
So fresh and easy to drink, this Garnacha is one of the best wines I’ve had at this price point all year. Garnacha is native to neighboring Aragón, where it thrives in the warm, Mediterranean climate, and this wine shows exactly why old vine Garnacha is one of the most compelling wines to explore from Spain. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, this bottle is brimming with incredibly pure red fruit aromas and flavors, followed quickly by a slightly spicy black pepper note. On the palate it feels so lightweight and effortless, with silky smooth tannins and an exuberant brightness. This is an incredibly versatile wine to have on hand for a multitude of occasions and meals. It would be perfect with charcuterie, grilled chicken, wood-fired pizza, even burgers on the grill – the list goes on and on. It’s also just really fun to drink on its own, possibly with a light chill to emphasize those pretty fruit and floral notes. This is a wine to buy by the case!
2022 Viña Zorzal Graciano Navarra
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
Viña Zorzal is well-known for their dedication to Graciano – it’s the variety that helped put them on the global wine radar, and this wine shows exactly why that attention is so well-deserved. Typically a blending grape in both Navarra and neighboring Rioja, the grape contributes both color and acidity, as well as more delicate floral and even lightly spicy aromas. On its own, especially from old vines in warm areas, it thrives. This wine is more black than red-fruited, with juicy blackberry and black plum notes, as well as faint candied violet and iris in the background. The balance between fruit and structure here is impeccable, with racy acidity that ties everything together and silky, fine-grained tannins from the nine months this wine spent in larger French oak casks. Firmly medium-bodied, slightly more intense floral flavors emerge on the palate, along with earthy forest floor and licorice notes. This is very simply, another stunning deal for the price.
Jester King "Doom Forge- Dark Matter" Imperial Coffee Stout, Texas (16 oz. can)
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 3/13/2026 | Send Email
Phenomenal Coffee stout! Rich, round, and full bodied with Dark Matter's coffee well-integrated into the stout. Notes of Mocha, espresso, biscotti, flaked oats, black cherry, and cacao nib. Long finish with some bitterness perceivable mid-palate. A world-class imperial stout I look forward to revisiting!
Price:
$6.49
2023 Sheild Pinot Noir Nelson
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/11/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/11/2026 | Send Email
I have long enjoyed the white wines of Sheild, so it was both interesting (and fun!) to try a brand-new red wine from them, especially a Pinot Noir. On the first whiff, there are extremely pleasant scents of smoky cherries and black raspberries. There is also an underlying clean scent of crunchy red fruits. In the mouth, there is a very attractive weight and smoothness that still comes off as quite bright with the acidity hitting the back of the throat. There are flavors of underripe strawberries, tart cherries and a light sandalwood. It finishes with a lovely brightness and just a touch of rose hips. The texture is very supple and the brightness shines through after some lightly plush red fruits. All in all, delicious and quite the value!
2019 Fallet-Dart "Pur Meunier" Champagne
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 3/11/2026 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 3/11/2026 | Send Email
More and more 100% Meunier champagnes are hitting the market. The 2019 Fallet Dart Pur Meunier comes from Meunier growers in the far western Marne Valley where Meunier is the star grape. 2019 is considered one of the top champagne vintages of the last quarter century characterized by its ripe balanced fruit and outstanding acidity. On the nose and palate, full-bodied, fruit-forward, tarte tatin, orchard (apple) and stone fruit (peach and pear), fresh sourdough, citrus, raw almonds, ginger, baking spices, white cherry, with a stony minerality indicative of the two plots in Charly-sur-Marne from which the grapes are sourced.
Price:
$69.99