K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2024 Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly

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.

Price: $29.99

VN: 90

2025 Domaine Marcel Lapierre "Raisins Gaulois" Vin de France

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 Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé "Autour de la Roche"

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 Lys"

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.

Price: Hidden

BH: 90 - 92

2022 Lynch-Bages, Pauillac

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.

Price: $174.99

2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion 6-Pack in OWC

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.

Price: $3,295.00

2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion

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.

Price: $549.99

2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion

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.

Price: $549.99

2022 Croix de Labrie, St-Emilion

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.

Price: $124.99

2022 Réserve de la Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac

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.

Price: $64.99

2012 Bunnahabhain 13 Year Old "Signatory" K&L Exclusive 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt #900777 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

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

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.

Price: $295.00

2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion

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.

Price: $549.99

2025 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux

By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 5/7/2026 | 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.

Price: $49.99

2022 Le "C" des Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

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.

Price: $49.99

2022 Eyrie "Estate - Sisters Vineyard" Dundee Hills Pinot Noir

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.

Price: Hidden

2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne

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

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: Hidden

2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne

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

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

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.

Price: $549.99

2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne

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

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.

Price: Hidden

JD: 97

WE: 94

2025 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux

By: Andrew Shaheen | Review Date: 5/6/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 Malescot-St-Exupéry is a very compelling wine. Violet and cassis open on the nose with red berry undertones adding lift and freshness, leading to a richly layered palate of dark fruit, cocoa, licorice, and sweet cigar box. The tannins are fine yet firm, carrying the wine with an ease that is distinctly Margaux, while the finish is long and composed. This is a beautiful, complete wine with genuine depth and a clear sense of place. A solid buy.

Price: $49.99

2019 Doisy-Védrines, Sauternes

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.

Price: $39.99

DC: 96

VN: 92 - 94

2024 Chantegrive Blanc, Graves

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?

Price: $19.99

VN: 90 - 92

JS: 90 - 91

2016 Barde-Haut, St-Emilion

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email

Ever since I started here, I remember us almost always having some vintage of Barde-Haut around. It's classic as bacon and eggs, and always seems to be something I enjoy. No exceptions here. Definitely the 2016s are a bit lighter and higher acid, but that's definitely meaning that I enjoy this maybe a little more. This is getting some nice dark olive notes, mushrooms at the edges and then fruit in the middle, darker fruits with a little crunchy bright on the edges. The tannins are really well integrated on the palate, a little bit finer and softer, but I still want this with something to eat, I could see this with a nice mid-lean steak and healthy potato.

Price: $39.99

2016 Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email

High toned fruit on the nose, this almost smells a bit crunchy with cranberry sauce, pie cherry, and ripe raspberry. The palate has really lovely acid with some slight tannins but nothing that's going to upset you, there's some tertiary development with some rich mushroom, a little bit of bright olive, and a kind of lingering earthiness as the barrel comes in and the wine rounds itself out. This is good to go with a meal, but absolutely could lay down further. It's definitely on the brighter lighter side, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Price: $24.99

2022 Croix de Labrie, St-Emilion

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email

Such a really nice little nose this guy has, the fruit has a ripeness to it, but not overdone at any measure, raspberry, bruised strawberry, black cherry, cassis, rough stone, fresh leather, and a little bit of pomegranate candy. The palate is vibrant with great acidity and gentle loving tannins that are super well integrated already, this approaches so politely, and then the palate has black cherry, more strawberry, rhubarb crumble, and then barrel spice for the long and luxurious finish. I accidentally deleted this and had to re-write it and it's still finishing, I didn't retaste it, still minutes later I get little touches of fruit and barrel. Fab-u-lous.

Price: $124.99

2022 Réserve de la Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email

Like a lot of the 2022s this has a ripe and pretty nose, really fully fruited. There's ripe black cherry, blackberry, a little touch of cassis, and then more spices and a little dried green herbs. The tannins are incredibly well integrated and very fine, one could easily argue you don't need anything with this, and they'd be wrong but they could make a compelling case. Since this morning the opening has given it a good amount of depth and length, the finish feels like it's where it should be. Really nice bottle.

Price: $64.99

2022 Le "C" des Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email

Pretty and ripe on the nose, there's some really lovely ripe raspberry on the front, there's also fresh fig, black cherry, blackberry compote, barrel spice, and a touch of cedar. The tannins are incredibly tight knit and well integrated, giving a soft and gentle little grip with each sip, but nothing crazy that makes me run for the butter dispenser we have here at work for high tannin incidents. It takes nickels for some reason. The palate has stewed strawberry, more cherry, a little creaminess from the barrel, rhubarb crumble, and just a long and enjoyable finish that gets a little woody at the very end, but in a way that just makes me want to take another sip. This is just such an approachable and easy bottle. Easy recommendation, too.

Price: $49.99

2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/5/2026 | Send Email

Such a lovely nose even though I just pulled the cork. There's a really pretty bramble-cherry note right on the front, with a little touch of cocoa following and then something alluring and floral. Deeper into the nose there's a touch of developing tertiary, with a little bit of worn saddle leather, a hint of something mushroomy, and then a lingering oak spice. The palate is medium plus with just enough tannin to encourage you to think about laying it down for a few years, but soft enough not to demand it. There's a nice dusty blackberry and cherry, more cocoa than the nose, and then a firm hit of barrel spice towards the end. The finish is lingering and enjoyable with fruit, acid, and barrel mixing back and forth and the only one winning is me. This is so drinkable and accessible, and this wine absolutely deserves to be had with a nicely marbled ribeye and a fat potato. If you don't do that kind of thing, a mushroom stroganoff would absolutely be amazing with this as well, preferably on top of a fat potato. I really love how we're bringing in these wines at really cut rate deals compared to the producers price, but it never feels like we're bringing in a wine that someone didn't want, but instead they're wines we really saw something in.

Price: $29.99

2025 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/4/2026 | Send Email

There are few things more comforting than a great vintage of Malescot St-Exupéry, and this 2025 is firmly in that class. Aromatically, the wine hints at deeper black fruits, underpinned by Margaux’s signature floral note. On the palate, it opens with purity and poise, then builds to an explosive expression of fruit and flavor, expanding with terrific texture and detail. Well-judged acidity carries the richness effortlessly, resulting in a wine that deftly balances fruit and terroir. Jean-Luc and now Léa Zuger have done wonders with this property over the years, and this 2025 cuts no corners. When Malescot is this good—and priced this well—it’s often one of the most compelling wines to load up on during En Primeur.

Price: $49.99

2024 Domaine la Clef du Récit (Anthony Girard) Quincy

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/4/2026 | Send Email

Quincy often lives in the shadow of Sancerre, but it quietly holds its own place in history—recognized as an appellation in 1936, the same year as Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In fact, it even predates Sancerre’s official status, a fun bit of wine trivia for those paying closer attention. Shaped by the nearby Cher River, a tributary of the Loire River, Quincy’s soils lean sandier and more gravelly. While limestone does lie beneath layers of alluvium, it’s these lighter, rockier soils that tend to produce wines with a more open, rounded feel. Anthony Girard of Clef du Récit has been working with vineyards here in recent years, crafting a quintessential expression of Quincy. The style leans into a creamier texture while maintaining a fresh spine of acidity, showing notes of apple and softer Meyer lemon rather than the sharper, more linear grapefruit tones often associated with Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. One of Quincy’s enduring appeals is its value. Still flying a bit under the radar compared to its more famous neighbors, it consistently delivers character and charm at a more accessible price point. For anyone who loves classic Sauvignon Blanc but prefers a slightly more supple, generous style, Quincy is an easy yes.

Price: $19.99

WE: 91

2021 Far Mountain "Amotus - Alta Vista Vineyard" Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 5/3/2026 | Send Email

If you like mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, you must discover Far Mountain Winery, run by husband and wife winemaking team Mai Errazuriz and Rodrigo Soto. Their specialty is "dramatic wines from dramatic sites." All single vineyard wines from Sonoma Valley and the Moon Mountain District (on the border between Napa and Sonoma) you get beautiful concentration balanced by high elevation acidity. From the Alta Vista Vineyard on Moon Mountain, the Amotus is, in Rodrigo's words, their "Grand Cru" and it tastes like it! 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak for a year, 40%-50% new, followed by 10–12 months in 1,000–2,000 liter foudres "for integration". A seemingly endless reservoir of plush red and black fruit, tobacco, pine needles, new leather, graphite, and mint. This is a big tannic mountain wine that delivers on its unique terroir! Exceptional, and still a baby! Only 1440 bottles produced so grab this artisanal gem while you can!

Price: $99.95

JD: 95

VN: 94

2021 Far Mountain "Fission" Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 5/3/2026 | Send Email

If you like mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, you must discover Far Mountain Winery, run by husband and wife winemaking team Mai Errazuriz and Rodrigo Soto. Their specialty is "dramatic wines from dramatic sites." All single vineyard wines from Sonoma Valley and the Moon Mountain District (on the border between Napa and Sonoma) you get beautiful concentration balanced by high elevation acidity. One of their flagship Cabernets is "Fission" sourced from the Alta Vista Vineyard on Moon Mountain. We have two releases right now - the 2021 and the 2019. The 2021 spent 12 months in French oak, 35% of it new. True to the Far Mountain style, it's savory and bursting with dark brambly fruit. Still a little more fruit forward than the 2019, it also has notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, fresh herbs, minerality from the vineyard's volcanic soils, and a long stony finish.

Price: $49.99

DC: 94

JD: 94

2019 Far Mountain "Fission" Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 5/3/2026 | Send Email

If you like mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, you must discover Far Mountain Winery, run by husband and wife winemaking team Mai Errazuriz and Rodrigo Soto. Their specialty is "dramatic wines from dramatic sites." All single vineyard wines from Sonoma Valley and the Moon Mountain District (on the border between Napa and Sonoma) you get beautiful concentration balanced by high elevation acidity. One of their flagship Cabernets is "Fission" sourced from the Alta Vista Vineyard on Moon Mountain. We have two releases right now - the 2021 and the 2019. The 2019 is their inaugural vintage and is already showing layers of complexity that were surprising to me since it's not that old. Full bodied, silky, with loads of savory dark fruit, blackberry, spice, eucalyptus, dried herbs, violets, leather, and a vein of minerality from Alta Vista's volcanic soils!

Price: $44.95

WE: 94

JS: 93

VN: 93

2025 Domaine du Vieil Orme Touraine Blanc Sauvignon Blanc

By: Shasha Beard | Review Date: 5/2/2026 | Send Email

A Sauvignon Blanc that wildly overdelivers for the price--I'm already allured by the intense aromatics of sweet ripe pineapple and a bit of honeydew. If you are in search of a Sauv Blanc that doesn't lend as much grapefruit and green on the nose, this is it. It's no surprise that Domaine du Vieil Orme are known for being meticulous terroirists and admirable stewards of the idyllic "Valley of the Kings" Loire Valley landscapes. Unbelievably balanced, elegant and fresh--grab a handful of these before they are gone for the Summer.

Price: $14.99

2025 Domaine les Pins "L'Instant" Bourgueil Rosé

By: Shasha Beard | Review Date: 5/2/2026 | Send Email

2025 Domaine les Pins “L’Instant” Bourgueil Rosé is everything you didn't know you wanted in a Cab Franc rosé. It dazzles in the glass with a brilliant orchid pink color that comes from just a quick kiss of skin contact. An inviting nose of fresh-picked strawberries and raspberries lead into a fresh patch of garden herbs. Lively, fresh and energetic make it a delight for casual sipping or packing a couple of bottles (or three) on your next Spring or Summer picnic.

Price: $13.99

Almare "Rosa" Spritz

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 5/1/2026 | Send Email

Light, refreshing, and slightly more playful, this rose-style spritz bring together bright grapefruit peel, with a gentle bittersweet herbaceous edge. Grapefruit and strawberry lead, but it finishes crisp and dry enough to stay refreshing rather than sugary. the bubbles keep it lively, making it an easy, crowd-friendly aperitivo with just a touch more fruit than the classico. Chill it well and it's an effortless go-to for warm days, causal hangs, or anyone easing into the spritz world.

Price: $13.99

2025 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rosé

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/1/2026 | Send Email

The seaside village of Cassis is one of the most stunning places to visit in southern France, and the wines capture that beauty effortlessly. Limestone soils, set in a natural amphitheater, soak up the Mediterranean sun while cool समुद breezes shape the wine’s freshness and aromatic lift. There may be no better expression of this than Domaine du Bagnol’s Cassis Rosé. The new vintage leans into a slightly brighter, more lifted profile, with notes of pink grapefruit, white peach, and delicate white strawberry. A subtle saline edge runs through the wine, adding energy and a refreshing, mouthwatering finish. There’s a natural elegance here—refined yet completely unpretentious. Cassis is an idyllic place to visit, and this wine always transports me back to that special seaside village. Year after year, it stands among my favorite rosés, and this vintage is no exception.

Price: $27.99

VN: 92

2024 Mas de Libian "Bout d'Zan" Côtes-du-Rhône

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/1/2026 | Send Email

One of my favorite Rhône discoveries in recent years has been Mas de Libian. This Demeter-certified biodynamic estate sits in a remote corner of the southern Rhône, with soils that feel more akin to Châteauneuf-du-Pape than many nearby Côtes du Rhône villages. The family’s roots here stretch back to the 1600s, when the property functioned as a polycultural farm. It wasn’t until the 1970s that they built a cellar and began producing their own wines. Today, with three generations working together, the estate is crafting some truly compelling Côtes du Rhône. Bout d’Zan—a blend driven by Grenache with a touch of Syrah—is aged in a mix of large oak casks and tank. It was the wine that first caught my attention and remains, for me, the clearest expression of the domaine’s style. Raspberry and red cherry fruit are layered with classic spice notes of pepper and allspice, while hints of garrigue and tobacco bring that unmistakable southern Rhône character. The fruit is generous yet precise, with seamless tannins and a natural sense of balance. This is a wine of pure charm—an honest reflection of place and a compelling example of what thoughtful, regenerative farming can achieve in the right hands.

Price: $16.99

2023 Domaine Roche "La Bousquette" Cairanne

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/1/2026 | Send Email

The Bousquette is traditionally sourced from a single parcel, highlighting both the maturity of the vines and the dynamic interplay between Grenache and Carignan. Lush blackberry fruit leads the way, complemented by black cherry and a subtle hint of porcini that underscores the wine’s savory depth. This is a benchmark for the region—a wine that captures the essence of Cairanne and clearly expresses its terroir.

Price: $25.99

JD: 91

2023 Domaine Roche "Marcel Roche" Cairanne

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 5/1/2026 | Send Email

All from 80+ year old Grenache vines, this wine always shows great purity of fruit. Blueberry, cassis with notes of dried tobacco, this has a sweet and silky texture that feels quite sumptuous on the palate. Every year this is one of my favorite pure Grenaches.

Price: $21.99

JD: 90 - 92

JS: 91

Manuscrito "Chapter Three" Single Estate Reposado Tequila (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/30/2026 | Send Email

The exceptional new Manuscrito may be the most exciting brand to emerge from Mexico in years, but it is not the beautifully curated presentation that defines this tequila, it is the remarkable liquid inside. Produced in the Highlands at the new El Sabino distillery, Manuscrito is already turning heads. In a very short time, El Sabino has climbed into the upper echelon of Tequila Matchmaker’s rankings, just behind icons like Fortaleza, Cascahuín, and El Pandillo. That may seem trivial to outsiders, but the top tier has remained largely unchanged for years, making this rapid ascent incredibly significant. A handful of new producers are now challenging the old guard, and they are doing it with serious quality at very fair prices. The formula is simple in theory but rare in execution: secure fully mature agave at the right moment, invest in a thoughtfully designed distillery, and refuse to cut corners. While some traditionalists may note the absence of tahona extraction, the results speak for themselves. This is one of the finest tequilas available at any price today. Chapter Three shifts the conversation slightly, introducing a delicate touch of oak while preserving the distillery’s signature clarity. Aged just over three months in barrel, the influence is intentionally restrained, allowing the agave to remain front and center. The nose is immediately expressive with cooked agave layered over honey, light oak, citrus peel, and soft baking spice. On the palate, warm cinnamon and baking spices lead into creamy cooked agave, honey, and butterscotch, with subtle herbal and citrus elements adding lift and complexity. The texture is supple and rounded, offering a gentle richness without sacrificing freshness, while the finish carries a harmonious blend of honeyed agave, spice, and lingering citrus with just enough structure to keep things focused. This is exactly what great reposado should be: restrained, agave-driven, and quietly complex, with the barrel acting as an accent rather than the headline, but still adding depth and nuance to the picture.

Price: $54.99

Manuscrito "Chapter Two" Single Estate High Proof Blanco Tequila (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/30/2026 | Send Email

The exceptional new Manuscrito may be the most exciting brand to emerge from Mexico in years, but it is not the beautifully curated presentation that defines this tequila, it is the remarkable liquid inside. Produced in the Highlands at the new El Sabino distillery, Manuscrito is already turning heads. In a very short time, El Sabino has climbed into the upper echelon of Tequila Matchmaker’s rankings, just behind icons like Fortaleza, Cascahuín, and El Pandillo. That may seem trivial to outsiders, but the top tier has remained largely unchanged for years, making this rapid ascent incredibly significant. A handful of new producers are now challenging the old guard, and they are doing it with serious quality at very fair prices. The formula is simple in theory but rare in execution: secure fully mature agave at the right moment, invest in a thoughtfully designed distillery, and refuse to cut corners. While some traditionalists may note the absence of tahona extraction, the results speak for themselves. This is one of the finest tequilas available at any price today. Chapter Two takes everything that made the original release compelling and dials it up with a high proof bottling at 51.55% ABV, amplifying both structure and intensity. The nose is immediately more assertive, driven by bold cooked agave framed by bell pepper, earthy vegetal tones, and a lifted citrus edge with hints of white pepper and baking spice. On the palate, the texture is richer and more forceful, with sweet agave at the core wrapped in black pepper, cinnamon, and layered vegetal complexity, while citrus and subtle lactic creaminess add lift and balance. There’s a distinctly structured, almost tannic grip here, likely from fermentation with fibers, giving the tequila a serious, mouth-coating presence. The finish is long, spicy, and mineral-driven, with lingering notes of cinnamon, pepper, and earthy citrus that seem to echo endlessly. A powerful and uncompromising expression that shows exactly what this new distillery is capable of when pushed to the limit, Chapter Two feels like a clear step forward and a sign they are just getting started.

Price: Hidden

Manuscrito "Chapter One" Single Estate Blanco Tequila (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/30/2026 | Send Email

The exceptional new Manuscrito may be the most exciting brand to emerge from Mexico in years, but it is not the beautifully curated presentation that defines this tequila, it is the remarkable liquid inside. Produced in the Highlands at the new El Sabino distillery, Manuscrito is already turning heads. In a very short time, El Sabino has climbed to #4 on Tequila Matchmaker’s Top 100 distilleries, just behind Fortaleza, Cascahuín, and El Pandillo. That may seem trivial to outsiders, but the top tier has remained largely unchanged for years, making this rapid ascent incredibly significant. A handful of new producers are now challenging the old guard, and they are doing it with serious quality at very fair prices. The formula is simple in theory but rare in execution: secure fully mature agave at the right moment, invest in a thoughtfully designed distillery, and refuse to cut corners. While some traditionalists may note the absence of tahona extraction, the results speak for themselves. This is one of the finest tequilas available at any price today. The single estate blanco opens with a subtle nose of roasted pumpkin, citrus zest, minerality, and underripe mango. With air, it expands beautifully, revealing deeper notes of sweet cooked agave, hibiscus, honeysuckle, buttercream, dried fruit, and earthy spice. The palate mirrors the nose, delivering roasted fruit, bright citrus, and a rich, creamy texture in perfect balance. The finish is long and satisfying, with a spicy mineral depth more often associated with the best Lowland examples. An impeccable and genuinely exciting release that proves even the newest producers can achieve greatness with the right raw materials and uncompromising intent.

Price: $49.99

2025 Pax "Cuvée Syrah" California Syrah

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 4/30/2026 | Send Email

The nose on this new release is very, very pretty and full of violet pastille and boysenberry scents. On the palate, red cassis, with upper palate chalk and light minerals. It's really just a lovely wine at a pretty exceptional price. I would like to see where it goes in a couple of years. I had wonderful experiences with their vineyard designated Syrah's starting from the mid-1990's. They would age for decades!

Price: $22.95

VN: 90 - 92

2025 Massican "Annia" California White Blend

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 4/30/2026 | Send Email

Like the Sauvignon Blanc, a brand-new release that retains the quality of their previous efforts. Like the Sauvignon Blanc, it is also refreshing and clean and bright. There are flavors of tart apricot, lemon, cantaloupe and nectarine. It's simply a perfect warm weather drink!

Price: $29.95

2025 Massican California Sauvignon Blanc

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 4/30/2026 | Send Email

Brand new! In keeping with its past vintages, this Massican Sauvignon Blanc retains its unique character of crispy clean refreshment! So clean with pink grapefruit, yellow citrus and white exotic fruits. Just enough minerals and "bite" to make it a classic.

Price: $24.95

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