K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2021 Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/8/2026 | Send Email

A benchmark expression of mountain-grown Napa Cabernet, this wine opens with aromas of blackcurrant, wild blackberry, and crushed violets layered with cedar, graphite, and mountain herbs. The palate is structured and energetic, with firm tannins and vibrant acidity framing dense dark fruit and savory mineral notes. True to Mayacamas’ historic style, the wine emphasizes balance, restraint, and longevity over sheer power. A classic Mt. Veeder Cabernet built for aging, showcasing depth, freshness, and remarkable structure.

Price: $184.95

JD: 98

VN: 97

WS: 97

K&L Liquors' 7 Year Old Every Drop "Living Legend" Batch No. KY-03-25 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/8/2026 | Send Email

There are few professional moments more gratifying than the work I’ve done on the recent releases of our new K&L Every Drop brand. This historic label, which predates the founding of our store by many decades, fell into my lap thanks to a thoughtful customer who won a little mini from the 1940s at auction and passed it my way. So when the opportunity arose to create a new, store-exclusive brand, I knew this magnificent, long-forgotten IP had to be revived. We painstakingly reimagined every detail of the label, staying faithful to the original design. From its classic clean lines to the timeless tag line “Supreme Quality” stretching across each bottle’s shoulders, it perfectly reflects our ethos. The label’s revival was inspired by an exceptional batch of rare bourbon that we had acquired by a stroke of good fortune: a great old whiskey from Frankfort, followed shortly by a second release of the same. But how could we continue producing whiskies that lived up to those extraordinary beginnings? My premise was never that Every Drop must be mythical in rarity, but that every bottle, yes, every drop, should offer our customers an experience of unmistakable quality, unique character and unmatched value. That’s a tall order, especially given that I have no control over the aging or production of the barrels we source. With only tiny samples representing entire lots, I set out with a wing and a prayer to find our third batch. That search led to a parcel of mature bourbons from a certain distillery near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. While I can’t name it on the label, nothing stops me from saying it outright: it’s that ol' Kickin' Chicken in Tyrone. The question then became, how could a seven (nearly eight) year old Turkey compete with the best in class? The answer lay in blending and proofing. I’ve always found immense joy in blending on the small scale that I've been afforded, and this project gave me the chance to shape the final character through careful selection and proof adjustment. When a customer emailed asking if it might be similar to W.B. Saffel, a whiskey twice the price and up to 12 years old, I knew we’d hit the mark. The proof and batch name pay quiet homage to the great blenders behind that legendary bourbon and, indeed, it was a beacon which I hoped would guide me. Now, this is my Tuesday to Sunday whiskey. It’s exuberant, balanced, and endlessly satisfying. It’s unquestionably the best value on the shelf today in this style, which is quite distinct from regular WT or Russell’s Reserve. It just so happens that it’s a style I love. Expect an elegant balance of sweet oak, fragrant fruit, zesty spice, and a rich caramel backbone. It shines in cocktails and stands beautifully on its own. And if you don’t appreciate “Minerva's Purple Wax”, I know a monk in Midway who wants a word.

Price: $49.99

K&L Liquors' 7 Year Old Every Drop "Living Legend" Batch No. KY-03-25 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 3/8/2026 | Send Email

Seven years, bottled at entry proof, from one of my favorite Kentucky distilleries that you can rarely get independent barrels from? Oh, yeah. Sign me up. To say this is one of the most ridiculous values I’ve seen from us here at K&L would be an understatement. Getting our own liquid from this undisclosed Lawrenceburg distillery - one that, let’s just say, pairs nicely with the main dish at your late November family feast - is, pretty, ahem, wild. I’m certainly giving thanks for this whiskey. The nose gives all those beautiful fall spices, with cinnamon and clove, allspice and dried flowers, like the potpourri surrounding the gourd on your table. The oak from an old barn, sweet caramel, along with apple, apricot, and cherry pie all play roles in the lovely aromatics as well. On the palate the spices continue along with musty oak, toffee, some orange peel, and pepper, with a bit of peanut brittle and nutmeg to round it all out before finishing with a little more of that barnyard rickhouse funk, soft leather, and roasted honey. You’d be a turkey not to gobble up this bottle for your holiday festivities.

Price: $49.99

K&L Liquors' 7 Year Old Every Drop "Living Legend" Batch No. KY-03-25 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 3/8/2026 | Send Email

Taste a bit of history for under $50? Sign me up! You had me at "Lawrenceburg", actually. Oak and spice on the nose. Black tea, crème brûlée, ginger, and woodsy goodness abound. 107 proof hits just right. Get some before this homage to Kentucky's finest is all angel's share! Perfect for a hosting gift during the holiday season.

Price: $49.99

K&L Liquors' 7 Year Old Every Drop "Living Legend" Batch No. KY-03-25 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/8/2026 | Send Email

I really like that in our K&L Liquors "Every Drop" series, we're including some more budget-conscious options for people who want to try something from this series but don't have the means or inclination to drop a couple hundred bucks on a bottle. Josh gave you all the hints that we could possibly give for the source of this, so I'll just leave that part to him. The nose had this kind of maple note when I let it sit in the glass for a little bit, and it promptly went away with a single swirl. Now it's just baking and barrel spices, everything that goes into the pie except the pumpkin. There's vanilla crème brûlée in the background, the palate is fairly sweet but not overly so, lots of toffee, peanut shells, vanilla custard, and a little bit of lemon oil working its way through the whole thing. This is just really a lovely bottle, and for the price, I think it really over-delivers. This is a particularly favorite distillery of mine, so I could be biased, but I do think that for what you're paying you get a really fairly priced bottle. Plus, we picked this one just for you, so give it a try.

Price: $49.99

K&L Liquors' 7 Year Old Every Drop "Living Legend" Batch No. KY-03-25 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 3/8/2026 | Send Email

The caramel hits first - bold and buttery, like sunshine melting over an old porch swing. It's the flavor of a Midwest afternoon. As it settles, a touch of oak and spice steps in, rounding the edges with a quiet confidence. "Living Legend" fits: familiar, comforting, and just a little golden around the edges.

Price: $49.99

2023 Graci Etna Rosso

By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 3/7/2026 | Send Email

This is for my Pinot aficionados out there looking to spice things up. Etna Rosso and the Etna DOC is one of my favorite niche regions at the moment, and Graci delivers an amazing wine at this price point it would be criminal of me not to do some promotion of it. Normally at this level, Etna Rosso's will have a bit of Nerello Carpuccio to help body the blend, but not here - 100% Nerello Mascalese. NM shares a lot of qualities with PN - light skin, floral aromatics, ripe cherries and a little liquorice - and you will get all of those both on the nose and on the palate here. The winemaking techniques here are what really sets this wine apart - fermented in classic vertical wood casks called 'tini', the wine is aged for 18 months, and then transferred to concrete tanks for a little malolactic action. This helps to give structure to the wines, refine the acidity, and helps to bring out some minerality and give this wine a great texture. If you haven't tried anything from Etna thus far, give this one a go.

Price: $29.99

JS: 95

VN: 92

2024 Cantina Terlano Pinot Grigio Alto Adige

By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 3/7/2026 | Send Email

Don't let the grape varietal fool you - this is no ordinary Pinot Grigio. Cantina Terlano will always hold a special place in my heart for being the producer that woke me up to what great Pinot Grigio can be like. Terlano, with their mountain estates in the Alto Adige, take extreme care over their vines and fruit growing on the rocky soils atop the mountains - while PG from warmer climates can suffer from over-ripening, Terlano's vineyards sites are planted high above sea level, where they get just enough sun to develop the fruit while maintaining a cool overall climate to nurture the acidity of their whites. This wine has a relatively aromatic nose - something uncommon for the varietal - with notes of lemon, white flowers/white tea, and a touch a salinity. Crisp, bright acidity on the palete, citrus, and riverstone minerality makes this such an interesting and complex vine - even vintage to vintage. If you haven't give PG a try for awhile, give this one a go - you wont be disappointed.

Price: $24.99

JS: 93

2024 Bodegas Frontonio "Microcosmico" Garnacha Valdejalon

By: [email protected] | Review Date: 3/7/2026 | Send Email

If you're looking for a red that will work well this Spring and Summer with dining al fresco, barbecue or just sipping on a picnic blanket, winemaker Fernando Mora has delivered this gem of nouveau Spanish style. Lively with lots of red fruit, but with a wonderful tension and food-friendly personality. This is all about terroir and the expression of pure, fresh Garnacha!

Price: $21.99

RP: 93

2024 Viña Elena "Bruma Paraje Marín" Monastrell Jumilla

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 3/6/2026 | Send Email

The 2024 Viña Elena "Bruma Paraje Marín" was wine critic Tim Atkin’s Value Red Wine of the Year for 2025, and I couldn’t agree more. Wildly expressive and bursting with youthful aromas of wild lavender, juicy blackberry, black plums and wisteria, the wine also has a nervy, exuberant energy – quite simply, it’s a joy to drink! Made from 100% Monastrell (better known as Mourvèdre in France and occasionally Mataro in the New World), this wine is a wonderful expression of the variety, which is thought to be native to Jumilla, where Viña Elena is located. Winemaker Elena Pacheco is the youngest of four sisters, and the daughter who most closely trailed her father in the vineyards and winery, absorbing the knowledge passed on from his own father, who planted the family’s vineyards. Her father’s business was mainly selling bulk wine, but in 2002, Elena bottled her first wine, named after her father. The family winery is located in Estrecho de Marín, a valley encircled by gentle, low-lying mountains at the southern edge of Jumilla. This Monastrell is sourced from several vineyards surrounding the winery, combining fruit from warm, west-facing slopes with that of cooler, east-facing sites. The wine is then fermented and aged in concrete vats to maintain its fresh, vibrant fruit character. There’s so much going on with this wine aromatically, yet on the palate it feels silky and refined, almost ethereal. The flavors glide across the palate effortlessly, supported by refreshing acidity and grippy, yet well-integrated tannins, and the finish just goes on and on. There’s also something darker and meatier lingering in the background: faint campfire, black licorice and freshly ground pepper, all very subtle, but just enough to add an intriguing component. This wine would be wonderful with a charcuterie board but also could stand up to spring lamb or grilled chicken, or even something more intense like a wild boar sugo. It would also be great slightly chilled on a warm day. This Monastrell is just so delicious and so drinkable, and I’m in agreement with Tim Atkin – it’s a stupendous value for the price.

Price: $19.99

TA: 93

2010 Mira "Hyde Vineyard" Napa Valley Syrah (Winery Direct Library)

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 3/6/2026 | Send Email

The 2010 Hyde Syrah is a complex and thought-provoking wine that clearly reflects the dramatic growing season of 2010. A year that began historically cool, only to heat up as harvest approached, produced some seriously structured, concentrated, and powerful wines. This wine is no exception. Dark, rich black fruit and smoldering scorched earth are balanced by toasted spices, hints of peppered steak, and campfire coals. A robust wine with charred spices and meaty elements underscoring the muscular dark fruit. It has aged very well and is now showing lovely development of character from its 15 years in bottle. What a treat—especially at this ludicrous price. Enjoy.

Price: Hidden

WE: 91

2009 Mira "Hyde Vineyard" Napa Valley Syrah (Winery Direct Library)

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 3/6/2026 | Send Email

The 2009 Hyde Syrah from Mira is a potent wine with lots of ripe, rich fruit—boysenberry, smoked plum, and black cherry. With time aging in bottle, the wine has developed lovely notes of saddle leather, dried herbs, and hints of steak tartare with aged balsamic. It’s in a great place right now, where the plush fruit and texture remain generous, while complex secondary characters are beginning to fill in as the wine’s maturity shows beautifully. How fun to be able to enjoy a perfectly aged wine, direct from the winery’s cellar, at such a modest price. If you love wines with a nice amount of age on them, this is an offer you won’t want to miss. Limited availability.

Price: Hidden

WE: 92

2021 Château Sainte-Eulalie "La Cantilene" Minervois La Liviniere

By: Lauren Fisher | Review Date: 3/5/2026 | Send Email

The 2021 Château Sainte-Eulalie “La Cantilene” is aromatic and textured. The nose shows blueberry, eucalyptus, and wild herbs layered with warm baking spices. The rustic palate is savory and spice-driven, with tart dark fruit lifted by balanced acidity and refined tannins. Notes of dried herbs and pepper linger on a long, earthy finish that reflects its Mediterranean origins. This would be a lovely little accompaniment to your go-to weeknight dinner.

Price: $24.99

JD: 94

2022 Tread "Sierra Madre Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 3/5/2026 | Send Email

This wine smells coastal! Here is a California Chardonnay that has more cut, minerality, and persistence than many wines that are grown around the village of Chichée. I know that those are fighting words… but this is a terroir-driven wine with lots of personality. Heirloom apples, citrus zest, seashells, and a whiff of salt from an onshore breeze. This is not a typical California Chardonnay; this is a wine that shows off the potential of a truly cool-climate growing region. Speaking of potential, this wine has awesome potential. I would like to see what this is like in 5 years!

Price: Hidden

VN: 94

WE: 92

2022 Tread "Sierra Madre Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 3/4/2026 | Send Email

I’ve long been a fan of this vineyard site, and I even had the chance to work with the fruit during my time in the cellar 15 years ago. Originally planted in the 1970s, it’s a historic site that has long earned its Grand Cru status. The wines from here always strike a fascinating balance between power and precision—naturally concentrated and dense, yet driven by vibrant, piercing, mouthwatering acidity. That’s exactly the case here. This isn’t a fruit-forward Chardonnay; it’s all about saline, stony minerality, freshly baked pie crust, hints of jasmine, citrus peel, and Marcona almond. Complex and compelling, it clearly reflects the pedigree of the site and its intense maritime influence. Chablis-like perhaps, but it doesn’t need to imitate anything. This wine has a true sense of place all its own.

Price: Hidden

VN: 94

WE: 92

2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 3/4/2026 | Send Email

Another incredible Pinot from the Anonymous Wine Collective, this wine retails for $100 under its producer's label and it's evident. This Sonoma Coast Pinot is light bodied and smooth, with notes of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and a hint of oak on the palate. An elegant Pinot at a steep discount.

Price: Hidden

2024 Viña Elena "Bruma Paraje Marín" Monastrell Jumilla

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 3/4/2026 | Send Email

Wild and expressive, this Monastrell opens with aromas of ripe blackberry, dark plum, and Mediterranean herbs, lifted by subtle notes of black pepper and warm earth. The palate is rich yet energetic, with dense dark fruit balanced by fresh acidity and a distinct mineral edge from the region’s limestone soils. Fermentation in concrete preserves the wine’s purity, giving it a vibrant, lifted texture and savory depth. For customers who love bold reds but want something with more character than the usual Cabernet or Malbec, this is a perfect discovery bottle. It delivers the power and dark fruit people crave, but with the rustic charm, freshness, and sense of place that make Spanish Monastrell so compelling.

Price: $19.99

TA: 93

2022 Tread "Sierra Madre Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/4/2026 | Send Email

Another really clean and fresh little guy from this winery. This is probably, of the ones I've tasted, one of the bigger and richer Chardonnays but it's still really accessible and fairly easy. The nose has a little bit of oak to it for me, but it's probably in the low double digits. Please understand I am just guessing and it's my impression from what I'm tasting and smelling, so if I'm wrong, I'm okay with that. There's that pretty and crisp red apple, some lemon curd, and then that little touch of oak. The palate is elegant and really has a great texture while maintaining this beautiful line of acidity the whole way through, very crisp and tart red apple, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a little bit of chalk on the finish round everything out. It's really gorgeous and a great deal at this price. Buy it, you'll like it.

Price: Hidden

VN: 94

WE: 92

Michel Arnould "Acuité" Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/4/2026 | Send Email

This has such a really inviting nose, there's some soft very freshly baked brioche, but just the crumb and then some white flowers, crisp apple, quince, and lemon zest. The palate is incredibly round and inviting, with a good level of acidity but definitely an easy drinking style of Champagne. This has such a long and pretty lemony finish on it, it really just makes me want to have this with nothing in particular for the most part, this pairs super well with just the glass, but if forced some passed appetizers or a baked oyster or two would certainly not go amiss. Absolutely delicious.

Price: $44.99

2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Contra Costa County Rosé of Mourvedre

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/4/2026 | Send Email

This is THE Rose of Spring! It has wonderful depth, intriguing brightness and bouncy acidity. It is full of raspberry-fruited goodness with tart strawberry, a little bit of watermelon rind and crunchy juicy fresh cut mandarin orange flavors. The finish is clean and has bright acidity. The Mouvedre fruit adds lush mouthfeel and deeper red fruits. This one is made by one of my very favorite producers of so many varietals. They are MasterCraft winemakers! This delectable Rose is full proof of that!

Price: $14.95

Damien Hugot "Hommage 1921" Extra Brut Champagne

By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 3/4/2026 | Send Email

From Damien Hugot comes a deeper, more complex style of Champagne! This uses a blend of current harvest grapes for the Chardonnay, but the red grapes are coming from a solera style blend, and this is where a lot of depth and complexity comes from in Champagne. This blending, coupled with some large oak aging, creates an elegant Champagne (as one would expect from Hugot), but also adds softer texture for added depth. It's still full of citrus thanks to the Chardonnay, but the roundness on the palate creates a lovely contrast.

Price: $49.99

2019 Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan is one of those wines that makes you feel like you should be better dressed. When a colleague at work said, "here, try this," I made the mistake of not saving it for last because the wines that followed paled in comparison, making it nearly impossible to be objective. As soon as I raised the glass to my nose, I knew I was about to sip pure sophistication. Aromas of freshly turned soil, blackberries, and beef consommé made me stand a little straighter. The palate is confident and richly layered with soft waves of blackberry, cassis, an alluring umami note, tobacco, black tea, fresh soil after a rain, and a lick of graphite. Time stopped and I felt momentarily embraced. In a word: exquisite.

Price: $144.99

Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

A lovely, creamy nose of lemon meringue, bread dough and chalk. On the palate, it starts out a bit richly with caramel green apple, cream, and macaroon. By the mid-palate, up pops the acidity, chalk, and citrusy lemon flavors. There is a long, chalky finish that lingers with a very fine bead. An excellent value for this quality of Blanc de Blancs!

Price: $44.99

Pierre Mineral Mesnil "Vieillie En Fût" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Magnum 1.5L

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

I’m not naming names, but there’s a Champagne out there strikingly similar to this one that’s currently fetching $260. Need I say more? Probably not. But as a shameless bubble head, I can’t help but sing this wine’s praises. Think ripe pear layered with delicately toasted almond, vanilla crème anglaise, green apple, and a whisper of fresh sourdough toast that fans out across the palate. The texture is plush, the perlage exquisitely pinpoint. This is luxury, full stop. I tasted it on a day when I was a little down, and it felt like a shining mercy: a reminder that we need Champagne this fine in both victory and defeat. Just as time heals all wounds, so does great Champagne.

Price: $119.99

2020 Domaine de Pallus "Les Pensees de Pallus" Chinon

By: John Majeski | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

'Nature abhors a vacuum'. Good advice from Francois Rabelais, the 15th century doctor, satirist and polymath who was born in a modest hamlet a crow's flight from where these vineyards today lie. To correct any vacuum in your glass, fill it midway with this flagship wine from Domaine de Pallus. Culled from vines grown on the south-facing, limestone rich hillside of Cravant-les-Coteaux, the Pensees is a superbly balanced expression of Chinon’s signature way with Cabernet Franc. Medium-bodied, imbued with textural tannins, this lovely wine evokes flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, herbal and earthy mushroom notes. It spent its first year in older burgundy barrels, then fully three more in bottle before it was released. Coming in at just 13% abv this pure rendering will pair well with herb-roasted chicken, mushroom stroganoff or coq au vin.

Price: $25.99

Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

A longtime favorite of mine even amongst the plethora of great wines Gary has sourced from all over Champagne. This old vine bottling from Boulard Bauquaire always delivers. An ultra mineral-driven Blanc De Blanc from a parcel of vines over 75-years of age! This wine is so fine, aromatic and complex. I just love the delicate floral aromas, lingering minerals and elegant texture this wine expresses. It's also a remarkable value for money especially when you consider this is coming from a small grower-producer, with top pedigree, and sourced from a single parcel of vines planted in pure chalk soils. Fantastic as always!

Price: $44.99

2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Contra Costa County Rosé of Mourvedre

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

Aged in stainless steel and neutral oak, the 2024 Anonymous Contra Costa County Rosé of Mourvèdre is rumored to be composed of 83% Mourvèdre, 9% Zinfandel, 7% Carignane, and 1% Grenache = 100% deliciousness in total. I'm not ashamed to admit that my third sip of this at K&L in San Francisco prompted a combo of jazz hands and a little happy dance. I didn't care who saw me, because I am so ready for spring! I am ready for fun! I am ready for THIS WINE! Refreshing bright red raspberry, fragrant wild strawberries, blood orange zest, and tulsi rose tea put the joy in enjoyment. This is a case-buy proposition — drink young, drink often.

Price: $14.95

2021 Boroli "Cerequio" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

When we talk about the historical "Grand Crus" of the Langhe, Cerequio is always part of the conversation. Straddling the border of La Morra and Barolo, this magnificent amphitheater of vines is famous for producing wines of unparalleled balsamic complexity and power. The nose is instantly recognizable. It completely bypasses heavy, extracted fruit, offering instead a soaring, high-toned wave of wild mint, eucalyptus, and crushed black tea leaves. Beneath those classic Cerequio balsamic notes lies a precise, "crunchy" core of red cherry, blood orange, and a distinct, cooling ferrous minerality. There is no other Cerequio at this price point, this is an absolute deal.

Price: Hidden

JS: 94

2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

Massively overdelivering for its price point, the 2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir walks that perfect line where California fruitiness meets Burgundian clarity and restraint. At the moment it is youthful and primary, but who cares when the fruit is this delicious. A kaleidoscope of black raspberry, red cherry, violets, and a hint of bay laurel evolves on the palate. The finish hums with bright cherry and delicately whispered black tea sweet nothings. This is the kind of Pinot to sip slowly and revisit because the aromatherapy coming off the glass is half the experience. As a California girl with French ancestry, this is exactly what I want in domestic Pinot Noir. SOLD, to the woman in the flat cap!

Price: Hidden

2021 Boroli "Villero" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

The Villero cru in Castiglione Falletto is, without question, one of the most historically significant and architecturally profound vineyards in the entire Barolo appellation. When working with this prized, limestone-rich terroir in a classic vintage like 2021, the result is a wine of power. it reveals distinct layers of ferrous crushed rock, iron, and a soaring balsamic wave of wild mint and licorice root. It smells ancient and completely tied to the earth. A magnificent, traditional masterpiece for the long haul.

Price: Hidden

JS: 94

2021 Boroli "Brunella" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

If you still associate Boroli with the modernist movement of the 1990s and early 2000s, it is time for a serious recalibration. Their strict return to traditional winemaking and large oak casks over a decade ago has completely unlocked the soul of their vineyards, and nowhere is that more evident than in their monopole cru, Brunella. Sitting entirely within Castiglione Falletto, this exclusive, sandy-soiled site is a masterclass in the village's signature balance of ethereal perfume. IIt vibrates with that "nervous" energy I am always hunting for. It is straight, vertical, and propelled by a tense, saline snap that literally makes the mouth water. The 2021 tannins are undeniably serious—granular, chalky, and demanding, but pleasent nonetheless. The new enologist, Cristiano Garella is really making this wine shining. A beautiful surprise.

Price: Hidden

JS: 94

DC: 93

2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

The 2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with Golden Delicious apple and ripe pear, layered with hints of white blossoms and vanilla-kissed butterscotch. The finish lingers on bright orchard fruit, leaving a fresh, sunlit impression that makes me look forward to warmer days ahead. It’s definitely a mood-lifting Chardonnay with lots of charm.

Price: Hidden

2022 Tenute Inverso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

I taste a lot of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, and too often, the market is flooded with heavy, jammy, and over-oaked versions that completely lose the grape's natural identity. This 2022 is the exact opposite. Because it is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, it is exactly what everyday Montepulciano should be: pure, fresh, and deeply tied to its region. By keeping the wine out of wood, Tenute Inverso preserves all of its "crunchy" energy. The nose doesn't try to overpower you with sweet, extracted fruit or vanilla. Instead, it offers a vibrant, savory mix of crushed dark cherries, wild blackberry, and a distinct hint of roasted earth and black pepper. This isn't a wine to overthink; it is a wine to drink. Pop the cork on a Tuesday night and enjoy.

Price: $17.99

2024 Tenute Inverso "Anfora" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

Let's start off by saying this is one of the most exciting, under-the-radar projects in Abruzzo right now. Tenute Inverso is a tiny, family-run discovery that produces an incredibly small amount of this wine—just around 2000 bottles. We are incredibly proud to have this as an exclusive gem. Often, Montepulciano can fall into the trap of being too heavy, overly extracted, or masked by aggressive oak. Tenute Inverso completely bypasses that. What makes this wine so singular is its aging method: it is fermented and aged entirely in clay anfore. By removing the influence of wood, the producer allows the pure, rugged terroir of the Abruzzo backcountry to speak for itself. In the 2024 vintage, the result is a wine that vibrates with nervous energy. The nose is a lively, high-toned blast of sour cherry and crushed amarena, woven with savory wild herbs, forest floor, and a distinct, smoky minerality. It feels alive and vertical, offering a refined, almost saline texture that only clay aging can impart. It is intensely savory, lacking any heavy, jammy weight, and finishes with a pure, mouthwatering grip. A steal at this price point.

Price: $22.99

Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes

By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

Wow! The Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs is everything I want in a blanc de blancs. The nose is floral and faintly bready, and the slight sourdough toast on the palate is in perfect balance with the flavors of Meyer lemon, pear, and apricot. The wonderful fine bead gives this champagne a velvety texture that goes down easy, and the acidity is fairly delicate, but plenty to keep it refreshing and keep you coming back for more. A great champagne to enjoy on the first warm days of summer!

Price: $44.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

This all Pinot Noir blanc de noirs is one of our very best values in the category, and has clean baguette style toast married to quite impressive Pinot savor on the nose, as well as great texture and a compact, pretty bead of bubbles. This champagne comes from Les Riceys, the most famous village in the Aube department of Champagne, located on the border with Burgundy. With a dry, but in no way austere finish, it is a fabulous bottle to start your next weekend with, and affordable enough to pour for a party!

Price: $34.99

Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

This is our most exotic and intense Blanc de Blancs, all from one ancient vineyard in the 1er cru of Trepail, now over 75 years old. This bottle just took the staff by storm when I poured a flight of all Chardonnay Champagne for my final training seminar of the year. The Boulard Bauquaire made bottles twice the price seem hollow with its wonderful richness and white fruit quality. Luckily, this Champagne also has a great dry, long, chalky finish!

Price: $44.99

Michel Arnould "Acuité" Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

Anyone who loves champagne should try this exceptional bottling! The Acuité from Michel Arnould is a great example of top grower champagne at a wonderful, accessible price. The seamless blend of two of the top grand cru villages in the region (Verzenay and Mesnil no less!) gives us beautiful hazelnut and baguette toast as well as super clean minerality and lively acidity. While this is labeled as an Extra Brut, the wine is balanced like Brut and comes across as dry without being austere. I cannot overstate just how good the balance is of this wine- it is impossible to get tired of and reminds me of tete de cuvée!

Price: $44.99

2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 3/3/2026 | Send Email

As you can see from the long list of staff reviews, this wine is exactly what we love to drink here at K&L—wines with balance, poise, purity, and precision. Steve Matthiasson crafts exactly that: wines rooted in elegance, varietal typicity, and a profound sense of place—first and foremost, gastronomic wines meant to be enjoyed at the table. A farmer above all else, much of Steve’s magic happens in the vineyard, where the vines are meticulously hand-tended with an uncompromising focus on quality. He aims for modest yields and true physiological (flavor and phenolic) ripeness at lower sugar levels. Farming organically and regeneratively, Steve sources from both his estate vineyards and select parcels up and down the valley that he farms with the same loving care and attention. Our team (myself included) absolutely fell in love with this wine’s old-school sensibility. At just 13% alcohol, it offers plenty of savory, lifted aromatics—tobacco, wintergreen, bay laurel, and freshly turned earth—woven seamlessly with pure mulberry, dark cherry, and black raspberry fruit. All that classic Cabernet character is beautifully interlaced with freshness and clarity. The wine is alive on the palate, buoyed by vibrant acidity and framed by fine yet tactile tannins. It’s youthful and already open and delicious, yet with its electric freshness, I have no doubt it will age gracefully for 10 years or more. It will be fascinating to watch those classic varietal notes evolve as bottle age begins to shape the wine. A singularly brilliant Cabernet, confidently charting its own course through the modern era of Napa Valley. And an exceptional value in its own right.

Price: $79.95

DC: 99

2023 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé "Autour de la Roche"

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 3/2/2026 | Send Email

I first discovered the wondrous wines of Domaine J.A. Ferret about 15 years ago, when I began a deep dive into Pouilly-Fuissé. At the time, they were the region’s standard-bearer, crafting serious, age-worthy wines capable of competing with—and often surpassing—their counterparts to the north in the Côte de Beaune. Their wines consistently showed remarkable elegance and purity, with subtle fruit expression, racy acidity, and impressive complexity and length. The 2023 Domaine J.A. Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé is a beauty, opening with aromas of white flowers and sea breeze. The palate unfolds as a complex blend of citrus and stone fruits, layered with hints of iodine and wet stone. Racy and zesty yet still beautifully layered, it feels like a mythical meeting point between classic Chablis precision and a lightly styled Meursault richness. I love the wines of Domaine J.A. Ferret, and this bottle is an absolute delight.

Price: $49.99

Hakushu 18 Year Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/2/2026 | Send Email

For many years, Hakushu 18 Year was my golden goose of Japanese whisky. Believe it or not, back when I started in this industry over 20 years ago, the Yamazaki 12 year was the least expensive 12-year-old single malt in my store. I think we charged $37 and Glenlivet 12 Year was $40. When I wanted to treat myself the 18 year was only $100! When the Hak 18 Year launched in 2006, it was literally all I wanted, and it was damn hard to find. Difficult to sell yourself the one bottle allocated to your store, so I eventually paid retail elsewhere and coveted that bottle like it was my baby. Then, it became impossible to find and extremely expensive, yet my desire to have it in my possession diminished very little. Now, tasting the modern version, I actually think it's improved amazingly over the years; my desire to own the Hak 18 Year never really connected with my perception of its quality. Let's have a little bit together! The color is a beautiful, burnished color (1.1) Huh, this is much darker than I remember the old version being. HOLY MOLY, the nose is absolutely stunning, full of beautiful, tropical fruit, wild honey, antique wood, and the finest black teas. The smoke is so well-integrated and rich you'd be hard pressed to call it out as a peated malt on the nose. The ultra supple entry builds with deep, roasted fruit, deep vanilla, rancio, and baking spice that build toward a round, complete, and savory finish. Again, we're not at all in the overt peat world, and the depth and age feel well beyond 18 years. For all that is said about Suntory's consistency, this is wildly inconsistent with what I remember in that it's much, much better! A poor, little 92 point score from 13 years ago does not do the modern Hakushu 18 year any justice. It's very clear that they're putting beautiful old malt in this from a variety of extremely high- quality barrels. A beautiful whisky that should be considered for anyone looking for a luxurious experience.

Price: $649.99

Limit of 3 per customer

Pierre Mineral Brut Rosé Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 3/2/2026 | Send Email

This elegant, delicate rosé champagne has the soul of the blanc de blancs. It is 90% chardonnay, and not just any chardonnay, but Mesnil grand cru and Montgueux, two of the best terroirs in the region for the variety. The pretty, subtle strawberry fruit that this wine delivers comes from 1er cru of Vertus pinot noir vinified red. The result is a clean, refreshing, dry rosé with a bright, mineral finish. If you like the rosé from Billecart-Salmon and Damien Hugot, this is a must try!

Price: $49.99

Redbreast Moscatel Finished Irish Whiskey (750ml)

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/27/2026 | Send Email

This is classic Redbreast, plussed up with an elegant sweetness and a touch of herbaceousness. The nose opens with dry vanilla, orange spice, and a wisp of clove underneath baked, honeyed pastry. That pastry note turns right into honeycomb on the palate, bringing out lovely orchard and stone fruits, toffee, and cedar. A light touch of thyme and sage settles on the finish, all while that signature oily Redbreast texture lingers for minutes on end. This is a beautiful new expression that lets the whiskey guide the cask, avoiding the heavy-handedness often found in other sweet wine finishes.

Price: $104.99

2024 Riff Pinot Grigio delle Venezie

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/27/2026 | Send Email

March is the season of renewal, and Riff is the perfect project to illustrate how a fresh perspective can revitalize a classic category. While the label says "Pinot Grigio," the pedigree here is pure royalty. This is a passion project from Alois Lageder, the legendary biodynamic pioneer of Alto Adige who has spent decades proving that Northern Italian whites can be world-class. Lageder created Riff to prove that affordable Pinot Grigio doesn't have to be industrial plonk—it can have a soul and a story. The name "Riff" (German for Reef) is a direct nod to the geological history of the Dolomite foothills where these vines grow. Millions of years ago, these majestic, jagged peaks were actually living coral reefs in a prehistoric ocean. That ancient marine heritage is the defining feature of the terroir, leaving behind fossil-rich limestone soils that impart a distinct, saline backbone to the wine. By sourcing fruit from trusted growers in the foothills of the northeastern Alps who adhere to strict sustainable protocols, Lageder ensures that the wine expresses this unique "alpine-mediterranean" microclimate. It’s a masterclass in sourcing and terroir, resulting in a wine that is crisp, mineral-driven, and vibrant—a true reflection of the ancient stone it grows on

Price: $13.99

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$9.99

2019 Plozza Rosso Di Valtellina

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/27/2026 | Send Email

This wine takes us to one of the most dramatic wine regions on Earth: Valtellina. Located in Lombardy, tight against the Swiss border, this is the home of "heroic viticulture." Here, the Nebbiolo grape (locally known as Chiavennasca) clings to steep, terraced cliffs that have been carved out of the mountain by hand over centuries. If you drop a grape bunch here, it might roll a thousand feet down to the valley floor! Plozza is a historic institution in this valley.. They are famous for their Sforzato (dried grape wines), but their Rosso di Valtellina is perhaps the purest expression of their philosophy. In Valtellina, the Nebbiolo grape behaves differently than in the foggy hills of Barolo. The high altitude, the intense ultraviolet light, and the cool alpine breezes create a wine that is thinner-skinned, paler, and more aromatic. It is Nebbiolo stripped of its heaviness, revealing its "mountain soul." This bottle is a tribute to the farmers who maintain those dry-stone walls year after year, offering a taste of the Alps that is as rugged and beautiful as the landscape itself.

Price: $24.99

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$19.99

2023 Melville "Estate" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 2/27/2026 | Send Email

This year, Melville celebrates 30 years of grape growing in the Sta. Rita Hills, and over that time this family-run estate has firmly established itself in the upper echelon of producers in the region. Entirely dedicated to estate-grown, organically farmed fruit and classical, refined winemaking, Melville crafts wines that stand among the purest expressions of place you’ll find anywhere in California. The estate sits on the northwestern edge of the AVA, just ten miles from the Pacific. Here, soils are dominated by windblown sands, underpinned in places by Monterey shale and pockets of clay loam. Mature vines—planted to a diverse array of clones—stretch across the estate’s rolling contours, divided into dozens of meticulously farmed blocks. After three decades, the Melville team knows this land intimately, and they weave those blocks together in their Estate Pinot Noir with remarkable precision and purity. With 40% whole-cluster fermentation, the wine is an aromatic delight. The nose bursts with lifted florals, ripe berry fruit, exotic spice, star anise, clove, citrus peel, pomegranate, black raspberry, and dried alpine herbs. On the palate, it is incredibly vibrant and fresh, delivering generous yet crunchy, spice-laced red fruit alongside subtle notes of earth and amaro-like bitters. This wine perfectly reflects the Sta. Rita Hills’ famed “refrigerated sunshine”—ample California ripeness balanced by the bracing freshness of an ultra-cool growing season. The result is Pinot Noir with both depth and electric energy. With our extra-sharp Insider’s Advantage pricing, this becomes an absolute must-buy. Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir simply doesn’t get better at this price—it's not even close.

Price: Hidden

2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/26/2026 | Send Email

The Discovery series continues in the world renown Right Bank (of the Gironde River) village of Pomerol, known for its rich, plush, Merlot based blends grown in gravel, iron rich clay, and sand. The 2019 K&L Discovery Series Pomerol is a traditional blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc from an epic vintage whose hot dry summer produced consistently excellent wines that are aging into classic old school Bordeaux that are round and luscious. On the nose, cigar box, olive tapenade, crushed stone, fennel, dark red berries. On the palate, coffee bean, sweet vanilla, red plum, chocolate, with subtle notes of bell pepper and herbs. This Pomerol continued to open up throughout the day, slowly revealing its historic pedigree and terroir. For a wine that is ready to drink, or can be cellared for another two decades, all for $29.99 this new K&L offering is a no-brainer!

Price: $29.99

2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol

By: Simon Li | Review Date: 2/26/2026 | Send Email

The 2019 Discovery Series is a compelling expression of Pomerol from a stellar Vintage. The nose presents a vibrant bouquet of ripe plum and black cherry, with a distinct blackcurrant note. Subtle hints of mint and a floral lift of violet add layers of complexity. On the palate, the wine is powerfully fruit driven, showcasing a concentrated core of black fruit balanced by fresh acidity. The finish is supported by polished tannins, providing amazing structure for the wine to evolve beautifully over the next 5-10 years. Experiencing the character and prestige of Pomerol. one of France's most exclusive regions, for just 29.99 makes this a truly remarkable find!

Price: $29.99

2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 2/26/2026 | Send Email

Our Discovery Series has arrived! At the heart of this program is a mission to showcase wines of impeccable quality, unmistakable regional typicité, and exceptional value. As I often say, we’re not simply putting a label on someone’s latest release—we’re curating standout selections from our deep and trusted network of producers. Each wine must distinguish itself from its peers, often outperforming bottles that sell for many times the price. Only those that meet this high bar earn a place in the lineup. From one of the most treasured terroirs in the world of fine wine, it’s nothing short of a coup to bottle an exclusive Pomerol of this caliber and deliver it for under $30. This is land where bottles typically fetch $100 to $3,000, simply because production is so limited and quality so high. The plateau of Pomerol is defined by its unique gravel and iron-rich clay soils, which yield wines of remarkable complexity, richness, texture, luxury, and longevity. I was captivated by this particular selection for its quintessential Pomerol character: gorgeous red fruits, striking density, and a textured palate that reflects the famed mosaic of soils beneath the vines. It is a wine that could come from nowhere else. We’ll count ourselves fortunate if we can continue to collaborate on future vintages. This is a delicious, complex, and thoroughly enjoyable Pomerol that easily merits double the price, and one that will be a standout on our shelves while it’s in stock.

Price: $29.99

Pierre Mineral Brut Rosé Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/26/2026 | Send Email

Really full-fruited nose with red berries, red apple, lemon, and little touches of this really seductive creamy cherry. The palate has bright blood orange, green apple, a little bit of chalky raspberry and then a long and lingering finish that just pushes little touches of fruit and a long line of acidity through the whole palate. This is a really nice option with more fruit without getting too heavy or rich on the palate. It dances this line and really is just another great bottle of Champagne for the right person. Definitely will be picking a couple up, I think this would absolutely bang with breakfast.

Price: $49.99

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