K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2021 Produttori del Barbaresco "Montefico" Barbaresco Riserva

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 12/5/2025 | Send Email

The wine Montefico presents itself as elegant while remaining compact in shape and delivers notes of graphite alongside roses and taut red berries. This wine appeals to wine enthusiasts who want a pure experience because it presents lifted scents together with mineral complexity. The Riserva wines from this cru typically display the highest level of transparency.

Price: $89.99

KO: 99

VN: 97

2021 Produttori del Barbaresco "Ovello" Barbaresco Riserva

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 12/5/2025 | Send Email

Barbaresco’s northernmost and largest cru, Ovello, creates structured Barbaresco wines that display high tones. The wine presents red fruit along with dried herbs and sharp acidity that will endure aging while offering the most energetic profile of the lineup.

Price: $84.99

KO: 97

VN: 96

2009 Mortlach 16 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Cask Strength Refill Hogshead Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 12/5/2025 | Send Email

On my first trip to Scotland many years ago I was advised by a friend to check out this little whisky bar called the Blue Blazer in Edinburgh. I was new in the industry and looking to explore some whiskies on my last night in town. The night ultimately turned ridiculously epic after I befriended a group of street performers during Fringe Festival and let them kidnap me for a full night of shenanigans. But before they stormed the pub, I enjoyed a quiet few hours of exploration under the guidance of the bartender. The first whisky she poured was one that changed everything for me: a Mortlach 15-year-old from Gordon & MacPhail. At the time I barely knew the distillery, but in that moment it became my favorite, and it remains on my personal Mount Rushmore of Scottish producers to this day. There is something about the dense, waxy, oily spirit they create, most of which disappears into Johnnie Walker blends, that sets it apart from the rest. Is it the worm tub? Is it the quirky 2.81-times distillation using the Wee Witchie still, adding that extra copper contact on a fractional pass of the weak feints from the wash still? I mean, yeah, it’s probably all of that. I have never had a Mortlach, distillery bottled or independent, that I did not absolutely love. And this one is no exception. It is everything I want from a Mortlach and a little more. Beautiful honey greets you on the nose, and for a whisky sixteen years old, a surprising amount of roasted barley malt makes itself known. The sweet barley shines on the palate, with those rich, waxy oils carrying vanilla bean, heather, lemon balm, and soft hints of mint. The finish lingers with milk chocolate and the last traces of those lovely fusel oils coating your mouth. This one sticks with you in the best possible way. What an extraordinary cask pick we have here for you. Definitely do not miss out on this one.

Price: $109.99

2010 Tormore 15 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Finished Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 12/5/2025 | Send Email

There is a reason scotch fans lose their minds over the tiny trickle of whisky that ever makes it to market from this magical little distillery. This bottle proves it once again. It is an absolutely luscious whisky, delivering a beautiful balance between its first twelve years in hogsheads and its final three years in sherry casks. It is rich, creamy, and nearly unrestrained in its decadence. If you transformed a blackberry chocolate crème brûlée into whisky, this is what you would have. Layers of spice, graham crust, tamarind, marzipan, and wave after wave of chocolate cream unfold with each sip, lingering long after the glass leaves your lips. This is a truly special whisky, and we are lucky it is all ours.

Price: $79.99

Maison 76 Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 12/5/2025 | Send Email

Maison 76 could only happen at K&L and it's over 20 years in the making. Gary Westby, K&L's champagne buyer for decades (and now of "Westby Collection" fame) waved his magic sparkling wand and out came this incredible new champagne from fourth generation grower-producer superstar Olivier Bonville of Champagne Franck Bonville. The pedigree of this juice puts it so far above its price point it's almost stealing. By the numbers, Maison 76 (so named for K&L's founding year -- 1976) is 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from the renown Cote des Blancs village of Avize, where Bonville has been operating since 1936 (first bottling under the Franck Bonville name was in 1959), aged for 3 years on the lees, 40% base vintage with 60% reserve wines, and dosage is 5.8g/L. This champagne is everything you want from a Cote des Blancs champagne -- elegant, refined, beautifully balanced, ripe fruit, creamy texture, spring flowers, chalky minerality, orchard fruit, and those reserve wines add honeysuckle and nutty flavors like hazelnut and almonds. This is a must try!

Price: $44.99

2012 Ben Nevis 12 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

Ben Nevis is still under appreciated and while we had a period where the distiller seemed to avoid any barrel sales, many seem to be coming out of the wood work. This fabulous barrel exemplifies the idiosyncratic western Highland style that makes Ben Nevis feel like a malt with a great sense of place. If you've ever been to the rugged western highlands, and in particular the town of Fort Williams, this malt will transport you right back to that wild landscape. Let's give it a try. The color is a dull old gold (0.6) - not so dark, which is nice to see! The nose is full of dense malt and powerful oily flavors and needs tons of air to open up. If you can keep your glass full for a bit you'll notice a huge dark chocolate note, high toned Williams pear, peanut oil, cream fudge and scrubby highland shrubbery. The palate is extreme rich and continues on the chocolate and orchard fruit notes - adding some savory leathery and salumi aromas as it finishes. It's some how very different from many other modern Ben Nevis' but still so distinctly Ben Nevis. A beautiful, big contemplative malt that will enamor even the most jaded scotch fiend.

Price: $89.99

2007 Bruichladdich 18 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Cask Strength Refill Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

I was so excited to see this on the Douglas Laing list I jumped at the chance to taste this distillate. When the samples arrived I knew we had something special. Some might point to this barrel and exclaim about the price, and yes compared to many lesser names, this is an expensive 18 year old. But compared to other single barrel Bruichladdich this is EXTREMELY affordable. Single barrels of Bruichladdich from our friends at Dramfool traded for over $300 in the 10-12 year range. An 18 year from the Douglas Laing's rival Hunter Laing trades for over $400! So it's really a pretty good deal and simply the only old single barrel in the market. But all of that doesn't matter if you don't like how it tastes and for those expecting the big extracted wine-y style that many older Bruichladdichs exhibit (I'm looking at you Black Art) or even the toast-y character of the distillery 18, you'll be disappointed. Those who love the purity and character of old rugged Bruichladdich spirit on full display without any dressing or make-up - you'll rejoice. Let's see what we've got. The color is a minimalistic pale gold (0.3). The gorgeous nose offers classical aromatics - lemon oil, canary melons, cream of wheat, salty rocks, fresh salt meadows, butter cookies, barley tea, hints of industrial machinery, and old boats. The palate has plenty more of the lemon-y stuff with a big malt-y core and buttered salted biscuits. It's just a gorgeous old school version of this most modern malt that is seemingly not in existence elsewhere at the moment. Perhaps for some of the most discerning - this will be the whisky of the season.

Price: $225.00

2010 Tormore 15 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Finished Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

I'm buying every Tormore that crosses my lips these days. It’s such an undervalued distillery and offers an incredible diversity of flavor. This one spent several years finishing in first-fill Oloroso sherry, and the results are outstanding. This is easily the sherry cask to chase if you're looking for the perfect balance between the beautiful orchard fruit of Tormore's elegant spirit and the deep, satisfying character of high-quality Oloroso. It's extremely balanced and well-rounded, offering plenty of sweet spice and powerful fruit without ever overpowering the Tormore character. This is the years sherry bomb that so many people still seek, but with a balance that few as dark and dense achieve. A perfect follow-up to the outrageously good young Tormore we did last year—the other side of the coin, as it were.

Price: $79.99

2014 Bowmore 11 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Refill Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

These 2014 Bowmores are so special. It's absolutely shocking that the distillery isn't bottling these incredible barrels. In fact, I'd contend that no distillery currently has a greater disparity between the character of what's available through Independent Bottlers and the distillery offerings. Not that Bowmore's whisky is bad, but none of it has the depth and soul of these single casks. The younger version we had last year sold out quickly and the number of request for more far out paced any other. This is one of those whiskies that on paper its difficult to comprehend simply how special it is. This years barrel is relatively different from last year, offering a bit less of the tropical fruit and more zesty lemon and a gorgeous ocean character, but its no less pleasurable. It's simply incredible that we're still able to offer this top tier blue chip malt at these prices considering the market conditions we're facing, yet here we are. I know that you know you'll regret not grabbing this before it arrives because we will absolutely have to raise our prices on the in stock version. Let's have a go. The character is full of sweet soft smoke and complex fruit - mango, leather, mango leather, cured ham and honey, citrus oil, engine oil, camphor, pistachio butter. The palate is so rich and textural it's simply unbelievable that this distillery isn't front and center for every serious malt drinker, but then again, the whisky almost never tastes like this when the distillery bottles it. An absolute gem of a whisky that's going to give so much pleasure - I'm legitimately proud we're selling this.

Price: $99.99

2012 Macduff 13 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive First Fill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

Oh this one is a big boy. Clocking in at an outrageous 130ish proof, its still in barrel so that's possible to change slightly, but it's an absolute bruiser. What's even more incredible is that we're able to offer this at such an amazing price. I know you're all saying, "yeah yeah David you have amazing prices. We know." But seriously, it's really wild that we're able to consistently source nicely sherried mature malt for less than $60. I've been doing this a long time and while we don't see some of the ridiculous deals on rare and limited stocks that we once did, we've not seeing meaningful increases in the base level cask strength single barrels and in some cases it seems that the quality in the range for many distillers has improved. For instance, this is the first exclusive Macduff we've ever bottled in first fill sherry barrels. We're talking full tilt in your face sherry albeit it not coffee dark, there's plenty going on. Expect deep nutty dried fruity. A total fruit medley balanced by dark chocolate, high level savory notes and Christmas cake. Most people will over look this one and then come begging for more - thing this is like the Old Particular Glenturret of 2025, if you remember that monster cask from about 6 years ago.

Price: $59.99

2010 Caol Ila 14 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Hogsheads Cask Strength Single Refill Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

This barrel, the oldest Caol Ila of the year, was aged in a refill hogshead but offers a classical expression of this special distillery. A lovely little pale gold (0.4), it opens with a nose that is pure Islay, full of powerful peat and dense wet turf. With air, subtle sweet cereal character and tense dark pepper notes appear. The palate, by contrast, offers dense sweet malt and complex barrel spice. The middle brings cracking pine smoke, sooty earthy peat, and dusty, rich, smoldering anthracite coal. The creamy texture and round, rich finish bring the wild ride to a satisfying close. The sweetness turns up to eleven along with the dense smoke. A total classic on arrival. Very tasty stuff.

Price: $99.99

2013 Caol Ila 12 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Hogsheads Cask Strength Single Refill Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

If you weren’t aware, I’m a total sucker for Caol Ila. It’s a very large distillery, but only a fraction of its total production makes it out as single malt. I’ve even heard rumors that significant quantities of unpeated malt are produced for their blending needs. One thing I love about Caol Ila is that, like some of its Islay neighbors, it’s remarkably multifaceted. It’s difficult to determine whether these stylistic ranges are intentional, like Bruichladdich, or seasonal, like Laphroaig, but we have three barrels this year of different styles and ages, each in classic refill hogsheads. The idea was to capture three faces of Caol Ila and present them at stupendous prices. This second barrel from Old Particular is starting to offer a wilder side of the wonderful north shore distiller. The color is a bright yellow gold (0.4). The nose is powerful with green pepper, lime zesty, dense green peat and tense ashy smoke. There's some lovely soft oak to mellow a bit to already and hints of smoked meats. Dense dark ash smoke envelopes the palate and doesn't relent. Smoking embers, mesquite, dark roast wood, and a tense salty finish. A totally wonderful and unexpected side of this fabulous distillery.

Price: $79.99

2022 Palacio del Burgo Crianza Rioja

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

The 2022 Palacio del Burgo Crianza is a polished, quietly charming Rioja that opens with warm red cherry, ripe plum, and a touch of sweet tobacco, all wrapped in subtle vanilla and spice from well-judged American oak. The palate is smooth and balanced, offering bright cherry and raspberry notes, soft tannins, and just a hint of cedar and earth to give it depth without weight. This is a weekday Rioja with weekend polish—ideal for roast chicken, pork loin, tapas, or nothing but a glass and good company. It’s graceful, reliable, and charming in that effortless way only Rioja seems to pull off.

Price: $17.99

DC: 95

JS: 90

2022 Palacio del Burgo Crianza Rioja

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

This extremely pleasing Crianza has a nose of pure red cherry fruit infused with a nice bit of chalk and darker berries. On the palate, extremely supple and quite smooth with a nice bit of "bite" at the back of the throat. Creamy in texture with very juicy dark cherry fruit, a touch of hazelnut and a light dusty note. This will appeal and a large cross section of customers and there is even the benefit of a nicely lingering finish of cinnamon.

Price: $17.99

DC: 95

JS: 90

2022 Palacio del Burgo Crianza Rioja

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

This is easily one of the most impressive Riojas under $20 I’ve tried this year. From the first sip, it achieves that perfect balance of bright red fruit, subtle oak, and firm structure that Rioja lovers seek. It’s vibrant, it’s polished, and it’s effortlessly drinkable without feeling one-dimensional. A traditional blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano, the wine opens with ripe cherry and juicy plum notes, the wine is framed by vanilla and faint toasty oak, leading into a surprisingly long finish. Twelve months of aging in American oak barrels add a distinctly savory, umami-rich character, and the tannins are firm enough to give the wine backbone but soft enough that you don’t need to think twice about opening it on a weeknight. In my opinion, it’s often far more challenging to find wines under $20 that are well-made and delicious, as opposed to more expensive bottles where quality is expected. This Rioja really overdelivers for its modest price, easily outcompeting more pricey Riojas. Pick up a few bottles or even a case – you won’t be disappointed.

Price: $17.99

DC: 95

JS: 90

2022 Coudert, St-Emilion

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

What a fun discovery from an under-the-radar property on the Right Bank. Sure, the 97-point score and sub-$25 price don’t hurt, but we were genuinely impressed by what we tasted in the bottle. It’s one of those great crossover wines—something Bordeaux lovers will enjoy, yet with a richness and brilliance that give it broad appeal. In other words, it’s delicious, irresistible, and at this price point, all too easy to enjoy. Given the character of the 2022 vintage, it also makes sense that there’s so much happening here while remaining remarkably accessible. The nose offers deep blackberry and wild fruits, while the palate delivers a vibrant, rich panoply of black and red fruits leading the attack, supported by fresh acidity and a long finish coated in fine fruit tannin. It’s the kind of wine that immediately has you reaching for another glass. And while I’m excited to see how it ages, I’d wholeheartedly encourage popping corks even now. A tremendous value, a standout from 2022, and a wonderful example of over-delivering Bordeaux, this is a fantastic buy. And while we bought as much as we could, with fewer than 2,500 cases produced, there's not that much to go around.

Price: $24.99

DC: 97

JS: 93 - 94

2022 Alexandre Le Brun "Cuvée Revelation" Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 12/3/2025 | Send Email

A true masterpiece of Meunier from some of the oldest living vines I have seen in Champagne. Half of the plot was planted in 1903, before both world wars. This comes from one plot behind the Le Brun family home and winery in the cold climate of Monthelon. This wine has a generous bouquet of both crisp pear and toasty pie crust, and in the mouth reveals real tarte tatin greatness, while never becoming heavy or loosing its balance. The combination of old vines, cold climate and Alexandre's long, slow fermentations has given you a chance to have one of the longest finishing, crisp, yet rich champagnes at a great price. Don't wait to long, he only made 2100 bottles, and he only allocated the USA 300 of them.

Price: $69.99

Green River "Bronze & Beautiful" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Non-Chillfiltered Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/3/2025 | Send Email

This wild barrel is such a contrast to the other one we bought, I simply couldn't say no. It's so open and lively, it simply jumped out in the tasting and was an immediate yes for me. Nothing more to add, so let's get to tasting. This one is a full two shades darker than the other barrel, clocking a solid tawny (1.4). The nose is absolutely explosive, offering dense raisin-y fruit, sweet crema di mocha, candied nuts, cinnamon apple fritter, and heated aspen. It's like eating an absolutely decadent dessert in an absolutely pristine dry sauna. On the palate, it's rich and sweet with burnt sugar, exotic wood, cooked peaches, pipe tobacco, and vanilla extract. With air, the density and intensity of both the nose and palate continue to smolder and build. This is simply a massive and powerful whisky that will likely shock some who snag it blindly.

Price: $59.99

Green River "Owensboro's Aqueous Ore" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Non-Chillfiltered Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/3/2025 | Send Email

The two barrels we have from Green River right now may change some skeptics' minds. There's an unfortunate negativity in the bourbon industry that exists with regards to Owensboro production, one stemming from some of the previous owners' early experimental efforts to accelerate the aging of the bourbons produced at this facility through somewhat questionable means, but the current production is perfectly lovely and certain barrels are downright exceptional. This 6.5 year old barrel of cask strength bourbon comes from the classic Green River mashbill at 21 percent rye and is simply delicious. A splendid chestnut color (1.2). The nose begins dark and nutty, but with just a bit of air it's clear there's a huge amount going on here. Sweet, almost molasses-like dense fruit, chocolate chip banana nut bread, cedar, sandalwood, toasted pecans, baking spices. It's very festive. On the palate it reminds me of OESQ from Four Roses with the candied floral and soft vanilla character right up front, honeysuckle, sweet tea, caramel candied, followed by a dark spicy finish. It's a totally fabulous and unique expression that kind of does different things on nose and palate and continues to evolve for ages in the glass.

Price: Hidden

Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/3/2025 | Send Email

Frank August continues to impress with every new release. Their first rye was a tiny batch of Limited Edition, and now they're back with an always available small batch rye and winning equal praise from all who taste it. What I love about Frank's rye is that it isn't trying to be bourbon. So many Kentucky ryes rely on this to appeal to bourbon drinkers, but what they fail to realize is that if they'd make rye for rye drinkers, there would be more bourbon drinkers who consider themselves rye drinkers. Anyway, I like it. Let's have a taste. A sumptuous chestnut color (1.2). The nose opens slowly in the glass and offers beautiful evergreen and deep herbal character. As it unfolds, the sweetness of the oak melds lovingly with the dense peppery rye grain, giving it an almost antique vibe along with hints of nougat, chocolate, dill, pecan brittle, and clove. The palate is beautifully dusty and unabashedly rye driven with a huge core of dried citrus and stone fruit in the middle intermingled with robust savory herbs and tobacco. The medium finish offers soft pepper, dried mint, bitter orange, and smoldering oak. A truly lovely and unapologetic rye that straddles the modern and historic styles extremely lovingly.

Price: $74.99

Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/3/2025 | Send Email

Frank August is a refreshing take on the bourbon category. Not caught up in any old tropes, this is just really well put together bourbon from a couple of good guys who seem to know everybody. Again, Kentucky is all about who you know and while very little can be divulged about the sources and methods here, I think the whiskey speaks for itself. It's safe to say that this is coming from a well-regarded distillery and the blending is done by an industry veteran who has taken the idea of small batch to a whole new level. Blends matter a lot at this scale and this inaugural batch is tasting pretty stellar. The style isn't a baseball bat to the palate like some of the geeks might want these days, but instead a subtle and elegant expression of bourbon that's rarely on display in the modern market. Let's taste it! The lovely reddish hue tells us that this one is maybe a bit older than some others on the market. The nose is a deft and well-aligned bouquet of caramel candies, toasted vanilla, baked clove, and other aromatic spices. Hints of cacao, burnt sugar, and dried fruit support. The texture is rather rich and unctuous with a full body but no heat at 100 proof. No oddness or distinctive flavors beyond the classic, elegant, and well-rounded character of an excellent medium-aged Kentucky bourbon. The finish is long and inviting, offering tons of sweetness and tempering the spice that lingers on the front palate. It's hard to say where this was sourced exactly, but very few of the luxury brands offer such opulence and well-rounded charisma. I'd say it's safe to say that this is better than most every new product we've come across, and there are many. Frank August might sacrifice power for elegance and completeness, but no good bourbon drinker will be disappointed and the openness allows even the most novice entry into this still somewhat hard-to-parse category. Plus the bottle looks awesome and doesn't scream or shout, just looks pretty on the bar for as long as you can keep it full, which likely won't be long.

Price: $74.99

Frank August "Case Study: 06 Legacy Reserve" 6 Barrel Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 12/3/2025 | Send Email

Fresh off a stunning set of wins for best bourbon and rye from the world's top awards, this new limited edition release from Frank August represents an exciting new chapter. Their last release, Case Study 5, was just voted Best Bourbon in the world, but this takes the same ethos and turns things all the way up to 11. Here, instead of wheated bourbons, it's a blend of legacy distillate from 8 to 10 years old. They don't disclose the sources, but our friends at Frank have assured us that these aren't your run-of-the-mill bulk brokerage style barrel purchases. Instead, these are hand-selected from the finest stocks from Kentucky's historic distillers and deftly blended into a seamless package unlike any Frank that has ever existed. If Case Study 5 is the best bourbon, what does Case Study 6 become when it's even better? We'll have to wait and see because it will be long sold out before its various awards are handed out, but if you haven't tried Frank or if you have, there's simply nothing on the market quite like it. Let's try! The color is a striking auburn (1.5). It's extremely difficult to pinpoint what this reminds me of because the character of so many various distillers is seamlessly interwoven. Even on first nose you're getting a huge cherry and red fruit character, beautiful dusty sweet oak, twinges of mint and earthy herbs, nougat and poached pear, dark chocolate and fresh tobacco. On the palate there's a richness of character and texture that seems unbelievable for the age, and the sweetness is full on at the front offering peach candies, sugary treats, maple syrup, dark red cherry before shifting slightly darker and spicier on the finish. An absolutely stupendous feat of blending that was obviously extremely thoughtful. They're mingling just 5 to 6 barrels per batch and only 9 batches, so an extremely small release. For those who take the plunge before having to hunt for it, you'll be well rewarded for your punctuality.

Price: $129.99

2023 K&L Discovery Series Rhône, Gigondas "Tank 11 by Moulin de la Gardette"

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 12/2/2025 | Send Email

Super fruit-filled nose that jumps out of the glass at you, bright and juicy red and black fruits present upfront, black cherry, black currant, raspberry, a little bit of sweet cranberry, and then there's this laurel leaf component that jumps out towards the end of the bouquet. The palate is super juicy too, but the combination of acidity and tannin kind of work together to give the palate a bit of a gentle decrescendo that pushes towards more savory mid-palate notes and a mixed finish where the fruit and the savory compete. The mid-palate has dried green herbs, a little hinted touch of oil cured olive, and a bit of barrel spice showing. This is really such an easy and nice bottle of wine for the price, proving yet again that these Discovery wines are an excellent bang for the buck. In my opinion, they still overdeliver for their price considering what they are, and this is so exception. This is just such a really nice Tuesday wine for the price, and it really gives a lot more than other $20 bottles in the same range. This is special stuff, and I really enjoyed it.

Price: $19.99

2023 K&L Discovery Series Rhône, Gigondas "Tank 11 by Moulin de la Gardette"

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/2/2025 | Send Email

Tasting this wine has only reinforced my confidence in our Discovery Series of imported wines. For me, it's remarkable that we can offer a world-class Gigondas at a Cotes-du-Rhone price point. It captures the essence of Southern Rhone as it combines expressive red fruit flavors with classic Mediterranean accents. This is a classic that comes with our highest endorsement!

Price: $19.99

2023 K&L Discovery Series Rhône, Gigondas "Tank 11 by Moulin de la Gardette"

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 12/2/2025 | Send Email

When I was in the Rhône this past March and April, I visited dozens of producers and spent several days at a traveling wine fair, tasting with dozens more. But it would have been criminal of me not to carve out time for Jean-Baptiste Meunier of Moulin de la Gardette, one of my favorite producers in one of my favorite crus—Gigondas. We’ve worked with JB for decades now, and I consider his wines among the truest, most terroir-driven expressions in the region. Part of this buying trip was reconnecting with our longtime partners, scouting new talent, and hunting for opportunities for our Discovery Series label. Naturally, JB was my first stop in Gigondas. His wines have always felt like pure Gigondas—capturing the essence of the marl and limestone soils and layered with the perfume of the surrounding garrigue. That coastal scrub, rich with natural oils from thyme, bay, and lavender, subtly inflects the wines with the unmistakable character of the place. During our visit, I noticed a tank off to one side and asked about its contents. This was the wine JB uses to top off barrels, round out his cuvées, and eventually sell the remainder to a négociant for blending. The vessel was simply marked Tank 11. Out of curiosity, I asked to taste it—and was immediately surprised. The wine was vibrant and fruit-filled, bursting with black raspberry, lavender, strawberries, and that classic hint of bay leaf. It was fleshy yet lifted, expressive yet effortlessly drinkable. JB’s Tradition and Ventabren bottlings tend to be deeper, more savory, and more structured—beautiful wines that reward time in bottle. What struck me about Tank 11 was its accessibility: supple, open-knit, and welcoming, yet still unmistakably Gardette and unmistakably Gigondas. It captured the region’s personality with a truly user-friendly attitude—exactly what we look for in a Discovery wine. As an aside, the wine has just landed in our warehouse, and I opened my first bottles upon arrival. There’s always a moment of suspense—tank samples can shift as they settle into bottle. But tasting it again, I was transported right back to the cellar several months ago. All of its generosity, brightness, and openness are intact. This is one of the most delightful Gigondas I’ve tasted in years and exactly what the Discovery Series is meant to highlight: wines of place, character, and value. I think you’ll agree—this is one of the best-drinking Rhône wines on our shelves right now.

Price: $19.99

2021 Raineri "Castelletto" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

If Perno is the intellect, Castelletto is the muscle. This vineyard faces east, looking directly at the powerhouse ridge of Serralunga d’Alba, and you can feel that kinship in the glass. This is a broader, darker, more powerful wine. It’s packed with balsamic notes, dark cherry fruit, licorice, and a savory, earthy depth. The tannins here are firmer, the shoulders broader. It’s a wine of serious presence that demands a rich meal (think braised beef or truffles) to show its full potential.

Price: $59.99

JS: 95

2021 Raineri "Perno" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

Perno is a fascinating cru in Monforte. It sits on a ridge that catches the wind, often producing wines that are more austere and “intellectual” than their neighbors. Raineri’s take is stunning. It opens with notes of wild mint, iron, and crushed rose petals. On the palate, it is tense and vertical, with fine-grained tannins that grip but don’t punish. This is Barolo for purists—elegant, savory, and precise. A wine that will evolve beautifully for decades.

Price: $49.99

DC: 94

JS: 93

2024 Raineri (Ca Dei Folli) Piemonte Barbera

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

Barbera is the wine that fuels Piedmont, and this is Barbera as it should be: juicy, vibrant, and unpretentious. Sourced from the Ca’ dei Folli vineyard, this is all about bright red cherry fruit, zippy acidity, and a soft, approachable texture. It’s a wine made for the table—perfect for a plate of tajarin or a simple pizza. It reminds you why Barbera is the people’s wine.

Price: $14.99

2022 Moulin de la Gardette "Cuvée Ventabren" Gigondas

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

This could be called the big brother of the "Tradition" as it's fuller, rounder and deeper. It offers the juiciness of the vintage with an impressive overall complexity that makes this a truly oustanding wine. I love the overall balance and complexity of this "Ventabren" and am reminded why this remains a staff and customer favorite.

Price: Hidden

JD: 91 - 93

VN: 89 - 92

2022 Moulin de la Gardette "Tradition" Gigondas

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

The "Tradition" truly captures the elegance and forward fruit of the 2022 vintage. It's an immediate and charming blend offering bright aromas of spiced, baked red fruits and a juicy, delicious palate. Nothing not to like about this ready-to-go Gigondas.

Price: $34.99

JD: 90 - 92

RP: 90 - 92

VN: 90 - 92

2022 Domaine Courbis "Les Eygats" Cornas

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

In comparison to the "Champelrose" I found this Cornas to be a bit more compact with a more subtle and less spicy nose. It packs a lot of flavor and punch on the palate as well as serious depth and complexity. Although delicious now, it's certain to evolve nicely with a bit of cellaring.

Price: Hidden

JD: 93 - 95

JS: 93

2023 Domaine Courbis "Champelrose" Cornas

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

I recently had the pleasure of tasting this new arrival and was immediately impressed. It's a first-rate cool climate Syrah with intriguing notes of cherry and black fruits with a hint of smoke and a creamy, smooth palate with bright acidity and a delicious finish.

Price: Hidden

JD: 94

JS: 92

2021 Tolaini "Al Passo" Toscana

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

We've offered numerous vintages of this delicious Tuscan red and the 2021 is especially good. It's an impressive blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet that boasts delicious dark cherry and berry fruit with balanced tannins and acidity. Although it drinks well now, it's certain to cellar nicely over the next couple of years.

Price: $22.99

Wine Club

$17.99

VN: 94

WS: 91

2024 San Lorenzo "Vigna di Gino" Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

I'm not sure why this producer has chosen to call this a Marche Bianco but it's definitely 100% Verdicchio. This impressive recent arrival offers up a substantial palate with a pleasant texture, excellent acidity and a nice snap of salinity on the finish. It's organically and biodynamically produced and is especially good with fish, white meats and white sauced pastas.

Price: $14.99

2022 Giovinco "Sgarretta" Nero d'Avola Sambuco di Sicilia

By: John Downing | Review Date: 12/1/2025 | Send Email

Although there are numerous excellent Nero d'Avola wines available, it seems to be often overlooked. This outstanding value Sicilian red is the ideal weeknight table wine that pairs especially well with pizza, pasta, meats and cheeses. Soft, spiced cherry and black cherry flavors abound with fresh acidity and mild tannins.

Price: $19.99

VN: 91

2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 11/30/2025 | Send Email

I just revisited this delectable delight during our most recent Blanc de Blancs customer tasting and was reminded of what a spectacular creation it is. If you like creamy, toasty champagne with beautifully balanced autolytic character, this prestige cuvee from Launois is for you! "Helia" is the feminine version of the Greek Sun God "Helios," and is described as having an "irrepressible aura," "radiant purity," and "is known for bringing beauty and joy." The Launois 2017 "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs is aptly named! On the nose, biscuit, lemon, lime, orange, and notes of dark toast. Medium-bodied, ripe orchard fruit, sweet vanilla, peach, pair, hints of white pepper, and zippy acidity up front but soft on the finish. An outstanding champagne of power, depth, and complexity that will continue to evolve and become more delicious!

Price: $79.99

Green River "Owensboro's Aqueous Ore" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Non-Chillfiltered Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 11/28/2025 | Send Email

With a history dating back to 1885, Green River has recently surged back into the spotlight, earning multiple awards for its whiskey lineup. Their bourbons showcase exactly why the 10th-oldest license in Kentucky still matters. This K&L Private Barrel pick, affectionately named “Owensboro’s Aqueous Ore,” is a beautiful example of the character that makes their bourbon so compelling. It strikes a seamless balance of sweet and savory, fruity and herbal, woodsy and spicy, all wrapped into one generous pour. The nose opens with orange peel, caramel popcorn, caraway, roasted peanuts, and a subtle hint of soy sauce. The palate follows with touches of cacao, charred oak, cloves, anise, spearmint, and a whisper of forest floor. It all comes together in a finish that marries rye spice and vanilla with impressive poise. At 121.6 proof, it carries some heat, so a splash of water helps settle the structure and reveals even more kettle corn, spicy sweetness, and a lingering herbal lift. A confident, layered bourbon from a revitalized classic well worth savoring.

Price: Hidden

Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé Crémant d'Alsace

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 11/28/2025 | Send Email

Love everything about Rose Champagne except the price? I have the perfect solution for you, drink Pierre Sparr Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose which at more than 50% off most Roses from Champagne gives you an almost identical experience. Sour cherry, spice, red licorice and subtle red flower aromas greet you on the nose while the palate is fresh and bright with cherry, red licorice and spice notes all intertwined perfectly against a brisk backdrop of acidity and verve. Surprisingly complex and full-bodied this a wonderful Rose that you can afford to drink more often.

Price: $19.99

WE: 93

Pierre Sparr "Réserve" Crémant d'Alsace Brut

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 11/28/2025 | Send Email

This wine is an exceptional value!! It easily stands toe-to-toe with any sparkling wine from around the world in a similar price point. A rich, creamy mousse is followed up by white flower and zesty citrus notes with an underlining note of limestone that echoes throughout this wonderful sparkler. A great everyday or special celebration wine I cannot believe the quality here for such a low price, if you have been buying Prosecco, Cava or sparkling wines from other regions of the world you owe it to your self to check out the Pierre Sparr Cremant d'Alsace Brut.

Price: $18.99

DC: 95

WE: 92

Rare Perfection 9 Year Old K&L Exclusive Barrel #303 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 11/26/2025 | Send Email

Rare? Check. Perfect? Double check. The folks at Preservation Distillery, the smallest distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, make their whiskey in the craftiest way possible: pot distilling in micro-batches of only one to three barrels at a time. With no predetermined plan for how the liquid will eventually be used, they let the barrels rest and rely on taste alone to determine where each one belongs. Some make their way into the Preservation line, some into Cock of the Walk, some into Wattie Boone, while the rarest and most exceptional barrels become single barrels. Even fewer of those are offered as private picks. And that is exactly what we were able to select for you. We were presented with several options, all of them fantastic, but one barrel stood out. Looking back at my notes, my first impression came with an expletive: “Holy $%*# cinnamon bomb!” And it is that, but tasting it now reveals so much more. The nose greets you with chocolate cinnamon toast crunch, marble rye, raisins, root beer, thyme, pepper, cloves, and anise. The palate confirms all of that and adds even more earthiness with tobacco, cardamom, charred peaches, and a generous dose of cinnamon strudel. The flavor defies the high heat, though a touch of water helps settle the 128.1 proof this nine-year-old carries. The herbaceous character pops, the spice and roots envelop, and the finish stretches on with a richness that seems endless. This is a slow sipper for sure. Some great bourbons have a finish that trails off and makes you reach for the next sip right away. This one lets you savor each sip for minutes. It is rare, it is perfect, and it is yours if you are lucky enough to grab it before it is gone.

Price: $199.99

Brucato Oro y Fiero Chili Kumquat Liqueur (700ml)

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/25/2025 | Send Email

A customer came in asking for this, and I immediately got one to open and try, because it just looks cool. Brucato is one of my favorite local distilleries, they just make amazing stuff typically with just a few perfectly chosen ingredients. This smells amazing, like pure orange-color citrus with this hint of sweetness, and a lovely floral roundness from the kumquats. The flavor is intense, it is very orange and also very spicy, like very spicy, the spice doesn't hold for a long time but in that moment it made my Russian coworker look at me like I had tricked her into something. This would make an amazing spicy margarita, which I have to assume is the intended application, or a spicy something where you would put in an orange liqueur. It's really really really good.

Price: Hidden

Maison 76 Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 11/25/2025 | Send Email

What a bottle! The lavish use of reserve wines in this bottling really set it apart from anything else that we have in stock; this wine has a texture, a drinkability, and a hidden complexity that is rare to find in any bottle, let alone one that is under $50. The value that our large volume buy has delivered is top notch. Grand Cru, especially Côte des Blancs Chardonnay Grand Cru is hardly ever spoken about as a bargain, but this is an exception. It has always been my dream to supply the champagne drinker, the champagne lover top notch wines that can be purchased by the case and consumed, and for me, this is one of bottlings that has made my dream come true. All I wanted in it was everything- classy baguette toast, subtle white flowers, a creamy texture, and a fresh finish with chalky minerality for days. And, as usual, the Bonville family delivered!

Price: $44.99

2023 Wayfarer "Wayfarer Vineyard" Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot Noir

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/25/2025 | Send Email

A little tobacco and leather vies with the bright cherry notes that shine through the nose, there's also some white flowers, a little bit of candied cranberry skin, and then a long touch of spice. The palate is fairly rich, but there's a really good push of acidity through the whole thing, that carries through bringing the fruit with it, where it meets a little bit of creamy barrel and then finishes a little spicy. This is such a tasty and friendly bottle of Pinot Noir, it might be a little high acid for some people who are used to a richer flabbier style of Pinot Noir, but to me it absolutely delivers what you want in a super approachable high end Pinot Noir that will impress and delight.

Price: $99.95

2021 Cristom "Meredith Mitchell Vineyard" McMinnville Pinot Noir

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/25/2025 | Send Email

Fairly bold and expressive on the nose, this opens up strong with dusky cherry, raspberry, just a touch of something lightly creamy, and then a couple kinds of spice on the finish. The palate is very similar, with a kind of friendly boldness, the fruit is super juicy, both due to it coming across super fresh and also the great line of acidity that pushes through the whole palate, shoving tannin aside as the fruit and acid mix on the lingering finish, a little bit of barrel spice coming through as well but outmatched in the end. This is definitely a bit more friendly to pop and pour with how expressive the fruit is, but I would absolutely put this on my holiday table as well or just whenever I wanted a little bit more assertive of a Pinot Noir that still has great acidity and a good structural depth overall. This is fantastic.

Price: Hidden

2021 Cristom "Eola Springs Vineyard" Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/25/2025 | Send Email

Very soft and floral nose, the fruit in here is red and crunchy with a lot of spice on the finish. The palate is similar, with somewhat crunchy fruit with really great acidity and just a light grip of tannin, but a grip nonetheless. While the nose was more soft cherry and underripe raspberry, the palate is darker cherry, raspberry, a little pomegranate seed, and then it goes into the spice again. This is just lovely, and having tasted it with a couple other Cristom wines, the beauty is how unique and vineyard specific they all are. This has a bit of a savory mid-palate and is definitely a top contender for a holiday wine pick, very versatile, but definitely something I would prefer with food. Highly recommended.

Price: Hidden

IWR: 95

Bruichladdich "The Laddie Rye" Single Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml)

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 11/24/2025 | Send Email

Leave it to Bruichladdich to stretch the boundaries of what makes a good scotch whisky yet again with an experiment so wild it is almost baffling that no one tried it sooner. But here we are with something new, exciting, affordable, and most importantly, delicious. Rye grain has long been used to replenish soil with essential nutrients during crop rotation, a vital practice in sustainable and regenerative farming. Yet for whatever reason, Scotland never thought to use that rye for whisky. There are plenty of explanations for this, mostly the traditional reliance on barley and the challenges of distilling rye in pot stills, where its foamy nature complicates both distillation and cleanup. The Laddie team decided to give it a go, creating a whisky made exclusively from Islay rye (45 percent) and Islay malted barley (55 percent) aged in both first-fill bourbon barrels and toasted virgin American oak for at least 7 years. It is one thing to do something novel, and another to make it genuinely enjoyable. They managed both. The nose is dry and buttery, grassy and nutty, with loads of winter spice and herbaceous notes that round out with baked pear and fresh pastries. The palate brings the baked goods to center stage with spicy gingerbread and coconut macaroons, followed by a woody fruitiness that finishes with peppery rye spice and honeyed coconut. This is a great sipper, priced well enough for a highball or cocktail, and hopefully a sign of a future permanent addition to the Bruichladdich lineup.

Price: $59.99

Kilchoman "Sanaig" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

By: Stephanie Manning | Review Date: 11/24/2025 | Send Email

There are some whiskies that feel like old friends, and for me, Sanaig is one of them; it was the very first whisky I drank on my very first trip to Scotland. One sniff, and I’m back on Islay’s ragged coast at sunset, waves crashing. It has since become one of my favorite daily drams, an absolute go-to when the weather begins to turn crisp. It opens with a captivating blend of peat smoke and fruit (I taste ripe blackberry), interwoven with rich chocolate and a touch of maritime salinity. Aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso barrels, the dried fruit from the sherry tones down the 50 ppm peat level, creating an expertly balanced slow sipper. Upon visiting Kilchoman, I was struck by its remoteness; one can walk miles without seeing another soul. A 25-minute stroll leads to the pristine sand beaches of Machir Bay (the namesake of their other signature release). Family-owned, the distillery gets close to being entirely farm-to-table; they own their own peat bogs and barley fields, but must source a portion of their grains from the mainland to meet demand. Whisky nerds should know that Kilchoman is one of the few distilleries that still practice floor malting, giving them more control over their finished product. For those who want to explore a range of flavors in a single glass, who like a touch of peat and sweet without the heat— this is the dram for you.

Price: $69.99

2024 Medici Ermete Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 11/24/2025 | Send Email

Forget everything you think you know about Lambrusco! This is the real deal—a seriously delicious, bone-dry, sparkling red that is the absolute life of any party. The Medici Ermete "Concerto" is an icon and a game-changer. It was the first Lambrusco to ever win the prestigious Tre Bicchieri award, and it continues to rake in accolades for a reason. Made from 100% Lambrusco Salamino, this wine explodes from the glass with a gorgeous ruby-red color and a lively violet froth. The nose is all about pure joy: think a bowl of fresh-picked strawberries, tart cherries, and wild raspberries. On the palate, it's crisp, vibrant, and totally refreshing. This is not sweet; it's a perfectly balanced, dry bubbly with a light tannic grip that makes it ridiculously food-friendly. It’s the hero of the December dining table, built to slice through rich holiday foods. Serve this chilled with... well, everything! From the holiday charcuterie board and prosciutto-wrapped dates to a rich lasagne or even the Christmas ham. Must try with Bolognese Pasta!!!

Price: $21.99

Wine Club

$17.99

2023 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/24/2025 | Send Email

Before Ridge’s 2023 Lytton Springs was awarded Wine Spectator’s #3 Wine of the Year in 2025, it had already picked up a casual 98-point score from Jeb Dunnuck! As one of the most historic vineyards and wineries in the state, the team at Ridge never take their status and success for granted. They’re always looking for ways to improve their farming and winemaking, and take their role as stewards of these 100+ year-old vineyards very seriously. The 2023 Lytton is truly magical. The very cool growing season and late harvest in 2023 really played to the strengths of these historic, heritage vineyards. The wine possesses a natural old vine concentration, great depth and layered complexity from the field blend, but also wonderful purity and freshness from the pristine fruit. A legend in the making here.

Price: $49.95

JD: 98

DC: 96

WS: 95

Ca' Del Bosco "Cuvée Prestige" Franciacorta

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 11/21/2025 | Send Email

Ca' Del Bosco "Cuvée Prestige" Franciacorta blends 75% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Bianco, and 15% Pinot Nero, all made with remarkable attention to detail. This sleeping beauty rested 25 months on its lees. The final assemblage includes 20–30% reserve wines from top vintages, adding depth and complexity. Subtle notes of pear, quince, and zesty Meyer lemon curd mingle with hints of lightly toasted bread, while a smoky, flinty minerality brings elegance and a serious personality. This is unmistakably not Champagne—and that’s precisely what makes it so intriguing. Consider me a fan!

Price: $46.99

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