K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2024 Filipa Pato "Post Quercus" Baga Bairrada

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

Super fresh and bright on the nose, really juicy with this kind of spicy note that goes completely sideways and makes the whole thing feel just very slightly bonkers, but I'm having a lot of fun right now. The more that I smell, the more integrated it feels, and it kind of is coming across like a pie spice that's found its way into this completely amphora aged wine. The palate is really lovely and juicy, the spice finding its way on the lingering and lengthy finish. This is medium bodied, bolstered by some moderate+ tannins that the acidity eventually wins the fight over, but definitely it puts up a little bit of a struggle. This is a really fun an enjoyable wine from a varietal you won't likely see outside of Portugal, at least until it becomes the next huge thing and it's all over Paso Robles or whatever. This is great.

Price: $39.99

JS: 94

2023 Berta Valgañón "Selección Maturana Tinta" Rioja

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

Yet another grape that I don't think I've had before. Maturana Tinta is the name, and being floral and juicy is its game, apparently, and I am definitely not mad about this. This is great, Rachael Ryan (Master of Wine candidate) compared this varietal to Mourvedre and I dig that comparison. There's just so much raspberry and violets with something a little more rich and buried deep in the background, a kind of plum skin, black cherry, and this dense earthiness. I love this nose and want it made into a candle. The palate is more dense and dark than I expected, but I'm not mad about it. There's an almost chewy aspect to the fruit and tannin, lots of dark black fruit and a little bit of more florals coming across on the palate. This is really fun, and definitely something to be had with a meal, but I could actually see having this with a nice fat potato and a good piece of meat or whatever protein you prefer. Very fun.

Price: $29.99

TA: 93

2021 Bodegas Frontonio "Telescopico" Garnacha Valdejalon

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

The nose on this is super ethereal, really light and lovely, with these hints of crunchy fruits and something floral in the background. The palate is surprisingly bright and bold for having such a reticent nose. I don't remember it being like this, perhaps it's the time it's been open, but that definitely hasn't negatively impacted the palate at all, it's great and juicy and super delicious. Much more red than black on the fruit, there's tons of cran-raspberry with a little bit of pie cherry, and a touch of pomegranate with a really long very juicy and only slightly tannin finish that just keeps going and going.

Price: $27.99

RP: 94

2015 Bodegas Ontañon Reserva Rioja

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

This wine just smells old school in all the best of ways. While modern Rioja is great and has its place, there's just times you want to buy something that's a little more traditional. This has the oak, the touch of dill, and at least to me a little hint of menthol in the background. There's also a little touch of some actually inviting barnyard that feels integrated and super natural in a wine like this, just adding a little more rusticity. The fruit is dark and fairly inky and the longer I hold my nose in the glass the more it stands out and the other notes fall back a little bit. The palate is mid-plus in body, and really doesn't show all of its age it's still surprisingly fresh with pretty and slightly chewy fruit with moderate tannins and a super long and lingering finish that's a combination of stewed fruit and cigar box. This is great and for the price is such a simple answer to a common week day question: Which bottle are we going to open? What's our weekly driver? If you like Spanish wine, here you go, a great solution to your problems.

Price: $24.99

JS: 93

WS: 90

2024 Viña Zorzal Garnacha Navarra

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

Super fresh and pretty nose, really pure fruit with plum, cherry, and a combination of bramble-fruit, in the background I'm noticing rose petals coming out more and more, and I am digging it. This is super inviting, seductively whispering for me to take a sip, and it would be rude for me to decline. The palate is absolutely not a let down in the least, it's generous and plump, there's a little bit of tannin there but mostly it's just really lush and slightly creamy fruit that then slides into a little bit of a pithy and very lightly tart finish. This is just gorgeous and for this price, it's definitely a banger bottle for the bucks, this is just such a food friendly and adjustable wine I could see having this with any number of dishes and in my head I'm enjoying every single one. I think I said this before about another wine, but that doesn't make it any less true about this one. I dig it. You'll probably dig it.

Price: $14.99

DC: 93

RP: 92

VN: 90

2021 Lagar de Baixo (Niepoort) Baga Bairrada

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

While there's really lovely crunchy fruit on the nose, there's this ethereal smokiness, which comes across as terroir, that's only come out more since we opened this earlier today, it's winding its way through the whole nose and it's super alluring and interesting, it makes everything it touches slightly savory. The palate is really juicy, and there's a dustiness lingering on the finish. There's cranberry, pie cherry, some slightly underripe raspberry, and then it goes into something very savory and a little salty, and then the finish comes around and there's this beautiful spiciness on the finish along with just a little touch of something pithy. This is so fun and interesting, and a varietal I haven't had a lot of experience with. We tried a few today and this was one of my favorites. Really enjoyable, very mid-low tannins overall. Go for it.

Price: $25.99

JS: 94

2023 Tenuta San Guido "Guidalberto" Toscana

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

I have always argued that Guidalberto is the most misunderstood wine in Bolgheri. Too often dismissed as just "Baby Sassicaia," it is actually a distinct, serious wine with its own identity—and in a vintage like 2023 is where I find it more interesting. While the 2022s were about solar power and flesh, the 2023 vintage marks a return to a more "classic" style of Bolgheri: defined by tension, aromatics, and lift. This is where the Merlot (40%) in the blend really does the heavy lifting, providing a lush, velvety mid-palate that perfectly counterbalances the vertical, graphite-driven spine of the Cabernet Sauvignon (60%). On the nose, you get that signature San Guido balsamic note: It smells "cool" and sophisticated this year. On the palate, the wine has a vibrating energy. It is medium-bodied and sleek, avoiding the heavy extraction that plagues so many other wines from the coast. If you love the elegance of Sassicaia but want something you can actually drink on a Tuesday night, this is the benchmark. And this vintage might make happy also the Piedmontese drinkers

Price: Hidden

2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

The 2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that harkens back to the Napa Valley of old and perfectly encapsulates everything that Napa wine should be. The structure is silky yet lithe, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins balancing on a pinpoint. Then there's the palette of aromas and flavors, kaleidoscopic in their interlacing breadth. Black cherry, cassis, violet, fresh herbs, anise seed, graphite, eucalyptus--the list goes on and on. This is one of the most complex and focused wines I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. No cellar is complete without it.

Price: $79.95

DC: 99

2019 Vinos del Atlantico "Calma" Crianza Rioja

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email

Change is afoot in Rioja. Increasingly, producers are backing away from extraction, new oak and extended aging, instead favoring a lighter hand in the winery that highlights vineyard-specific terroir. The 2019 Vinos del Atlántico “Calma” Crianza Rioja is a compelling example of this exciting stylistic shift. Made from 100% old vine Tempranillo sourced from a single, high-elevation vineyard in the village of Hormilla in Rioja Alta, the wine is fermented in stainless steel, with the inclusion of 15% whole clusters to enhance the fresh and youthful red fruit notes. Bursting with red plum and cherry, this vibrant Rioja is supported by subtle and well-integrated tobacco, dried oregano and woodsmoke. The wine is matured in used French and American oak barrels, which has helped to soften the tannins and round out the acidity. The result is a gorgeous, medium-bodied wine that perfectly balances still-youthful fruit and intriguing savory notes in the background – a wine that highlights the intensity and complexity of old vine Tempranillo, not new oak. Some might refer to this style of Rioja as “modern", but quite the opposite is true. This is a Rioja that marks a return to the oldest days of the region, where small family-owned parcels were fermented individually, with little to no overt oak. A fresh expression of a traditional style, this elegant Rioja clearly speaks to the place it comes from.

Price: $21.99

WE: 94

2023 Holocene "Codex" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/16/2026 | Send Email

I almost mistook this for an elegant red Burgundy. It's a delicate style Pinot with inviting aromas of tea, spice, dried florals and lifted red fruits and a medium-bodied palate that's fresh and delicious. A high quality, refined Pinot Noir for those looking for a lighter touch.

Price: Hidden

2024 Holocene "Pyxis" Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/16/2026 | Send Email

This was a pleasant surprise. Since it's aged entirely in amphora (made from terracotta and sandstone) it has a slight nutty character that reminds me of the French Jura wines. It's an intriguing and uniquely satisfying Chardonnay that's a refreshing departure from the more common oaky/buttery style. Especially good with white meats and vegetable dishes.

Price: Hidden

Willett Family Estate 4 Year Old Small Batch Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 2/16/2026 | Send Email

This newly released small batch bourbon represents a completely new phase in the nearly half century project launched by Even Kulsveen and his wife Harriet Willett. The Willett family has been part of the bourbon distilling apparatus since at least the late 1800s, but the slow and methodical relaunch of the Willett distillery was achieved through passion, prescient determination, and undeniable grit. The defining theme across the last five decades has been a commitment to delivering exceptional quality no matter what. While their small operation has become the darling of collectors and connoisseurs, the Kulsveens clearly understand the importance of producing bourbon meant to be enjoyed. Not every bottle must be a unicorn, but every drop must be worthy of even the most discerning drinker. That is why this new small batch 'Purple Top' is so exciting, arriving more than a decade after the release of the WFE Green Top Rye small batch. This expression is a blend of the original 13 percent rye bourbon and the much higher 38 percent rye bourbon. The batch I am tasting clocks in at 61.8 percent ABV, and future batches will likely fall in that range, making comparison part of the fun. The color shows a classical burnished hue (1.2). The nose is sweet and expressive with cornbread, maple, vanilla, and spice, though it avoids the typical Willett cinnamon profile, which makes it especially approachable. On the palate it is juicy and remarkably drinkable, offering dark red fruits such as cherry and pomegranate alongside toasted vanilla, caramel candy, gentle cinnamon, and a rich clove-driven finish. This is a lovely bourbon, clearly selected with great care. Considering its handcrafted nature, it easily outperforms its specs and price, standing up well against many younger single casks I have tasted. In a broader sense, it is a fantastic bourbon to wet your whistle and an excellent gateway into the Willett pantheon.

Price: $69.99

2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/16/2026 | Send Email

This is certainly one of the more refined California Cabernets I've tasted in some time. Matthiasson has managed to craft a very elegant and juicy wine that's surprisingly generous considering it comes it at only 13 percent alcohol. The fruit is flavorful and polished on the palate and is certain to please those who appreciate a bit of restraint. It's biodynamically farmed and aged in mostly used oak barrels.

Price: $79.95

DC: 99

Rhys "Perpetual Reserve" California Sparkling Wine

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/16/2026 | Send Email

This is certainly one of the finest California sparkling wines I've tasted. It's first-class in every way and delivers a very fresh and creamy palate of citrus and pear with a nice hint of toast. Considering how difficult it is to not only produce sparkling wines but also ones of this caliber, bubbly devotees with not want to miss out on this rare treat from one of California's top tier wineries.

Price: $59.95

2019 Langoa-Barton, St-Julien

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 2/16/2026 | Send Email

One of the great under-the-radar wines in all of Bordeaux is Langoa Barton—a surprise, considering its location in the heart of St-Julien, its Third Growth classification, and the remarkable team leading the efforts in both vineyard and winery. Perhaps its Second Growth sibling receives the lion’s share of the acclaim, but that’s all the better for those in the know, as Langoa remains remarkably affordable for an ageworthy, site-driven Left Bank grand vin. The 2019 Langoa Barton takes full advantage of a very strong vintage in St-Julien, delivering a compelling mix of refinement and typicity. It is structured yet generous. Beautiful cassis and floral aromatics lead to a well-textured palate filled with dark red fruits, bright acidity, and a long, tannin-lined finish. Langoa seems to be growing more accessible in its youth these days, though it remains a wine that rewards patience. This 2019 hits that sweet spot and is surely one of their finest efforts of the past several years.

Price: $54.99

Dérot-Delugny "Retour en Avant" Brut

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 2/16/2026 | Send Email

The Derot-Delugny estate has been producing their own Champagne for four generations in the tiny village of Croutes-sur-Marne in the western part of the region. Everything they do is estate, and this all Pinot Gris Champagne is their smallest production. It is the only time I have ever tasted a single variety Pinot Gris from Champagne, and it is fantastic as well as exotic! With both effusive and tropical notes, this is still grounded in the world of dry Champagne with a dry (7g/l) finish and plenty of minerality. A must try with asian cuisine!

Price: $49.99

2002 Domaine de Jean-Bon 23 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas Armagnac (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 2/15/2026 | Send Email

The fabulous little estate near the tiny town of Toujouse is still one of Armagnac’s best kept secrets. This wonderful little estate does not spend a lot of time working the brandies, and they need lots of air to fully deliver their potential, but for patient drinkers, they offer an incredible experience. Let’s try it! The color is an attractive burnished gold (1.1). The nose starts sleepy and linear, but with 15 minutes in the glass it unfolds with great complexity and depth: rum raisin cake, French press coffee, toasted pecans, praline, fudge, and leather. The palate is hyper lifted and juicy without much drying tannin and a beautiful savory character to balance the dried apricot and nutty sweetness. A surprisingly lithe and pointed style with great character.

Price: $119.99

2000 Domaine de Jean-Bon 25 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas Armagnac (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 2/15/2026 | Send Email

The Sourdois estate, which we affectionately refer to as Domaine Jambon, is one of Armagnac’s best kept secrets. Situated in the Grand Bas-Armagnac, this section of the Gers produces some of the very best brandies in the world. The powerful 2000 vintage is one of the Domaine’s best in the modern era. Let’s have a go! The color is a deep russet. The gorgeous, classical nose is already showing a level of rancio typically reserved for much older brandies. It needs air, of course, to fully develop, but when it relinquishes its tightness, it delivers an incredible drinking experience. It starts with sweet oak and dense toasted vanilla, dense blackberry compote, exotic spices, and worn old, fine leather. The palate delivers similar depth with aged black tea, peach jam, marmalade, candied walnuts, mahogany, and more vanilla. A contemplative and robust style that truly needs to be savored slowly to fully display its true colors.

Price: $129.99

2000 Domaine de Jean-Bon 25 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas Armagnac (750ml)

By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 2/15/2026 | Send Email

This 2000 vintage immediately shows why it's one of the standouts from Jean-Bon's small, carefully tended stock. With about a quarter century in barrel, it delivers depth and clarity in a way that feels both refined and satisfying. On the nose, there's an intriguing combination of savory complexity and subtle sweetness. Notes of driftwood and forest floor sit alongside baking spices and brown sugar - a profile that's engaging without feeling heavy or overworked. As you sip, the character opens up into brighter tones, with a hint of citrus lifting the richer elements and a touch of crushed mint adding freshness. The palate is balanced and full-bodied, showing a buttery smoothness that speaks to its long time in oak. There's excellent depth here and enough complexity to reward repeated tastings. The finish skews toward dry and gently lasting, leaving a pleasant impression without becoming muddled or ponderous. What really sets the 2000 apart is the way it manages richness with brightness. It's a mix of weighty barrel influence and vivid fruit presence that keeps the experience lively and fun.

Price: $129.99

Willett Family Estate 4 Year Old Small Batch Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 2/14/2026 | Send Email

If you enjoy the older purple top bourbons Willett has to offer, you'll surely enjoy their brand new four year offering. Built from two classic rye-heavy Willett mash bills, this bourbon is smooth and bright, offering notes of oak, honey, and rye spice. One of my favorite new bourbons, versatile enough to be enjoyed neat, with a little bit of ice, or mixed into a cocktail.

Price: $69.99

Rhys "Perpetual Reserve" California Sparkling Wine

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/13/2026 | Send Email

Rhys “Perpetual Reserve” California Sparkling Wine is composed of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir, with 79% fermented in neutral oak and 21% in tank. Drawn from the 2016–2023 vintages, it spent three years en tirage and was finished with a 5 g/L dosage. My first impression: it’s Grand Cru–esque, sure to delight fans of crisp, dry Champagne, showing a fresh, steely profile of lemon curd, finely grated tangerine zest, wet stone, and a subtle pithy bitterness that adds an exciting layer of tension. Its lingering, stony lemon finish suggests it will cruise in the cellar for quite some time—well worth buying a few bottles to follow its evolution.

Price: $59.95

2024 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé ".26" Gigondas Rosé

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/13/2026 | Send Email

The 2024 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Rosé is structured for the table, with the precise architecture not only to carry a meal but to enchant, offering vibrant notes of ume plum paste, cherry, and strawberry, finished with a whisper of fresh fennel. Certified organic.

Price: $44.99

JS: 93

VN: 91

2019 Vinos del Atlantico "Calma" Crianza Rioja

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/13/2026 | Send Email

A luminous medium ruby with a faint garnet edge. The nose open with red cherry and wild strawberry, layered with vanilla, cedar, and a subtle hint of dill. Medium bodied and beautifully balanced, with bright acidity lifting notes of cranberry, plum, and cherry skin. polished tannins frame the wine while touches of tobacco and soft spice add depth. Elegant, retrained, and quietly confident— a wine that delivers structure without excess.

Price: $21.99

WE: 94

2023 Tenuta Sette Ponti "Oreno" Toscana

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/13/2026 | Send Email

If the 2022 was the introduction of a new era, the 2023 is the full realization of it. The estate has doubled down on their new direction, increasing the Cabernet Franc to 20%, and the result is one of the most vertical, precise, and intellectually stimulating Oreno bottlings I have ever tasted. This wine is all about energy. The 2023 vintage allowed for a longer hang-time, preserving incredible acidity, and you can feel it in the glass. The nose is darker and more brooding than the ’22—pencil shavings, wild sage, blackcurrant, and that unmistakable "green" spice (the good kind) from the Franc. On the palate, it is "crunchy" and vibrant. It doesn’t sit heavy on the tongue; it drives forward with a linear focus. The tannins here are firmer, more granular, suggesting that while this is gorgeous now with a decant, it is really built for the long haul. This is a wine that proves the Valdarno isn’t just a satellite of Chianti or Bolgheri—it is a terroir capable of world-class, cool-climate definition. A massive success.

Price: $84.99

JS: 98

2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 2/13/2026 | Send Email

The debut label of our Discovery Series continues to impress. At the core 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 just placing a label on someone’s latest release—we’re curating standout selections from our deep, trusted network of sources. Each wine must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup. Such is the case with our 2019 Pauillac, crafted by a classified growth—though the name must remain a secret, thanks to a special arrangement secured for the Discovery Series. This wine captures the triumph, accessibility, and layered depth of the 2019 vintage. It’s a vivid expression of Pauillac—unforgettable in its elegance and authenticity. I especially adore its character and how clearly it reflects the region’s typicité. On the nose, a vibrant mélange of red and black fruits takes center stage—cassis, blackberry, and black plum—woven with a hint of graphite and pencil lead. The palate delivers a beautifully refined texture, with bright, energetic red fruit at the core and a structured finish layered with black fruit. A subtle richness plays off the wine’s firm structure, while fresh acidity brings lift and balance. The signature Pauillac tannins are present, yet softened by the generosity of the 2019 vintage, offering a wine that is both serious and remarkably approachable. Now seven years past the vintage, some of the edges are beginning to soften, and it appears poised for a long, broad drinking window. For a quintessential Pauillac—and a top-notch Bordeaux value—this is one to stock up on and revisit time and time again.

Price: $29.99

2022 Stefano Amerighi Cortona Syrah

By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 2/13/2026 | Send Email

In the hills of Cortona, Stefano Amerighi crafts a Syrah that balances power and precision. The wine shows deep plum and garnet color, with aromas of violet, blackberry, thyme, graphite, and a touch of leather. On the palate, it’s silky yet structured, with fine tannins and fresh acidity giving it lift and length. Biodynamic farming brings clarity and focus, allowing the fruit and terroir to speak without excess. This is a Syrah of depth and elegance, expressive, composed, and quietly memorable.

Price: $49.99

JS: 95

2022 Gemstone "Facets" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 2/12/2026 | Send Email

An outstanding Napa Cab at a wonderful price. Polished velvety tannins stand out most, but the palate is fantastic as well, fruit forward with secondary notes of dark chocolate and oak. "Facets" is drinking great now, but don't hesitate to cellar this wine, it's got the structure to age beautifully. Buy immediately.

Price: Hidden

DC: 95

2009 Gravner "Rujno" Venezia Giulia Rosso Merlot Cabernet

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/12/2026 | Send Email

The 2009 Rujno is a ghost in a bottle. As the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines used for this cuvée have since been uprooted, every glass feels like a preservation of history. 2009 provided enough warmth to allow for a whisper of botrytis even on the reds, lending the wine a decadent, multi-dimensional complexity. The nose is a dark symphony of plum compote, shaved chocolate, and medicinal herbs. Unlike the Breg, the Rujno is velvety and expansive, coating the palate with a richness that is balanced by an iron-like core. It possesses a "gravity" that few wines in the world can match—an emotional weight that lingers long after the glass is empty. A final, towering achievement from a vineyard that no longer exists.

Price: $299.99

2010 Gravner "Breg" Venezia Giulia Rosso Pignolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/12/2026 | Send Email

In a cooler, more "introverted" vintage like 2010, the Pignolo grape reveals its true, noble character. Often a beast to tame, this 100% Pignolo has been sculpted by seven years of rest into something deeply poetic. It pours a dark, translucent ruby. The bouquet is savory and "feral"—earth, blood orange, and balsamic herbs. What makes the 2010 stand out is its acidity; it doesn't just sit on the palate, it vibrates. The tannins, once aggressive, have evolved into a "crunchy" texture. This is a wine for those who seek the "Alpine soul" of Friuli—uncompromising, structural, and built for the next three decades.

Price: $299.99

A.D. Coutelas "Cuvée 1809" Brut Champagne

By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/12/2026 | Send Email

WOW! This wine offers a beautiful dance between the toasty notes from the oak in which it was vinified, and the yeasty complexity gained from eight years of lees aging. While these elements are lovely and concentrated, they remain restrained, allowing the fruit to express itself through aromas of ripe pear and white flowers. The influence of oak lends a roundness to the palate, which is lifted and energized by vibrant acidity.

Price: $64.99

BH: 92

Fallet-Dart "Clos du Mont" Brut Champagne (2006)

By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/12/2026 | Send Email

This wine shows the depth and complexity that only comes from exceptional fruit and long aging. The seventeen years it spent on its lees before disgorgement are the true star. The nose offers fresh-baked bread and spiced baked apples. The palate is a delightful surprise with every sip. It bursts with lively citrus, crisp apple, and chalky minerality. I found myself wondering how this is only eighty dollars. I don’t know—but don’t question it, just buy and enjoy it.

Price: $79.99

2024 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé ".26" Gigondas Rosé

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

Deeply colored and bold in personality, this Gigondas rosé delivers intensity you rarely see in the category. Ripe raspberry, red currant, and dried Provençal herbs jump from the glass, followed by a broad, structured palate with savory grip and a slightly bitter, refreshing finish. The saignée method and partial demi-muid aging add weight and complexity while keeping it balanced and drinkable. This is a powerhouse rosé built for late-season drinking and hearty Mediterranean food.

Price: $44.99

JS: 93

VN: 91

Damien Hugot Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

Damian Hugot's Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is 70% harvest year fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the acidity, and 30% perpetual reserve that is aged in a foudre (very large barrel!). Viscous, creamy mouthfeel with notes of fresh sourdough, citrus, ginger, green apple, and stone fruit in syrup. Rich, tropical, with great balance, freshness, and complexity.

Price: $49.99

Damien Hugot "Hommage 1921" Extra Brut Champagne

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

The latest iteration of Damien Hugot's "Hommage" (to his grandfather, who planted their Meunier vines in 1921) is a great window into this grower-producer's style: 75% Chardonnay from the harvest year sourced from Monthelon, a cold micro-climate in the Sud d'Epernay, and barrel fermented, and 25% is a combination of Pinot Noir and Meunier, sourced from Chavot (also in Sud d'Epernay) from a perpetual blend aged in barriques. That's a lot of barrels! The slow oxygenation gives the champagne a depth and complexity that can only be drawn out through the judicious use of wood - not to mention the old vines! On the palate, lemon-lime, sourdough, baking spices, peach in syrup, saline, almond, and chalky minerality!

Price: $49.99

2023 Method Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

Method is a négociant project from Master Sommelier Ian Cauble (featured in the documentary "Somm") and Precision Wine Company's vintner Trevor Sheehan. Their jam is to source high quality grapes from small plots across California and turn them into premium wines at Tuesday night wine prices. A classic Napa red, full bodied, silky and hot, the 2023 Method Napa Valley is majority Cabernet Sauvignon and includes small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. On the nose, violets, blueberry, mocha, eucalyptus, and black fruit. Since most Napa Valley Cabs start at $50, the price on this is mind-boggling.

Price: Hidden

JS: 95

WE: 93

2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

I tried the 2021 version of this bottling last September at the vineyard, in the morning. Literally standing in the vineyard at about 9 a.m. Fresh palate and all. Unsullied by my morning coffee. It was wonderful AND it is lower alcohol. Who needs the extra alcohol to take away from its elegant personality? The 2022 is even better! Comparable to what the 2022 Bordeaux are! Deep and dark blackberry and black cherry fruits. Background flavors and scents of black licorice and spearmint. Wonderfully integrated tannins that add to, rather than taking away or overwhelming the fruit. The wood is also amazingly balanced and mostly consists of the clean and pure type, not heavy-handed or too toasty. This is my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon of the year, so far. If anyone in my family asked me to pick out a wine to give to me, this would be it. Hands down. Alas, they never will. "You have too much wine", is what I get. Hardly the truth. No such thing!

Price: $79.95

DC: 99

1988 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (1.5L)

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

A return to "Classic" Piedmont. 1988 was a cooler year, resulting in wines with razor-sharp acidity, firm tannins, and a vertical, austere profile. This is the intellectual's Barolo—precise, etched, and absolutely stunning in this large format.

Price: $1,999.99

VN: 94

JG: 92

1983 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (1.5L)

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

Often overshadowed by the hype of '82, 1983 is a vintage that rewards the patient. It is classically structured, savory, and full of dried herbs and spice. In Magnum, this will be showing fresh and vibrant—a perfect surprise for a blind tasting.

Price: $1,999.99

2024 Brick & Mortar Anderson Valley Chardonnay

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

This orchard fruited little beauty is quite the bargain. It has a really beautiful combo of white pear pulp and key lime fruit all wrapped up in a mouthfeel that starts out with moderate richness and quickly cleans up and leaves a nice lingering bit of acidity on the palate during the finish. The oak is clean and fresh and never takes away or overwhelms the delicious fruit and citrus aspects of this release.

Price: Hidden

JS: 94

JD: 93

Rhys "Perpetual Reserve" California Sparkling Wine

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

This is a very serious threat to French Champagne! Super high quality and super interesting character from CA! A Perpetual Reserve, yet. Not something that see very often, even in Champagne. What struck me the most while tasting this bubbly was the very creamy texture of the bubbles. The fine bead and silky texture bring out the simply wonderful poached pear fruit with orange cream and lemon tart flavors. Though the pear dominates, the citrus shines through and freshly shaved ginger comes out on the lingering finish. The long finish also has refreshing minerality and salinity. This is simply one of the best domestic bubbles that I have ever had! They do not produce a lot of it, so don't wait too long to buy it.

Price: $59.95

2024 Quantico Etna Bianco

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

If the Rosso is the "Burgundy of the Mediterranean," then the 2024 Quantico Etna Bianco is undoubtedly its Chablis. Sourced from the same organically farmed vineyards in the Solicchiata district on the northern slopes of the volcano, this is a stunning, laser-focused expression of Carricante (blended with a touch of Catarratto) that vibrates with energy. Quantico is a small, artisanal project that flies under the radar compared to the big commercial names on Etna, and that is exactly why the value here is so incredible. It captures the essence of high-altitude winemaking perfectly. The nose is electric: wet stone, lemon zest, and green apple, softened by delicate notes of white flowers, wild anise, and fresh mint. It smells like the sea breeze. On the palate, it is bone dry, tense, and incredibly saline. The texture is etched by volcanic minerality, providing a mouth-watering grip. A brilliant, crystalline wine. It really reflects its terroir, that is why I love this so much.

Price: $34.99

2023 Quantico Etna Rosso

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/11/2026 | Send Email

If you are looking for the "Burgundy of the Mediterranean" without the inflated price tag of the big-name Etna producers, look no further than Quantico. While many Etna Rossos are becoming denser and more extracted, Quantico remains steadfastly traditional. Sourced from organically farmed Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio vines in the Solicchiata district, this wine captures the cool, high-altitude soul of Etna perfectly. It is incredibly fragrant and high-toned. he tannins are fine and sandy, providing just enough grip to frame the bright fruit. This wine is honest, unmanipulated, and deeply expressive of its terroir. . A brilliant, vibrant red that drinks beautifully right now. I'm a big fan.

Price: $37.99

2019 Fallet-Dart "Pur Meunier" Champagne

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/10/2026 | Send Email

As the name suggests, this Blanc de Noirs is composed entirely of Pinot Meunier, elegantly embellished with a 5g/L dosage. Disgorged in May 2023, the 2019 Fallet-Dart “Pur Meunier” offers an impossibly fine perlage. It’s a thrilling kiss on the lips—orange blossom honey-tinged pear, Marcona almond, and lime marmalade elevated by a discreet touch of pithy bitterness. Silky wisps of smoke hint at old vines deeply rooted into limestone soils. Charming as an apértif wine to greet guests or to crack open to celebrate a milestone with someone you love.

Price: $69.99

2022 Benjamin et David Duclaux "La Germine" Côte-Rôtie

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/9/2026 | Send Email

Duclaux is one of our newest direct imports from France and we struck gold with this one. Considering the limited supply and hefty average price of Cote-Rotie, this is an absolute steal. It's a classic and generous style Syrah with tremendous depth of fruit and length and the addition of a small amount of Viognier adds a wonderful hint of spice to the wine. Northern Rhone fans will love this one.

Price: $64.99

JD: 93

2023 Ferraton Père et Fils "Les Calendes" Crozes-Hermitage

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/9/2026 | Send Email

This exceptional introduction to the Northern Rhone is, for lack of a better description, a flavor bomb. Not in a negative way but it definitely exceeded my expectations. It begins with an impressive aromatic display and delivers juicy, rich Syrah with loads of delicious berry fruit flavors, great intensity and overall balance. A lot of wine for the price.

Price: $24.99

WE: 91

Damien Hugot "Hommage 1921" Extra Brut Champagne

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/9/2026 | Send Email

This has a delicious, sweet lift to the fruit yet finishes dry and complex. It's not only the ideal Champagne for a toast but also suitable with food. Considering its barrel aged, I expected a much higher price. Definitely a sleeper pick.

Price: $49.99

Damien Hugot Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru

By: John Downing | Review Date: 2/9/2026 | Send Email

This excellent Champagne is always a standout for me as it has a wonderful tension or verve to it. It's a bright and pure expression of Chardonnay with a crisp palate of lemon citrus and orchard fruit that offers great intensity and persistence.

Price: $49.99

Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne

By: Kai Pedreno | Review Date: 2/9/2026 | Send Email

This rosé Champagne drinks like an ultra light red wine , thanks to its 100% Pinot Noir and skin contact. Very light tannins are present, giving the wine structure and a subtle grip, while the sharper, more assertive bubbles keeping it energetic. The fruit profile is bold and expressive, delivering real intensity without heaviness. Vinous, structured, and fruit-driven, this is a Champagne that blurs the line between sparkling and still red—distinctive, confident, and unmistakably Pinot Noir. If you haven’t tried this style of rose its definitely worth a go!

Price: $89.99

Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne

By: Kai Pedreno | Review Date: 2/9/2026 | Send Email

This Champagne opens with a subtle umami and yeasty note, giving it depth and intrigue before the wine lifts into a distinctly fresh, airy profile. On the palate, it’s remarkably light and precise, showing fresh strawberry without sweetness or weight. The texture is delicate, the bubbles refined, and the balanced. It’s savory complexity giving way to clarity and freshness as it moves across the palate. Elegant, restrained, and endlessly drinkable, this is a benchmark rosé Champagne, it’s easy to see why so many see this as the easy drinking rose champagne.

Price: $94.99

2019 Fallet-Dart "Pur Meunier" Champagne

By: Kai Pedreno | Review Date: 2/9/2026 | Send Email

This vintage opens with a bright, expressive nose, showing tropical tones reminiscent of piña colada, led by fresh pineapple. On the palate, the wine is light and energetic, driven by clean, bright acidity that keeps the tropical fruit feeling fresh rather than heavy. Refreshing and vibrant, this is a Champagne that emphasizes fruit and brightness over savoriness, making it incredibly approachable.

Price: $69.99

Reviewers

K&L Email Alerts

Staff Favorites

Reviews