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- David Othenin-Girard (336)
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- Gary Lai (55)
- Gary Westby (537)
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- Jonathan Parnell (3)
- Kate Soto (11)
- Keith Mabry (433)
- Kirk Walker (273)
- Lilia McIntosh (44)
- Matthew Landau Hassan (4)
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Staff Favorites
| If you’re going to have Robert Parker or Stephen Tanzer over for dinner, selecting a wine they’ve rated highly will be a nice choice. However, when you’re buying wines for yourself, we’d love to see you find wines that match up your unique palate and pocketbook. We have a large staff of friendly and knowledgeable wine professionals that taste hundreds of wines each week. They can put you in touch with bottles that you are likely to love, often at a much lower cost than the highly-rated gems that often see a run-up in price and frequent availability issues. Like any great group of opinionated professionals, our staff has varied tastes themselves. Often our customers will find a particular staff member with a style that corresponds to their own. That concept works extremely well in our retail stores, and this section is our effort to bring you the same online. Don’t get us wrong, we love the highly rated wines from the press and will continue to offer them, but we think you’re missing out if you’re not augmenting those selections with picks from our excellent staff. Here are their favorites. (Click on a name to see their other selections - or to drop them a line.) Cheers! |
Reviews
Bollinger "PN TX20" Brut Champagne
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/29/2025 | Send Email
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/29/2025 | Send Email
Brilliant expression of 100% Pinot Noir Champagne! Full bodied, rich, textural with ripe apple and honey aromas. It's balanced nicely with freshness of Meyer lemon acidity but doesn't come across as too austere. Very supple and mouthwatering, opulent, and delicious all by itself, though can be a good match to heavier meals like Thanksgiving dinner, complementing the complexity of all sides and a turkey.
2020 Bideona "VIBN4 Vinedos en Villabuena" Rioja
By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
If you are looking for Tempranillo less on the fruity side and more dominated by savory herbaceous notes, you have to give this a try. This is an unmistakably well-made wine; several layers of earthen charm have a complexity and depth that can only be achieved by a winemaker that really knows what they are doing. The fruit provides a window into the soul of the vineyard itself, as if taking you on a journey through the soil, roots, and vine.
Bollinger "PN TX20" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
This was one of the smash hits of our big champagne tent events, and for me, the best thing I have tasted from Bollinger since the 2008 RD! The sixth edition in the "PN" series from Bollinger, this all-Pinot Noir bottling shows of the great chalkiness, deep minerality, and clean power that this house is so well known from. The base vintage of 2020 is considerably brighter than expected, thanks to reserves from 2012 and 2008 in the blend, and the great red fruit style is framed by beautiful baguette toast. The village of Tauxieres (the TX in the name) has never been shown off in a better way! What a wine!
2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert "L'Enracinée" Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
Produced with a light touch from organically grown Syrah selected from the finest lots of the vintage, the 2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert “L’Enracinée” Crozes-Hermitage Rouge comes from 60-year-old, massal-selection vines, the best of the best. Medium-bodied, dark, and lushly layered, it reveals notes of black cherry, freshly picked raspberries, cola, and vanilla, with a subtle touch of crushed gravel that hints to old, deeply rooted vines. Sip now or cellar and savor later.
2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
Composed entirely of organically grown Syrah and made with minimal intervention in all the right ways, the 2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert Crozes-Hermitage Rouge undergoes native yeast fermentation with 33% whole clusters and is aged mostly in used barrels. It’s one of those Eureka wines where the cost-to-pleasure ratio is in the sweet spot. Thanks in part to partial whole-cluster fermentation, the wine bursts with vibrant fruit—plums, wild strawberries, cherries, toasty brown sugar, violets, and rooibos tea. Delightful and effortless, it’s an absolute joy to drink with or without food.
2022 Domaine de Verquière Gigondas
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/28/2025 | Send Email
When Thibaud Chamfort showed me his new Gigondas vineyards back in 2022, his excitement was palpable. He had just acquired the property, already fully planted, and he knew the potential of this site was outstanding. In the years since, I kept asking him, “When are these going to be ready?”
Well, the wait is over—and it was worth it. The debut release is a treat: lush and complex, with gorgeous red fruit tones—deep framboise, strawberry coulis, and a touch of currant. Layers of spice, lavender, and fennel round out the palate beautifully.
We’ve long admired Thibaud’s wines, from his bright and approachable Côtes du Rhône to his expressive Rasteau, but this new Gigondas shows how much his winemaking has evolved. In the cellar, he’s embraced a “less is more” philosophy, allowing the vineyards to speak as clearly as possible—and they have plenty to say.
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/27/2025 | Send Email
It may seem like a geeks-only Champagne and it definitely fits that requirement with its blend of Arbanne, Meslier and Pinot Blanc but this is not made strictly for the sake of geeky. Full bodied with more stone fruit flavors, creamy notes. Long on finish, this a true Tête de Cuvée!
Price:
$124.99
2023 Giovinco Etna Bianco
By: John Downing | Review Date: 10/27/2025 | Send Email
By: John Downing | Review Date: 10/27/2025 | Send Email
In addition to their Catarratto, we also offer their Etna Bianco. This minerally white is made from grapes cultivated on the volcanic slopes of Mt Etna in Sicily. It's a very terrior-driven wine with additional hints of leesy aromas. It's medium-bodied with a bit less texture than the typical Chardonnay and bright underlying acidity.
Price:
$24.99
2022 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 10/26/2025 | Send Email
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 10/26/2025 | Send Email
The 2022 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay is a distinctive white wine from the cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. On the palate, this wine comes across as very clean, with prominent notes of crisp green apple. It is structurally defined by a notable medium-plus acidity, giving it a vibrant and refreshing backbone. This acidity balances the winemaking influences, resulting in a focused and expressive Chardonnay.
2021 Montes "Purple Angel" Carménère Valle de Colchagua
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 10/26/2025 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 10/26/2025 | Send Email
The 2021 Purple Angel reminds me why this wine has such a loyal following. A deep brooding Carmenère and Petit Verdot, opens with dense aromas of blackberry compote, cocoa, and espresso, lifted by a touch of fresh mint and spice. The palate is plush and layered- silky tannins framing waves of ripe dark fruit, chocolate, and tobacco.
Despite its richness, this balance is spot-on this vintage, with freshness that keeps it lively through a long, polished finish. Powerful yet refined, this is one of Chiles most impressive reds, and it's drinking beautifully now with the potential to age gracefully for another decade.
2025 Octomore (Bruichladdich) Edition 16.2 "Cask Aged" 5 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 10/25/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 10/25/2025 | Send Email
Bruichladdich has been at the forefront of experimentation in Scotch whisky since reopening in 2002, and the Octomore line remains one of the most sought-after and anticipated special releases. This experimental series, which began in 2008 and takes its name from a nearby farm and mid-1800s distillery, has always aimed to combine younger whisky with a range of different barrel types. Its foundation is the most heavily peated whisky in the world, measured by parts per million (PPM) of phenolic peat compounds.
How heavily peated? The popular Islay whiskies generally range from 30 to 55 PPM. Octomore started at 80.5 PPM in its first batch and reached as high as 309.1 PPM with version 8.1, released in 2011. This year’s release, the 16th edition, falls somewhere in between, with the 16.1 and 16.2 hitting 101.4 PPM and the 16.3 topping out at 189.5. Each expression is five years old and bottled at cask strength, so this is not a dram for the faint of heart. Octomore has often been my go-to example when explaining that age does not equal maturity (that goes for whisky AND people), showing how complex a younger whisky can be with the right cask management.
The 16.2 release comes in slightly softer at 58.1 percent ABV but takes an entirely different direction in terms of cask influence. Made from the same Scottish mainland barley and carrying the same peat level as the 16.1, this expression was aged in Bordeaux and Oloroso casks for four years before finishing for a year in Moscatel and Madeira casks. The result is a deeper copper tone and a wealth of layered flavor. The nose bursts with fruit—dried, baked, berry, stone, tropical, and candied—while the characteristic salty smoke rises softly underneath.
The Sweet 16s show why Octomore remains one of the most fascinating and dynamic series in Scotch whisky. Each expression tells its own story—distinct in character, yet connected by the same smoky, maritime thread. For any Islay lover, these are absolutely worth seeking out.
Price:
$239.99
2023 Domaine Cécile Chassagne Gigondas
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
Cécile Chassagne’s father helped establish the Cru appellation of Gigondas in 1971 — the very same year he planted the family’s vineyards. Today, working from those original vines, Cécile crafts classically styled Gigondas that captures the cooler side of the appellation, with vibrant raspberry fruit, tobacco, and savory garrigue notes. Fermented and aged in large, well-seasoned wood, there’s no trace of heavy-handed oak—just a pure and transparent expression of Grenache, with a touch of Syrah and Mourvèdre. This is one of the most authentically Gigondas wines in the region.
2023 El Enemigo Chardonnay Mendoza
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
El Enemigo is a collaboration between Adrianna Catena, historian and youngest daughter of Nicolas Catena Zapata, and Alejandro Vigil, the director of winemaking at Bodega Catena Zapata. Vigil is a Chardonnay expert, and he is responsible for crafting the famed Catena Zapata “White Stones” and “White Bones” Chardonnays – perhaps the most collectible Chardonnays in South America. The El Enemigo Chardonnay, however, offers a compelling alternative viewpoint at a very reasonable price. Sourced from high-altitude vineyards in the Uco Valley, this Chardonnay stands out because a portion of the wine is aged under a layer of flor (a veil of yeast, similar to the method used for Fino Sherry), an uncommon technique that imparts subtle savory, nutty, and saline notes, balancing the vibrant fruit from the high-altitude terroir. The wine is fermented in large (500L) French oak barrels, 35% of which are new, and aged in the same barrels for 9 months. The resulting wine is not oxidized, however, but the contact with the flor contributes a faint white almond note, along with a weighty mouthfeel and texture. With a pH of 3.04 this is also an exceptionally racy wine, offering a wonderful counterbalance to the richness on the palate. The oak is so seamlessly integrated, melding perfectly with ripe golden apple and quince notes, and there is a line of minerality streaking through the core of the wine. With so many outstanding Chardonnays made in the New World, this one remains a standout, for its effortless balance between its golden fruit intensity and a stony, electric palate. This is, quite simply, one of the best Chardonnay deals we have available right now, from any country.
2023 Domaine Marc Sorrel "Le Greal" Hermitage Rouge
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
On my recent trip through the Rhône, I had the privilege of tasting the new vintages from some of the region’s top producers. Among an impressive lineup of Côte-Rôties, Hermitages, and Cornas, the wines of Marc Sorrel stood apart. It’s not to diminish the exceptional work being done elsewhere, but I simply couldn’t shake these wines from my mind.
The Hermitage “Gréal” is sourced from two legendary lieux-dits — Les Gréffieux and Le Méal. While the concentration and depth are unmistakable, there’s also an ethereal quality that gives this wine remarkable lift and dimension. One of the truly superb wines of the vintage and an absolute must-own for any serious fan of the Northern Rhône.
2023 Domaine Marc Sorrel "Le Rocoules" Hermitage Blanc
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
I would rank this as the single greatest white I tasted on my recent trip through the Rhône. It’s rare to find a white from this region with such poise and expression. This is a deeply compelling wine that draws you in with a kaleidoscope of flavors, all framed by remarkable balance and precision. Move over Montrachet—this Rocoules reaches beyond to the next level.
2023 Domaine Barge "La Ribaudy" Saint-Joseph Blanc
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
Bright and lightly floral, this is my kind of Rhone Blanc! The ripe fruity notes of white nectarine and Meyer lemon zest give way to more herbal notes of white flower and something like citrus leaf. This has a rounded, oily texture with a lively acidity. If you're a fan of the classic Marsanne/Roussanne blend, give this 100% Marsanne a try!
Price:
$39.99
2022 Domaine Barge "Coeur de Combard" Côte-Rôtie
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
The soft rose petal and incense aromas immediately drew me into this Cote-Rotie. This is one of those wines that invites you keep sniffing before you finally take your first sip. Once the wine hits your palate, you're greeted with bright, crunchy notes of strawberry, cherry, and pomegranate. This wine is fresh and vibrant, with a great structure and well-integrated tannins. This wine is quite charming and is a great candidate for any special occasion.
2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert "L'Enracinée" Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
From the first swirl, this Crozes shows everything I love about Northern Rhône Syrah—violets, black olive, and cracked pepper over a core of ripe blackberry. The palate is sleek and savory, with fine tannins and a touch of smoked meat and iron giving real depth.
What makes L’Enracinée stand out is its balance—bright, lifted fruit framed by just the right amount of structure. It’s elegant without losing its rustic soul. Drink now with a quick decant, or cellar for a few years to let the savory notes deepen.
2024 Wrath "EX" Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/24/2025 | Send Email
This bright, vibrant, explosive Sauv Blanc is entirely estate-grown at Wrath's SIP Certified Sustainable San Saba Vineyard in Monterey. The vineyard is nestled up against the Santa Lucia Highlands, just a few feet too low in elevation to make the offical AVA, but sharing the characteristics of this ultra cool climate growing region. The clone is 100% Sauvignon Musqué, that provides a particularly aromatic, lifted expression of the varietal. The vines grow in extremely gravelly soils laid down by the Arroyo Secco River. Cool winds and daily fog from the Monterey Bay, combined with the very rocky soils give this wine a saline, mineral undercurrent that compliments the juicy, upfront fruit components. Try this wine is oysters, moules marinières, or with crunchy crudité vegetables with an herb-infused aioli. An amazing value, and a great wine to have around the house when you need something versatile and refreshing.
2023 Clos de la Bonnette "Roc d'Ucarisse" Condrieu
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/23/2025 | Send Email
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/23/2025 | Send Email
Absolutely outstanding Condrieu! I love Viognier when it's done right. It's super aromatic with freshly made apricot preserve dominating the bouquet. On the palate it's dry and mineral but also supple with peach, apricot and honey notes. Finish is long with saline acidity lingering on and on. The balance of fruit and mineral components is superb here and it's not an easy thing to achieve. Truly wonderful wine!
Price:
$84.99
Lehmann "Jamesse Prestige" Grand Champagne Mouth-Blown Wine Glass #45
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
I get it, you want the best. Well, here it is. The Lehmann "Jamesse Prestige" are ultralight, ultra-thin, and ultra sleek. All mouth-blown in Europe, this is next-level stemware that makes any occasion special. There is no next step, no higher rung, no mountain peak. You can pay more for other high-end Champagne stems if you like, but this is as good as Champagne glassware gets.
Price:
$44.99
Lehmann "Jamesse Reference" Grand Champagne Ultralight Glass #40 (we can only ship in 6-packs)
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
We've been carrying the Lehmann "Jamesse" Champagne glasses at K&L for quite some time, but it wasn't until I spent several days drinking out of them in Reims and Epernay that I truly fell in love with the shape and style. Visit Champagne and these are the glasses that you will find in almost every winery, Champagne bar, and restaurant in the region, and for good reason. Flutes are far too narrow to allow the lifted aromatics of Champagne to truly soar, and standard wine glasses allow the bubbles to dissipate far too quickly. The Lehmann "Jamesse" glasses give you the best of both worlds, and the "Ultralight Glass 40" is beautifully thin yet affordable enough that I actually use them rather than leaving them tucked away for fear of breakage. Bringing out these glasses truly elevates every bottle.
Price:
$19.99
Lehmann "Jamesse Reference" Grand Champagne Ultralight Glass #40 (we can only ship in 6-packs)
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
This glass is almost as fine and light as the mouth blown but has the advantage of not only being less expensive, but also being sturdier. It is a big step up from the regular machine blown and shares the best-in-class shape with both its big and little brothers. If you are looking for a glass that you can put in the dishwasher (as long as you are careful!) but is still an instrument worthy of the finest bottles of champagne in your collection, look no further. This is a truly great glass.
Price:
$19.99
Lehmann "Jamesse Prestige" Grand Champagne Mouth-Blown Wine Glass #45
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
Mouth blown perfection for the champagne lover! This great design, which not only looks great, but brings out the very best in your special bottles, is my own FAVORITE glass for drinking champagne. The mouth blown glasses are fragile, and should not go in the dishwasher, but the thinner material brings out complexity and texture that you can't get any other way. Considering most mouth blown stems cost more than twice this much, consider treating yourself to this best-in-class masterpiece, for a very reasonable price!
Price:
$44.99
2016 Anna Maria Abbona "San Pietro" Barolo Riserva
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
This is where Anna Maria proves her mastery extends to Nebbiolo. From their small plot in the "Bricco San Pietro" MGA in Monforte d'Alba, this is a Barolo that combines muscular power with profound grace. The 2016 vintage is, of course, legendary—a year of perfect balance and aromatic purity. As a Riserva, this wine has spent years aging, slowly integrating its massive Monforte tannins. It’s a classic, old-school Barolo with breathtaking notes of tar, dried roses, licorice, and iron. A profound, meditative wine built for the long haul.
2018 Anna Maria Abbona "San Bernardo" Dogliani Superiore
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/22/2025 | Send Email
This is the wine that defines the estate, and one of the greatest expressions of Dolcetto, period. "San Bernardo" is a steep, sun-drenched amphitheater, a historic cru that produces Dolcetto of incredible power. It's often called a "vero e proprio 'barolino'"—a "little Barolo" for its class, structure, and depth. The "Superiore" designation means extended aging, which softens its formidable structure. This is a serious, cellar-worthy red with notes of dark plum, black cherry, dried herbs, and that classic, savory, almond-skin finish. A powerful testament to the greatness of this grape.
Price:
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2023 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
There's something marzipan about this nose, I think on the edges and in the background but it's the word that immediately popped into my head as soon as I stuck my nose in the glass. It definitely surprised and confused me at first, but then it all kind of integrated into my mind and I still agree. Marzipan. Aside from that kind of ghost in the back, there's really nice citrus, kind of a soft lemon peel and a little touch of orange pith, and something like a white peach or whatnot really soft and light in the background. The palate has this fun combination of the slight nuttiness along with fresher and riper peach and citrus mingling together, with more acidity than I expected, which made me happy. This is just such a really pretty and well put together wine by one of our favorite Rhone producers. Just stellar.
2023 Clos de la Bonnette "Roc d'Ucarisse" Condrieu
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
Yum yum, I love Viognier, and this is very exceptional Viognier. There's this super pretty honeyed apricot note on the very front of the nose, and it's the very first thing I smelled as I lifted the glass, it put me in such a good mood. There's white flowers, and white tea as well all playing around, with a little bit of dried lemon peel in the very back. The palate is similar, the fruit is very ripe and lush, peaches, apricots - both fresh and dried, all drizzled with honey, though the wine is unabashedly dry. There's a softer acidity here, typical for the region, but it makes it no less delicious, there's definitely some barrel notes at the tail end of the palate. This is just a fantastic wine, impeccably made and just really freaking delicious, with more complexity than you might typically expect from a white wine, this is not just a quaffer, this is a thinker, in the best of ways - a wine worth pondering.
Price:
$84.99
2022 Domaine Barge "Les Cotes" Côte-Rôtie
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
I am really enjoying how different all of these wines are, the Domaine Barge wines seem to have a more savory kind of take and this one is no exception to that. There's dusty fruit there, black cherry, raspberry flower, a little something dark and inky, but then the savory kicks in with tar and a little bit of leather, there's a lot of complexity there and I feel like there's some neutral barrel spice buried in the pleasant mire towards the end. The palate is similar, with a savory dark note piercing through every piece of fruit there, and then on the finish there's inky fruit and barrel spice in a neck and neck race. This is delicious and definitely for someone who is looking for a dark and very slightly chewy Cote Rotie.
2023 Domaine Courbis "Les Royes" Saint-Joseph
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
Definitely tall, dark, and mysterious, this wine really has that kind of rugged allure on the nose, there's dark fruit and an inky core, but there's also this kind of spicy floral aroma. The palate has creamy fruit, and just a little more tannin than I expected, but not enough to really slow me down especially if I had a little something to each with it. This has an elegance behind the rugged exterior and the overall product ends up really smooth and well put together. The acidity on the finish is really what makes it all come together perfectly, the mouth watering beating the drying by more than a little bit. All of the wines these brothers make are just impeccable, and I really feel like you can taste the care and the love behind the product.
Price:
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2022 Domaine de l'Abbé Dîne "La Reserve des Cieux" Châteauneuf-du-Pape
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
Big and ripe on the nose, this really wasn't what I was expecting, but that's the problem with having expectations. There's this kind of cherry-berry fusion going on here, as well as some kind of dusty dried fruit in the back, like a sultana or fig and a touch of dried herbs rounding everything out. This is a really alluring wine, that I'm liking even more now than when we first tried it, the air really opening it up nicely and it's kind of unraveling its core a bit and showing its belly. The palate is crazy silky and the mouthfeel is just off the charts, the tannin is there but it's playing a super backstage presence to the fruit and acidity that are in the forefront, and then there's this kind of inky note at the core before you pass through and into the dusty cocoa fruit finish. This is just so nice and really easy and approachable, I would definitely decant for a few hours but the result is just pretty superlative. 10/10 would taste again.
2022 Moulin de la Gardette "Cuvée Ventabren" Gigondas
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
Another absolutely lovely bottle coming out of the Rhone, I'm excited and a little surprised with how much I enjoyed this whole tasting and this was absolutely a highlight. I always love when our direct imports show so well, and this one was showing great today. The nose has some pretty fruit, but a lot of really lovely dried herbs, it's just so well rounded and there's this pretty density at the very tail end that goes a touch floral with a sort of bay leaf note somewhere flying in the back. This is the kind of wine that I want to sit down to some braised meat with, it's got enough fruit to complicate but savory enough to match and pair. Just great.
2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
Such a dense and beautifully fruited nose, there's a real density there with super ripe black cherry, rich and ripe cassis, some of that mysterious blue fruit, and then just a bouquet of purple flowers. It's pleasant and inviting in a powerful kind of way, not so much seductive as persuasive and I am nodding idly along with what it's spinning. The palate, especially after all this time to open, is so lush and generous with this kind of lightly floral perfumed super bright and ripe fruit. Super ripe raspberry, cherry, stewed strawberry, and then the spicy and almost tarry earth kicks in to make the ending more savory but still with all this lush fruit right around the edges. This is just such a pretty and purely fruited bottle, I want to have it with some lamb or maybe something else with a little game to it, that fruit just popping against the game and balancing everything out, just like a fruit reduction would. It's just that good.
2023 Domaine Courbis "Les Royes" Saint-Joseph
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
Blackberry and black cherry are accented by peppery spice. The fruit is so pure here and the light savory tones add that Syrah complexity. Seamless tannins give that silky sensation that makes this wine accessible now. Great length on the palate. This should continue to grow and evolve for a decade to come.
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Faultline 19 Year Old Single Barrel #2 Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/21/2025 | Send Email
Finding these four barrels of old MGP was such an exhilarating experience. We've been trying to revive the original Faultline Bourbon for some time but had trouble finding the right components. Just as those components became available in this new market, these four barrels crossed my desk. It felt like a sign, FAULTLINE is back! Each of these four barrels is distinct from the next. I can't say why or how they were aged or what makes them different, except barrel #3, which shows a clear French oak influence. Barrel #2, which we have here today, is an extremely classic example of old MGP. The 21% rye mashbill ages beautifully, and this barrel is no exception. Among the very few ultra-aged MGPs on the market today, the closest regularly released product is the Redemption 18 Year, but this single barrel clocks in 20 proof points higher. That whiskey is a blend of both mashbills, like the original Faultline 100 proof, but it sold out entirely and now trades for many multiples of its $400 release price. In any case, I'm fairly confident these single barrels are the best deal on old MGP bourbon on the market today, bar none (and don't confuse this with the old light whiskies you sometimes see from MGP). Let's taste it and see what all the hype is about. The color is a deep, revelatory shade of burnt umber (1.7). The nose is alluring and explosive, offering dense dark cacao, sweet red cherry, brambly black fruit, wild exotic herbs, and tobacco. As it aerates, it builds beautifully around the dark red fruit and roasted herbal character, and yes, there's some dill. On the first sip, the tension is almost unnerving, with huge juicy red fruit up front and powerful cinnamon and clove tingling the mid-palate, yet no harsh tannin tearing at the sides of the mouth. It's extremely well integrated and adds deep, rich herbal and savory notes on the finish, which is long and satisfying. I find this whisky truly delicious, and while it might not tear you apart like some very old tannic American whiskies, it's absolutely not lacking in flavor. Let's hope more of this is still hidden away somewhere.
Price:
$350.00
2022 PROJECT M "Bednarik Vineyard" Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 10/20/2025 | Send Email
By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 10/20/2025 | Send Email
Notes of damp evergreen, wood ash, and wild berries give this pinot noir a woodsy vibe that is a perfect expression of its place of origin. Grippy tannins and mouth-watering acidity create a firm backbone for this lovely wine. Give it a little time to open up in your decanter if you would like to showcase more of the floral aromatics and ripe berry notes.
2022 PROJECT M "Bednarik Vineyard" Tualatin Hills Pinot Noir
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 10/20/2025 | Send Email
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 10/20/2025 | Send Email
This 2022 Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Noir opens with an inviting and pure aromatic profile centered on ripe dark cherry. That primary fruit is beautifully accented by a subtle, savory herbal lift, which speaks to its Tualatin Hills origin. The wine is immediately approachable on the palate, defined by a smooth, polished texture and very fine, well-integrated tannins. This is not a wine of overt power, but rather one of balance and finesse, making it exceptionally easy to drink right now.
Found North "Season 6 - Tawny Port Finish #6118" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Canadian Whisky
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 10/17/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 10/17/2025 | Send Email
If you really want to see how much a finishing barrel can transform a whisky, look no further. The Found North team continues to uncover exceptional spirits and showcase blending skills rarely seen from our neighbors to the north. This exclusive release, like its Madeira casked counterpart, combines an almost even split of corn and rye whiskies, with a touch of malted barley, all aged between 12 and 25 years. The blend is then finished in tawny port casks, creating something that, as cliché as it sounds, is truly greater than the sum of its parts.
The nose opens with blackberry jam, figs, and Mexican chocolate, all wrapped in the warm air of a dusty saloon. Those rich, stewed berries carry through to the palate, joined by cloves, anise, wet bark, and a touch of molasses, before finishing with black cherry compote over dense dark chocolate. It’s remarkable how distinct it is from the Madeira cask version, proving just how dramatically different fortified wine barrels can shape a great blend. Both are stunning and well worth tasting side by side.
Price:
$99.99
2023 Aurore Dezat "Les Montaignes" Sancerre
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
Sourced from a small parcel opposite the famed Les Chasseignes vineyard, Montaignes sits on a northwest-facing slope rich in clay and Kimmeridgian marl. The wine is harvested and fermented in a mix of amphora and stainless steel, highlighting its purity and texture. As with most sites rooted in marl, there’s an inherent weight and density that promise further evolution with time in bottle. Today, it shows bold intensity balanced by notes of lime gelée, green apple, and dried pineapple. Long and lingering on the finish, Montaignes is poised to develop beautifully over the next several years.
Price:
$34.99
2020 Fattoria dei Barbi "Vigna del Fiore" Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
The “Vigna del Fiore” is a piece of Brunello history. First produced in 1981, it was one of the very first single-vineyard Brunellos in Montalcino, a revolutionary concept at the time. This wine comes from a small, 5.7-hectare plot with old vines and unique sandy soils. The vineyard is located close to the uber famous Cerretalto of Casanova di Neri.
The nose here is more lifted and aromatic: it is a more fragrant and ethereal expression of Sangiovese.
It moves with a grace and energy that is simply captivating. Only 10000 bottles made.
2020 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
This is the perfect introduction to the history of Montalcino. In a warm and generous vintage like 2020, Barbi’s traditional approach has yielded a Brunello that is both powerful and wonderfully approachable in its youth.
It is a fantastic Brunello for the dinner table with its generous fruit makes it a joy to drink now, it has the structure to age gracefully for a decade or more.
Found North "Season 6 - Madeira Finish #6131" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Canadian Whisky
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
These guys sure know how to pick them. Here’s a Canadian whisky that defies what most Americans might expect from the north. Blended from 49% rye, 48% corn, and 3% malted barley, and drawn from barrels aged between 12 and 25 years before a final rest in Madeira casks, this is a stunning example of thoughtful craftsmanship. Each grain and the finishing cask have their moment to shine.
The nose opens with sarsaparilla, allspice, toasted coconut, and buttery pastries, all of which carry gracefully onto the palate. The flavors unfold further, revealing lemon custard (a hallmark of Madeira cask aging), orange marmalade, white chocolate, and a cascade of baking spices. It finishes with a touch of earthy potpourri, laced with spice, dried flowers, and cream soda. Despite the high proof, it drinks with deceptive ease and leaves you wondering what other treasures might be resting in those northern warehouses.
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Found North "Season 6 - Tawny Port Finish #6118" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Canadian Whisky
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
If you’re not yet familiar with Found North, allow me to be the first to tell you that this brand is probably the most exciting new bottler in years. The Taylor brothers, who founded the company, seem to have cracked some sort of whisky cheat code. What they’ve proven is that mature whisky doesn’t need to spend its entire life in fresh wood to be complete. If you take well-aged whisky, blend it skillfully, and finish it thoughtfully, you can create something far greater than the sum of its parts.
Of course, it’s not that simple. You need great whisky and great wood from the start. Blending is a huge factor as well, but it’s clear these guys are overachievers on both fronts. We’ve never had a Found North release that didn’t overdeliver, and these two new barrels are no exception.
Let’s see how an old tawny port cask works with these exceptional old Canadian rye and corn whiskies. The color is a deep, sanguine auburn (1.5), an absolute about face from the Madeira cask, offering dense red fruit notes of cherry, cassis, and raspberry. Next come layers of roasted nuts and rich herbal tones such as cassia bark, cinchona, and kola nut. The palate shows dense rye spice and earthy warehouse floor more overtly than the Madeira, with the spice kicking up at the end. It begins with sweet, jammy red fruit like dark cherry and fudge before melding into gravelly rye spice and exotic herbs. Both whiskies are excellent and particularly fascinating to taste side by side to understand what a long, thoughtful finish can do when you start with bold, high-quality aged whisky.
Price:
$99.99
Found North "Season 6 - Madeira Finish #6131" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Canadian Whisky
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/16/2025 | Send Email
If you’re not yet familiar with Found North, allow me to be the first to tell you that this brand is probably the most exciting new bottler in years. The Taylor brothers, who founded the company, seem to have cracked some sort of whisky cheat code. What they’ve proven is that mature whisky doesn’t need to spend its entire life in fresh wood to be complete. If you take well-aged whisky, blend it skillfully, and finish it thoughtfully, you can create something far greater than the sum of its parts.
Of course, it’s not that simple -you need great whisky and great wood from the start. Blending is a huge factor as well, but it’s clear these guys are overachievers on both fronts. We’ve never had a Found North release that didn’t overdeliver, and these two new barrels are no exception.
Let’s start with the Madeira Cask Finish. This one isn’t rye- or corn-heavy; instead, it perfectly balances its aromatic and palate-driven elements. The color is a lovely russet (1.3). The nose is explosive, offering baked orchard fruit, exotic spice, tense earthy oak, candied apricot, gravel, and caramel candies. On the palate, it’s dusty and old-school with loads of rye spice and earthy warehouse floor. With some air, the nose opens beautifully to sweet peach tea, fig jam, pink peppercorn, and wet cement. The palate stays bold, spicy, and earthy, while adding layers of sweet oak and candied corn.
A tremendous and surprising whisky that fits into no box—and doesn’t need to. It’s simply delicious.
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2019 Gulfi "NeroBufaleffj" Nero d'Avola Sicilia
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
I have been a fan of Gulfi wines for years, so it's great to see it back in stock. This wine is outstanding example of properly made Nero d'Avola. It's a full bodied wine with depth, textural richness and velvety ripe tannins, packed with mulberry, blackberry and black currant with lovely bright acidity that keeps wine shine from from start to finish. there is also a savory note in it due to some age which adds extra layer of complexity. Delicious to pair with traditional Pasta 'Ncasciata.
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
Wow! I can honestly say that I have never tried a Champagne like this before! I first had it at one of our Champagne Tent Events in Redwood City (early 2000's!). A very exotic blend of Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbanne. These varietals were more common 150 years ago. It has white fruits such as pear, lychee and white nectarine. Add toasted pine nuts, almond, lime skin, green apples, some chalk and there you have it. One of the most interesting Champagnes in the company! After all these years, this beauty has held my interest and admiration. If you are obsessed with Champagne and want to taste a historical bottle, here it is. So unique and sooooo delicious!
Price:
$124.99
2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
The 2017 Launois "Helia" Blanc de Blancs, which in past vintages would have been bottled as the Special Club offering, lives among the best Champagnes in the store. Crisp green apple and lemon curd harmonize with richer roasted hazelnut and baked sourdough flavors, while the zippy acidity and soft texture find perfect cohesion. If you, like me, have bottles of Launois' Special Club bottlings tucked away for future consumption, the 2017 "Helia" has more than earned its place in the stash.
Price:
$79.99
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/15/2025 | Send Email
I sometimes feel guilty for impacting the world supply of this tiny production Champagne with my greedy consumption... But never while I am drinking it. The Cepages D'Antan is made from one press load of the near-extinct champagne varietals Arbanne, Meslier and Pinot Blanc, and yields only about 3,000 bottles per harvest. Nothing is more electric, satisfying and complete than this exotic beauty. With more than eight years of ageing on the lees and the fantastic verve and acidity of Arbanne and Meslier, this is super complete champagne. This is the perfect gift for the Champagne lover who has "had it all"... If I leave any behind for them and you can resist drinking it yourself!
Price:
$124.99
2019 Gulfi "NeroBufaleffj" Nero d'Avola Sicilia
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/14/2025 | Send Email
Wow, that's quite the nose. Not the first time I've said that to something Italian. There's a kind of punchy dried fruit, cherries, spiced figs, little hints of sultana, all pushing through to the top along with some pepper and what smells like some neutral barrel spice. The palate is a little chewy, but also really beautifully fruited, it's just delicious with such a lovely line of acidity pushing through the whole thing. There's a kind of lightness to the body that the nose never even hinted at, an elegance that was belied by the heavy elbow-nudge of the nose. This is another Italian wine that's about a purity of fruit, and the true expression of the area put into a glass and delivered to you by your friends here at K&L. This is just a really tasty bottle.
2022 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/14/2025 | Send Email
There's a little bit of kind of light funk at the very start of this, that it takes a couple sniffs to get past, but once you're acclimated what's behind it is so incredibly pretty and worth the time you took. There's a soft and pretty green apple, honeyed lemon, a little bit of barrel, and then it all just integrates perfectly into a seamless single unit. The palate has amazing mouthfeel, really creamy and silky with a touch of barrel in the very back, but the front is that super classic apple and lemon combination with a sort of creaminess and softness to the fruit. There's acid, but it's laid back and kind of enjoying the whole party not really into getting super involved. This is a really well made and put together bottle of Chardonnay from South Africa, and something worth checking out if you're looking for the next adventure, or just want a nice bottle of Chardonnay.