K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2020 Anonymous Wine Collective "Manchester Ridge Vineyard" Mendocino Ridge Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 12/4/2025 | Send Email

Composed of single-vineyard Old Wente Clone Chardonnay, the 2020 Anonymous Wine Collective “Manchester Ridge Vineyard” Blanc de Blancs was fermented in once-used French oak barrels and aged on its lees with bâtonnage for a year, during which it also went through full malolactic fermentation. This sleeping beauty then slumbered for another four years en triage before being hand-riddled and hand-disgorged. To think this sensational bottle was conceived without gyropalettes or mechanized disgorgement—and still lands under $30—is mind-boggling. But what does it taste like? Structure and butterscotch budino are the first impressions. It's also generously proportioned for zero dosage—rich in texture and flavor, yet balanced and dry. Baked pear, sumptuous butterscotch, crisp golden apple and fresh baked bread are nestled in a complex scaffolding of refreshing lemony acidity and flinty minerality. This isn’t something to mindlessly knock back, as I sometimes do with bubbles; it’s a wine to pair with food or to contemplate with friends who appreciate fine fizz. With its structure, acidity, and minerality, it also has the bones to age. In short: a case-buy proposition.

Price: Hidden

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 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 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

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 "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 "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

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: $19.99

DC: 95

WE: 92

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

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

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$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

2022 Raúl Pérez "Ultreia St-Jacques" Mencía Bierzo

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 11/21/2025 | Send Email

Often cited as one of the Spain’s most visionary winemakers, Raúl Pérez pioneered the "New Spain" movement and played a crucial role in highlighting the cool-climate Bierzo region in Northwestern Spain and its signature Mencía grape. The Ultreia St. Jacques is his signature entry-level red, made from a Mencía-dominant field blend that also includes Bastardo (Trousseau), Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Palomino, and Doña Blanca, all from old vines planted between the 1890s and the 1940s across Bierzo. The grapes are fermented in very large open top wooden casks (13000L) and 50-60% whole clusters are included to add floral and spicy notes. Perez also includes a 60-day post-fermentation maceration, followed by aging in neutral oak barrels and puncheons. Perez’s winemaking philosophy is centered on minimal intervention, allowing each vineyard's unique character to express itself with transparency and elegance. The resulting wine is brilliantly fuchsia in color, and juicy, vibrant, and expressive on the palate with crunchy pomegranate and wild blackberry notes, subtle licorice spice, faint lilac, and distinctive minerality. A subtle underlying current of forest floor, fallen leaves and wild herbs ties everything together. This is a wild that perfectly balances wild – almost sauvage – forest notes with elegance, finesse and restraint. Gently reminiscent of a Cru Beaujolais or a Northern Rhône Syrah, this is a wine that showcases another side of Spain – one that is centered around elegance, terroir and quiet power.

Price: $24.99

JG: 93

JS: 93

RP: 93

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

By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 11/20/2025 | Send Email

Bruichladdich is one of those rare distilleries that has consistently pushed the boundaries of expression and innovation in Scotch whisky. As a historic non-peated whisky from Islay, a true outlier in its region, its return to prominence in the early 2000s and its expansion into peated lines like Port Charlotte and the ever-evolving Octomore has given us some of the most fun and unique scotches in the world. The distillery often draws heavily from its cask program, experimenting with nearly every type of barrel imaginable. They even show you online exactly which casks went into any particular batch, making the entire process transparent and easy to explore. One of my favorite things about Bruichladdich is that no matter the expression, there is always something in the foundational spirit that reveals its identity. Shortbread and a touch of paper mâché seem to hide under the dominant flavors of the first-fill casks, and I love it. Getting our own expression that rested for eighteen years in a refill hogshead, a cask that offers less influence from any prior liquid and more from the oak’s natural maturation, is a wonderful way to get closer to what makes this distillery so special. The shortbread shows itself immediately, like Nilla wafers tossed into an orchard fruit salad coated in honey. The palate dances between dry and sweet, offering raw vanilla bean, dried apricot, hard caramel candies, and a hint of ginger. The ginger carries through the finish, merging with the pastry notes and leaving a lingering wave of spicy fruit. A touch of water tames the 57.6 percent ABV and reveals even more caramel, butterscotch, and soft baking spice. This is a stellar expression from a stellar house and worth enjoying during the holidays or any time of year.

Price: $225.00

2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon" Extra Brut Rosé Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 11/20/2025 | Send Email

Last call on this great vintage from the masters of rosé! The 2013 has already arrived, so we are on borrowed time for these last bottles!

Price: $219.99

2013 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon" Extra Brut Rosé Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 11/20/2025 | Send Email

This spectacular rosé has been my favorite release all year for this category. The masters of pink bubbles at Billecart pulled out all the stops for this 2013, and I think this might be the best Elisabeth I have ever tasted. With an incredible subtle brioche and maraschino like pinot nose and a texture that only over 9 years of ageing on the lees can provide, the best part about this wine is the finish. The ultra long finale has pure clean pinot, deep white chalk in a peacock tail like display carried on a wave of fresh acidity. Don't miss this one- it is for the ages!

Price: $229.99

VN: 97

JS: 96

2025 Georges Duboeuf "Orange Nouveau" Vin de France (Orange Wine)

By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 11/19/2025 | Send Email

An Orange Nouveau? Pourquoi pas? I believe this is a new endeavor chez Duboeuf, and they are nailing it this year! It's as fresh as it gets, with beautiful aromatics, and definitely "orange". A blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Viognier, 10% Muscat, along with other white grapes, that will please our orange-wines afficionados but also can be offered as a gentle introduction to these geeky wines. And since it's Thanksgiving season, I would suggest serving this with the pumpkin pie! Go on, give it a try...

Price: $16.99

2025 Georges Duboeuf "Orange Nouveau" Vin de France (Orange Wine)

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/19/2025 | Send Email

Orange wine often has this kind of tea-like quality in the nose, and this one is not an exception to that. I am having this at room temperature, so if it chill it, your mileage may vary but this is better than I thought it would be by a mile. There's white-tea, potpourri, peaches, and pluots in here. It's very floral but it's absolutely clean, not pushing towards natty in any way, just kind of hanging out like a nice guy skin contact white wine, giving some people what they're looking for. The palate is very peaches and lemon, with potpourri still hanging around giving it a little zhuzh of something different. I like this a lot more than I was mentally prepared to, but that juts cannot be helped - this might be a nice one to try if you're on the fence or curious about orange wines since it's so clean. It's got a pretty decent line of acidity as well. This is really a quintessential porch wine, you don't need to have food with it, but it will improve the whole experience.

Price: $16.99

2025 Georges Duboeuf "Orange Nouveau" Vin de France (Orange Wine)

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 11/19/2025 | Send Email

Now this is a super fun wine for fans of Orange wine: an Orange Nouveau!!! Salty aromas mix with notes of citrus and orange marmalade. The palate is zesty with hints of Rainer cherry along with orange and citrus flavors. One the finish the Orange wine personality shines thru with hints of mushroom and earth. A very cool orange wine for the Beaujolais Nouveau fan.

Price: $16.99

2021 Yering Station "Estate" Chardonnay Yarra Valley Victoria

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

Fresh out of the bottle, the first thing that pops out, scent wise, is a nicely clean mineral driven nose with white peaches and raw nut scents. With a little warming, the stone fruit scents become a little more plush. On the palate, the opening is infused with lemony flavors. These expand and flesh out into yellow and green apple flavors (leans a bit more toward green) with lush peaches. The whole shebang finishes with a nice clean oak note.

Price: Hidden

JH: 95

JS: 92

WE: 92

2023 El Enemigo Chardonnay Mendoza

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

Nice and fairly complex nose, there's some apples and lemon, but also dried herbs and a roundness of barrel and barrel spices wrapping around everything, like a big hug. The palate is nice and mid-rich but with some still fairly fresh fruit in the whole thing, there's definitely a good amount of oak but nothing that dips more than a toe over the line. There's a reasonable amount of acidity, but for people who are acid shy this might be worth putting on your radar as well, it's not flabby by any means but the focus is more on the fruit and barrel working together, while the acidity kind of does its own thing off on the side. The leaves the finish lingering, with that battle of fruit and oak, the Froakish War, raging and ultimately, I think you win. Especially if you're looking for something to replace that R-wine but just a single little pat of butter on top.

Price: $24.99

Jansz "Premium Rosé" Brut Tasmania

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

The very first thing I noticed about this bottle as I opened it, is that the foil guide to aide unwrapping the capsule goes in the other direction, compared to most Northern Hemisphere sparkling wines. Just like how the water swirls the other way, or whatever that was they talked about in school. The next thing I noticed is that it says its made Méthode Tasmanoise, which I do not believe is an actual French term. All that side, the first important thing I noticed is that it's a pretty copper-salmon color in the glass, and the nose is really fantastic. There's a little touch of strawberry jam, some kind of cherry, grapefruit zest, and a little bit of white flowers. The palate is powerful and punchy, with a really dense heft of lemon pith, red apple, fresh lemon, and cherry, along with some dense leesy brioche and maybe some barrel spice.

Price: $21.99

2014 Benrinnes 11 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Cask Strength 1st Fill Sherry Butt Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

The wonderful Benrinnes distillery is truly a special place. I was honored to tour the lovely little distillery and have quite a funny story about the people there that is not fit to print publicly, but it has endeared the whole operation to my heart forever. We kind of crashed without an appointment, and they took pity on us. The distillery manager was lovely, and we had a great tour. Anyway, I like the profile this distillery exhibits in almost any barrel. It's very approachable but loves a great sherry butt, yet I was shocked to find out this is the very first sherry butt we've ever done as an exclusive. What a treat. Let's dig in. The color is an attractive chestnut (1.2). The nose offers an explosion of sherry and malt, but it's not at all singular. I've let this rest for some time in the glass, and it continues to open extremely well. First nosing is nutty nougat, cherry jam, burnt sugar, freshly polished leather, dried apricots, gingerbread, and hints of dark earth spice to balance. On the palate, the creamy richness is undeniable, and the sweet and spicy characters are at war throughout - big Christmas spice up front, sweet red fruit through the middle, and complex herbs on the finish. The punchy character and rich texture beg for a drop or five of water, and indeed the addition, plus some extra air time, adds many layers. Somehow the nose becomes sweeter and darker, with a raisin-like resinous character emerging. The palate adds fudge, chocolate, and deep dried fruit, with an almost Szechuan pepper numbing character on the finish. It's just super pleasurable, interesting, and delicious. It's not a dark, tannic sherry bomb, yet it's still full of sherry character. The key here is the gorgeous oily texture and wild, lingering finish.

Price: Hidden

2021 Yering Station "Estate" Chardonnay Yarra Valley Victoria

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

The Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s premier cool climate growing regions for Chardonnay, and Yering Station is one of the most historic wineries here, with roots going back to the 1830s. The 2021 “Estate” Chardonnay is both a benchmark example of a lightly oaked wine from the Yarra, as well as an exceptionally good value. Now with several years of age, the golden fruit notes (apple, pear, lemon oil) have melded perfectly with the toasty oak aromas, and the fine, persistent line of acidity continues to hold the wine together, steering it into a surprisingly long finish. This is a more restrained, elegant, mineral-driven style of Chardonnay rather than a heavy oak-bomb — the winemaking choices here (whole-cluster pressing, only 30% new oak, large format puncheons for fermentation and maturation, and blocked malolactic) emphasize freshness and finesse over fruit ripeness. The result is a superb cool-climate modern Australian Chardonnay that balances minerality, fruit intensity, and oak beautifully. It's not a flashy wine by any means, but it has weight, texture, and concentration to age for several years more.

Price: Hidden

JH: 95

JS: 92

WE: 92

2013 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon" Extra Brut Rosé Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

My goodness, what an absolute treat. I'm not typically someone who likes surprises, but if more surprises were like this, I would probably be much more amenable. This is the latest vintage release the Cuvee Elizabeth, and why oh my this is just all kinds of wonderful. The nose is just shining with these really pretty hints of rose, and this super pure Alpine Strawberry note, then there's a little bit of red apple skin, and this little touch of lemon oil on the finish all with this kind of slightly toasted brioche note wafting through the whole bouquet. The palate is so crisp and refreshing, with this kind of hidden juiciness that pops in on the mid palate and works through the finish. There's a touch of blood orange, lemon peel, green apple, more brioche, and a lingering mineral finish really pushes it over the edge. This is one of the best Champagnes I've tasted this year, absolutely outstanding and worth every penny. I might have this one for my birthday that's coming up, it really tickled a lot of the right places for me.

Price: $229.99

VN: 97

JS: 96

2014 Benrinnes 11 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Cask Strength 1st Fill Sherry Butt Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

There's a few distilleries in Scotland that I feel like I can just pick up a bottle of anything with their name on it, and I'm going to have a good time. Benrinnes is one of these, I don't actually know much about the distillery itself but I'm always down for a good time and I've had a few from Benrinnes before and they've all been incredibly delicious. This one comes from a Sherry Butt, which despite being worth a giggle, means that's it's one of the larges barrel sizes Sherry comes in, so it's going to be first fill influence, but in a larger barrel than if it was a Sherry hogshead, and the color does seem to indicate this as well, it's a very dark transparent copper and really pretty in the glass. The Sherry barrel and the grain are really harmonious, twining about each other with neither willing to take a back seat to the other. Honeycomb, sultanas, heather and jasmine flowers, touches of demerara, and fresh green apple skins. The palate is much more grain forward, dusty with lots of malt, pepper, and more touches of the sherry barrel along with some toast and barrel spice. The palate has a super unctuous and oily texture, really lingering on the palate with the fruit fading away leaving touches of barrel toast and spice. This is such a tasty little dram, and at this price it's super well priced for what it is. Don't be afraid of it just being 11 years old, this is mature, well balanced, and just a really enjoyable sip. A great bottle for when people tell you they like Scotch but neglect to give you any other information. It happens a lot.

Price: Hidden

2023 Marisa Cuomo "Fiorduva" Costa d'Amalfi

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 11/18/2025 | Send Email

The crown jewel. Justifiably considered one of Italy’s greatest and most iconic white wines, Fiorduva is a complex blend of ancient grapes—Fenile, Ginestra, and Ripoli. It is a luminous, profound wine with notes of apricot, honey, tropical flowers, and a powerful saline minerality that speaks directly of its coastal home. A transportive wine, and a true taste of a place unlike any other on earth.

Price: $99.99

WE: 94

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