K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2020 Trimbach Gewürztraminer Alsace

By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

Surprisingly light for a Gewurz, almost airy on the palate. It shows off this sweet-tart candy character that instantly made me think of Smarties, playful and a little nostalgic. There's a soft floral note in the background, but it never turns perfumy or heavy. The balance keeps it refreshing sip after sip, making it a bottle that disappears quicker than you'd think.

Price: $31.99

JS: 92

RP: 91

2012 Le Brun de Neuville "Grand Vintage" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

Le Brun de Neuville's Grand Vintage Brut Champagne is back in style with the spectacular 2012 release. Pouring a beautiful golden hue with a a noticeably luscious mousse, the nose is dominated by enticingly rich, leesy aromatics. Freshly toasted baguette and aged parmesan rind lead the charge while baked pear, quince, and clove play support with delicate white flowers tying a pretty bow on the impressive bouquet. The palate follows suit with luxurious richness lifted by a touch of citrus zest and juicy pear. This is a wine that, at just under $70, easily competes with several $150+ lees bombs from bigger houses.

Price: $69.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

When I first came here to K&L the supply on this was low and its absence was spoken of in somber and melancholy tones. I can see why, now, because it's an absolutely gorgeous Champagne at an excellent price. This is a rich and brioche-y nose that straddles the line between rich and cloying with amazing finesse, always staying on the right side while remaining opulent and luxurious. Rich apple and pear with hints of cream and vanilla and lovely toast on the finish. A must-buy for anyone trying to experience the best that Champagne has to offer.

Price: $37.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

Probably my most favorite champagne ever! When people call in asking for something delicious, fresh and easy to drink, and not a lot of money, this is the first thing I look for inventory on. I can always get behind this and know it will be a huge hit. This recent bottling comes across as a little more complex, with a little more richness than the last bottling. Don't get me wrong, it's still fresh, and bright, but there's a real mineral backbone to it. The mouth-feel is more substantial this time around and I can't help but think that it's growing into an even more serious version of itself. Incredible value!

Price: $37.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

Aspasie is our absolute favorite Champagne here! It's beautifully balanced and structured, full of rich citrus, a bit of brioche. Flavor is so deep and finish lasts so long that it's just hard to believe. On the nose, the aroma is captivating with honeysuckle and hint of white acacia flower. Great wine to bring for any occasion!

Price: $37.99

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

Our 2021 Discovery Series Italy Barolo is on the savory side with plum, dried cherry, finely ground black pepper, and graphite. This may sound strange but I get whispers of black pepper and cherry blossoms on the finish—it's undeniable. This is a dressy wine to wrap a meal around. I vote for a luscious steak or an assortment of grilled veggies and mushrooms served over polenta.

Price: $27.99

2014 López de Heredia "Viña Bosconia" Reserva Rioja

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

This is divine—full stop. Everything comes together so seamlessly. The synergy of this Lopez De Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva Rioja is so fine, it's difficult to parse out. Earthy plum with a soft ferrous edge blends into luxurious leather, black tea, and bergamot. This is exquisite. Drink now and dress for the occasion.

Price: $49.99

VN: 95

RP: 94

2017 López de Heredia "Viña Cubillo" Crianza Rioja

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

This is such a brilliant wine—so fresh and alive! No doubt there is more to reveal, so this is one to buy a bottle for now and another for later. Fresh, clean, and lively—this is a generous Rioja that is the kind of wine that makes my heart skip a beat. It offers spiced plum, juicy cherries, dried rose petals, and parched earth with a subtle ferrous finish. If you want a fine red wine to drink, this is it.

Price: $34.99

TA: 94

RP: 93

VN: 92

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo Mosconi

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

The nose on this immediately grabs my attention. It's the kind of wine that is just as fun to sniff as it is to sip. Take your time with this one because it has a lot to say. The 2021 Discovery Series Italy Barolo Mosconi is all about black raspberry, plum, Thanksgiving cranberry relish, blood orange zest, black pepper, black tea, licorice, leather and dried lavender. This is fit for the holiday table! The cost-to-value ratio is bonkers.

Price: $37.99

2019 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Brunello di Montalcino

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

Our 2019 Discovery Series Italy Brunello Di Montalcino charms and delights with juicy Marsca cherry, dark plum, luxurious cordovan leather, dried lavender, and a dried earth finish. It's ready to drink now, ideally with dinner or a charcuterie board with Parmigiano Reggiano, pecorino, Prosciutto di Parma, coppa, or spicy soppressata—dress a little nicer for this one—it deserves it.

Price: $59.99

2020 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

Composed of approximately 83% Sangiovese, 14% Merlot, and 3% Canaiolo—the first sip of our 2020 Discovery Series Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano transports me to Montepulciano in late autumn—wild boar (cinghiale) root through fallen leaves for acorns—dreamy sous bois. Black currant as soft as cashmere dances with sweet pipe tobacco. Blood orange and comforting hints of baking spices linger on the finish. This is a big YES for me, even at its full $30 price tag.

Price: $17.99

2016 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Vintage Release)

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

It's incredibly fortunate that we have ready to drink Barolo at such an affordable price. This wine is very classic and showcases all traditional Nebbiolo characteristics of red cherry, plum, tobacco and earth. It's developing nicely and certainly could be age longer, but it is very enjoyable now thanks to softer, well rounded tannins.

Price: $34.99

2019 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Brunello di Montalcino

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

This is the perfect Brunello for the ‘Italian Discovery Series”. It doesn’t hurt that it is from the epic 2019 vintage. The nose demands your attention. It is deep and broad with many layers of mixed fruits, spice, earth, and wild herbs. With every sniff some new aroma jumps to the foreground. It is a wine that you just want to spend time with and see where it wants to go. It is full-bodied with that classic linear structure of the region. The tannins are polished and present. The acid brings just enough tension and pulls all of the layered flavors across the long mineral finish. With a little time, the wine opens and deepens, it takes on even more intensity with darker fruits, more sottobosco, more leather, and earth. Intense, long, and intriguing, this is everything that you can want from a Brunello!

Price: $59.99

2020 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 9/17/2025 | Send Email

The aromatics of this wine have a dynamic push/pull between just-ripe and perfectly ripe red fruits and berries with those classic earthy underbrush (sottobosco) tones that I love to find in Tuscany. The wine is rich and nicely textured. There is a fullness here without any of the edges that can accompany Sangiovese. Vibrant red berries and fruits, with leather, more of that sottobosco, and an intriguing minerality that speaks to the region. It finishes long, with a right mix of fruit and savory elements. This wine caught me off guard! It delivers a beautiful expression of Sangiovese without any of those classic edges that can be a challenge for people who cut their wine-teeth on Cabernet. This will be Autumn's “Intro to Sangiovese” wine for me in the shop.

Price: $17.99

2022 MarBeso "Ascona Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Boy oh boy, I love Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. I have ever since I started in the wine business in the area, and it's just grown to be better and better over time. This has the prettiest and more pure fruit kind of persona, it's got this really pretty cherry on cherry nose, with fresh and dried. Then there's raspberry flowers, a little tomato leaf, and an really kind of pretty and loamy earth that brings the terroir into play. This is just fantastic and a really elegant and pure fruited expression, it's really everything you want a perfect Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot to be, at least for me. The palate is amazingly juicy, with lots of cherry and raspberry, but this time the floral notes are more rose and there's still that loamy forest note on the finish. I love this. Maybe you'll love it too.

Price: Hidden

WE: 94

2021 Evidence "Bruadair Vineyard" Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Hello Mr. Inky! As I swirl this in my glass, it keeps painting the sides pink over and over again. This is absolutely going to be another big Napa Cabernet, my future is preordained. Lots of dark fruit, brambley and dusty with a lot of cedary oak behind it, the fruit is definitely a combination of dried and fresh with maybe a little hint of something stewed in the far back. The palate is fat and rich, but there's really a nice line of acidity pushing through the whole thing and a really nice tannin structure that's just a touch coarse right now, but has all the promise of something that will soften and integrate fully as it lays down. I'm super impressed, because while there's a lot of fruit there's so much structure that this feels very age-worthy to me. This is really fantastica and more than just another big dumb Napa wine, this is a 350lb linebacker who listens to cello during his workouts and reads Edwardian-era mystery books with a female lead detective while he's snuggled up with his six cats.

Price: Hidden

JD: 96

JS: 95

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

A little bit more dense and brooding than I expected at first, there's a little touch of tobacco along with some darker bramble-fruit, it's not pretty but it's more ruggedly handsome. The palate definitely has a good amount of tannin and acid both, making me really want to lay this down for a few years, but if you forced me at sword-point to drink this I would absolutely do that with some rich braised meat, or a thick and rich steak, or just something rich enough to cut the tannin and acid, and you know what? We would have a great time, because this bottle has so much promise and I'm excited to be offering something like this for our customers that's worthy to lay down and that I know would do well with more time, while still being approachable now.

Price: $27.99

2016 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Vintage Release)

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

This is just such a really pretty and alluring nose, that is just drawing me in deeply, almost like a siren song. It's just so pretty and pure fruited, lots of cherry and raspberry, backed by a touch of tomato leaf and some neutral barrel roundness. The palate is really beautiful, the tannins are soft and pretty ready, and there's this wonderful line of acidity pushing through the whole thing. The fruit is bright and very freshly ripe, raspberry, cherry, a little bit of pomegranate. This is exactly what you want when you're coming in for a bottle of ready to drink Barolo, and it's coming at you for less than you'll find a lot of declassified wines from the region. This is going to be a go-to recommendation from me until we sell out of this, it's just that good.

Price: $34.99

2024 Swinney Mourvedre Rosé Frankland River

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Our former Australian buyer, Thomas, fell in love with the previous vintage of the Swinney Rosé and ranked it with his top rosés of the world, Domaine Tempier included. After reading his glowing review of the 2023 Rosé, I must admit I was more than a bit intrigued. Two rosés, both based upon Mourvedre, but from completely opposite continents and hemispheres? Now that the 2024 vintage has arrived, I’m happy to report that it is indeed a singular and expressive wine of place – and perhaps the best rosé in Australia. Made from dry-farmed, bush vine Mourvedre, co-fermented with small amounts of Vermentino and Cinsault, all from the Swinney Estate, this wine has an incredible aromatic profile. Far from being a simple summer quaffer, the 2024 Swinney Rosé is a seriously complex style of bone-dry rosé loaded with fresh strawberry and watermelon rind notes, as well as more savory wild thyme and oregano. Pale salmon color in the glass, the wine also has a slight phenolic grip on the palate – likely the result of the fermentation and maturation in old oak barrels – that make it the perfect rosé to have with a meal. This is simply a rosé that transcends most others, both in complexity and energy. With a vibrant, lingering finish, this is an ideal wine to pair with chilled shellfish, soft cheeses or even duck confit, as well as good company and conversation.

Price: Hidden

JH: 94

RP: 94

2023 Birichino "Besson Vineyard - Old Vine" Central Coast Grenache

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

There's a handful of more local wineries that I think always absolutely knock it out of the park, they got that Bacchus touch, and Birichino is absolutely one of those wineries. It's got everything down, it's got great vineyard sources, great winemaking, great owners, and thus they always have great wines. This is no exception, there's a lot of kind of fun baking spices buried in the fruit, the fruit is really pretty and ripe with lots of bramble-fruit of all colors, pretty purple flowers, and a little bit of some dried green herbs. The palate is super juicy,with more bramble-fruits and absolutely delicious, there's a nice grip of tannin but nothing that will slow down the dedicated. There's great acidity that definitely is fighting with the tannin and it feels like the acidity is winning overall. While it's not required by law, I do think that this would benefit from being had with a meal, but it really feels flexible, I could see having anything from fajitas to cassoulet to one of those fancy hamburgers with this and I'd be happy with all three. Maybe at once. This is a reason to drink more grenache, and a really good reason at that.

Price: $29.95

RP: 95

2014 López de Heredia "Viña Bosconia" Reserva Rioja

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

The Viña Bosconia wines are always distinctive for their Burgundy-shaped bottle, which references the wines original composition, which once included a high percentage of Pinot Noir as an homage to the wines of Burgundy. Today, the wine is mostly Tempranillo, balanced with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, but the bottle shape remains. The fruit is sourced from the family’s El Bosque vineyard which is located about one kilometer away from the winery. Vines here are planted on the south-facing foothills of the Sierra Cantabria range, providing them with the ideal conditions for ripening. As a result, the fruit profile tends to include darker fruit notes, and the 2014 Viña Bosconia clearly shows this unique character. Wild blackberries and black and red plum skin mingle on the nose, along with savory graphite, anise and porcini mushroom. This is such an elegant and nuanced example of Reserva Rioja, with still a lot of primary fruit freshness despite its over ten years of age, five of which are in barrel. The finish is so long, too. This is simply a great wine at a great price to secure while it’s still available.

Price: $49.99

VN: 95

RP: 94

2017 López de Heredia "Viña Cubillo" Crianza Rioja

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Don’t let this wine’s Crianza label fool you! While most Crianza Rioja on the market is a youthful and often simple style of wine aged for a minimum of one year in barrel, the Viña Cubillo far exceeds both the legal aging requirements and the expected quality level. This wine is comprised of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, all from 50+ year-old vines. The wine ages in used older American oak barrels for at least three years, followed by several more in bottle. Despite being a Crianza, the Cubillo surpasses the aging of most other wineries’ Gran Reserva wines. Compared to its siblings, however, the Cubillo is noticeably brighter and more exuberant on the nose, bursting with Bing cherry, crunchy pomegranate and plum, all swaddled in subtle American oak flavors of vanilla and tobacco. Electric acidity streaks through the core of the wine and despite the juicy initial approach, grippy tannins follow quickly on the palate. This wine sets the benchmark for “entry-level” Rioja.

Price: $34.99

TA: 94

RP: 93

VN: 92

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

I can't think of a single bottle of Champagne at K&L that has brought me such consistent pleasure as the Ariston Aspasie "Réserve." The Ariston family has worked very hard to deliver this great bottle to the Champagne lovers of the world. Most producers age their Champagne for less than three years in the bottle before shipping, but the "Réserve" gets five years. It is entirely estate-grown by one of the most careful growers in the business. On top of all that, it is made in one of the most modern facilities of any small producer that I have visited. The pressing is done in a €250,000 Coquard Diagonal press, and the fermentation is all done in computer-regulated, temperature-controlled tanks. The result is one of the best apéritif bottles that we sell, toasty and full, yet refreshing and crisp, a perfect balance between aged complexity and youthful vigor. And then there is the price; so fair that Cinnamon and I have had the opportunity to impact the world supply with our consumption! Don't miss it!

Price: $37.99

2012 Le Brun de Neuville "Grand Vintage" Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

The 2012 Grand Vintage from Le Brun de Neuville shows like a great blanc de blanc and is in fact 97.5% Chardonnay, with just a kiss of 2.5% Pinot Noir in the blend. Now that almost all of these great 2012's are gone from the market, we are so happy to get a reload of one that we thought was among the best! With subtle baguette toast and generous white flowers on the nose and great mid palate concentration, this will make fans of the low yielding, top notch 2012 harvest very happy. The finish is fresh and dry and shows off the incredible chalky minerality of the Sezanne sub region of Champagne.

Price: $69.99

2016 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Vintage Release)

By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

I love a good Barolo that leans towards the savory, earthy side, and that is exactly what this wine showcases. Delicious flavors of soft plums, dark cherries, with developed, intriguing notes of laurel, tobacco leaf, tajin, and a touch of paprika. An excellent bottle of wine, and it's ready now!

Price: $34.99

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo Mosconi

By: John Downing | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

When I heard we were receiving a 2021 Barolo from the Mosconi vineyard, I was more than excited. This is a Cru vineyard within the Monforte zone of Barolo and having been there and tasted several wines produced from this fruit, I can attest to the quality and rarity this wine offers. It's a very classic Nebbiolo with vibrant fruit and structured tannins that will be at its best with some extended cellaring. That's not to say it can't be enjoyed at the dinner table now, but a bit of aging will allow the tannins to soften and integrate. Outstanding. Especially at his price!

Price: $37.99

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo

By: John Downing | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

I expect to have to spend a lot more for a 2021 Barolo of this pedigree and quality. It's a textbook example with fragrant aromas of red fruit, tar, florals and mineral. There's plenty of stuffing here with delicious fruit anchored by a layer of fine tannins and ample acidity. Although it can be enjoyed now with some aeration, it's certain to improve with cellaring.

Price: $27.99

2022 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Super Tuscan

By: Lacie Schwarz | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

This Super-Tuscan lets all three of the grapes in this blend sing. The Cabernet Sauvignon, making up the majority of this wine brings dark, black fruits of blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Petit Verdot gives a punch of dried violet and plummy purple fruits. The Cabernet Franc gives way to dust, white pepper and ripe pyrazines. The palate brings some intense structure - rich, but integrated tannin and powerful acidity. This wine could pair with a rare ribeye if the intention is drinking now but will absolutely benefit from some time in the cellar.

Price: $39.99

2016 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Vintage Release)

By: John Downing | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

It's highly unlikely and probably near impossible to find a perfectly aged Barolo from a great vintage at this price. It's a classic Nebbiolo with textbook aromas of cherry, tar and cedar and a soft palate with fully evolved tannins and wonderful acidity. If you've never previously tried Barolo this is the perfect introduction. And for those who enjoy Nebbiolo and are looking for a rare treat, I highly recommend purchasing this outstanding new arrival.

Price: $34.99

2020 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

By: Lacie Schwarz | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Beautiful rustic red-fruit notes of dried cranberry and tart cherry in the foreground. The background brings leather and pepper spice with earthy notes of truffle and dried herbs. The silky texture and integrated tannin make this wine incredibly drinkable now. The acidity, though on the high-side, is not searing, so this wine works as a perfect solo-sipper or could easily pair with something like spaghetti or pizza.

Price: $17.99

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo Mosconi

By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Nose has leather, polish and a whiff of smoke. Palate gives bramble and tart blackberry & cranberry. Good astringent finish leaves you wanting another glass. Enjoy!

Price: $37.99

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo

By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Nose gives more oak than the 2016 Discovery Barolo. Palate has bright red fruit, tanginess suggestive of cream cheese. The herb notes of tarragon & sage are brighter here, as well. Delightful astringency and finish, Wonderful to try with the 2016 side-by-side and see it age, as well.

Price: $27.99

2016 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Vintage Release)

By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

Gorgeous nose with pine, slate, petrichor and mahogany. Perfectly sumptuous palate of mellowed sage & tarragon, cranberry, ripe plum and allspice. Nice astringency and delightful finish. Drink now!

Price: $34.99

2016 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Vintage Release)

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 9/16/2025 | Send Email

There is so much to love about this wine. It bursts from the glass with aromas and flavors of plum, strawberry, blood orange, and burnished leather. The tannins are seamless, perfectly integrated, and give the wine its remarkable balance. It’s a rare treat to find a Barolo that is so ready to drink right now yet still has the potential to evolve beautifully for several more years. Even more impressive is the price—comparable quality and depth haven’t been seen in nearly two decades. Quite simply, one of the best buys in the store—full stop!

Price: $34.99

2020 Collines de l'If, St-Emilion

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 9/15/2025 | Send Email

One of the world’s most collectible wines is the elusive and singular Le Pin, a rare Pomerol that reaches the heights of any given vintage and often trades for $3,000+ per bottle. The mastermind behind that property, Jacques Thienpont, has also been crafting a distinctly inspired Saint-Émilion since 2010: Château L’If. This wine sells for a few hundred dollars and has quickly become an ascendant property, consistently hitting the mark in recent vintages. For those who want to experience a genius at work at a more approachable price, L’If’s second wine, Collines de L’If, delivers in a big way. I love the balance here: it shows the concentration of the 2020 vintage without ever feeling heavy or dense. It shifts beautifully between complexity, structure, and minerality, with a vibrant core of red-to-black fruit, a thread of acidity, and fine, well-managed tannins. A decant is recommended, but this is also a wine to linger over—the way it evolves in the glass is part of its charm. A gorgeous expression of a remarkable winemaker and site, offered for a song, this is a discovery I highly recommend seeking out while it’s available.

Price: Hidden

2016 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Vintage Release)

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 9/15/2025 | Send Email

"This is a very special library release. The 2016 vintage is one of the greatest of our lifetime. A forward-thinking family estate, known for their impeccably balanced and polished Barolos, agreed to release a small parcel of their classic 2016 from their cellars for us. Now with years of perfect cellaring, this wine is entering its prime. The tannins have resolved into silk, revealing complex notes of dried cherry, tar, leather, and cocoa. It is a harmonious, complete, and utterly classic Barolo that is ready to drink tonight. A rare chance to enjoy a perfectly aged wine without having to wait."

Price: $34.99

2015 Nikolaihof "Baumpresse" Riesling Wachau

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 9/14/2025 | Send Email

This classically styled Riesling has become my new favorite. There are scents and flavors of yellow peaches, apricot, honey and lemon cream. Classic oiliness on the palate that coats the tongue without shutting down any of the fantastic flavors. Orange marmalade on the very long and lingering finish. Just wonderful!

Price: $119.99

JS: 96

VN: 95

2023 Allram "Ried Renner" Grüner Veltliner Kamptal

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 9/14/2025 | Send Email

So far, this is my favorite Gruner of the year. A super clean nose with white fruits, citrus, and clean, fresh oak. It is a bit bigger on the palate with mouth-coating pear and lemon cream fruit. For the quality that you get here, the price is pretty spectacular, too. Spectacularly affordable!

Price: Hidden

JS: 92

2017 Trimbach "Cuvée Frédéric Émile" Riesling Alsace

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 9/14/2025 | Send Email

This is the Rolls Royce of Alsatian Rieslings! Nice and salty with lemon zest, key lime, orange, white peach. There are also flavors of Granny Smith apples and fresh, pure honey. Slightly oxidative in the very best way! Long and lingering finish with marvelous complexity and generous mouthfeel. It will keep extremely well for many years to come!

Price: $99.99

2022 Trimbach Riesling Alsace

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 9/14/2025 | Send Email

Who says that delicious Riesling can't be affordable? Not Trimbach! This excellent little bargain has a very pretty nose with some tropical and stone fruit scents and a light touch of classic Riesling petrol. Bright on the palate with fine acidity, crunchy citrus, nectarine and peach. Simply delicious.

Price: $21.99

Sawahime Junmai Gold Sake (720ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 9/13/2025 | Send Email

This sake is super unusual and extremely unique. I find it to be something that would work best as a finishing sake, after a meal with nuts and chocolate or something similar. It is super savory (check that colour!) with a nose of soy sauce, mushrooms, fino sherry, marcona almonds. On the palate, smokey and savory with roasted nuts, brown butter, milk chocolate and caramel apple. So very unusual and tasty! Sake enthusiasts and sake geeks should really check this one out. It stands apart from the pack!

Price: Hidden

Seven Junmai Ginjo (60%) Sake (720ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 9/13/2025 | Send Email

This is (most likely) my favorite sake of 2025, so far. It has an exciting nose of green melon, plantain banana and savory spice. Sooooo interesting! On the palate, medium-bodied, cantaloupe, additional green melon, fresh ginger and light honey. Like the "50", it also retains a long finish of fresh and crisp minerality. I tasted it before hearing of the price and expected it to be well over $100.00. So, the price was a very happy surprise. Very well done!

Price: $86.99

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo Mosconi

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 9/13/2025 | Send Email

This single-vineyard bottling captures all the hallmark texture and structure expected from a prestige site like Mosconi. The nose is explosive, with lifted aromas of shaved pencil, black plum, Maraska cherry, and new saddle leather. The palate is full-bodied, with tannins that are firm yet refined—classic for young Barolo—never overwhelming, but instead caressing and finishing in perfect harmony. A stunner, it offers plenty of immediate appeal while clearly signaling even greater promise with a touch of patience. Bravissimo!

Price: $37.99

2021 Cobb "Doc's Ranch Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 9/12/2025 | Send Email

A gorgeous nose of raspberries and potpourri and tremendous lift on the palate. The acid is bright and focused while the tannins bring a gentle warmth with notes of tea and allspice. if you are looking for a quality pinot noir for a gift or special occasion, this memorable bottling is a fantastic choice.

Price: Hidden

2022 Domaine Durieu "Lucile Avril" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 9/12/2025 | Send Email

This subtle wine brings a mellow, smoky presence. Notes of charcoal, cherry and finishes with a delightful astringence. Superb!

Price: $49.99

JS: 97

JD: 94

RP: 91

2021 Cobb "Doc's Ranch Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 9/11/2025 | Send Email

One of the best experiences I've had here while working at K&L is getting (piling, stepping) into a van with a bunch of my coworkers to drive up to see visionary winemaker Ross Cobb, and listen to him talk about why he loves what he does. His passion, drive, and pride in his life's work just beams out of every single sentence he puts forth. He's more than happy to illustrate some of his past successes at previous wineries, but now he's home at his own place. Doc's Vineyard is a site he's been farming and producing wine from since 2017, and it carries all of the same sensibilities that you find in his Coastlands wines, but the fruit is slightly more elevated and has a touch more intensity. We tasted through all of his wines on our excursion, and this was consistently amongst the top picks of everyone I spoke with. This is a pure and sophisticated style of Pinot Noir that is truly about delivering the most elegant and pretty expression of the grape, while maintaining the racy acidity that true Pinot Noir lovers are looking for and with enough spice to keep you interested, a little gift brought to you by Ross Cobb, who is officially a super cool dude.

Price: Hidden

2020 Evans & Tate "Redbrook Estate" Bordeaux Blend Margaret River Western Australia

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/11/2025 | Send Email

Comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the 2020 Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate is a fantastic example of a juicy yet firmly structed Bordeaux blend from the Margaret River area of Western Australia. Subtle classy French oak notes lend a spicy undertone, and a distinctive green herbal note (mint, tarragon) streaks through the core of the wine. Bottled under screwcap, this is such a fresh and ready-to-drink style of wine that would be the perfect pairing for a casual weeknight dinner. Both this wine and its sibling, the Redbrook Estate Chardonnay, perfectly showcase the Mediterranean climate of this corner of the world and the refined winemaking style of the estate that balances ample ripe fruit with great structure and acidity. These wines are firmly New World, yet made with a distinct nod towards the Old, both deftly avoiding becoming overripe or cloying on the palate.

Price: Hidden

JH: 95

JS: 92

2022 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/11/2025 | Send Email

Hemel-en-Aarde (Afrikaans for “Heaven and Earth”) is a tiny subregion of the Walker Bay district, located in South Africa’s Cape South Coast. Close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and a southerly latitude makes this scenic region a premier cool climate growing area for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and Hamilton Russell is perhaps the benchmark producer here. Since 1976 they have been consistently delivering wines with incredible structure and finesse that rival the best in both the New and Old Worlds. The 2022 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay especially is a gorgeous example of a lean, finely structured Chardonnay, with pithy lemon zest notes and incredibly well-integrated oak. In this part of the world, the Benguela current (much like the Humboldt current in Northern California) cools the ocean which in turn cools the onshore winds that fan across the vineyards. As a result, the wines are incredibly racy, with fantastic tension on the palate. In a blind tasting, you might be forgiven for calling this wine Burgundy! The palate feel is so lean and nimble, with very fine, almost laser like acidity that calls to mind the best of Puligny Montrachet. If you haven’t yet tried a wine from Hamilton Russell, I highly encourage you to pick this one up, especially if you enjoy more mineral-driven styles of Chardonnay. This wine is so sophisticated and classy, it will likely reshape opinions of the potential of South African Chardonnay!

Price: $44.99

2020 Evans & Tate "Redbrook Estate" Chardonnay Margaret River Western Australia

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/11/2025 | Send Email

Margaret River is quickly becoming one of the premier regions in all of Australia for producing world-class Chardonnay, and the Evans and Tate “Redbrook Estate” is another stunning example of the huge potential of this remote region. Margaret River juts out into the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by water to the north, west and south, which helps to moderate the Mediterranean climate with cool evening winds. The warm days are ideal for achieving optimal fruit ripeness, which is evident in this wine, with highly concentrated golden apple, quince and greengage plum notes on the nose. Zesty, citrus-driven acidity immediately follows on the palate, however, lifting the dense core of fruit into a very refreshing finish. In many ways, Chardonnays from Margaret River, this one very much included, balance the best of the New World – high density of pure, ripe fruit – with a distinctly Old World approach to structure. And while this is an oaked style of Chardonnay, with noticeable but well-integrated notes of vanilla and nutmeg, they mostly serve to give the wine serious backbone and depth. Some of the most iconic Chardonnays from Australia now hail from Margaret River, with the price tags to match, but the Evans and Tate delivers serious value, punching above its weight class.

Price: Hidden

JH: 93

JS: 92

2019 Bodegas Casa Juan "Señor de Lesmos" Crianza Rioja (1.5L)

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 9/11/2025 | Send Email

Possibly one of the most consistent and delicious wines we offer from Spain under $15, the 2019 Bodegas Casa Juan “Señor de Lesmos” Crianza Rioja delivers a lot of character and earth-driven complexity for a very modest price. This wine is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo (Carignan), all sourced from old en vaso (head trained) vines, with an average age of forty-five years. The vineyards are farmed organically, and the grapes are hand-harvested. Fermentation takes place in 24,000L concrete tanks, with daily pumpovers to introduce oxygen and preserve aromatics. The wine is then matured in a combination of older French and American oak barrels. Now with over five years of total maturation in barrel and bottle, this wine shows still youthful cranberry and dried cherry notes up front, followed quickly by more savory mushroom, tea leaf and dried oregano. The palate is so classically Old World, with firm but well-integrated tannins and a persistent core of acidity to hold everything together. Unlike Reserva and Gran Reserva styles where the oak often peeks through or even dominates the palate, the focus for this Crianza is pure, red fruit framed by the earthy Rioja terroir. This is simply a tremendous weeknight wine that would pair well with many different foods – pizza, tomato-based pasta sauces, burgers, or even just a charcuterie board. Considering that most wine at this price point has some mechanized production, either in the vineyard or winery, this is an unbeatable price. Handmade, family-owned, organically farmed – what’s not to like?

Price: $24.99

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