Locations
Login
Reviewers
- Matthew Snyder (1)
- - Operations Culver City (1)
- Aaron Hughes (10)
- Adam Winkel (96)
- Alex Pross (787)
- Alex Leonardini (54)
- Andrew Nunes (1)
- Cary Herrman (3)
- David Othenin-Girard (336)
- Dejah Overby (146)
- Gary Lai (55)
- Gary Westby (537)
- Jackson Kelly (9)
- Jacques Moreira (698)
- Jason Marwedel (73)
- Joel Nicholas (29)
- John Flanigan (1)
- John Downing (80)
- John Majeski (295)
- Jonathan Goldstein (2)
- Jonathan Parnell (3)
- Kate Soto (11)
- Keith Mabry (433)
- Kirk Walker (273)
- Lilia McIntosh (44)
- Matthew Landau Hassan (4)
- Michael Benoit (6)
- Michael Pires (14)
- Orazio Campoli (5)
- Rachael Ryan (2)
- Ralph Sands (222)
- Ryan Moses (591)
- Ryan Woodhouse (900)
- Sal Rodriguez (34)
- Scott Turnbull (47)
- Scott Beckerley (302)
- Simon Li (3)
- Tom Martinez (1)
- Will Blakely (27)
K&L Email Alerts
Sign up to receive custom alerts, new arrivals and the latest happenings from K&L Wines
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
2021 l'Esprit de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
Capturing the essence of its renowned sibling, this wine is a superb example of white Bordeaux(70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon). It presents a vibrant nose of lime zest, white grapefruit, and a touch of smoky flint. The palate is energetic and focused, with zinging acidity and intense citrus and stone fruit flavors. It's all wrapped in a subtly creamy texture from about 35% new oak barrels use, delivering exceptional class and value.
2020 Collines de l'If, St-Emilion
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
As the second wine from a famed property, this offers a superb introduction to a legendary Right Bank pedigree. It opens with aromas of lush black cherry, raspberry, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, it is velvety and expressive, showcasing juicy black fruits balanced by fine-grained tannins and a hint of minerality.
Price:
Hidden
2019 Moulin du La Lagune, Haut-Médoc
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
As the second wine from Chateau La Lagune, this Haut-Médoc offers exceptional quality. It opens with inviting aromas of black olive, cassis, and a touch of earthy forest floor. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant, with smooth tannins and a lovely core of fresh blue and black fruits.
2000 La Cabanne, Pomerol
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 9/1/2025 | Send Email
Here is a rare opportunity to enjoy a fully mature Pomerol from a legendary vintage. The bouquet is complex and developed, offering alluring notes of dried plum, black truffle, and dried herb. On the palate, it is exceptionally smooth and resolved, with silky tannins and a wealth of savory, mature fruit flavors like black plum and black cherry. It showcases the classic plush character and pedigree of its appellation, delivering a beautifully expressive drinking experience right now.
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/30/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/30/2025 | Send Email
Our newest Discovery Series release might just be my favorite. On the nose, I first got a whiff of saline quickly followed by dark red fruits, mellow tobacco, a little dill and milk chocolate. On the palate, luscious texture with chocolate cherry, baked cinnamon and rye seed on the finish. At the back of the throat, there is a very nice "tang" of acidity and soft herbs. A very nice introductory release!
Price:
$29.99
2023 Kivelstadt "KC Labs - Never Oaked - Bazzano Vineyard" Russian River Valley Chardonnay
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/30/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/30/2025 | Send Email
Something I'm constantly asked for at K&L is unoaked Chardonnay. So many folks it seems are looking for a nice bottle of Chardonnay and all the deliciousness that grape provides, but without a big imprint of oaky-buttery richness. Sure there's a time and a place for a powerful, rich, barrel fermented Chardonnay, but the variety can also produce, crisp, bright, refreshing white wine without all that "makeup". That's exactly what we have here. Not only is this a juicy, bright, delicious easy drinking unoaked Chardonnay, but it also happens to be from one single, organically farmed vineyard in the heart of the ultra-premium Russian River Valley. Bazzano Vineyard, also known as Lorenzo Vineyard, was planted in 1974, these old, Wente Clone vines grow in sandy clay loam soils and produce concentrated and flavorful fruit. Kivelstadt is a small winery based in the Sonoma side of Carneros. (They have a phenomenal restaurant called Bloom if you're ever in the area and need a bite to eat.) Winemaker Luke Nio has great wineries such as Bedrock Wine Co, plus Green & Red on his resume, and is very talented. If you're looking for an inexpensive, everyday, easy-drinking bottle of Chardonnay that doesn't cut any corners with the quality of fruit or small-batch winemaking, you've come to the right place! With our massive Insider's Advantage discount this is a total no-brainer.
Price:
$9.95
2023 Vinos del Viento "Aventura" Campo de Borja
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
This is a killer deal for the price! Made from a somewhat unlikely blend of Garnacha, Syrah, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, all fermented in concrete, this is a light-to-medium-bodied wine that is juicy, approachable, and bursting with wild raspberry, iris and violet. A spicy black peppercorn note follows quickly on the heels of all those pretty floral and berry aromatics. Almost reminiscent of a Beaujolais Village in structure and feel, a bright and refreshing acidity backs up the palate. This should be a serious contender for your new favorite house wine, as it’s so friendly and exuberant on its own, though a little bit of charcuterie would be fantastic alongside, too.
Price:
Hidden
2017 Trimbach "Cuvée Frédéric Émile" Riesling Alsace
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
One of the great, long-standing producers in Alsace, Trimbach is renowned for producing chiseled Rieslings that age beautifully and consistently over-deliver given their price. The Frédéric Émile offering is sourced from two Grand Cru vineyards: Geisberg and Osterberg, which, when blended together, create an amazing wine. Deep, full, and complex, the 2017 Trimbach “Cuvée Frédéric Émile” Riesling stuns from the first sniff of the glass all the way to the long, multi-faceted finish. If you want a truly spectacular white wine with a little age on it and in a perfect drinking window, then you owe it to yourself to grab a few bottles of this amazing elixir!
2019 La Rioja Alta "Viña Ardanza" Reserva Rioja
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
Rioja has seen massive changes over the past few decades, but La Rioja Alta has remained true to the course, known for their traditional style and reliably high level of quality. They are simply one of the most classic and iconic wineries of the region, releasing exceptional wines vintage after vintage. For most of Rioja’s history, wines were aged for several years in American oak barrels, leading to savory flavors and aromas such as saddle leather, dried dill, coconut husk and tobacco that are now considered by many to be the classic markers of the region. In recent decades, however, many wineries have chosen to make more internationally styled wines, swapping American oak for French oak or eschewing oak altogether. Additionally, some wineries have opted to leave the Crianza-Reserva-Gran Reserva system, instead opting for their wines to be labelled as simply Rioja. In the face of this change, La Rioja Alta has continued to release wines with extended aging in American oak barrel as well as bottle. In fact, the winery operates their own cooperage to ensure that their barrels are crafted exactly to their standards. The 2019 Viña Ardanza is a testament to this dedication and such a classic snapshot into the history of this storied region! Marching straight out of the glass with aromas of red plum, dried strawberry and a plentitude of dried green herbs (dill, oregano), this wine is a savory explosion of flavors on the palate, all framed by spicy cedar, porcini mushroom and tea leaf. Given the high level of complexity and almost umami-like character of the wine, this is an ideal pairing for barbeque or a simple grilled steak. It also calls to mind autumn and sweater weather, with its dried, fallen leaf undertones – perfect to open for those first, cool evenings of fall!
Verde (Momento) Amarás Mezcal (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
I first stumbled across the Verde Momento (now called Verde Amarás) at an excellent bar called "Guilty" in Guadalajara. This city is vibrant, complex, and cosmopolitan, filled with excellent food and highbrow cocktail stops alongside old-school saloons, bad tourist traps, and well-worn corners where some of the world's finest tacos are slung. When I saw the wild label across the bar, I imagined that this must be some new boutique, ultra-limited mezcal, but when the bartender reached for it to prepare my cocktail, I realized that this might just be something more attainable. Turns out the loud labels (and they are striking) aren't the only thing shocking about this new brand. It's both affordable and delicious. The idea is to highlight Mexican artists through artisanal mezcal. Each batch will feature a set of new labels by Mexican artists, so there will eventually be hundreds of labels for Verde Momento. The brand calls itself a "tribute to agave's sexual energy, concentrated over 8 years." For $30 I'm in. Easily one of the best values in the shop and soon to be one of the best-looking bottles on your back bar. Bottle depicted is one of many different labels. We are unable to search for certain labels, so it's luck of the draw.
Price:
$24.99
Isle of Harris Sugar Kelp Infused Gin (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/29/2025 | Send Email
Never judge a book by its cover, they say, unless it’s gorgeously appointed and unrivaled in its beauty, I’d add. There is no question that in the booze business, your bottle is nearly as important as the stuff that goes in it. Indeed, it was the striking package that drew my eye to this product on the backbar of a Glasgow pub five years ago. I asked to see the bottle and realized that this was not some crass, overdesigned marketing exercise. This was a legitimate and thoughtfully crafted Scottish gin with a character unlike any other I’d tasted. One sniff out of that bottle and I knew I needed to have this stuff – EVERY DAY if possible, but for one massive hurdle. The tiny distillery on the far-flung island in the outer Hebrides was already struggling to keep up with local demand, and the incredible care in the design of the bottle meant that creating a bottle suitable for the US market, which only recently allowed the sale of spirits in 700ml bottles, was next to impossible. So, we waited. I staged a relentless campaign with emails and phone calls to the distillery to make clear our interest. And when this special product final popped up with a small distributor, I bought every single bottle they had on hand. I’ve called this the next great Scottish Gin, and I truly believe that. It offers a complex expression of flavors that are perfectly balanced and wildly appealing. The nose is an ever-evolving explosion of aromas beginning with an ocean breeze. This sensation of being near the sea is so distinct, one must experience it to understand. On second nosing, a flutter of citrus and a deep whole pepper note give way to a bright piney character before the sweet, earthy aromas of licorice, Orris, and cassia come online. The underlying sweetness balances the subtle salinity perfectly on the palate. Of course, no sugar added here, and perhaps it is psychosomatic, but the sugar kelp seems to give it a voluptuous richness that balances the savory perfectly. And while this is slightly lower proof than I usually like in a gin, the texture and balance seem to be perfectly suited for the gin's character. Altogether one of my favorite products to drink, hands down from any category. Plus, that bottle is so beautiful. Now one of the best values for artisanal hand crafted gin in the store as well!
Price:
$44.99
2019 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Malbec
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
If you associate Malbec with big "fruit bomb" style wines, think again. This Malbec from Farella Estate has more in common with a fine Cahors. Concentrated and dark, with black fruits, herbs, rustic earth and a nice top palate of clean tannin. Long finish of blackberries and dried herbs. Nicely complex and very drinkable. As a bonus, it should cellar very well for another 5 plus years.
Price:
$29.95
Wild Turkey 8 Year Old 101 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
You know, can we have a little bit more respect for Wild Turkey? I've seen some of the bourbon bros roll their eyes a little bit when it's suggested, I get that you feel like you've had it before, that it's not as exciting as the quadruple cask finish cask strength bottling you managed to get from a buddy for just twice MSRP, but please let's take a closer look at this. This is 8 years old and comes it at just $5/year, which is pretty phenomenal when you look at the state of other age statement whiskies and the price direction they're going. The nose is super inviting, a little bit of brown sugar, peppery spice, something a little creamy, and then just a little hit of zest and dill. The palate is rich and super pretty, lil custard, a fair rich bit of barrel spice, more pepper, and then toast on the lingering finish. This is just delicious and impeccably done, a bounty of bourbon for your buck.
Price:
$39.99
2019 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Merlot
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
Think that you know what Merlot is all about? Once you taste the Merlot's from Farella, that notion will be put on its head. This marvelous, and very nicely priced Merlot is a winner for complexity and interest. The nose is dark, with red and black fruits, smoky cherry and some savory spices. In the mouth, quite complex with black cherries, blackberry, loam, cedar wood, more savory spices. Quite Pomerol-like!
2022 Léoville-Poyferré, St-Julien
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
An absolute stunner from Léoville-Poyferré, it’s no surprise this is once again a 100-point wine in 2022 and one of the champions of an extraordinary vintage. What they do so well here is craft a genuine, terroir-driven St-Julien with polish and finesse—concentrated enough to promise decades of aging, yet with an accessible profile that makes it endlessly delicious throughout its life.
The 2022 vintage perfectly complements their style: rich but never overblown, decadent yet fresh. Aromatically, a mélange of florals and black fruits leads the way, but it’s the palate that makes it undeniable—waves of cassis, blackberry, and plum carry remarkable weightless density, lifted by vibrant acidity and finishing long, with fruit, minerality, and ultra-fine tannins in seamless balance.
Whether compared to the famed 2009 and 2010 or to peers at the very top of the Left Bank, 2022 Léoville-Poyferré also delivers tremendous value as a long-term collectible. Congratulations to the Cuvelier family on another signature success—continuing a remarkable run of excellence over the past few decades.
Laurent-Perrier "Héritage" Brut Champagne
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/28/2025 | Send Email
This release from Laurent-Perrier is absolutely stunning in every way I want it to be stunning. The nose is incredibly pretty but also very deep, with a breadth that is just really impressive. There are touches of jasmine, orange-blossom honey, lemon curd, and dried pineapple all accompanied by a combination of ripe green pear and crisp green apple and a really soft and pillowy brioche. This is the kind of wine that you just pause and soak in the aroma for a few minutes before even taking the first sip, the whole bouquet is just that enchanting. The palate is a touch robust, with a kaleidoscopic depth that pulls you down and almost tries to drown you, there's just so much going on. There's fresh and candied citrus, more crisp apple, and a saline sort of nuttiness like in a Manzanilla sherry. This is just absolutely divine and I want to do an exploratory sort of dinner where it's just a ton of different appetizers and finger foods while you drink a couple bottles of this. Bite after bite each compared with the last pairing, sipping in-between and over the food to try it every which way, chatting with each other about your favorite little mixes. That's the kind of experience this Champagne merits, and you'll be doing yourself the dirtiest of disservices if you don't at least give one a try, maybe two to be safe.
2009 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
Prime evolution on this wine showing pretty notes of mulled blackberries, cherry compote and milk chocolate. A touch of fresh tilled earth and a hint of truffle are forming in the back lending savory notes to round out the wine. This is showing great balance and is one of the best buys in the category for drink now status. You cannot beat this price for the level of character this wine offers.
Price:
$14.99
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
Classic notes of black cherry and chocolate spotlight the Merlot side and currants and sage highlight the depth Cabernet Franc can lend to the picture. Great texture with supple tannins. Terrific youthful drinking Pomerol that should evolve beautifully for another half dozen years or more.
Price:
$29.99
Laurent-Perrier "Héritage" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
This silky, complex, yet super easy to drink champagne is like a baby Grande Siècle. I love the Chassagne-Montrachet like nuttiness, and how well contrasted it is with the fresh citric component of this multi-faceted champagne. It took considerable patience to make, as the oldest part of this wine is now 11 years old and the youngest 6! If you love the tiny streamers and hidden complexity of tete de cuvée bottlings, this is a must try, especially given the value!
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol
By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
The next entry in our Discovery Series is this 2019 Pomerol. Now, I do not know who made it, but the thing is Pomerol is a small area, and no matter where this comes from it is in great company. Given that production levels in Pomerol are limited across the board, the fact that we were able to secure any juice is impressive, let alone that we're selling for at this price. Pomerol is on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, and home to some of the finest Merlot in the world, so the expectations here are very high. This wine is rich and full of luscious red fruit, yet still an elegant wine. There's earthiness and minerality, cocoa, violets, and mushroom. It is complex and with some tannins on the back-end, so definitely one with aging potential if you are so inclined. This is just a great introduction to Pomerol and at a price you never see for wines from there. And no matter how nicely I ask, they just won't tell me who the actual producer is, so your guess is as good as mine.
Price:
$29.99
Arette Artesanal K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Añejo Suave Tequila (750ml)
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
While I haven't done as many reviews for them, it's no secret here at work that I love spirits. All of them. Start to finish. Tequila is something that my dad Dave and I have always been able to agree on and I've already decided I'm getting him a bottle of this for his birthday. There's a really pretty nose, there's touches of vanilla and coconut from the barrel, agave that's just a touch herbal and really alluring, and then some little hints of warm spices towards the edges. The palate is punchy and intense in the best of ways, a good dose of spice at the finish, but the mid-palate is really lifted and super beautiful with how round it is, the mouthfeel off the charts enjoyable and while there is higher proof here it carries it with panache. This is absolutely top notch, and the kind of Tequila that you buy your Dad for his birthday.
Price:
Hidden
Paladar Estate Grown K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #A22 Añejo Tequila (750ml)
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
This Tequila was cut before being barreled, so the water that would have been added anyhow was put in and aged with the spirit instead of being added just before bottling, this is a fairly unique process in part due to the fact that it requires more barrels and more space to hold the same amount of overall proof, and ultimately most businesses are into being more economical especially with things as expensive as barrels. The result here, whatever the process, is absolutely stunning and I have found myself in a situation where I think I'm going to end up buying my dad, Dave, two bottles of Tequila for his birthday this year. I'm sure he won't be upset by that. The nose feels a little round, with really pretty coconut and tropical fruit showing through, accompanied by a little spiced vanilla and some cooked agave. The palate is really really tasty, a good amount of sweet agave, some dried pineapple, kind of a spiced rice pudding kind of flavor and a touch of minerality on the finish. This is really tasty, kind of makes me regret I never picked up one of their regular bottlings before, but I definitely certify this also as the kind of Tequila you buy your Dad for his birthday.
Price:
$84.99
2005 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
Our Discovery Series has arrived! At the core of this program is a mission to showcase wines of impeccable quality, unmistakable regional typicité, and exceptional value. As I often say, we’re not just placing a label on someone’s latest release—we’re curating standout selections from our deep, trusted network of sources. Each wine must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup.
2005 Bordeaux is more elusive by the day, now that it has hit its twentieth anniversary. Well, for a dollar per year, you can experience a brilliant example of this famed vintage, only with K&L's Discovery Series. The boldness of the vintage is apparent, but there's a softer, mature edge to this rendition that will thrill classic claret fans and those looking for a bit more of an aromatic and earthy expression, while the abundant fruit of the '05 vintage takes center stage. There's good structure here too—I find myself thinking of food pairings immediately when tasting this wine. This bottling was created not only as a great value and an exemplary version of St-Emilion, but one that puts the growing season center stage. And what a season it was, as the 2005s have become some of the region's greats over the years. Now that we finally have it in bottle and on our shelves, I couldn't be more excited with how our 2005 bottling turned out. It is examples like these, wines you'll find nowhere else, at simply stunning prices, that are at the heart of our Discovery Series.
Price:
$19.99
2009 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/27/2025 | Send Email
Our Discovery Series has arrived! At the core of this program is a mission to showcase wines of impeccable quality, unmistakable regional typicité, and exceptional value. As I often say, we’re not just placing a label on someone’s latest release—we’re curating standout selections from our deep, trusted network of sources. Each wine must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup.
And speaking of high bars, we just set the standard for remarkable value in the Discovery Series, with a delicious St-Emilion with over fifteen years of bottle age for under $15. As Clyde likes to say, only a dollar a year, which is an incredibly high standard at any stage in the game. I adored this opportunity when we first tasted it, and through tough negotiations, and even after a round of tariffs, I'm still shocked that we're able to offer a wine this solid, with this kind of age, all for this price. It is a generous expression of St-Emilion, but the broad, delicious quality of the vintage also shines through. Approaching maturity with a long life ahead, it carries beautiful aromatics of red fruits, leather, and florals, with a palate that has a core of plum and cassis, wild berry, and a soft, easygoing finish. Everything is in place, and I'm certain there's not a better buy in today's market for a perfectly aged Bordeaux from a signature vintage.
Price:
$14.99
Engine Italian Gin (750ml)
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
You said you're looking for high quality Italian gin... in an old timey oil can? Sure we can do that. Let me introduce you to Engine Italian Gin, the only gin we currently carry that's in an old timey oil can. It's got these incredibly layers of citrus on the nose that are all being buoyed by this really lovely sage note and then at the very edges is the rose coming through powdery and pretty. This dances a bit of a line, because while there's a lot of citrus here, there's also a good amount of floral notes so it's a little bit of a switch hitter. This definitely feels like a more modern style of London Dry gin, where Juniper is less the star of the show and the secondary aromatics come out, but I'm here for it. The palate is very citrus forward, the sage and rose laying back a bit on the palate until the very end of the finish. This is delicious and I want to have this in a G&T with a slice of cucumber and a healthy squeeze of lime or maybe even lemon to go with all the Sicilian citrus already steeped into this bad boy.
Price:
$29.99
Isle of Harris Sugar Kelp Infused Gin (750ml)
By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
A product so instantly appealing that it became an overnight sensation, Isle of Harris Gin exceeds expectations in every metric. The remote distillery quietly distills some of the finest spirit in the Scottish Isles, and while their whisky only recently came on the scene, their gin has been a longtime favorite of everyone lucky enough to taste it. Classic hallmarks of good quality gin like fresh citrus, juniper and roots are held aloft by the exquisite distillate. The mouthwatering texture and salinity amplify other flavors beautifully, resulting in the best version of whatever cocktail in which you use this. Of course, it fares well in a martini, or with soda or tonic and a twist of your favorite citrus, but rarely have I so enjoyed sipping gin neat or with a slight chill. And with gorgeous packaging to boot, Harris Gin should be on everyone's home bar. Considering this originally cost $60, you can't afford not to buy it.
Price:
$44.99
2023 Matthiasson "Linda Vista Vineyard" Napa Valley Chardonnay
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
The marvelous thing about Matthiasson wines is that they are pure, snappy and lower alcohol. All the better to keep things fresh. Which is what this Chardonnay certainly is. Bright, with lemon citrus and lemon meringue flavors. Green apples, light (and clean) oak, a touch of stone fruit. Normal 12% alcohol! Clean, pretty, and extremely refreshing!
2014 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Merlot (Winery Direct Library Release)
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/26/2025 | Send Email
If you think of Merlot as being either a fruit bomb or green bell pepper bomb, look elsewhere. Farella Estate makes some of the best Merlot and Melor blends outside of Pomerol. The nose of full of bittersweet chocolate, earth, herbs, and dry red plums. On the palate, dark red fruits with dried herbs, cedar wood and savory spice. This is from an era before the whole "fruit bomb" style took over and Combsville is the perfect area for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot!
2021 Castello di Ama "L'Apparita" Toscana
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/25/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/25/2025 | Send Email
The 2021 Castello di Ama "L'Apparita" is a monumental wine, a true benchmark for 100% Merlot in Italy and one of the most iconic Super Tuscans ever created. First produced in 1985, "L'Apparita" was a groundbreaking achievement, proving that the high-altitude, clay-limestone terroir of Gaiole in Chianti could produce a Merlot to rival the greatest in the world, including those from Pomerol.
The 2021 vintage is being hailed as one of the finest in recent memory, known for its perfect balance of ripeness, structure, and vibrant acidity. Sourced from the top of the tiny, 3.84-hectare Bellavista vineyard, the Merlot vines here yield a wine of incredible concentration and finesse.
The nose is a soaring and complex tapestry of black cherry, ripe plum, and cassis, seamlessly woven with notes of violet, graphite, and sweet tobacco. The palate is rich and velvety, with a core of dense dark fruit supported by a framework of polished, fine-grained tannins and a remarkable freshness that keeps the wine energetic and poised. The finish is exceptionally long and mineral-driven.
For those curious about a single-varietal Super Tuscan, it truly doesn’t get better than this. The 2021 is a perfect expression from a perfect vintage—a stunning, powerful, yet graceful wine built for the long haul. It is a true collector's item that will evolve beautifully for two to three decades. Just stunning.
2005 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 8/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 8/24/2025 | Send Email
2005 was "undoubtably Bordeaux's year," and the wines from St-Emilion shined especially bright. For fans of the Right Bank's Merlot based blends, 2005 is THE year. Like it's 2009 counterpart, the K&L Discovery Series St-Emilion is a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. At 20 years old, the '05 is a mature wine, a classic old school Bordeaux showing the depth, precision, and character of the vintage and St-Emilion. This was so easy to drink I forgot how old it was! Powerful, structured, and savory, the 2005 hits all the marks.
Price:
$19.99
2009 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 8/24/2025 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 8/24/2025 | Send Email
K&L's Discovery series continues with two offerings from Bordeaux's St-Emilion, a Right Bank area known for its lush, rich full-bodied Merlot based blends. The 2009 is 90% Merlot, with 5% dollops of Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon to add depth and structure. 2009 was a "legendary" vintage in Bordeaux, producing consistently excellent wines throughout the region. "Big, bold, and lavish," the 2009s are just now hitting their prime drinking window. The 2009 Discovery Series St-Emilion has all the hallmarks of the vintage, and its ripe sweet fruit, spice, and tertiary notes have reached a delectable old school equilibrium - black licorice, dark plums, mocha, chocolate, earth, dark berries, and crushed rocks. If you want to discover St-Emilion wines, 2009 is a great place to start.
Price:
$14.99
2015 Bodegas Casa Juan "Señor de Lesmos" Reserva Rioja (1.5L)
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
A longstanding K&L customer favorite, the 2015 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja is back in stock and tasting better than ever! Composed of the same blend as the Crianza Rioja (85% Tempranillo; 15% Mazuelo), this Reserva Rioja is a barrel selection by owner/winemaker Angel Escudero. He identifies barrels of the Crianza that he feels show more complexity and concentration and are able to withstand extended aging. These wines then spend a total of 27 months in barrel, before being racked to concrete tanks where they spend another year aging before being bottled and aged even further. Now with 10 years of age, the 2015 Reserva Rioja is shows a panoply of ripe, slightly desiccated red fruit (plum, strawberry) notes, backed up by wonderfully savory, earthy aromatics of mushroom, cedar, tobacco and subtle black licorice. This wine is so classically Rioja, herbaceous and woodsy on the palate, with a long and lingering finish. Considering this wine is almost a full decade old and still singing, this is an incredible value at under $20. Add in that the estate is family owned, and the vines are averaging forty-five years old, you’d be hard pressed to find many other comparable wines at this price point in Rioja.
Price:
$37.99
2015 Bodegas Casa Juan "Señor de Lesmos" Reserva Rioja
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
A longstanding K&L customer favorite, the 2015 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja is back in stock and tasting better than ever! Composed of the same blend as the Crianza Rioja (85% Tempranillo; 15% Mazuelo), this Reserva Rioja is a barrel selection by owner/winemaker Angel Escudero. He identifies barrels of the Crianza that he feels show more complexity and concentration and are able to withstand extended aging. These wines then spend a total of 27 months in barrel, before being racked to concrete tanks where they spend another year aging before being bottled and aged even further. Now with 10 years of age, the 2015 Reserva Rioja is shows a panoply of ripe, slightly desiccated red fruit (plum, strawberry) notes, backed up by wonderfully savory, earthy aromatics of mushroom, cedar, tobacco and subtle black licorice. This wine is so classically Rioja, herbaceous and woodsy on the palate, with a long and lingering finish. Considering this wine is almost a full decade old and still singing, this is an incredible value at under $20. Add in that the estate is family owned, and the vines are averaging forty-five years old, you’d be hard pressed to find many other comparable wines at this price point in Rioja.
Price:
$19.99
Petiau "Cuvée Prestige" Brut Champagne
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
A top cuvée at this price? Incredible. Predominantly Chardonnay, it delivers tropical flavors that play beautifully with the toasty, doughy autolytic notes. Day one, vibrant and refreshing, with hints of pineapple shortbread, honeysuckle, and lemon curd. Day two, the wine develops softer notes of yellow pears, chalk, and jasmine. Cheers!
Price:
$49.99
Fallet-Dart Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 8/22/2025 | Send Email
On my days off, I find myself drinking plenty of sparkling Rosé. Fortunately, direct-import Champagne continues to be one of our strongest categories, where exceptional quality meets great value. This refreshing, crushable Rosé from Fallet Dart is a prime example. It opens with vibrant notes of strawberry preserves on toast, juicy cantaloupe, and ripe peaches, layered with delicate rosewater and a subtle salinity on the finish. Hard to put down on day one, even more intriguing on day two, when it revealed a softer texture and a more nuanced expression.
Price:
$39.99
2023 Giuseppe Quintarelli Bianco Secco Cà del Merlo
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/21/2025 | Send Email
The Amarone winery produces an exclusive white wine that combines dryness with aromatic and textural characteristics.
2020 Gloria, St-Julien
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/21/2025 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/21/2025 | Send Email
Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc that aged 14 months in 40% new oak. Incredible pricing aside, the 2020 Gloria was a grin-inducing standout during a recent staff tasting with its soft, silky, and seductive mouthfeel. The flavors are fresh and vibrant—cassis, red-fleshed plum, black cherries, rose petals, with a hint of just-picked herbs bolstered by black tea tannins. A subtle sanguine note on its delightfully lengthy finish makes me glad to be alive—wines like this make my heart skip a beat—a glorious Gloria!
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
It is very exciting to taste our very first Discovery series Bordeaux release from my favorite village, Pauillac. Home village to so many magnificent vineyards. It has a textbook Pauillac nose of pencil lead, dark red cassis, bitter cocoa and tobacco. On the palate, quite the mouthful! Rich and well-rounded fruit with additional dose of dark red cassis, black plum, hard black licorice candy and a creamy texture. This after being open (and tried) over two days. It is such a wonderful bargain which you can match with so many foods from a steak sauteed in butter to classic barbecue ribs or a roasted vegetable stew. Don't wait too long to try it and buy it. I'm looking forward to seeing what the other villages of this series offer up as they arrive!
Price:
$29.99
2005 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
Like the 2009 version of this wine, the 2005 is definitely "old school" style. The nose is dominated by earth, exotic spices, black licorice, and tanned leather. On the palate, dry and tangy with sauteed mushrooms, tart cranberry and cherry fruit, mild spice at the tip of the tongue. The finish is long with very dry tannins. Quite the example of a 20-year-old Bordeaux with a very small price.
Price:
$19.99
2009 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
This new Discovery Series of Bordeaux (with Italian wines on the way, as well!) is a real treat for affordability and a look at terroir. In the case of this 2009, it's all about old school scents and flavors. There is a nose of deep and dark black cherries, with anise seed, earth, tobacco and a light touch of spearmint. In the mouth, quite rich and easy to drink with baked cherries, creamy oak, some tart tannins at the back of the throat. The finish lingers at the tip of the tongue with dried cranberry flavors. Quite a bit of wine for the price!
Price:
$14.99
Compass Box Bespoke Culver & Sepulveda + 5th & Harrison + Secrets of Smoke Limited Edition Pack (3x700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
Compass Box has always been near and dear to our hearts and there are few whisky makers in the world more innovative. We have supported them from the very beginning and this limited edition bundle was an opportunity too good to pass up. Three bottles of truly exceptional Scotch at an astounding value, essentially the equivalent of taking $140 off your tab when you buy the set. More importantly, it is the only way to access the very last of 5th & Harrison II, while also adding an outstanding bonus bottle to the lineup. You do not need to take only our word for it either, as Whisky Advocate rated it 93 points and Drinks Hacker gave it an A-, making it one of the most highly acclaimed blended malts in years. “The Secrets of Smoke” is everything a peat lover dreams of while still offering remarkable fruit, reminiscent of the great sweetly peated whiskies of decades past. Fans of old Lagavulin Distillers Edition will immediately recognize the kinship. The nose bursts with roasted fruit—grilled peaches, pineapple, roasted lemon—woven into creosote, tar, exotic oils, hemp rope, and honeyed nuts. The palate is brilliantly composed, balancing purple fruit with the deep peat, framed by vanilla, spiced sugar, blueberry pie, garam masala, and pine, all layered over a pillowing haze of smoke. It is an absolutely gorgeous whisky and a fitting sendoff to our friend James Saxon, who guided this release as one of his final Compass Box projects.
Price:
$380.00
2023 Orin Swift "Sign of the Times" California Red Blend
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/20/2025 | Send Email
When I first heard there was a brand-new, very limited-edition Orin Swift wine from Dave Phinney, I assumed it would be just a few six-packs of something expensive and unattainable. When I learned it was a Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with Petite Sirah and Grenache, I stuck to that assumption!
So imagine my (pleasant) surprise when I discovered the retail price was under $30—and it already had a strong write-up from Decanter. Thankfully, as longtime supporters of Orin Swift (dating back to the very first vintages), we secured a larger allocation than most, so we’re offering it first to our mailing list.
What didn’t surprise me was the wine itself: classic Phinney. Bold, powerful, luxurious fruit with a rich, silky texture—and actually more balance and refinement than many might expect. The label is very much in keeping with the Orin Swift aesthetic, though it’s interesting to note it was AI-generated, a perfect match for the wine’s name, Sign of the Times.
Fans of Orin Swift will find plenty to love here, and at this price, it delivers remarkable value. We’ve been warned this wine will come and go quickly—so grab some while you can.
2021 l'Esprit de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
This is definitely a little bit classier of a nose than some of the other Bordeaux blancs that I've tried lately, nothing against them, they were all super delicious but the well-integrated oak in the back just elevates it a little bit more and helps round on the Sauvignon Blanc heavy blend as well. Crisp green apples, white flowers, lemon zest, and chalk round out the nose. The palate is super refreshing and yet still quite deep, really great chalky minerality with a little bit of a saline finish, all present fruit first with juicy lemon, underripe green apple, and quince all work together. Then, last but not least, the barrel spice on the very finish makes all the flavors feel complete. This is just such a delicious bottle of wine and people really need to start drinking more Bordeaux blanc, they're all so good and range from super approachable to yummy yummers.
2023 Lions de Suduiraut Blanc Sec Bordeaux Blanc
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
Ah, after reviewing the reds I get to treat myself to reviewing the Bordeaux whites. This has such a really lovely nose, there's a lot of citrus but also the promise of something a little bit more tropical in the back before the lemon finally comes in. I really love these blends that are a little more Semillon heavy the way it translates to the mouthfeel is so nice, a heavy sort of waxy roundness that makes it feel luxurious. The palate is more grapefruit and white peach, with a really refreshing acidity and just enough pithiness to be interesting and help this pair with that many more dishes. This is just a great $20 bottle of wine, no matter where it's from, and definitely belongs on your summer white wine rotation list which you've definitely made by now.
2016 Larrivet Haut-Brion Rouge, Pessac-Léognan
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
Reviewing these wines back to back to back is so great, it gives me such a wonderful feel for those more subtle differences between otherwise similar wine and is such a real treat to be able to do. The fruit on this one is definitely higher tones, there's ripe raspberry, red cherry, and really intense sort of dusty cocoa+coffee earthen note in the very back but kind of shoving its way forward. Along with that, I get some rosehips and a little bit of sweet pomegranate in the very back, just bringing everything together and rounding it out. The palate is inky and chewy, but with just a little hint of that sweeter mashed raspberry red fruit in the very front and in the finish. The tannins are nice and already calming down and lining up, integrating themselves very politely. The acidity is really nice, helping to push the whole palate forward and giving it a little bit more fruit on the finish. This is really nice and with a touch more intensity than some of the others I've tried recently.
2020 Collines de l'If, St-Emilion
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/19/2025 | Send Email
It's so crazy to me how wines made within miles of each other can sometimes feel so different. Bordeaux itself is roughly 63 miles north to south and 78 miles east to west, and there's so many wines that are so individual and distinct despite their similarities. This is the second 2020 I've tried in a row, this one roughly 20 miles away from the other and it feels kind of night and day different, but in a really good and interesting way. The fruit on the nose is dark and a little dusty, with a generous sprinkling of dark cocoa, a little touch of leather and a light little touch of black olive in the background. On another nosing, the cocoa is coming across more like black coffee, but it's the same basic idea there's something rich and a little bitter hiding in there. The palate is rich and dark, the fruit is a little chewy, with a slightly grippy but really well developed and integrated tannin profile. The fruit is black and a little inky, quickly moving into more savory dark cocoa and cedar notes a little bit of a green herbal bitterness in the very back gives it a roundness and kind of uplifted presence that will make this such a quintessential food wine. I want to have this with something braised, maybe a stew or just some really well lacquered short ribs, and then something rich like a Robuchon potatoes, or just a stick of butter. Definitely approachable already, but wants a reasonably long decant, open it up and decant it at lunch and then have it at dinner. Perfect.
Price:
Hidden
2023 Kivelstadt "KC Labs - Never Oaked - Bazzano Vineyard" Russian River Valley Chardonnay
By: Lacie Schwarz | Review Date: 8/18/2025 | Send Email
By: Lacie Schwarz | Review Date: 8/18/2025 | Send Email
While this wine is hazy in the glass, it isn't accompanied by your typical "Natural wine" funkiness. Bright notes of white flowers, Meyer Lemon and green apple on the palate - but what you don't find is any oak - this wine was entirely fermented and aged in stainless steel. Organic practices, indigenous yeasts and limited intervention make this wine perfect for natural wine lovers; fresh fruit, a clean and pristine nose and no "funk" make this wine perfect for everyone else. This wine punches way above its $9.95 price point.
Price:
$9.95
Petiau "Cuvée Prestige" Brut Champagne
By: John Majeski | Review Date: 8/16/2025 | Send Email
By: John Majeski | Review Date: 8/16/2025 | Send Email
Zelda promised to meet me at the 5th Street marina with an icy bottle of Petiau Cuvee Prestige Brut champagne that I asked her to pick up, told her we had something 'big' to celebrate. I waited an hour, then two, but she never showed. I figured DA Wetherby got wind of the arrangement and would make his appearance soon enough, with or without Zelda in tow. Now facing the music, I regretted asking her to bring the champagne, as its delightfully crisp, brilliant Chardonnay nose, deepened by long lees aging, arresting flavors of apple, lemon zest, creamed pears and chalky mineral notes would probably never touch my lips.
Price:
$49.99
Fallet-Dart Brut Rosé Champagne
By: John Majeski | Review Date: 8/16/2025 | Send Email
By: John Majeski | Review Date: 8/16/2025 | Send Email
Over the last several years we’ve watched the festive appeal and allure of rosé champagnes swell and multiply, likely because they offer such attractive versatility and red fruit flavors to complement cuisines from Caribbean-inspired pork dishes to deep-fried tempura. And fortunately we carry a range of superb styles to cover every budget. This direct-import rosé is a riveting, fruity version with a blend of Pinot Noir and Meunier fermented in both tank and French oak, aged for a minimum of three years before disgorging. Aromas of strawberry, citrus fruits and peach merge into a tantalizing palate of grapefruit and pomegranate with an undertow of spice, minerality and toasted brioche.
Price:
$39.99
Wild Turkey 8 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" TY-Q 5th Floor Single Barrel 24-6130 Kentucky Straight RyeWhiskey
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
When I visited Wild Turkey in 2017, I had the chance to taste some 10-year-old rye straight from the barrel with Eddie and Bruce Russell (braggy name-drop, I know. But it was pretty cool). At the time, I asked if I could get a private barrel of the rye, and they were a bit tight-lipped about it. Apparently, these were extremely limited back then - maybe only ten released per year. Oh well.
The fact is, Wild Turkey doesn’t make much rye, especially compared to the other big Kentucky producers. Their 101 rye is a bartender favorite, and the Russell’s Reserve rye has its own devoted following. Last year, though, they seemed to open things up, and we here at K&L were lucky enough to land this fantastic barrel.
This 8-year, 9-month-old whiskey is a beautiful expression of the Lawrenceburg legend, made with a 51/37/12 mashbill that uses as little rye as legally allowed. The nose is fruity, with peaches, bananas, and cherries rising to the surface. Milk chocolate brownies and a touch of chamomile round out the aromas even before the first sip. On the palate, the rye character emerges with pepper and black tea notes, while the cinnamon-dusted chocolate brownies and fruit salad flavors continue to shine. The finish lingers with tea and roasted caramel, without a hint of harshness.
For a whiskey that’s known to be on the rugged side, this one has a welcome elegance. I’m grateful we have it all to ourselves.
Price:
$79.99