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- David Othenin-Girard (336)
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- Keith Mabry (433)
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- Ryan Moses (591)
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Staff Favorites
| If you’re going to have Robert Parker or Stephen Tanzer over for dinner, selecting a wine they’ve rated highly will be a nice choice. However, when you’re buying wines for yourself, we’d love to see you find wines that match up your unique palate and pocketbook. We have a large staff of friendly and knowledgeable wine professionals that taste hundreds of wines each week. They can put you in touch with bottles that you are likely to love, often at a much lower cost than the highly-rated gems that often see a run-up in price and frequent availability issues. Like any great group of opinionated professionals, our staff has varied tastes themselves. Often our customers will find a particular staff member with a style that corresponds to their own. That concept works extremely well in our retail stores, and this section is our effort to bring you the same online. Don’t get us wrong, we love the highly rated wines from the press and will continue to offer them, but we think you’re missing out if you’re not augmenting those selections with picks from our excellent staff. Here are their favorites. (Click on a name to see their other selections - or to drop them a line.) Cheers! |
Reviews
2023 Ministry of Clouds Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
Grenache is always a bit of a chameleon, ranging from delicate and perfumed to dense and heady. The 2023 Ministry of Clouds Grenache is most definitely the former. Like all the wines produced by this small winery, harvest dates are on the earlier side and the ferments are handled gently to produce wines of great aromatic intensity, yet with moderate alcohol and a light-footed, lively mouthfeel. The fruit for this wine was hand-harvested from four very old bush vine vineyards — 58% from three neighboring Blewitt Springs vineyards planted in the 1930s and the balance from a vineyard in Clarendon planted in 1920. The wine was fermented in nine small lots, hand plunged and pumped over for gentle extraction of color and tannin, with some whole clusters included. Maturation was in neutral oak puncheons and concrete eggs for seven months. Medium garnet in the glass, the wine shows almost Pinot-esque aromas of Bing cherry and strawberry, complemented by wild fennel, faint cedar and garrigue on the palate. Old vine Grenache is one of the calling cards of McLaren Vale and this is such a sophisticated expression that showcases the terroir without overpowering the palate.
2023 Ministry of Clouds Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
While many might think of McLaren Vale Shiraz as bold and brawny, the 2023 Ministry of Clouds Shiraz is a study in the more perfumed, subtle side of Syrah. This wine leans on the blue and black end of the fruit spectrum with gorgeous wild blueberry and blackberry preserve swirling together along with iris, violet and a spicy black licorice note. A blend of fruit picked on the earlier side from the Onkaparinga Rocks estate vineyard, as well as a sandy vineyard site in Blewitt Springs, the wine was fermented in 18 small lots, with approximately 18% whole cluster, all either hand-plunged or pumped over during fermentation for a gentle extraction. Total time on skins was 4-5 weeks; however, a single lot was extended to 25 weeks. After pressing, the wine was matured for 7 months in a combination of large, neutral French oak vessels and a concrete egg. The result is a delicately aromatic style of Shiraz, with a nimble, lacy texture on the palate and bright, super fresh acidity. Many wine drinkers might be surprised to know that McLaren Vale — or anywhere in South Australia — can produce Shiraz this graceful and lean. Ministry of Clouds have a stated goal of creating gasrtronomic wines that don’t overwhelm the palate or the food on the table, and this one knocks it out of park. Try this one with Spring lamb or even a charcuterie board. The subtle spiciness of the wine and floral aromatics would be wonderful with cured meats.
2021 Vine Mind Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale South Australia
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
Vine Mind is a side project from winemakers Jen Gardner and Colin McBryde of Adelina winery and the Some Young Punks label. As they describe it, Vine Mind allows them to explore different blends and regions, all made in an approachable, ready-to-drink style. The pair met while students at the University of Adelaide, where both earned phDs in microbiology. After many combined years of working at various wineries in the region, they took over the reins at Adelina, where Jen’s parents are the longtime owners and where Jen grew up. Although Adelina is located in the Clare Valley, Jen and Colin also source old vine fruit for the Vine Mind wines from other nearby regions in South Australia, including McLaren Vale. The 2021 Vine Mind Shiraz Cabernet is a classic expression of the famed region. Located about 45 minutes south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale has a warm and dry Mediterranean climate but its proximity to the Gulf of St. Vincent lends a cooling effect to the region. McLaren Vale is also the oldest winemaking region in South Australia, and many of the vines here are decades-old, gnarled survivors. Medium-bodied, with densely packed red plum, currant and blackberry notes, this unoaked blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe and plush on the palate, reflecting the warmth of the region, yet it has a refreshing lift on the palate.
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2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
By: Simon Li | Review Date: 8/15/2025 | Send Email
This 2019 Pauillac from our discovery series is something else entirely. The first thing I got was this wave of ripe of black plum and black cherry, giving it a really rich and inviting feel right away. But underneath, that classic cassis and a cool, earthy vibe remind you that it's still a serious Pauillac. What really gets me is the texture; its got this great structure and firm tannins that give it powerful backbone, but it's not aggressive at all. It feels both plush and powerful at the same time. This is one of those bottles that's impressive enough to lay down for few years, but also really good to enjoy it as its young as well. And for this pricing is unbeatable!
Price:
$29.99
2022 Domaine Yann Chave Hermitage Rouge
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
Hermitage has become more synonymous with bold Syrah but the Yann Chave is pure class and elegance. This is a perfumed wine with a deep core of fruit but so well balanced the notes of fig, currants and blackberry are framed by lavender and bay leaf. Really long finish here. Definitely one of the stars of my recent visit, showing up there with other top 2022 releases. This is out-of-the-glass compelling but that tannins say, give me just a few more years. Either way, this not to be missed!
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
Our first Discovery Series wine! We're starting with this Bordeaux, then, in the coming months, a Barolo, Cote-du-Rhone, and Champagne! This Bordeaux hails from the world renown left-bank Bordeaux subregion of Pauillac, known for its full-bodied, rich, mineral driven Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blends (this one is 51% Cab, 49% Merlot) , and is from the universally lauded 2019 vintage. The 2019s are cellar worthy and characterized by their power, elegance, and balance. This is a classified Chateau (we don't know which one!) and the pedigree of the vintage screams BIG TIME DEAL for a wine that will age and evolve for the next 20 + years. Old school Bordeaux notes of sweet tobacco, wet stone minerality (from Pauillac's famous gravel soils!), mint, graphite, cassis, dark plum, chocolate, dark cherry, vanilla, earth, and chewy tannins that will round out with a little more age!
Price:
$29.99
2021 Ferraton Père et Fils "Le Méal" Ermitage
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
The 2021 vintage is lighter than its surrounding vintages but that may be a good thing. Time to reset with a more elegant and esteemed version. Plenty of fruit extract with dark berry but less liqueur-like than many recent Hermitage wines. This has layers of savory notes to compliment the fruit. One of the stars of the vintage from my recent visit.
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
By: Dulcinea Gonzalez | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Dulcinea Gonzalez | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
This 2019 Pauillac is exactly what Bordeaux should be—classic, honest, and full of character. It hits you first with cassis, blackberry, and that unmistakable graphite note. The tannins are firm but refined, letting the fruit shine without getting bossy.
It’s drinking beautifully now, but has the backbone to go the distance.
Frankly, at this price, you’d be crazy not to stash a few bottles away.
Price:
$29.99
2024 Oakridge "Over the Shoulder" Pinot Noir Victoria
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
Made by 20-plus-year Yarra Valley winemaker David Bicknell, the Over the Shoulder is an entry-level offering from Oakridge. Light-bodied and sprightly on the palate, this is an easygoing expression of Pinot Noir, with loads of crunchy red fruit, hibiscus and red licorice. An incredible price for a youthful, fun style! This wine could also be chilled slightly and enjoyed on a warm, sunny day.
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2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
This 2019 Pauillac is the first bottling in our new Discovery series, and does it ever deliver! The nose is classic Pauillac, with powerful aromas of blackberry and graphite and hints of cracked black peppercorn. On the palate this wine is still youthful, with rich black plum fruit, and grippy but fine-grained tannins. Hints of tobacco leaf and smoked meat give a preview of what's to come with continued aging. This wine is a great introduction to Pauillac for drinkers just getting into Bordeaux, and at this price, a perfect bottle for burgers on the grill tonight or to cellar and pair with a special steak dinner a few years from now.
Price:
$29.99
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 8/14/2025 | Send Email
I love the idea of our discovery series. This series presents an opportunity to learn/discover more about famous wine regions. I think it is appropriate that we start this series off with Pauillac. This is arguably the most important/prestigious subregion of Bordeaux. I cannot think of a better vintage to start with: 2019, which, among all the recent vintages, could be the most charming. This wine is TEXTBOOK Pauillac! That first sip hit my palate, and my first two thoughts were delicious! and Pauillac! The structure and mouthfeel of this wine is the platonic ideal of Pauillac. This is a roadmap to the great wines of the region. And it is at a great value. This is an incredible teaching opportunity; there is a QR code on the back that will deliver your lessons. However, this wine is just delicious, you might open this with the intention of doing some homework, but it is distractingly tasty, and I can see those plans being quickly abandoned. This is something to be enjoyed first and foremost, so I understand if it takes a bottle or two before you get to your lessons. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series.
Price:
$29.99
2021 Halcon Estate Yorkville Highlands Syrah
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/13/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/13/2025 | Send Email
Today we have an incredible offer on one of the most spectacular and singular Syrah's in California. We have long been fans of Halcon here at K&L and this incredible estate is now taking it to the next level under the ownership of Pax Mahle (Pax Wines) and Baron Ziegler (Marine Layer Wines). The estate is located high in the remote and rugged Yorkville Highlands close to Anderson Valley in Mendocino. The vines grow at 2,500 ft elevation in extremely rocky soils of fractured schist and quartz. The nutrient depleted soils and wind exposure means the vines produce tiny yields of thick skinned grapes packed with intense flavor and concentration. Vinification is very low tech and traditional following traditions of the Northen Rhône Valley. Fruit is hand-picked, block by block, fermented using 100% whole-clusters and native yeast. The must is foot-trodden for gentle extraction. The wine is then matured in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak. Right from the first sniff this is an intense wine. Big aromas of potpourri, forest berries, camphor, hints of leather and savory spice tones. Medium-plus bodied with inky concentration and a plush mid-palate of fine but mouth-coating tannins. Fragrant and perfumed, but dense and concentrated at the same time. Dark fruit, mountain chapparal, graphite, and red meat on hot cast iron. A powerful but nuanced wine really showing the special qualities of this world-class vineyard site. No one plants or buys a vineyard at 2,500 ft up a remote, rugged mountain because it's convenient, they do it because the have a conviction that the place can produce something truly special, and that something is plain to see here.
2020 Gloria, St-Julien
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/13/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/13/2025 | Send Email
I think Jane Anson put it best, calling Gloria “St-Julien’s secret weapon” in a 20-year vertical where this 2020 took top billing. If I had any bones to pick, it’s that it was our secret weapon first! Either way, it hardly matters—as long as Gloria keeps delivering incredible value like this.
For an all-too-reasonable price, you get a serious, compelling, and delicious St-Julien with typicité, character, and the structure to age effortlessly for decades. The density of the 2020 vintage shows here in its concentrated texture, deep red-to-black fruits, and a finish lined with fine, mouth-coating tannins wrapped around a fresh core of acidity.
Yet for all that density, it’s immediately rewarding and delicious. I remember it being a star at our UGC tasting a few years ago—a standout even among a roomful of show-stealers. This is one I’ll be thrilled to have in my cellar for years to come, and at this price, it’s all too easy to recommend you do the same. For a top-notch Left Bank gem that hits every mark, 2020 Gloria is a can’t-miss buy.
2023 Domaine Séguinot-Bordet Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchaume"
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
This is a great "Fourchaume"! Loaded with ripe fruits, classic mineral notes with hints of flint and sea breeze notes. The palate is richly structured with complex notes of citrus and orchard fruits seamlessly juxtaposed against good acidity and a great boost of energy and drive. A multi-layered, multi-faceted Chablis that really showcases the heights the Fourchaume vineyard can achieve.
2022 Nga Waka Pinot Noir Martinborough
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
Martinborough, located at the bottom of New Zealand’s North Island, has long been regarded as one of the best winegrowing regions in the New World for Pinot Noir and the 2022 Nga Waka is such a classic — and value-oriented — offering from this corner of the world. Balancing vibrant red and black fruit with a distinct savory component and subtle spiciness, this Pinot Noir has bright, refreshing acidity and a plush, easygoing mouthfeel. 2022 was the one of the last vintages produced by longtime Nga Waka winemaker Roger Parkinson, who managed over three decades of harvests at the estate. And while 2022 was a wetter than normal vintage in Martinborough, the free-draining gravel soils of the region, which itself is located on the bench of the Ruamahanga River, handled these conditions with ease. The result is a wine that is ready to drink now, with wide open fruit aromatics and flavors. This is a great choice to pop open on a movie night at home or a casual backyard dinner. Its friendly, approachable style and wide range of food pairing possibilities make this one a crowd pleaser.
Wild Turkey 8 Year Old 101 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
Guess who’s back… back again… 8 year's back… tell a friend. Not seen in the U.S. since 1992, the 8 Year Old 101 proof has returned from our friends at Wild Turkey. Bruce Russell - the son of Eddie and grandson of Jimmy - is at the helm of this new permanent fixture in the lineup, and it’s a wonderful complement to the standard non-age-statement 101, which is said to be about 6–7 years old. The extra age and more selective barrel choices make this an elevated dram, even on par with some of the Russell’s Reserve releases.
The classic Wild Turkey sweetness and spice are here, but with added depth and richness. The nose offers kettle corn, graham cracker crust, black pepper, cloves, and a touch of orange oil. The first sip pushes that orange oil toward chocolate-covered oranges, joined by spicy pie crust, burnt caramel, and sweet oak in a rich, coating mouthfeel. The finish brings the signature charred oak, baking spices, and vanilla tobacco.
This is everything I love about Wild Turkey: robust without being rough, playful without being gimmicky, and a reminder of how special it is that this family is still doing it right after all these years.
Price:
$39.99
2023 Eric Kent "Sascha Marie - Roberts Road Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
The nose on this opens up just so expressive and pretty, loads of both red and black cherries, just a touch of ripe raspberry, and something very slightly earthy and tarry in the very back. The palate is just a little rich, fairly medium bodied, and really fruit-driven. There's just loads more red and black cherries, super ripe raspberry, and some sweet cranberry towards the ends. The finish is long and lingering, with a little bit of toasty barrel spice coming up, but this just helps round out those corners, and then at the end a little bit of that very slightly tarry note that just makes the wine feel a bit bigger than it is, giving it a little bit of a savory finish.
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2023 Domaine Séguinot-Bordet Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchaume"
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/12/2025 | Send Email
I really enjoy when we have a tasting that's all white wines, there's something a little more revealing about a white wine, I feel like they are a bit more open about their faults and heck I appreciate their honesty. This is a wine that finds itself lacking any faults whatsoever. The nose is lovely and elegant, with all the seduction of your favorite perfume. There's ripe apple, just the very barest little sliver of white peach, white flowers, and a little bit of candied lemon peel in the very back. The palate is fairly soft and round, with the fruit from the nose expressing itself on the palate. There's a spiraling sort of depth there that ends at the bottom with that expected and delightful saline and mineral finish. This is the kind of wine you really want to take your time with, and optimally you'd drink this over an entire afternoon with some sort of nice and simple nosh. Absolutely recommended.
Paladar Estate Grown K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #A22 Añejo Tequila (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/11/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/11/2025 | Send Email
This exceptional brand is the brainchild of Edoardo "Lalo" Orendain. He's not resting on his family's legacy and created a new and exciting brand with the help of Rare Character founder Pete Nevenglosky. Together they're pushing the old distillery to new heights. It's particularly interesting to have a single barrel of the family brand on the shelf at the same time - the Arette barrel being selected from proof down samples, while the Paladar drawn straight from the cask having been proofed in advance of aging. Let's go. The color is a striking golden ripe corn (0.4). The nose is expressive and nearly tropical in its aromatic profile offering sweet ripe guava, hints of pineapple and exotic spices. With further aeration a sweet fresh vanilla bean character and a wild flower note poke through the pungent basket of tropical orchard fruits. The palate is surprisingly rich and spicy, with sweet oak, gorgeous velvety texture and a purity of character that's rarely matched in single cask tequila. Not to be overly effusive, but this is the closest we've gotten to the sweet supple single barrel Fortaleza's in modern bottlings. A super secret that absolutely delivers a hugely satisfying experience.
Price:
$84.99
Blue Run "K&L Exclusive" Cask Strength Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/11/2025 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/11/2025 | Send Email
We’ve long been fans of the Blue Run brand. In fact, I’m fairly confident that K&L was the first retailer to sell the product after their impressive DTC launch. They did a lot of stuff right and ultimately became the darling of the industry when it counted most. Now the brand is owned by Coors and we can offer this crazy deal due to their vast resources, but the heart and soul of Blue Run remains the same. Killer bourbon hand curated by our dear friend Jim Rutledge and bottled in the now iconic butterfly bottle. This single barrel has a stark white emblem emboldened on the bottle, contrasting the rich amber color of the bourbon.
This barrel was picked out by the staff in Los Angeles from a large batch of casks while I was travelling in Kentucky and while we don’t have a lot of information beyond the mashbill, which is already mysterious, I love this style and I’m proud of their choice.
Let’s taste it! The color is a shimmering chestnut (1.2). I poured this and walked away for 25 minutes, but when I made it back the nose was full of superb fruit and fresh rich wood character. There’s some spicy nuance behind that, but mostly we’ve got tons of sweet, tinned peaches, vanilla fudge, candied apricots to balance the twinges of cinnamon. The palate offers a core of sweet caramel with a building baking spice character as the high proof builds on the palate. It’s not hot or overly spicy and the fresh vibrant fruit translates nicely on the palate. Hard to say where this is coming from, but likely this is some of the old Rutledge distilled Bardstown or Castle & Key stock. In any case, it’s a fabulous refreshing take on the American classic in a beautiful bottle. Superb selection from the LA team.
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2022 Oakridge "Henk Vineyard" Pinot Noir Yarra Valley Victoria
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/9/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 8/9/2025 | Send Email
Oakridge's Henk Vineyard wines have always been extremely popular here with staff and customers alike. The is 2022 release is no exception. A distinctly pretty nose of rose petals, dark strawberry, tart cherry, light forest floor and baked cinnamon. On the palate, it is also very pretty. It starts out softly with dark cherry pie flavors, sweet (and slightly tangy) spice, a little saline and mellow fresh oak. All wrapped in medium-bodied weight and a lingering finish of hard cherry candy. Very easy to drink and versatile enough to match up with a plethora of foods. Great value, too!
2024 Cherrier Frères Sancerre
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/9/2025 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 8/9/2025 | Send Email
We’ve worked with brothers Jean-Marie and François Cherrier for over 20 years, and their Sancerre remains one of the best values in the category. The new vintage is electric—bursting with Meyer lemon, green apple, and passion fruit, all backed by a crisp mineral core that’s pure Sancerre. Finding estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc from this region at this price—and at this quality—is almost unheard of. Drink it now for its vibrant freshness and over the next several years. One glass and you’ll understand why this partnership has thrived for two decades—and why it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Price:
$21.99
Caves Messias Santola "Crab Wine" Vinho Verde
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
Fizzy, fresh and fun — what's not to like about the Crab Wine? Clocking in at only 9% alcohol, with the slightest touch of sweetness on the palate, there's a reason why we've kept this wine in stock for over a decade. Simply delicious and dangerously drinkable, this is a crisp, refreshing style of Vinho Verde bursting with zesty lemo, lime and juicy peach that is perfect for sipping by the pool in the sun.
Price:
$9.99
2022 Nga Waka Pinot Noir Martinborough
By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
A playful rebel in Pinot's clothing - bright red fruit and earthy spice wrapped in an easy, almost careless charm. There's a subtle funk that keeps it interesting, and a surprising weight from it's generous alcohol content, adding warmth without sacrificing freshness. Effortless to drink, dangerously easy to finish, and just the right amount of wild.
2007 Mannochmore 17 Year "Single Cask Nation" Charred Red Wine #173445 Single Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
This beautiful Speyside expression unlocks rich and decadent flavors from a distillery that primarily supplies the malt for blends like Haig and Pinch. The nose unfolds with bright orange oils, graham cracker crust, toffee and hay. On the palate there is a bit of a berry sweetness that complements the rich woodiness. Warm earthy oak, charred pineapple, and buttered toast remain on this long and elegant finish.
Price:
$164.99
2009 Teaninich 15 Year Old "Single Cask Nation" Charred Red Wine #162418 Single Barrel Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 8/8/2025 | Send Email
Here we have a special selection from another distillery whose primary role is supplying malt for major blends, mainly Diageo labels like Johnnie Walker and Buchanan’s. What makes this distillery unique is its use of a mash filter, which produces a clearer wort and leads to a vibrant, grassy spirit.
Even after 15 years of aging, including three and a half years in refill charred red wine barrique casks, that fresh, green foundation still shines through. Notes of fresh hay and honey take the lead, supported by jammy stone fruit and bright Highland heather. The finish is long and oily, with flavors of orange blossom honey, milk chocolate, and toasted pastry lingering beautifully.
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2022 Tormaresca "Torcicoda" Primitivo Salento
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
From the sun-drenched Salento peninsula in Puglia, the "heel" of Italy's boot, comes this exceptional Primitivo from Tormaresca. This estate represents the Antinori family's passion project in southern Italy, blending their centuries of Tuscan winemaking expertise with the unique terroir of Puglia. "Torcicoda" is a modern, polished expression of Primitivo, sourced from the estate's best vineyards to create a wine with both power and grace.
In the glass, it pours a deep, opaque ruby. The nose is rich and inviting, bursting with aromas of ripe blackberry, plum jam, and black cherries, layered with sweet notes of vanilla, cocoa, and a hint of cinnamon from its time in oak.
On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, velvety, and smooth, with plush tannins that coat the mouth. The dark fruit flavors are concentrated and jammy but beautifully balanced by a subtle acidity that keeps the wine from feeling heavy. The finish is long and warm, with lingering notes of sweet spice and dark chocolate. This is a perfect companion for hearty dishes like barbecue ribs, braised lamb shanks, or aged, hard cheeses.
2019 Malgiacca 'Malgiacca' Super Tuscan
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
This is a rare and deeply personal wine from the hills of Lucca in Tuscany, crafted with methods that feel like a beautiful echo from the past. The 2019 Malgiacca is not a typical Tuscan red; it's an artisanal field blend and a labor of love. The heart of the wine is about 50% Sangiovese, supported by a diverse cast of traditional Tuscan grapes like Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo, alongside Italian and international varieties including Barbera, Merlot, and Syrah.
The winemaking is profoundly traditional: grapes are destemmed by hand over a sieve, crushed by foot, and fermented with native yeasts in small, open-top vats. After a challenging, humid spring, the winemaker’s dedication in the vineyard paid off, yielding perfectly ripe, savory grapes. The wine then matured for 12 months in mostly used oak barrels before being bottled unfiltered.
The resulting wine unites finesse with a rich Mediterranean soul. The nose shows detailed fruit, nuances of forest floor, and savory, iron-like mineral notes. On the palate, it is deep and balanced, with spicy and balsamic undertones. A truly authentic wine for those seeking character over polish.
2021 Azienda Sacco "Aleis" Falanghina
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
Producer/Historical Fact: Falanghina is an ancient grape variety, believed to be the basis of the legendary Falernian wine of the Roman Empire. It was nearly lost to phylloxera but has made a triumphant comeback. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with a rounder, softer texture than its Campanian cousins, showcasing ripe stone fruit and a gentle, refreshing acidity.
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2018 Sportoletti "Villa Fidelia" Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 8/7/2025 | Send Email
The 2018 Sportoletti "Villa Fidelia" Rosso highlights the refined and refined nature of Umbrian wines which represent the most excellent red wines of Central Italy. The Sportoletti family presents this wine by 70% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc while upholding their dedication to quality and local character. The vineyards of this blend are located in the Assisi area of Italy where the clay-limestone soils and temperate climate allow for slow and balanced ripening.
The wine presents itself in a deep ruby color when held against the light. Aromatic scents of black cherry along with blackberry and cassis meet with violet and graphite and vanilla and sweet spices. Forest floor scents and tobacco notes emerge subtly in the wine.
This full-bodied Villa Fidelia shows velvety texture together with ripe tannins and vibrant acidity that keeps the dark fruit flavors fresh. The plum and blackcurrant and dark chocolate flavors are balanced by cedar and clove notes before a long-structured finish.
This wine complements roasted lamb and aged Pecorino as well as hearty pasta meals and requires 5 to 7 years of age. A beautiful Umbrian red wine that harmoniously unites intense character with refined elegance.
Price:
$14.99
2022 Oakridge "Henk Vineyard" Pinot Noir Yarra Valley Victoria
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/6/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/6/2025 | Send Email
Vibrant and expressive, the 2022 Oakridge “Henk Vineyard” Pinot Noir is hands-down one of the best values we import from the Southern Hemisphere. With a host of high scores year after year, this wine delivers incredible value for a very reasonable price. Sourced from a single vineyard in the Woori Yallock area of the Yarra Valley, the aspect is north-facing — ideal for fully ripening grapes in the cool climate of the region. The wine is joyously youthful still, bursting with pretty aromas of cherry, raspberry and pomegranate. On the palate the wine is more savory, with faint dried green herbs, turmeric and an almost autumnal element of dried leaves and loam. The finish is long and lingering. Altogether, this is an excellent example of an approachable, ready-to-drink Pinot Noir with refreshing acidity and supple, well-integrated tannins providing backbone. This is so enjoyable on its own but would also be great with appetizers and small bites, or even a wood-fired pizza straight from the oven.
2023 Vignamato Versus IGT Marche
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/6/2025 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/6/2025 | Send Email
The 2023 Vignamato Versus IGT Marche presents an intricate baroque tapestry of flavor. Flourishes of honeyed pear slices and baked quince are masterfully interwoven with finely grated Eureka lemon zest and fragrant white blossoms. It’s medium-bodied yet dry, crisp, and minerally. One could bring this bottle to the dinner table with a confident swagger and a grin.
2018 Sportoletti "Villa Fidelia" Rosso
By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
This one is for sure for my value driven crowd - this wine completely over-delivers for the price.
Rich with a tiny bit of rustic characteristics, this Bordeaux blend hits all the right notes for my new world wine lovers.
Dense but soft, this wine has aromatics of earth, touch of leather, and dried plums and blueberries - on the palate you get a little savory herbs, well integrated oak and baking spice, and grippy but approachable tannin. You want a wine to go with some steak, prime ribs, or fatty pork belly? This is the wine that'll take on all three no problem.
Price:
$14.99
2018 Ink Grade "Andosol" Napa Valley Proprietary Red
By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
"Ink" is an appropriate name for this wine—plush, full-bodied midnight black fruit from the zinfandel mingles with the silky yet robust tannins of the cabernet sauvignon. This is a lot of wine for the price!
2021 Azienda Sacco "Aleis" Falanghina
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
While there's some fruit for sure, the more savory notes in the wine come out first. There's a dense minerality, and the lightest hint of something that kind of is reaching towards a Riesling-petrol note, but not quite getting there, maybe an extension of the minerality. Underneath that is really pretty crisp green apple, juicy and pithy lemon, and some white flowers. The palate is round and moderately deep, fairly weighty overall and the fruit is all a little honeyed, despite the wine being totally bone dry. There's a little bit of fatness to the palate, coupled with a little bit of a barrel note that make me want something with this, some chicken, pork, and grilled fish all sound great - but you could also just go for it and pair it solely with a glass. Every day is your own Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book.
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2023 Vignamato Versus IGT Marche
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
Yet another new wine grape for me, this time I don't feel like I'm some kind of ignorant wretch for not having heard it is, this wine is made completely from Incrocio Bruni, which is a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Verdicchio. You definitely can understand that parentage once you get your nose in the glass, there's a definite sort of blending there, there's a little bit of grassy notes and a little bit of pithy citrus fruit, but there's also a weightier and rounder mouthfeel. This is yet another lovely summer wine, round and plump and juicy. The palate is crisp and has a lot of citrus, but there's a little bit of white peach as well. Refreshing but not crazy acidity. Just another lovely little pool wine that you can have with whatever you want, but all you need is fun in the sun and this wine nice and cold in your glass. It's the total equation for a delightful summer day. Other people optional.
Bresolin "Cabernet Sauvignon " DOC Montello Colli Asolani
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
This is just absolutely great Cabernet Sauvignon for this price. The fruit on the nose is just a little creamy, the oak is super well integrated into wine. Ripe blackberry, black cherry, just a little bit of dried and fresh herbs. The palate has such a really nice uplifted fruit, black cherry and blackberry are the foremost, but there's also a little strawberry as well, a little bit of those dried and fresh herbs, and then a nice and lingering finish with just a little bit of barrel spice on there. This is such an approachable and easy to drink bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, and it's really delicious. It's definitely not a huge or explosive bottle, but it's got everything you really need, and it delivers it so pleasantly. As I'm sitting here writing, the finish is still going, and there's just this lovely little toast on the tip of my tongue. I might have to get a few of these.
2022 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
Lacryma Christi is probably one of my favorite little niche styles of Italian wines - coming from *the* benchmark producer Mastroberardino, this Piedirosso is light, elegant, and everything I want out of a summer red.
On the nose it is very savory - you get notes of pepper, warm spice, and a little bit of sulfur - but on the palate it is incredibly fruit forward; notes of fresh cranberry, underripe black cherry, with underlying notes of basil. You can certainly serve this on a chill, as the tannins are very light and acidity nice and high.
Serve with lamb, lean pork, or any lemony chicken dish.
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2022 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
I feel so fortunate getting a chance to review all of these Italian wines we tasted today hours afterwards again, they benefit so much more from that time open than most other wines. While I remember liking this wine this morning, right now it's just absolutely stunning. There's such a pretty quality to the nose, and even the color is really lovely just a little bit translucent in the glass. The nose has a creaminess to it, peppered with red and black fruits, dried herbs, purple flowers, and a little bit of tarry earth at the finish. The palate is light and extremely elegant, there's a lot of crunchy fruits, with cranberry, pomegranate seeds, underripe raspberry, more dried herbs, and a little bit of spice. This has great acidity and just a light grip of tannins, a wine that wouldn't complain about being chilled down just a bit. I want to have this with a braised meat, or some pasta, maybe even a piece of firm but not too aged cheese. Absolutely perfect summer red.
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2018 Ink Grade "Andosol" Napa Valley Proprietary Red
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
Back in 2018 when Gaylon Lawrence purchased the iconic Heitz Cellars the deal included some 425 acres of vineyards around Napa Valley. One such vineyard was Ink Grade. Originally planted in 1873 by Theron Ink, this mountainside has long been recognized as a special place to grow grapes. The site was so distinctive the team decided to create a new brand based entirely around this historic and dramatic vineyard. Situated on the eastern slopes of Howell Mountain (parts of the vineyard are just below the official AVA boundary and thus labelled as Napa valley). The vineyard has numerous blocks many carved into the hillside as steep terraces. It's a wild, remote, mountainous site that produces dramatic wines. Under Heitz family stewardship the site has been farmed using meticulous organic forming methods since the 1980s. This continues today with CCOF and Biodynamic certification. Since 2018 winemaker Matt Taylor has sought to define this unique terroir by capturing the raw, rugged land in refined elegant wines. The wines are fermented with native yeast, aged for 24 months primarily in large format oak casks and foudre with another portion going into top quality new French oak. The 2018 Andosol Red Blend combines mountain-grown Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Zin brings deep brambly fruit, blackberry and kirsch. The Cabernet adds big, bold structure, hints of cassis, Bay laurel, and graphite. The wine is a distinctive mineral core from the volcanic tufa soils, and some savory mountain chapparal elements add more intrigue. As with establishing any new brand, despite top pedigree and getting great scores from the critics, the winery was a little long on inventory and made us a sweet deal on this wine! We're offering it at more than 50% off the original price and at least $15 a bottle less than elsewhere!
2019 Domaine Naturaliste "Morus" Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
Margaret River is widely regarded as one of the premier locations in Australia for growing Bordeaux varieties, and Bruce Dukes’ Domaine Naturaliste wines are gorgeous representations of the distinctive geography and huge winemaking potential of the region. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean on three sides, Margaret River is a relatively young region, with winemaking beginning in the late 1960s, but the area is blessed with ancient soils and a gentle maritime climate that allows grapes to easily achieve optimal ripeness. The region also delivers some of the best values in the world in regard to Bordeaux-inspired wines, and the 2019 Domaine Naturaliste “Morus” Cabernet Sauvignon is a prime example of this. Now with over five years of age, still-youthful red fruit notes (red currant, Santa Rosa plum) swirl together in the glass, balanced by more savory dried green herbs, cocoa powder and button mushroom, all tied together by highly finessed, elegant French oak undertones that provide the perfect balance, neither overpowering nor eliminating the sense of terroir in the wine. At well under $50 per bottle, this is an unbelievable value that could easily best many examples from Napa or, dare I say it, even Bordeaux?
Kanosuke Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml)
By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 8/5/2025 | Send Email
One of the most exciting whisky releases of the last year, Kanosuke finally comes to an approachable price point, and I could not be happier. The quality on display here is unrivaled in Japanese whisky at this cost. It even gives single malt Scotch a run for its money. The nose starts strong with big oak and vanilla, but there's more nuance than apparent at first whiff. White flowers, tropical fruit, candied citrus and confectioners sugar lie just beneath the heavy base notes. The palate is soft but structured, offering far more complexity than you could expect from relatively young whisky. Peaches drizzled with condensed milk, sweet grain, toasted oak and a kick of spice make the first impression. But a thread of saline and earthy umami from the coastal aging and the recharred shochu casks counter the sweeter flavors and round out the whole package. What keeps me coming back though is the elegance and purity of it. This will strike some fans of Japanese whisky as odd or strong, but I believe it hits all the hallmarks that separate Japanese malt from Scottish. It's perfectly composed without a single note out of place. I dare say it will convert some Scotch drinkers who thought Japanese whisky too light or too expensive, because at the end of the day, it's just exceptional whisky.
Price:
$79.99
2016 Tahbilk "1927 Vines" Marsanne Nagambie Lakes Victoria
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/4/2025 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/4/2025 | Send Email
Produced from some of the oldest Marsanne vines in the world, the hand-harvested fruit was handled semi-oxidatively with controlled amounts of oxygen to heighten flavors and texture. A low and slow fermentation over 20 days in stainless steel fermenters assures varietal correctness. Aged in-bottle for six years prior to release, its naturally high acidity makes it a great candidate for further aging. Medium-bodied, bone dry and linear—a laser beam of lemon zest is softened by harmonious notes of fresh ginger, sundried hay, and lightly toasted white bread with a kiss of flinty smokiness in the finish.
2024 Ministry of Clouds Riesling Clare Valley
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/4/2025 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 8/4/2025 | Send Email
The 2024 Ministry of Clouds Riesling was thoughtfully harvested on individual picks staggered by two weeks to protect optimal acidity. The pressed wine was transferred into oak where it underwent native yeast fermentation, and of heart the blend fermented nice and cool in stainless steel—all aged upon its fine lees for five months. It’s crisp, mouthwatering, and linear with zesty lemon, crunchy Bartlett pear, and an alluring botanical note of fresh lemongrass followed by little hits of chalky minerality on the tongue. Lovely stuff—would pair well with Chinese chicken salad, Thai food, a lazy at-home dinner of pot stickers and a spring mix salad, or savory snacks and chitchat with a friend.
Price:
$19.99
2022 Oakridge "Henk Vineyard" Pinot Noir Yarra Valley Victoria
By: Dulcinea Gonzalez | Review Date: 8/2/2025 | Send Email
By: Dulcinea Gonzalez | Review Date: 8/2/2025 | Send Email
The 2023 Oakridge Henk Pinot is a go-to value with great purity of fruit, showcasing elegant red berry and cherry notes. It’s smooth and balanced, with soft tannins and a fresh, lingering finish. Perfect for pairing with roasted chicken or light pasta dishes. A reliable, refined Pinot that won’t break the bank.
Angel's Envy "K&L Exclusive" Cask #SB-241112 Private Select Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
Lincoln Henderson started a revolution. The legendary distiller, who passed through the vaunted halls of Jack Daniel’s and created Woodford Reserve, launched one final product in his retirement. Had it come from anyone else, the bourbon world might have rejected it outright. But when he said that a bourbon (legally aged first in new charred oak) could still be called bourbon after finishing in another type of cask, the industry had to take note. And so, the finishing revolution in American whiskey was born.
(To be fair, this was old news in Scotland, but in the U.S., it was a bold move.)
Angel’s Envy became a sensation by layering a warm, fruity, yet elegant Port cask finish onto a classic, robust bourbon foundation. This particular K&L exclusive cask takes that foundation and turns up both the proof and the intensity.
The nose is nutty and jammy, swirling with fresh cacao nibs, plums, and burnt caramel. On the palate, it bursts open with roasted peanuts and deep red fruit, like biting into a PB&J crafted by a Michelin-starred chef. The finish lingers with earthy spice, dried dates, and espresso beans.
This is a stellar expression of an already exceptional whiskey, and an essential bottle for anyone who appreciates the beauty of wine-cask-finished bourbons.
Price:
$89.99
2023 Ministry of Clouds Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
This is such a pretty style of Shiraz, really much more light a cooler weather Syrah, it's the kind of Shiraz I want to drink if somehow required by social decorum. This is so incredibly aromatic and floral, lots of purple and even some white flowers are part of the whole thing, which while a lot is never overwhelming or verging towards potpourri. Dusky black fruits, lighter red fruits, and a definite touch of something blue mixed it all layer underneath the floral top notes. The palate is everything the nose promised that it was, there's a heavy floral tone on the palate but also a mix between deeper and very ripe black berry and black cherry, and some slightly underripe raspberry, with just a touch of pomegranate. There's a little bit of a study in contrasts, but also restraint. This is really sublime, and something I could see myself just grabbing when I wasn't sure what else I would want, it's that pretty. I really want to have this with some pork chops, or maybe just as part of a set of wines along with some passed appetizers. Either way, at this price, you're winning no matter what you pair it with.
2000 La Cabanne, Pomerol
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
Traditionalists rejoice! Here is a newly arrived gem from the GREAT vintage of 2000 that is under 70 dollars. As expected, the quality is there! The nose is a heady mix of fall leaves, dark (and ripe) black fruits, turned earth and roasted black plums. In the mouth, it begins softly and smoothly with just a bit of tart earthiness on the tip of the tongue. The dark plums are more evident here, with a rich background of chocolate black cherry and subtle meat tenderizing spices. This aspect is very faint and pleasing. Overall, it is silky, easy and delicious! A lot going on for a 25 year old classic!
2021 Elena Fucci “Titolo” Aglianico del Vulture
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/31/2025 | Send Email
The 2021 Elena Fucci “Titolo” is a benchmark for Aglianico del Vulture, a wine that captures the fiery soul of its volcanic terroir with incredible elegance and precision. This isn't just another powerful southern Italian red; it's one of the most consistently excellent and profound wines in the country, often called the "Barolo of the South" for its structure and age-worthiness.
The wine comes from a single, high-altitude vineyard of 70-year-old vines planted on the black, mineral-rich soils of Mount Vulture. This unique terroir gives “Titolo” its signature notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and licorice, intertwined with complex layers of volcanic ash, graphite, and savory herbs. The palate is dense and structured, with firm yet polished tannins and a vibrant acidity that brings energy and balance, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish.
Her approach is a masterful blend of tradition and modernity, using French oak to polish Aglianico’s powerful tannins without masking its pure, site-specific character.
This is a wine built for the cellar, a bottle that will reward patience for 15-20 years or more. If you open it now, give it a long decant and pair it with hearty fare like braised lamb, wild boar, or aged pecorino. A must-have for any serious collector of Italian wines.
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/30/2025 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 7/30/2025 | Send Email
Our 2019 Discovery Series Pauillac captivates with dark notes of cassis, vanilla, rich tobacco, licorice, and graphite, culminating in a ferrous finish interwoven with plum and blackberries. Pair it with a sizzling, juicy bone-in ribeye, fresh from the grill, crowned with a pat of butter or crumbles of blue cheese.
Price:
$29.99