By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/18/2025 | Send Email

Super pretty nose filled with honey, white peach, candied orange peel, white flowers, and a little bit of beeswax. The palate has a really delicious and amazing texture, there's dense honeyed apricots, orange zest, marzipan, and more white flowers with a little bit of white tea on the finish. It maintains a really nice level of sweetness, landing in a lovely spot that is sweet enough for dessert but with enough acidity to stop it from being cloying or just too darn much. This is a very serious yummy lil Sauternes that will inevitably age very well over the next 50+ years if you let it, but is absolutely delicious right now or tonight after dinner. One of my favorite things to do with Sauternes is just have a little bit every night over a week or two and taste how the bottle opens up and develops. It's also a great excuse to always have a bottle of Sauternes open in the fridge for when you feel like you deserve a little treat.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/17/2025 | Send Email

Very pretty and elegant nose with a really nice and dense layer of black and red fruit, with just a little touch of green peppercorn in the very back accompanied by a little bit of leather and tar. The palate is rich and deep, with a good amount of oak spice and influence, the fruit is ripe and rich with blackberry and blackberry at the forefront. The lingering finish has a good level of earth and also more of that toasty barrel spice, something that will calm down a little bit with some age, but doesn't impact the end user experience right now at all. The tannin is really elegant and refined already, and while I might consider laying this down for another 5-10 years, with the right food this would absolutely work tonight assuming I could give the wine a heavy decant.

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/12/2025 | Send Email

The Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is a benchmark expression of the variety in Margaret River, a region that has solidified its reputation in recent years as one of the most exciting places in Australia for Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2021 vintage is pure elegance, with seamless integration of vibrant red fruit – red currant, plum, wild blackberry – and supple, polished tannins. Fresh oregano and thyme notes linger in the background, supported by subtle oak notes of nutmeg and vanilla. Medium-bodied on the palate, this wine offers a high level of concentration and fruit purity with an almost weightless feel on the palate. Very fresh and vibrant!

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 6/11/2025 | Send Email

San Polino is my favorite Direct Import Brunello producer. And 2019 was one of the most exceptional vintages ever produced. Certified organic and biodynamic, San Polino is one of the pioneers of sustainable viticulture in Montalcino, farming their high-altitude vineyards just outside the medieval town with meticulous care. The 2019 vintage brings a lifted aromatic profile: vivid cherry, rose petal, and dried orange peel float above undertones of cedar, leather, and crushed stone. On the palate, it’s silky and focused, balancing fine tannins with a crystalline core of red fruit and spice. The finish is long, mineral-driven, and quietly powerful—showcasing the freshness and classicism of the vintage. So awesome. Since this is a direct import for us, we offer this wine at a amazing price, 20-30$ off from his true value. A hidden gem in the K&L portfolio.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/10/2025 | Send Email

Really pretty and clean agave-forward nose, with lime, grilled pineapple, and just a little touch of pear in the very background. This smells lovely and like I'm really going to enjoy it. The palate is incredibly smooth and silky, with absolutely no burn for me at all. This is lush and fairly savory on the palate, lots of dried herbs, with lime zest and just a little bit of pepper on the finish, this goes down a little bit too smoothly. Definitely not for shooters, this is a sipping Blanco or something for you to make a very simple margarita of agave, lime and tequila. While you could use this in something else, you really want to let this one shine through. There's such a pretty and long finish that it would be a shame to mask it with a sweet orange liqueur, but gosh I mean, it would make a heck of a Cadilliac Margarita too. Choose your own adventure.

By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 6/10/2025 | Send Email

It's always a pleasure to try the ever-growing variety of spirits offered from around the world here at K&L. I was impressed by the delicate lovely aromatics and incredibly smooth finish. This is a more subtle gin so it wouldn't be my go-to for dirty martinis, but it has a wonderful profile for drinking neat!

By: Mariah Mier | Review Date: 6/10/2025 | Send Email

What an incredible value! It's rare to find an American red vermouth that so perfectly encapsulates the distinctive terroir of Napa cabernet sauvignon. The infusion blend is an excellent and well-integrated complement to the strong grape foundation, with the wormwood and ginger as standouts.

By: Simon Li | Review Date: 6/9/2025 | Send Email

The 2023 Peay Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir captures the elegance of Burgundy while embracing the purity and energy of the West Sonoma Coast. Aromatically, it opens with a lifted mix of forest floor, lavender, and mint, followed by raspberry, and red plum. There’s a gentle but confident use of oak, adding spice and texture without overwhelming the fruit. The palate is precise and vibrant, with a long, graceful finish driven by fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins. Much of this character is shaped by winemaker Vanessa Wong, a Chinese American vintner whose résumé includes Château Lafite-Rothschild, Domaine Jean Gros in Burgundy, and Peter Michael Winery. Since joining Peay in 2001, she has quietly built a reputation for wines of restraint and site expression—always letting the vineyard speak louder than the winemaking.

By: Simon Li | Review Date: 6/9/2025 | Send Email

Produced by one of the Napa Valley's most iconic and historically significant wineries, this Chardonnay reflects the exceptional quality of the 2022vintage-an outstanding year for white wines in the region. The wine's purity, depth, and finesse make it a benchmark expression of Napa Valley Chardonnay. This wine opens with an expressive and elegant nose, showcasing floral aromas intertwined with notes of apricot and white peach. On the palate, it delivers vibrant layers of ripe citrus and crips green apple, balanced by subtle nuances of warm baking spice, toasted oak, and a hint of nuttiness.

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/5/2025 | Send Email

There are few producers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, let alone the Rhone, that are as revered as vigneron Paul Avril. His winery Clos des Papes is one of CDPs most important. So many things distinguish this winery from its peers. Consistently, though few wineries gain as many across the board accolades for they cuvees than does Clos des Papes. I think what helps, the recipe is consistent. Show one red and one white from your estate. Don't peel off fruit for a micro-release cuvee that may diminish the estate wine. Just make your wine the best way you can with what the vintage gives you, year-after-year. It's a true recipe for success and the 2023 ranks with the best and brightest of the 2023 vintage (which you can say about every vintage, too). Another not to be missed wine that will surely bring years of pleasure as it continues to develop and grow.

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 6/4/2025 | Send Email

Billecart-Salmon is back with a vintage dated Rose champagne, this time 2015! In keeping with their tradition of releasing their prestige cuvees later than anyone else, this 2015 is hitting the shelves long after most 2015s have come and gone. Everybody knows Billecart's "Le Rose" ($84.99 - new name to reflect changing dosage levels) and their prestige rose "Cuvee Elisabeth-Salmon" ($219.99), but this is only the second time they've released a rose in-between, the 2015 Billecart-Salmon Extra Brur Rose Champagne ($119.99). More complex than the flagship rose but without the extra long aging potential of the Elisabeth-Salmon, the 2015 offers an amazing layered champagne that is a cut above most sparkling roses at $100 off the normal "prestige price." On the nose, white flowers, orange peel, ripe cherry, marzipan, honey, strawberries, and blood orange. On the palate, elegant, creamy and tropical, full-bodied with notes of black cherry, watermelon, toast, red berries, with zippy acidity. Grab some of this special release while it lasts!

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 6/2/2025 | Send Email

This is one of the most exciting buys of the 2022 Bordeaux campaign. Malartic-Lagravière has long been a favorite of ours, but a recent 99-point score now places it alongside Bordeaux royalty in 2022. At our current retail pricing, it’s one of the most accomplished Cabernet-based wines you’ll find of this caliber from anywhere. And with only 8,000 cases produced—a fraction of some of its Bordeaux peers—it’s one you’ll want to grab early. Points aside, it's worth noting what we've always known: when Malartic-Lagravière is great, it can be transcendent—offering a level of expression well above its modest price point. It’s also a wine that wine lovers love to love: a genuine reflection of place, expressed with clarity and grace. The 2022 vintage borrows the generosity of the year, yet still achieves a precision and elegance that exude class. A mix of pure black fruits, subtle but persistent minerality, wonderful texture, and a long finish—this wine shows both polish and typicité. This is one to load up on now, and like many 2022s, it will be a pleasure to enjoy anytime over the next 20+ years. It’s nothing new to see a great wine from this estate, but congratulations to the Bonnie family on a new reference-point vintage for Malartic-Lagravière.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 6/2/2025 | Send Email

This is one of the most exciting buys of the 2022 Bordeaux campaign. Malartic-Lagravière has long been a favorite of ours, but a recent 99-point score now places it alongside Bordeaux royalty in 2022. At our current retail pricing, it’s one of the most accomplished Cabernet-based wines you’ll find of this caliber from anywhere. And with only 8,000 cases produced—a fraction of some of its Bordeaux peers—it’s one you’ll want to grab early. Points aside, it's worth noting what we've always known: when Malartic-Lagravière is great, it can be transcendent—offering a level of expression well above its modest price point. It’s also a wine that wine lovers love to love: a genuine reflection of place, expressed with clarity and grace. The 2022 vintage borrows the generosity of the year, yet still achieves a precision and elegance that exude class. A mix of pure black fruits, subtle but persistent minerality, wonderful texture, and a long finish—this wine shows both polish and typicité. This is one to load up on now, and like many 2022s, it will be a pleasure to enjoy anytime over the next 20+ years. It’s nothing new to see a great wine from this estate, but congratulations to the Bonnie family on a new reference-point vintage for Malartic-Lagravière.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/29/2025 | Send Email

It’s always a joy to taste Domaine de Chevalier these days, and the highly acclaimed 2016 is certainly no exception. The nose is distinctive and engaging, with notes of gravel, dark plum, and tobacco. On the palate, the wine’s texture is impressive—seamless, yet carrying remarkable density and depth. Waves of deep red and black fruit emerge with time, leading to a long, tannin-coated finish lifted by a kick of acidity and a healthy dose of minerality. This will be a brilliant wine at maturity, but its pedigree and complexity already make it an incredibly delicious offering that will win over many fans at this stage. Considering we’re nearly a decade past the vintage, that DDC is one of the region’s top producers, and 2016 is one of Bordeaux’s great growing seasons, the upside here is undeniable.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/29/2025 | Send Email

De Pez is a bit under the radar in the world of Left Bank Bordeaux, but it’s one to start taking seriously. Run by Nicolas Glumineau and the team at Pichon-Lalande, you couldn’t ask for better stewards of a Bordeaux property. Their steadfast efforts are paying off, and the 2022 is certainly something special. Cedar and a mélange of black and red fruits lead the aromatics, followed by a red-fruit–driven palate with hints of leather and spice, fine tannins, and a long, rich finish. A balanced yet generous wine, I can’t wait to see how it ages—though I expect many corks will be pulled in its early days (and I wouldn’t object!). The 2022 is full of character, impossible to resist, and delivers an experience well above its modest price. Anyone looking for surefire Left Bank buys should have De Pez on their shortlist.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/29/2025 | Send Email

Dame de Montrose might very well be my favorite "second" wine in Bordeaux. The pedigree of the Grand Vin is clearly present in the Dame, and the price is remarkably reasonable for what it delivers. Considering the 2022 Montrose is a multiple 100-pointer and a potential all-timer, it’s no surprise that the Dame de Montrose is exceptional as well. What’s truly striking here is the balance—somehow managing to be both elegant and composed while also generous. The texture is stunning, framed by deep red fruits, a hint of spice peeking through, and a long, flavorful finish. I can’t help but wonder if there are many Grand Vins from other vintages that reach these heights. Perhaps that’s just the magic of Montrose on full display.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/29/2025 | Send Email

One of the top values in the Médoc is flirting with greatness in 2022. This resplendent Tronquoy highlights the caliber of the Montrose team and the potential of both the site and the vintage. What’s immediately striking are the aromatics—filling the room the moment the bottle is opened—with blue and red fruits and a terrific floral note. On the palate, it’s layered with blackberry, red plum, and cherry, beautifully concentrated and already well integrated in terms of texture, acidity, and tannins. A long, gravelly finish grounds it with a strong sense of place. There’s so much going on here. Like many 2022s, it offers plenty of immediate appeal, but all the components are in place for it to age effortlessly for years.

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 5/27/2025 | Send Email

This has been one of my favorite Pinot Noir's from the Willamette for so many years that I've lost count. The 2023 release is not an exception for my continued admiration. This release is a rather fuller style with red and black cherry fruit, a dash of white pepper, light herbs and even lighter tobacco flavors. Super solid and an extraordinary value!

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/27/2025 | Send Email

Those who hit the mark with the 2022 vintage in Sauternes produced some monumental wines, so it’s no surprise to see Yquem right at the top of that list. A remarkable contrast to the focused and fresh 2021 vintage, the 2022 embraces the breadth of the unique growing season, adding layers upon layers to create a luxurious, heady Sauternes that reveals one nuance after another. Stone fruit, orange blossom, honey, and grilled pineapple are just a few of the many aromas and flavors bursting from the glass. But it’s the waves of flavor, beautiful texture, vibrant acidity, and endless finish that truly set this Yquem apart. As expected, there is so much on offer already that no one could be blamed for popping a cork at this early stage—but the concentration suggests this is a wine built for the long haul. A potential Yquem for the ages, the 2022 is a deep, resonant Sauternes that speaks volumes about the singular nature of this inimitable label.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 5/27/2025 | Send Email

Those who hit the mark with the 2022 vintage in Sauternes produced some monumental wines, so it’s no surprise to see Yquem right at the top of that list. A remarkable contrast to the focused and fresh 2021 vintage, the 2022 embraces the breadth of the unique growing season, adding layers upon layers to create a luxurious, heady Sauternes that reveals one nuance after another. Stone fruit, orange blossom, honey, and grilled pineapple are just a few of the many aromas and flavors bursting from the glass. But it’s the waves of flavor, beautiful texture, vibrant acidity, and endless finish that truly set this Yquem apart. As expected, there is so much on offer already that no one could be blamed for popping a cork at this early stage—but the concentration suggests this is a wine built for the long haul. A potential Yquem for the ages, the 2022 is a deep, resonant Sauternes that speaks volumes about the singular nature of this inimitable label.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/26/2025 | Send Email

There's just a very light touch of barrel spice on the nose, besides that, there's a soft little floral perfume and then very soft raspberries, rhubarb, and then some apricot and a little touch of freshly squeezed apple. The palate is light and crisp, almost ethereal in the best of ways. there's a little neutral barrel note and then a soft wave of bountiful fruit riding on a jutting crest of acid to completely clean your palate. This is really lovely in an enrapturing kind of way, the more that I sip and taste, the more I'm feeling those butterflies of when you find a wine you really connect with. There's something here that is going to make me buy a case or so just to figure out what I really love so much about this, but until then, this is more of a porch wine than a pool wine, but could also be a part of a fondue dinner. It's just great.

By: Simon Li | Review Date: 5/26/2025 | Send Email

As a devoted Bordeaux lover, I typically enjoy letting great vintages mature over time—but the 2020 Château Léoville Poyferré is a reminder that some wines can deliver immense pleasure even in their youth. This vintage is bold and expressive right out of the glass, with rich aromas of blackberry, black plum, and a touch of dark chocolate, wrapped in savory layers of tobacco leaf and cigar box. The wine is full-bodied, with excellent structure and a beautiful sense of balance—ripe fruit framed by polished tannins and just the right amount of acidity. It’s generous and powerful, yet nothing feels overdone. There’s an earthy depth and a touch of spice that adds complexity as it opens up in the glass. While it’s drinking impressively well now with a bit of air, it clearly has the structure and concentration to evolve for another 10 to 15 years in the cellar. This is exactly the kind of wine that reminds me why I love the Left Bank—classic, confident, and full of character.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/23/2025 | Send Email

This humble little bottle of Paulaner brings me right back to the hard wooden benches of Munich beer gardens. This lager is a fine example of the way lager should be—crisp, refreshing, and bursting with clean flavors of barley and malt without too much sweetness. It has body, depth, and a delightful zesty hops finish that lingers. Now that my glass is empty, I have intense regrets that I only bought one bottle. Seriously makes me want to price flights back to Munich.

By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 5/22/2025 | Send Email

Representing the best the 2015 vintage has to offer, this new bottling from Billecart-Salmon is only the second time they've produced a vintage edition of their standard rose champagne. Aromas of ripe cherries, marzipan, and a touch of honey make for a beautifully expressive, complex nose. On the palate, I was surprised to find a subtle layer of pain au levain toast, giving way to flavors of juicy Bing cherry, Satsuma orange, and underripe strawberry. This champagne is bright, mouthwatering, and complex, and has a finish that goes on for days, revealing flashes of different flavors as you savor each sip. An absolute treat, and shockingly well-priced for what's in the bottle!

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 5/21/2025 | Send Email

Calling all wine geeks! When is the last time that you saw Carricante, let alone tasted one?! It's been years and years for me. Such a purty nose with white flowers and lemon meringue. On the palate, nicely tart with clean salty spice, key lime, tart green fruits and candied ginger. So much going on and so much deliciousness to entertain the palate.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/15/2025 | Send Email

This is probably one of my most anticipated wines of the year. The last vintage was one of my favorite wines of last year and that gives me a little bit of anticipatory fear, but thankfully I can assure you, my dear reader, that this Chardonnay lives up to the hype. The nose is classic and pretty with apples and pears drenched in freshly squeezed lemon but in the background there's this hint of pineapple and after a little bit of time in the glass there's some white flowers showing. The palate is soft and round with a pleasing but softened acidity and there's a touch of barrel in the finish, but it's light enough that I feel it would be hard for it to offend most people. There's some lightly baked apples and lemon wedges, and golden kiwi along with a long saline note tracing its way through the finish. At just $20 this is a crazy good wine for the price, ready to go with chicken, turkey, salmon, pasta primavera, or whatever you want to have a heck of a Chardonnay with. I am overjoyed to say that this is a worthy successor to my previous love. The King is dead, long live the King.

By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 5/15/2025 | Send Email

A very surprising and very limited rosé wine from Turley. Made 100% of Zinfandel that was picked early, to maintain freshness. Fermented with native yeast and not fined nor filtered. Let's just say this is not your 90's white Zinfandel... Rich on the palate and yet low in alcohol at 12.5%. The floral, strawberry notes are balanced with a vinous viscosity that reminded me of a Tavel from Provence. Pair this with spicy, garlicky foods for a match made in heaven.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 5/13/2025 | Send Email

Deep intense petrol nose when it is first opened, softens after a couple hours to a still very petrol nose that has a lot of soy umami showing foremost. This is an incredibly savory and unique nose, all in the very best of ways, and buried deep underneath is this dense lemon pith and a little bit of honeyed apple and pear. The palate is also incredibly rich and savory, there's a through-line of salinity that runs along the edge of the acidity as well as the very pretty honey'd fruit from the nose. The mouthfeel is glorious and rich, almost a touch waxy and while there's an oxidative character to this, it just makes such complete sense. This is an absolutely brilliant wine that manages to overdeliver at its pricepoint, and not all $90 wines can say that

By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 5/11/2025 | Send Email

A lovely Champagne of seeming contradictions...Rich yet elegant, structured yet easy drinking. This wine has a massive 10 years on the lees, so expect a lot of toasty sourdough. The bubbles are very fine, hence the aforementioned elegance, and there's a lively acidity and chalky minerality, as well. This Champagne has it all! The Billecart Salmon name speaks for itself, and 2012 is one of the top vintages of the 21st century. Between the tasting notes and the pedigree, there are just so many reasons to pick this bottle up!

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 5/10/2025 | Send Email

Mouthwatering! Mouthwatering! Mouthwatering! Those are the first three words that came into my head at 10:15 this morning while tasting this brand-new release from Billecart-Salmon. A beautiful nose with scents of lemon curd, vanilla cream, melted butter, fresh sea air, toasted nuts. On the palate, equally gorgeous with pear puree, lush peach, tart lemon, sea salt and almond. Lush and invigoratingly fresh and clean, at the same time. This is a truly wonderful release and a great bottling from Billecart-Salmon. Although it is so fine and beautiful now, you can also keep it for decades. My champagne tasting group opened a 2002 earlier this year and it was still not even into its middle school years. This is, by far, the best champagne that I have tasted so far this year. Enjoy it, dear Rozita! Update: Three days later (with a secure Champagne stopper, of course!), this marvel is all about shortbread and melted butter. So good!

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 5/9/2025 | Send Email

UPDATE: The final blend is here and it's even more incredible than the test recipe - everything is married perfectly and it tastes exactly like we wanted it. A testament to the prowess of the excellent blender, Mr James Saxon, who incidentally is stepping down from his throne as lead blender at Compass Box. This will be one of his final projects. A fitting tribute to an undeniable talent. The privilege of selecting a custom batch of Compass Box cannot be overstated. Only a handful of venues have ever been invited to participate in a collaboration with the great modern bespoke whisky maker. The blending and bottling of a K&L Exclusive Compass Box led by the illustrious John Glaser is one of our crowning achievements in terms of sheer quality. It took us almost 5 years from the moment we first approached the brand before they agreed to it. That whisky, 5th & Harrison, was a blend of old Caol Ila and sherried Glen Ord, an eternal coupling. Thanks to a killer price and a mysterious label - that was definitely NOT a drawing of any former K&L Spirits buyer - it sold out in just days for just $180. Now the few bottles that remain fetch over $1000 at auction. Since then, so much has changed. John Glaser has handed the reigns over to a new generation of whisky makers and a new era of collaboration has blossomed. K&L has a new location in Southern California, and so much more. Nearly 10 years to the day that we began the process of creating 5th & Harrison, we’re ready to release a second custom batch bottled exclusively for K&L Wine Merchants by Compass Box. Blending whisky is one of the most fulfilling and complex tasks I’ve had the incredible luck to perform. Blending whisky isn't a materialistic endeavor that can be solved by wit and measure. The simple truth of blending is that 1+2≠3 and creating a whisky of great distinction and character is not as simple as just mashing three really good malts together. So, guided, as it were, by the deft hand of Whisky Making Director and all-around splendid chap James Saxon, I embarked upon a sublime journey. We loved the original 5th & Harrison style and wanted to stay within that realm. James had an incredible array of wonderful old sherried and peated whiskies to choose from, but it was quickly narrowed down to a few lots. They had old Ardbeg, Highland Park, Caol Ila, Bowmore, and sherried Glendullan or Tormore. I wasn’t simply looking to recreate the prowess of the original in flavor terms. Instead, I felt we needed to focus on creating the same experience of unbridled value for your dollar. That immediately cut the potential of working with Ardbeg out of the question – despite the quality of the distillate, it’s not only difficult to integrate but also VERY expensive after 20 years of age. I’d assumed the same fate would hold true for the other Islay options, but after running the numbers, we found that we’d be able to use significant portions of Bowmore aged for almost 23 years in ex-bourbon. That product on its own would fetch many hundreds of dollars in today’s market. To it, we married a gorgeous first-fill sherry butt of Glendullan of at least 21 years of age. This little-known distillery can offer some distinct character and complexity when aged in quality casks. So little sees high-value sherry it’s hard to generalize about character, but this barrel was absolutely first-rate. It brought out the deep tropical fruit and wild exotic side of the Bowmore. This original blend was supple and delicious - a 5th & Harrison redux if you will, but it didn’t really show the maturity of these two wonderful old spirits. In fact, the whiskies seemed to bring out the hidden youthfulness in each other, a noble trait, though now somehow masking some deeper complexities that the two exhibited apart. At James' suggestion, we began to explore the potential of introducing a small amount of old rugged Caol Ila into the blend. This I also assumed would be cost prohibitive, but we forged ahead anyway. After nearly two and a half decades in refill American oak, the wild jagged spirit has smoldered into a dense singularity of salty ocean flavors. The feeling of boarding a weathered schooner, salt and tar covered, the captain’s pipe wafting as he steadies the wooden tiller. Whiffs of salted fish, sea spray, and diesel smoke complete the harbor scene. Eventually, this final note brought the new batch together perfectly by retaining the wild freshness but pinpointing both a base and top note that draws the deeper elements of the first two malts forward. The resulting blend is easily one of my favorite modern bottlings of scotch in at least a decade. It exemplifies everything we are at K&L, providing a superior experience for an incredible price. The component whiskies, had they been bottled on their own, would have individually fetched easily 2-3 times the price of this bottle, but put them together, a testament the incredible value we've created here. I’ll attempt to do it justice here. The color is a stunning hue of deep copper (1.0). The nose offers an incredible sense of the finest and oldest things -old teak, cordovan, salt-encrusted rope, mango syrup, balsam, seaweed, bonfire, première eau, and marmalade. On the palate, the Bowmore shines at first, offering salted tropical fruit, fried plantains in honey, grilled lemons. Then our Glendullan adds wild nutty oxidized rancio, dense spices, and freshly chopped dark chocolate. The finish brings a heavy dose of lemon oil, old wood, baked orchard fruit, apricot jam, salted almonds, camphor, and smoldering tobacco. It doesn’t need a drop of water and certainly not more than that if you must. Bottled at very near cask strength - 0.1-.2% to round out the labels - and with no chill filtration, coloring, or other additives whatsoever. Today, to commemorate the expansion of K&L into new waters, we launch both 5th & Harrison II & Culver & Sepulveda. These two sister bottlings include the exact same juice, but each label celebrates these two wonderful cities that we call home. In some comedic twist of fate, we’re able to offer these wonders – an old blended malt scotch whisky at the exact same price as the previous K&L/Compass Box collaboration from over a decade ago, a true triumph.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/7/2025 | Send Email

From chief winemaker Florent Nys, this brand-new release from Billecart-Salmon is composed of 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay—aged 10% in oak and 90% in thermo-controlled stainless steel. In production since 1964, it’s a tribute to the house’s founder. My senses are greeted by a delicate honey-glazed pear tart, exquisitely interlaced with alluring notes of cardamom and ginger, Meyer lemon zest, followed by beckoning whispers of marzipan and vanilla crème anglaise. A goodbye kiss of chalk makes me want the experience to never end. This is drop-dead gorgeous Champagne. I wish I could take the afternoon off with a bottle and some small bites—tea sandwiches, gougères, potato chips with caviar and crème fraîche, and a period romance movie. The yearning is palpable.

By: John Downing | Review Date: 5/5/2025 | Send Email

This is the second wine of Haut-Batailley (owned and operated by Lynch Bages as of 2017) and it was met with unanimous approval at our recent staff tasting. This delicious blend of 54% Merlot, 43% Cabernet and 3% Petit Verdot opens with notes of Cassis fruit with hints of cedar, earth and spice. It's quite approachable now and while it's texturally soft, it offers excellent depth of fruit and solid underlying structure. A serious wine at the price.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/5/2025 | Send Email

Crisp, vivid, and nervy—ruby red grapefruit supremes, whispers of passionfruit, elderflower, lemon zest and alluring minerals. This is a fantastic buy to serve with fish, sushi, or a niçoise salad.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 5/4/2025 | Send Email

Bright and lively—plum, fresh snappy cherry, blackcurrant, whole leaf tobacco, and black tea. This will play nicely with a variety of dishes.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 4/29/2025 | Send Email

For the last decade (or more) Smith-Madrone's Spring Mountain Estate Cab has been one of the very best deals in all of Napa. A total sleeper wine, beloved by many in the wine industry. While many of their neighbors took their pricing up and up, Smith-Madrone kept on quietly releasing wines of exceptional quality and authenticity. They never chased a flashy style of wine, with high alcohols, celebrity winemakers, and all the other tricks...they just kept plugging away making traditional, old-school, Spring Mountain Cabernet, knowing exactly what their land gave them and what the true expression of their magical terroir looked like. In fact, out of curiosity I looked back at our historical sales of Smith-Madrone - We've carried just about every vintage of this wine since the 1980 bottling. Back in 2000 we had a run on the 1995 vintage and sold over 1000 bottles of the Estate Cab...and the retail price, 25 years ago, $49.99. So today, when we're offering their 2021 release, with nothing short of two 97-point scores, for an extremely modest $59.95, it gives me great pleasure that not all great Napa wines are over priced and inflated. This wine offers one of the truest expressions of the the varietal you'll find from anywhere. Smith-Madrone's parcellated estate is draped over the mountainside at over 2000 ft elevation. Many blocks are perilously steep and terraced. Many vines date back to the original 1970s plantings. The estate has faced several close calls when wild fire engulfed the hillside most recently in 2020. But the vines still stand resilient and vibrant. The winery itself is as old-school as you might imagine for such a remote mountain property; a visit here is like stepping back in time before all the polished pomp and circumstance that so often accompanies a tasting in the valley these days. The proof as they say is in the pudding, or the bottle in this instance, and that is the real deal. Soaring aromas of lavender, bay leaf, blue and black fruit, mulberry, hints of blackcurrant, briar patch, cigar box tones, mountain chapparal, and spice box. Fine but notable tannins are perfectly wrapped in muscular fruit with wonderful focus and purity. It's a stunning wine, one of the very best I've had from Smith-Madrone, and one that proves if you stay the course, and do what's true to you and your place on the earth, recognition, respect, accolades, and admiration will come. A tiny part of me worries that with the huge scores and notoriety they bring, things will change at Smith-Madrone...but the vast majority of me doubts it very much, and that keeps a smile on my face.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/25/2025 | Send Email

The Primitivo grape variety in “Soltema” reveals its bright and open-hearted nature through this wine which comes from younger vineyards. Traditional Botti aging for 9 months allows this wine to express its Mediterranean essence which includes the sun's warmth and sea breezes and deep red soil characteristics. The wine displays a deep ruby color with wild berry scents and a delicate ethereal quality. The wine presents velvety texture and roundness to its palate which provides enough structure for seriousness but remains completely approachable. The Jorche style welcomes new drinkers through this perfect introduction.

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/22/2025 | Send Email

Coming from the tippy top of Spring Mountain, this Cabernet impresses right out the gate. There's something about wines that are incredibly well-structured, while I figure it's all in my head, I feel like I can actually smell that structure sometimes and this one was a wine that from first scent I knew I was in for something special. Plum-skin , black cherry, and green peppercorns fill the nose until they're all accompanied by berry compote and a little bit of fresh leather. The palate is intense and rich, just an explosion of fruit as the berry compote from the nose mixes with freshly crushed pie cherries with a handful of dried herbs and a single rose petal tossed in. The finish is long with touches of cocoa and little wisps of coffee working with the herbs but ultimately ending with oak spice. This wasn't just a wine, it was an experience and it's one to be had and shared with people you love and care about, or just by yourself if you're feeling truly hedonistic. Have this with that rich cut of steak and fat potato that you've been thinking about, it'll be worth the ride.

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 4/22/2025 | Send Email

This is a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Franc, which could be one of the greatest combination of varietals in Argentina. Grown in the Gualtallary subzone (the GY) in the Uco Valley. Here the high elevation, calcareous soils, and cooler climate bring the best out of both varietals. When you pour this the first thing that stands out is the color. This is so intensely colored. The wine has a deep core that is only accentuated by the vibrancy of the magenta tinged rim. The aromatics are more subdued than expected, it has the classic mix of dark red fruits with a bramble accent, but it doesn’t jump out of the glass. The intensity of the color is matched by the flavors on the palate. This is all red fruits and pluots, think farmers market sample tray with more types of pluots than you can name, with some plums thrown in too. Behind the fruit there is that subtle floral lift that Malbec can have as well as a higher-toned herbal thing. There is a touch of oak, it is not heavy handed and really only makes its presence known with the texture. The tannins are polished and softly present, giving the medium bodied wine just enough support. This delivers an elevated Malbec experience.

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/18/2025 | Send Email

The incredible Siete Leguas distillery is unquestionably one of tequilas very best, but they don't have the bravado as many of the more popular brands. They've remained at their beautiful authentic distillery in Atotonilco el Alto since it was founded by Ignacio González Vargas in 1952. Since then they haven't spent a lot money or energy marketing their products, instead they put all their focus on producing the most authentic and delicious mezcal possible. And for years rumors of a special high proof blanco only available in Jalisco meandered the tequila nerd circles. It apparently exists and now it's finally here - one of their first new products in years. Widely accepted as one of the very best blancos available at any price, the new Siete Leguas 47 is a masterpiece of traditional production. Let's do it! The nose is impeccable with a depth and complexity that is rarely experienced in modern tequila - pungent aromas of over ripe cooked agave - sweet fibers of agave, black pepper, fresh herbs of all kinds, dense grass, hints of black olive and coriander seed. Huge hit of minerals on the palate with zesty citrus, roasted spices, more fresh herbs and sweet tropical fruit. This is absolutely stunning. Quickly it's up there with my top 5 blancos on the shelf. Well done Senor Gonzales.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 4/13/2025 | Send Email

When I see “Buy!” in the chaotic alphabet soup of my tasting notes, I know this is one to sit up and pay attention to. Unfortunately, I was slow on the uptake and I missed out. So I write this mostly as a wistful lament to myself as I hit the “Add to Waiting List” button. If you enjoy the elegant side of Bordeaux, I advise you to do the same. This one keeps the Moët & Chandon in a pretty cabinet—stately, graceful, and poised. Plum, violet, soft sandalwood and delicate spices. The finish is as lengthy as it is fastidious and precise, punctuated by a cheeky lick of iron and pencil lead. This is a wine for polite company—if you’re that way inclined.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/13/2025 | Send Email

This is a slightly more macerated interpretation of this grape. The vineyards are in the Isonzo subzone, a river-influenced area known for its mineral-rich alluvial soils and cool breezes from the Adriatic. This wine is a richer, more textured take on Friulano: the nose is expressive with notes of ripe yellow pear, white peach, chamomile, and almond, wrapped in a touch of salinity and crushed stone minerality. On the palate, the wine is rounder and more layered than the classic version, showing a silky texture.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 4/12/2025 | Send Email

Every year at Premier Napa Valley we assemble a team of our sales specialists and spend several days traversing the region tasting hundreds of the very finest wines made. Harlan, Dominus, Opus One, Bryant, Heitz, Shafer, Cardinale, Bond and many many more. During the event this year, no wines impressed me more than those from Greer. At the Rutherford Dust tasting, in a packed room of very impressive wines, these absolutely stood out for their incredible balance, refinement, purity and crystal clear sense of place. These are absolute benchmark expressions of the west Rutherford bench. This tiny estate vineyard is sandwiched in by some of the most famous vineyards in the region including Scarecrow, Staglin, Bella Oaks, Morisoli, and Inglenook. This is seriously world-class dirt for growing Cabernet and wow they certainly know how to make the most of it! A tiny 3-acre site planted in 2005 with an historic wooden barn still standing in the center, this estate is beautifully understated, even diminutive, but one sip of the wine and you'll see how special it is. The wines have been made since the first vintage in 2007 by acclaimed winemaker Aaron Pott who learned his craft from luminaries like John Kongsgaard and Michel Rolland and at properties like Troplong Mondot and Quintessa. The nose on the 2018 vintage is all mulberry and cassis fruit with dry tobacco leaf and camphor mingled in adding a beautiful savory nuance to the suave and sophisticated fruit profile. Blackcurrant leaf, subtle bay laurel tones, and plenty of that oh so special Rutherford dust soil profile. The structure is refined and polished, but leaves you in no doubt that this wine has incredible ageing potential. A simply stunning wine that can, and will, hold it's own with the finest Cabernet based wines on the planet.

By: John Archuleta | Review Date: 4/11/2025 | Send Email

Simply one of the best Prosecco's and sparkling wines I have gotten to enjoy - coming from Valdobbbiadene (try saying that three times fast), this stunner is an absolute STEAL for the price. Coming from the best glera in the region, Foss Marai puts together a technical, complex, and very serious wine - elegant on the nose you get notes of white flower petal, light brioche, and sharp green apple skins. On the palate, you have zingy aciditiy, notes of lemon and acacia flower blossoms, and stunning minerality with a lingering finish - an amazingly pretty wine.

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 4/3/2025 | Send Email

Price aside, this is one of the best bottles of Champagne at K&L. This wine comes from the same ancient massal selected vines that made their special club in the past, and is also made the same way- in enamel lined iron tanks in their cellar in Mesnil. 2017 is a fantastic vintage for Chardonnay, and this is a top notch example of the success that variety had in Champagne. Not only is the wine full of rich brioche and generous citrus, its fabulous texture and complexity is balanced by bright refreshment and definitive chalky minerality. Not only will it drink great tonight, it will improve for at least a couple of decades in good storage. Don't miss this one!

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/2/2025 | Send Email

I have been told this is the best selling Champagne in the USA.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 4/1/2025 | Send Email

Magdelaine 2009 is a captivating expression of a singular site in Bordeaux. Nestled in the heart of St-Émilion on the limestone plateau—between Ausone and Canon—this now-defunct label (absorbed into Bélair-Monange) serves as a testament to the enduring power of terroir. Ironically, this 2009 embodies the very style that Bordeaux winemakers aspire to today—pure, precise, textured, and fresh—yet it flew under the radar in an era dominated by extraction and power. From its expressive aromatics and vibrant fruit to its refined palate and striking minerality, Magdelaine 2009 delivers on every level. Now drinking beautifully, it is just beginning to reveal its full character and caliber. With a long drinking window ahead, this vintage stands as a benchmark for the historic estate—and a worthy rival to St-Émilion’s finest.

By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/31/2025 | Send Email

Although this wine has a rather unassuming label it's quite impressive. It truly reflects the unique terrior of Pessac-Leognan while delivering a medium-to-full-bodied palate of concentrated black fruit, smooth ripe tannins and a delicious finish. This wine is singing at the moment and offers a lot at the price.

By: John Downing | Review Date: 3/31/2025 | Send Email

This is one of the better outstanding value 2022 reds we've tasted of late and it comes with a good deal of positive feedback from customers as well. It's made by Chateau Carbonnieux from declassified juice as well as from young vines. This delicious wine leads with pleasant aromas of bright red fruit, cassis and cedar followed by a juicy palate with mild ripe tannins and a vibrant, fresh finish. It's sure to please those looking for tremendous value red Bordeaux as well as first timers.

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 3/30/2025 | Send Email

This is a $20 wine that drinks like a $50 bottle! There is so much wine here and I love how surprised I am by that. Laberinto is one of the great wine producers of Chile, and of the world. The quality of these wines for the price point puts them in very rarified air. Laberinto is the perfect combination of winemaking and terroir. Laberinto has become one of the most dependable names in the world of wine. Grown in the Andes foothills, overlooking a mountain lake resort, and planted in volcanic soils, there are no other Rieslings quite like this in the world. There is a cool mix of stone fruits and citrus over penetrating minerality. This wine has a distracting long finish, it goes and goes, constantly pulling your attention back to it. I love the intensity and purity of this wine, it is not complex, but it is not monochromatic. It does that trick where I am dancing circles around it trying to pin it down, while all the while, all I want to do is to be enjoying it not trying to describe it! Here is a wine for any enthusiast of mineral driven white wines.