K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

Willett Family Estate 4 Year Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

By: John Flanigan | Review Date: 11/24/2021 | Send Email

A robust cask strength rye that warms with every sip. The nose pulls heavily from classic rye spices and citrus zests. The taste opens up to a host of sweat breads, dried fruits and roasted nuts, the finish lingers for a quite a while. At 4 years, this drinks like a much older whiskey, one of the finest in the Willett line.

Price: $64.99

Rowan's Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

By: John Flanigan | Review Date: 11/24/2021 | Send Email

A hearty mid-proofed bourbon with a spicy herbaceous nose. Strong woody notes on the palate and nice crisp oaky finish. This is a solid choice for nightcap or a bit of elevation for your cocktail.

Price: $49.99

Noah's Mill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

By: John Flanigan | Review Date: 11/24/2021 | Send Email

This is the type of bourbon that warms you up from the inside. The sweet honey tea aroma grabs you immediately and stays in your nose for a nice long time. On the palette you are treated to rich, round flavors of hot caramel, honey-drops, and candies cherries. Just like the nose, the finish goes on for days!

Price: $69.99

Redwood Empire "Grizzly Beast" Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: John Flanigan | Review Date: 11/22/2021 | Send Email

This is everything you want from a Bottle-In-Bond bourbon. It's strong, nuanced, layered, and has taste for days. A 5-year distillate of their own making (a true grain-forward expression), this bourbon has strong cherry and honeycomb notes with a long buttercream finish. Perfect as an everyday sipper or as an after meal treat, Redwood Empire's "Grizzly Beast" is a fantastic choice as a gift for a bourbon lover looking for something new. As an added bonus, Redwood Empire plants a tree for every bottle sold!

Price: $89.99

Highland Park 15 Year Old "Viking Heart" Isle of Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Austin Jenkins | Review Date: 11/20/2021 | Send Email

This single malt is an absolute treat -- extremely mellow on the nose: this whisky invokes scents similar to fresh vanilla, hot honey, and soft touches of maple. The palate offers flavors reminiscent of a decadent angel's food cake. On the middle palate, there's the acidity and sweetness of fresh pineapple that's tied up by a soft cinnamon finish. Sweet and delicate - Highland Park has produced a whiskey at a great age statement, a must-buy for anyone looking to enjoy a subtle bottle by a well-seasoned producer.

Price: Hidden

Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Champagne

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 11/20/2021 | Send Email

This Laurent Perrier bottling is of my favorites in the Blanc de Blanc realm. A crisp and clean Champagne that leads towards lemon, fresh ginger, honeycomb, white peach and fragrant white flowers on the nose and palate. The finish is full, present and lengthy. This is a perfect Champagne for a lover of bright lifted flavors with med plus acidity. Enjoy this with escolar nigiri.

Price: $89.99

WE: 93

WS: 93

Inverroche "Amber" Gin (750ml)

By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 11/18/2021 | Send Email

Whenever people ask for unique gins either to offer as gifts or expand their collections, my first instinct points immediately to Inverroche. The amber especially offers a complex and intriguing profile that you won't find elsewhere. Somewhere between an Old Tom style gin and a barrel aged dry (though there is no wood involved here), it offers all the juniper and floral character of the brand's Classic gin but with added weight, fruit and spice. Golden apples, teak wood, cinnamon, anise, and honey all meld together to create something indescribably satisfying and wonderfully distinct. Though the cocktail applications are nigh endless, I would love to have this in a modified cobbler where it replaces the amontillado.

Price: $40.99

St. George "Baller" Single Malt California Whiskey

By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 11/12/2021 | Send Email

This whiskey marks a particular milestone for me in my spirits journey, as it was one of the first esoteric bottlings that challenged my preconceptions about the category. At once delicate and brash, this project showcases the creativity and innovation at work in St. George's oeuvre. Salty, sweet and tart all at once, it boasts nectarine and pluot tang appointing a body of golden cereal malt with a savory and satisfyingly smoky finish. The first sip takes you past the fruit, revealing its softer floral tones that compliment that rich malt, all the while warming the palate with pleasant spice. A cocktail enthusiast's dream, to be sure, this also makes a great gift for any fan of fun whiskey who is looking to branch out.

Price: $49.99

Billecart-Salmon "Le Rendez-Vous #2" Pinot Noir Extra Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 11/2/2021 | Send Email

What a powerhouse! This Champagne is a statement on Pinot Noir from the region, and combines the hazelnut elegance of Verzenay's north facing slopes with the black cherry savor of Ambonnay's south facing slopes. Not only does it have presence and structure, but it also has a dry, lifted and chalky finish. Sadly, we only have a precious few bottles, and this will not be made again. Maybe next year it will be Chardonnay?

Price: $109.99

Inverroche "Amber" Gin (750ml)

By: Greg Dudley | Review Date: 11/1/2021 | Send Email

A great cocktail gin. On the nose I find the usual juniper notes, a nice herbal bouquet and a hint of honey sweetness. On the palate I find more of that honey sweetness and a slight herbal bitterness that just begs for a dash of St. Germain and tonic. Be sure to reach for this next time you're enjoying an Aviation, French 75 or Tom Collins.

Price: $40.99

St. George "Baller" Single Malt California Whiskey

By: Greg Dudley | Review Date: 11/1/2021 | Send Email

The Baller shows impressive complexity for it's age. At only 3 yrs old this "California take on the Japanese spin on Scotch whiskey" is very nice and dangerously drinkable. The nose shows plum and floral notes with just a hint of smoke. On the palate these notes are joined by malty sweetness and a slight nuttiness. With a hint of plum and a light smokey note on the finish this is a very pleasant take on Scotch whiskey.

Price: $49.99

St. George "Baller" Single Malt California Whiskey

By: Austin Jenkins | Review Date: 10/30/2021 | Send Email

A mildly complex single malt: St. George “Baller” Single Malt Whiskey is an array of floral flavors and scents, ranging from wildflowers to dried rose petals – this sweet, and decadent whiskey has a lighter body, velvety texture that delivers flavors like citrus zest, baking spices, and delicious chocolate malt chased subtly by a lingering plum finish. A perfect whiskey for drinking straight or making its name’s sake: The Highball.

Price: $49.99

San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore

By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 10/23/2021 | Send Email

When enjoying this Prosecco recognize that is made with such familiarity and experience for this family as ties in the Valdobbiadene that go as far back to the sixth century AD. Their expectations when harvesting quality Glera combined with consistency in flavor from bottling to consumer is why K&L's relationship has lasted so long, they're just about part of our family. The suppleness of granny smith apples, ginger-pear sorbet, dried apricots in this version finishing with almond paste and the subtle brininess is lengthy and truly delightful on the finish. Feel free to apply your fruit puree of choice, this can be a great partner to passion fruit or prickly pear for bellini cocktails.

Price: $15.99

Compass Box "Orchard House" Blended Scotch Malt Whisky (750ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 10/21/2021 | Send Email

Compass Box strikes again. It was a devastating loss when Oak Cross went away from their core lineup, but the gaping hole that was left behind has finally been filled. Orchard House delivers the goods - a bushel full of them. The whisky has been purpose driven since being laid down in barrel to showcase the incredible fruit profile of the distillery components. It's a blended malt that highlights all of the beautiful ripe fruits in the pantheon of Scotch flavors. It's branches sit heavy with apples of every shade, stone fruit from succulent apricots and peaches to candied nectarines. Ripe pear abounds. It's truly incredible. All that fruit however - is still grounded by a full and complete whisky. This is where Compass Box really shines. Their mission is to build a whisky that is more than the sum of its parts. In a classic 1+1=3 magic trick they've paired all that fruit with ex-Oloroso sherry butts and their custom French oak barrels for a robust palate with more than a sprinkle of spice. Cinnamon and nutmeg, a touch of ground black pepper, rancio complexity in just enough force to be the perfect touch - like that extra pinch of salt from a chef. Vanilla and honey pair perfectly with the malty goodness that is of course the foundation for any Scotch. It's a masterpiece at a bargain price and fully deserving of a prominent spot in the core lineup of Compass Box.

Price: $44.99

San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/20/2021 | Send Email

Absolutely delicious Prosecco! It has an amazing floral aroma and light delicate bubbles with soft flavor of Liberty apple and bright citrus notes. It's very easy to drink and it's a great sparkling wine to use in many cocktails.

Price: $15.99

2018 Beaulieu Vineyard "Georges de Latour - Private Reserve" Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/19/2021 | Send Email

It's early going, but the 2018 may well prove to be the finest vintage of this wine in many decades, if not of all time. The perfect growing season in 2018, plus a few subtle tweaks in the cellar, seem to have paid off with this monumental release that is one of the wines of the vintage. With a pedigree dating back to the inaugural 1936 bottling, as BV writes in their notes, the Georges de Latour - Private Reserve was Napa Valley’s first “cult” Cabernet. Fruit for this iconic bottling is meticulously selected from BV's original ranches on Rutherford's western bench. These vineyards, aptly named BV Ranches No. 1 and No. 2, are the same sites originally planted by Georges de Latour in the early 1900s. In an era marked by more and more expensive wines from fledgling producers, this wine is the real deal and has the quality to back up its reputation. In my opinion, Rutherford Cab doesn't get any better.

Price: Hidden

Tequila Tapatio "Excelencia" Extra Añejo Tequila

By: Tim Telli | Review Date: 10/16/2021 | Send Email

If you're looking for a high end Tequila then this is the one as the Tapatio Excelencia has everything you want in an extra anejo. I find a nice saltiness and good agave flavor despite its age. This is very easy to drink with flavors of agave, herbs and some mangoes and banana in the background with a very smooth finish. Another great thing about this Tequila is that it is not sweet which can be a bit too common in the extra anejo category. A wonderful Tequila that is also well priced when you look at its competitors. Highly recommended!

Price: $199.99

Limit of 1 per customer

Tequila Tapatio "Excelencia" Extra Añejo Tequila

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 10/15/2021 | Send Email

The Tapatio Excelencia Gran Reserva is one of the greatest Tequilas ever produced. Dollar for dollar, there is nothing better available on the market today. We struggle to keep this Tequila in stock, but finally managed to grab a large parcel. The production of this spirit is insane and the extra time and care in making it shows with every nosing and every sip. This is decidedly NOT your big rich sweet style of extra añejo laden with additives - this is pure Agave flavor perfected meshed with quality oak for four years and then - like the world's finest eau de vie - allowed to rest for years before bottling. Nose: a complex mélange of fresh agave, blue fruit compote, freshly cut cherry wood, pencil shavings, and leafy herbs. On the palate the wood profile is rich and round, but not overpowering of the agave itself. Vanilla and caramel fill the mouth tempered by a spicy cracked pepper and fine tannin structure. Roasted and candied nuts, fresh saw dust, apple sauce, and raw sugar cane stalk all blend into a wonderful transition from mid-palate to finish. It's got length for days. If you're a lover of Tequila and are looking for extra añejo outside the cloying sweet style - you simply cannot do better than this bottle.

Price: $199.99

Limit of 1 per customer

Compass Box "Orchard House" Blended Scotch Malt Whisky (750ml)

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 10/6/2021 | Send Email

Such a beautiful and inviting Scotch! As soon as you pour a dram of this, you can tell that you're in the company of a friend. True to it's name, Compass Box's new blended malt, Orchard House, is redolent of multiple orchard fruit aromas. Apple, pear, peach, and cherry step to the front of the line. When nosing this, from time to time it almost smells like Calvados, though never fully giving up its base cereal notes. Whipped buttercream floats through, cut by just enough spice (one of the contributions of Clynelish in the blend, I'm guessing). The palate keeps playing with the fruit and ups the ante with a bright citrus pop, though they are certainly grounded by earthy and leathery flavors providing excellent balance. I hear that Orchard House will be replacing Oak Cross in Compass Box's core lineup, so while I was sad to see Oak Cross go, I'm pleased that it's being replaced by this absolute stunner of a blended malt.

Price: $44.99

Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/6/2021 | Send Email

Red apple skin and lemon notes are the most prominent flavors of this Champagne. It's full-bodied and powerful with firm structure and acidity. Serious wine that should be paired with richer seafood, like lobster, tuna or swordfish. It opens up a lot in the glass as you drink it and shows more sides of it. Definitely a unique Champagne.

Price: $99.99

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/6/2021 | Send Email

I never get tired of tasting and drinking this Champagne every time it comes back in stock. It's that good! Brilliant and tremendously complex, it's one of the best expressions of Blanc De Blancs . On the palate you get delicious combination of light lemon curd and some chalky minerality. On the nose - meadow flowers and citrus blossom. No wonder it's always gone so fast from our shelves!

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

Compass Box "Orchard House" Blended Scotch Malt Whisky (750ml)

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/2/2021 | Send Email

I would have bought this whisky at double the price. This offering from Compass Box is one of my biggest surprises of 2021, so much gentle fruit, deftly balanced with concentrated, natural malt and subtle rancio complexity. This is so much better than most single malt at the price and my favorite new release in many years. This is seamless and involved stuff!

Price: $44.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Tim Telli | Review Date: 10/1/2021 | Send Email

This is a staff and customer favorite for very good reasons. It's just delicious Champagne that is very easy to drink. I find it really well balanced. It is rich yet has good acid and is very rounded overall. It's basically the house Champagne at K&L that we frequently drink for our celebrations. One key part of the cepage here is that the Ariston's include 30% Pinot Meunier, an unusally high amount and I think it comes through when you drink the wine. Buy a bottle, you won't be disappointed.

Price: $37.99

2009 Coufran, Haut-Médoc

By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 9/30/2021 | Send Email

This shows the warm, baked character of the 2009 vintage to a tee and the wine is filled with ripe Merlot fruit flavors along with plenty of blackberry. The middle is firm, dark and deep but with no hard edges or aggressive tannin to get in the way of the pure drinking pleasure. Over 10 years bottle age and from a great vintage for less than 25 bucks!

Price: $24.99

JS: 92

WE: 90 - 92

Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email

It's Billecart, so you don't need me to tell you this wine is great - some assumptions are not foolhardy in the slightest. I was initially struck by the pretty florality of the nose that flows into aromas of light vanilla cream, soft breadiness, and citrus notes. The palate has amazing texture with weight lifted by elegant bubbles. Flavors of plum and apple mix with the citrus elements and baking spices. The oak aging really transforms this Champagne, adding complexity without applying a heavy hand.

Price: $99.99

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email

This delectable all-Chardonnay Champagne has a wonderful little secret: at least 50% of what's in the bottle is reserve wines. So even though it's non vintage, Bonville is utilizing a lot of its premium older wine for this Grand Cru. This Champagne comes at you with bracing minerality and acidity. There are notes of green apple, lemon tart, and enough chalk to get stuck in your teeth. That pucker factor along with a velvety soft mouthfeel makes this one of my favorite go-to Champagnes.

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email

The Aspasie Reserve has been one of my favorite go-to sparklers since I started working at K&L (back when it was called Carte Blanche). The name may have changed, but luckily the quality of the juice is exactly as high as it has always been. For me, Aspasie Reserve is all about freshness and balance, and it's amazing that it delivers so fully on those characteristics for under $35. That price is even more impressive when you know that this wine spends five years on the lees and contains 15-20% reserve wines. Yellow apple floats on top of fresh lemon for the nose. There's a great mineral base accented by a touch of toasted buttery brioche, golden raisins, and light honey. The palate has baked apple and pear notes that lean towards richness, but never crosses over that line. The fruit maintains its presence and the acid keeps just a little edge going. Wonderful!

Price: $37.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email

A great amount of effort and care goes into Aspasie Reserve, and it is instantly clear when you taste it. Low temperature macerated in small volume, then lightly filtered and aged for an impressive five years on the lees, it is a true wonder that the cost is not much higher than it is. Bright, pure flavors of Anjou pear, granny smith apple, toasted pastry dough, and hisbiscus, with a light creamy texture and crisp acidity never fail to impress even the most discerning champagne drinkers.

Price: $37.99

Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email

For those who enjoy the added nuance and luxury a subtle addition of oak lends to champagne, the Sous Bois is a superbly executed example from an excellent champagne house. The base of bright Anjou pear and granny smith apples is enhanced by nuances of vanilla, baking spice and a touch of cocoa. The added frame of oak gives great weight and added luxury to an already excellent wine.

Price: $99.99

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Tim Telli | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email

You'll be hard pressed to find a better deal in Blanc des Blancs Champagne than this offering from Franck Bonville. It is fresh and acidic with a fine chalk-filled core and a terrific texture that comes at a price that anybody can afford. Plus its all Grand Cru fruit from top quality terroir in the Côte des Blancs!

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne

By: Tim Telli | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email

The 'Sous Bois' is a barrel-fermented offering from Billecart-Salmon that uses fruit from Premier and Grand Cru sites in the Cote des Blancs. The three main Champagne grapes are used in equal proportions and all fermentation and ageing is done under wood (sous bois), with 6-7 years on the lees to add complexity. The aroma is very captivating in the way that only barrel fermentation can produce. There is definitely some comparison here to Krug and for those that would like to see what oak does to Champagne then this is a wine that you should try. There is some rich toast and brioche notes yet the wine is well balanced with some good acid lift that keeps it from being heavy or ponderous. I think this is a very fine Champagne that could be versatile for any occasion.

Price: $99.99

Saint Benevolence Clairin Rum (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 9/27/2021 | Send Email

This rum has a lot to offer for fans of rums made from fresh sugar cane juice. The nose has a nice grass and savory aromas. In the mouth it is a dry rum but there are nice fruity notes with savory undertones. It is easy to drink and enjoy.

Price: $29.99

Lustau "East India Solera" Cream Sherry Jerez

By: Tim Telli | Review Date: 9/22/2021 | Send Email

Lustau is an incredible producer of sherry. The East India Solera harkens back to the day when trading ships would sail around the world with casks of wine and sherry onboard, whose flavors would be influenced by the warm tropical weather on trips to places like the East Indies. Each wine (Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez) is matured separately in its own solera for 12 years. Once blended together, the resulting sherry is returned to barrel for another 3 years ageing. The resulting blend of sherries is just hugely complex. You get the sweetness of the px and the nuttiness and rancio of the oloroso that has so many flavors going on that every time you smell it you pick up different notes. I think this would appeal to lovers of Madeira as well as sherry lovers. The wine is perfect with nuts and aged cheese or just drinking on its own after a meal or an evening nightcap. I also find that it actually improves and gains more funky complexity after being open a few weeks. An excellent wine!

Price: $29.99

Frey Ranch Bottled In Bond Nevada Estate Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 9/15/2021 | Send Email

I like ryes that make spice the star (sorry, no softies for me please), and Frey Ranch's offering fits that bill. Great spice hits right off the bat featuring dill, fennel, cinnamon, dark vanilla, and clove. There's a little bit of funk that reminds me of Jamaican rums which is a curious - but welcomed - feature. Butterscotch and salted almonds round out the picture on the nose. This rye has exciting and fun spice without alcohol burn and tingles the tip of the tongue. On the palate, the spices have a brighter and fresher quality and get herbal, making this dram all the more exciting. The dill comes more to the foreground with other green flavors like eucalyptus. Cinnamon bark, polished leather, and bright lemon flavors emerge as well.

Price: $54.99

WA: 93

Wild Turkey "Rare Breed" Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/27/2021 | Send Email

The fabulous Wild Turkey distillery has always made a killer rye, but this is the first time we've been able to get the stuff at barrel proof and it doesn't disappoint in the slightest. It's no secret that I'm a HUGE fan of the kickin' chicken and while it's not everyone's cup of tea, Wild Turkey has slowly become the sleeper bourbon of the people. They do one or two special release every year, which of course have become extremely difficult to get, but mostly they just make great stuff and sell it for a great price. This stuff is no exception. The color is amber. The nose is expansive and overtly appealing. Huge aromas of dried spice, fresh mint, exotic woods, leather, burnt orange oil and spruce nibs. Some hints of tobacco leaf and behind something sweet and baked. On the palate it's got a wild core of tangy oak framed with fresh pepper, dried herbs, candied citrus peel, roasted nuts and warming mint on the finish. A total gem that just over delivers on every level.

Price: $59.99

WE: 98

WA: 94

Wild Turkey "Rare Breed" Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 8/25/2021 | Send Email

There are only a few rye whiskies on the market that could match or improve upon the near perfection that is the WT 101 bottling. The barrel proof Rare Breed bottling is one of those rarities. If the spice offered by the Kickin' Chicken's Bourbon is your jam, don't miss the barrel proof version of the rye - it's turned up to 11 in every sense. The nose stands a mile high above the glass and is a complex amalgam of wild fruit patch and cracked peppercorns. Berries - black, red, and blue - intermix with fresh cut grass, humus soil, and sweet but piquant smell of hot chili peppers. The palate is a take no prisoner's affair. It's big and beastly with a serious focus on spice both pepper and cinnamon bark. If you let it linger long enough you unlock sweeter notes, gentler spices, roasted nuts, bitter chocolate cocoa nibs, and a sweet caramel/vanilla wood profile in the background. Tame it with water and it gets a little sweeter still - you can dial it in pretty much however you like it giving it tremendous flexibility in any cocktail application. It's a terrific whiskey all around.

Price: $59.99

WE: 98

WA: 94

Lini "Labrusca" Lambrusco Emilia Bianco

By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 8/7/2021 | Send Email

Lambrusco is one of the most popular wines in Italy this time of year, but it’s a much-misunderstood category in the States. This is mostly due to the ocean of cheap, sweet versions that were popular here in the 1970s and 1980s, plus a perplexing diversity of grape varieties, styles, and colors. Lambrusco has half a dozen different appellations, half a dozen different grape varieties, and ranges from the extremely high yields in the flatlands to lesser yields in the rolling hills of Castelvetro. It takes a bit of work to figure it out, but wow—once you try a couple, you will be hooked. Some of the more delicate versions have the Emilia appellation, where Lini is one of the top producers. These wines are lighter, crisper, and dry, while being perfect for salumi on a hot afternoon. Lower in alcohol, they are the perfect daytime wines and should be served refreshingly cold. (Greg St. Clair, K&L Italian wine buyer)

Price: $15.99

Louis Roederer "Collection 242" Brut Champagne

By: Stephanie Vidales | Review Date: 8/3/2021 | Send Email

Just when we thought the Roederer Brut Premier is as good as it gets, here comes Collection 242 to prove us wrong. This new, fabulous cuvee from Roederer is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and dosaged at a lower rate. By blending the 2017 with reserves you get some major complexity all while keeping the freshness and minerality shining through. Coming from a major Champagne house, this comes at a great price, too.

Price: $54.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 8/3/2021 | Send Email

This is so fresh and vibrant at first but as it warms and gets air lemon Brule`, cream, apricot and wet stone all emerge in the mid-palate and finish. The aromas and flavors stay bright, clean and focused even as the texture turns creamy and rich. Just amazing for the money.

Price: $37.99

2018 Palmer, Margaux

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 8/2/2021 | Send Email

With a quarter of the production of a normal vintage, the steadfast biodynamics of Palmer resulted in an incredible sacrifice. That said, the wine that was crafted has the potential to be a masterpiece. A truly unique wine that seemed to be a converse of the profile of many in 2018, Palmer leads with bright red fruits on the nose and follows through with deep black to blue fruits on the palate. Concentrated with great depth and a vein of acidity throughout, it is powerful but not overdone by any measure. Thomas Duroux didn't hesitate to reference some all-time vintages. Hopefully, this will rise to that level.

Price: $399.99

2018 Palmer, Margaux

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 8/2/2021 | Send Email

This wine is stunning. It was made from 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. It has a robust bouquet of spicy blackberries and black cherry, violets, and licorice with the essence of jam on toast. The mid-palate was replete with rich fruit, while the tannins were integrated and smooth, retaining Palmer's signature elegance and femininity in the face of all that power. The low production numbers and the high quality make this a wine to buy on futures, as it is sure to be a rare sight on retail shelves.

Price: $399.99

Louis Roederer "Collection 242" Brut Champagne

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 8/1/2021 | Send Email

What a significant and impressive upgrade for Roederer! This updated cuvee is powerful, mineral with deeper and broader texture and amazing long finish. Brioche, hints of honey and red apple along with mouthwatering acidity and rich citrus.

Price: $54.99

Louis Roederer "Collection 242" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 7/29/2021 | Send Email

What a thrill to taste "Collection," a revamping of Roederer's flagship non-vintage cuvée, and a commitment to top quality production standards and consumer transparency. With added reserve wines from a perpetual solera-style system, lower dosage and added Chardonnay contents overall, this is a substantial improvement over an already-great blend. It has added brightness, precision, integration without losing any of the signature leesy, smokey, toasty richness.

Price: $54.99

Louis Roederer "Collection 242" Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/29/2021 | Send Email

This is one of our best values in fine Champagne! This wine has a lovely fresh baked brioche nose framed by deep meyer lemon fruit with subtle hints of honey. In the mouth it has a precise bead and great texture- not just from the tiny bubbles- but also from the concentration of the wine underneath. It manages to have white fruit, citrus and bready complexity without becoming vinous or heavy. On the contrary, it is a fresh, finessed Champagne with a finish that had me coming back for more and more. What a treat.

Price: $54.99

Auchentoshan "American Oak" Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 7/22/2021 | Send Email

Yes, it's woody, but also graceful. There's a clear American oak presence accompanied by notes of cedar and sandalwood. Honey and light caramel trickle out with scents of cherry cough drops, baking spices, coconut, and dried flowers. The palate is more austere than the nose lets on with few sweet flavors. The wood and the spice take prominence with grippy tannins and flavors of shellac followed by notes of cardamom, clove, and mint. The Scotch has a viscous and mouth-coating texture, especially with an addition of water. A dry dusty wood finish caps things off into a gentle and lengthy finish.

Price: $39.99

WE: 93

Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 7/15/2021 | Send Email

Launois is an eternal favorite at K&L, and this all-Chardonnay core of their lineup is always in my wine fridge. It's such a fun Champagne that comes across super fresh with notes of pear, lemon, and chalk. The acid is zippy on the tongue with flavors of lemon meringue pie. It's playful and casual, and it's great for any occasion.

Price: $39.99

Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Thomas Smith | Review Date: 7/15/2021 | Send Email

Every once in a while, customers looking to explore something new will ask us, “What are you guys drinking? What are you excited about?”. It’s so much fun to hear that question, because it gives us a chance to recommend wines that we’re passionate about, wines that we love and want to share with other people. When recently faced with this question, the answer for me was unequivocally Launois. Not only is it one of our best-selling Champagnes at K&L, it also happens to be the bottle of wine that more of our staff buy than anything else in the store. The reasons for this are clear: all Grand-Cru Chardonnay from Mesnil; clean, powerful and focused flavors; and a price that’s affordable enough to enjoy Champagne on a weeknight. I took a bottle home a week ago and can safely reaffirm that this is exactly as good as we all think it is. With lemon, cream, a hint of smoke and biscuit on the nose, it follows up on the palate with aggressive, mouthwatering acidity, an incredibly prominent minerality and a beautiful finish that carries on and on. An outstanding value.

Price: $39.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Thomas Smith | Review Date: 7/15/2021 | Send Email

For a couple of years now, another Staff member and I have had a tradition where every Friday we have pizza and Champagne. At this point, we’ve had nearly every grower-producer Champagne on the shelf, but when Friday evening rolls around, the Ariston Aspasie Brut Reserve is the one I buy 9/10 times. The quality here is off-the-charts good for its price point. With five years on the lees and a classic cepage of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 30% Pinot Meunier this is versatile, exceptionally well crafted Champagne that deserves all its credit and more. The nose is light and citrusy with touches of cream and toast, followed up by a palate that expresses red fruits, minerality and an intense, crisp bite. There’s a ton of detail and fine-touches that keep you returning to the glass, finding something new each time. An excellent and versatile Champagne that dramatically outplays its price.

Price: $37.99

2020 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 7/8/2021 | Send Email

Dark, inky color. Very spicy aromas with hints of lilac. Full mouthful of red berries and blackcurrants. Packed with ripe fruit which overpower and hide the tannins. Very elegant wine with a long, lingering finish. Must be one of the top wines for 2020 Bordeaux. 42% Merlot, 52% Cab Sauv and mix of PV and CF. Full-bodied wine when tasted at the property. Will age well for a long time. Close to 2009 in quality.

Price: $139.99

2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 7/8/2021 | Send Email

With a special label honoring the Cathiard’s Thirty years of winemaking.at Smith. This wine has huge scores from the writers with three or four possible 100 pts. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, plus PV and Cab Franc. This wine is like a lazer beam-very precise and focused. I think 2020 is their best wine in the thirty years of winemaking-Fabian is a great winemaker. Sexy and ripe-will age well.

Price: $189.99

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