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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
Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 12/8/2020 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 12/8/2020 | Send Email
This is one of K&L's best selling Champagnes for a very good reason. The Bonville family has some of the best terroir imaginable for growing Chardonnay--every acre that they own is super chalky, east-facing Grand Cru on the Cote des Blancs. They have been making their own Champagne here since the 1920s, and growing here for many generations before that. This is their entry level bottling, and what a way to start! It is made of at least half reserve wines, giving it not only the dry, chalky drive that makes this area famous, but also giving the wine toasty, creamy, delicious drinkability. A must-try for any Champagne lover!
Billecart-Salmon "Le Rendez-Vous" Pinot Meunier Extra Brut #1 Champagne
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 11/28/2020 | Send Email
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 11/28/2020 | Send Email
Billecart's first rendition of 100% Pinot Meunier from 3 grand cru sites, Leuvrigny, Festigny and Venteuil in the Marne Valley is a show stopper. The florals alone is enough to draw in ones curiosity and intrigue. There is a familiar fragrance of proofing yeast, shaved ginger and Indian spices. The delicate flavors of citron, pomelo, D'Anjou pear, mineral salt and sweet/fruity olive oil leaves a fascinating finish in the mouthfeel. Fine bubbles dance on the palate and a low dosage of 4.5 g/l is my kind of Champagne. This can age for 5 years but I endorse to enjoy this now, there is not much out there.
2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 11/17/2020 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 11/17/2020 | Send Email
We've adored 2016 Léoville-Barton since en primeur, and it has more-than fulfilled that promise at every turn since then. With wonderful aromatics that highlight classic Left Bank Cab (graphite, cassis), the palate bursts with energy, showing bright red fruit note that leads do deeper flavors of baking chocolate and black cherry. Extremely fine tannins give it immense structure and delineation, but there's still a luxuriousness that makes it hard to put down. It hits all the notes that make folks flock back to Léoville-Barton again and again over the years, and the vintage just seems custom-fit for the estate. This will probably be considered a reference-point rendition of St-Julien for a long time to come.
Cruse Wine Co. "Tradition" California Sparkling Wine
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/10/2020 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/10/2020 | Send Email
Those of you lucky few who have had Ultramarine sparkling wines are sure to enjoy this release. It has a lively, fresh and clean nose of lemon/lime with a hint of sea salt. It is also clean on the palate, like a zero dosage bottling should be. It is alive with lemons, oranges, Granny Smith apples and a beautiful hint of apricot. Stunning and delicious!
Cruse Wine Co. "Tradition" California Sparkling Wine
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 11/6/2020 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 11/6/2020 | Send Email
One of the most complex Domestic Sparklers I've tried lately and one of the most compelling. This is chock full of flavors and aromas of green apple, tangerine zest, ginger and citrus. The pinpoint mousse on the zesty body even has hints of green melon and kiwi. The clean and chalky finish seem to go on and on. Gorgeous stuff!
Pol Roger "Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/5/2020 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/5/2020 | Send Email
This little beauty has a base wine that is at least three years old and vintage reserve stock that is generally 8-10 years old. It has a creamy nose of ripe, yellow fruits and lemon meringue. Initially, rich on the palate, with golden apple, honeycomb and nectarine flavors. A nice, lingering finish that is clean and oak free. It spends 48 months on the lees and is composed of 1/3 each of the three primary Champagne varietals. Just lovely! Currently, the quality has increased even further and the finish is even longer, with a very fine bead. Don't miss out!
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/30/2020 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/30/2020 | Send Email
To draw attention to the fact that they have greatly improved the already amazing quality of their standard Brut bottling Laurent Perrier has renamed it "La Cuvee". The bright "Wedding cake" aromas and flavors remain but the "La Cuvee" is toastier and has a much broader palate impression and a more layered texture. There is now a rich array of stone fruit flavors that add complexity which combined with the extra weight and length make this a more profound wine and one of the great values in Champagne. Delicious and priced for every day enjoyment.
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/30/2020 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/30/2020 | Send Email
This Champagne is lively, bright and fresh. It is dry but also a little juicy and has a nice balance of flavors. One glass is not enough.
Price:
$44.99
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/27/2020 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/27/2020 | Send Email
Laurent Perrier has long been a favorite of mine due to its clean, lovely character and combination of quality and value. This new cuvee has a tad more chardonnay and an increased sur lie aging of six months. The result? Even BETTER quality than it previously had! Beautiful nose of saline, cream and lemon meringue. Increased weight on the mid-palate with stone fruits and peachy goodness. Long, lingering finish with key lime, chalk, minerals and nectarine. These is really not much more to ask from this champagne!
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 10/27/2020 | Send Email
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 10/27/2020 | Send Email
How do you make a classic pleasing Champagne even better? Bring in some new spectacular fruit sources including a lot of Grand Cru Chardonnay and add 'La Cuvee' to the name. The replacement for the LP Brut is just fantastic! It shows a more creamy nose next to the previous LP, and a finer more mineral driven palate impression. The round and fairly ripe apple and peach middle has an appealing steely core, and a chalky minerality underpinning it all. Even more refined than the Champagne it replaces, LP has an even better winner on their hands here. It will make socially distanced holidays much better!
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/27/2020 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/27/2020 | Send Email
Wow! This is everything I love about Laurent-Perrier's classic brut, just amplified. More chalky Chardonnay and an extra year on the lees give the La Cuvée boosted minerality and complexity. It still shows the easygoing apple fruit of the original, with a sophistication that belies its great price point.
Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé Crémant d'Alsace
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/23/2020 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/23/2020 | Send Email
This amazing value starts with high toned aromas and flavors of Bing Cherry and sweet cranberry that carry right through the full, creamy and frothy middle. There is a wonderful sweet/tart counterpoint on the bracing finish. A well made over-achiever.
Pierre Sparr "Réserve" Crémant d'Alsace Brut
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/23/2020 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/23/2020 | Send Email
This offers a full mousse filled with green apple, lilac and honeysuckle that is mouth filling and refreshing. There is a citric tug on the finish which hints at green tea, talc and limestone minerality. This is a great value and an overall delicious bottle of bubbly.
Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé Crémant d'Alsace
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 10/16/2020 | Send Email
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 10/16/2020 | Send Email
Another fantastic Alsatian sparkler of 100% Pinot Noir. Bright raspberry, red plums and cherry blossoms spring forward from the glass. An abundance of candied cherry and ripe watermelon with a touch of lychee encompass the palate finishing dry and lingering. This is a perfect paring for charcutier of the spicy kind and cremont cheese with dried figs.
Pierre Sparr "Réserve" Crémant d'Alsace Brut
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 10/16/2020 | Send Email
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 10/16/2020 | Send Email
This is an absolute superb Alsatian sparkling made up of 80% Pinot blanc and 20% Pinot Auxerrois. Lined with an abundance of spiced pear, baked apple and a sprinkling of cinnamon on the nose, then leaning into a more tropical taste on the palate of pineapple, agave and honey. Finishing dry, bright and yeasty. Great mouthfeel and a perfect aperitif if paired with light snacks or just mid day enjoyment.
Lini "Labrusca" Lambrusco Emilia Bianco
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/26/2020 | Send Email
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/26/2020 | Send Email
My first time tasting a white Lambrusco and this one is quite the yummy little charmant-method sparkler. Honey dew melon, brown pear, rainier cherry, pink lady apples. Overfilled with great acidity together with a light mineral essence, perfect to drink on its own and no vital need of food. Cheers!
Price:
$15.99
Elijah Craig "Toasted Barrel" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: Greg Dudley | Review Date: 9/23/2020 | Send Email
By: Greg Dudley | Review Date: 9/23/2020 | Send Email
I am a big fan of toasted barrel whiskies and this one is a great toasted expression. The nose has some marshmallow and chocolate, almost s'more-like, with a bit of honey and caramel. I find s'mores again on the palate along with baking spices and a bit of rye spice on the finish. Very tasty. I am very excited that Heaven Hill has decided to make this a regular release. Enjoy neat or over a big ice cube.
Angeleno Spritz (6 x 200ml Cans)
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 9/23/2020 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 9/23/2020 | Send Email
Absolutely the best canned spritz I've tasted to date. Most canned spritz try to be a decent approximation of an Aperol spritz and they fail miserably. In large part, because the maker of the can neither makes Aperol, or Prosecco (or even soda water). The Angeleno Spritz is a whole other story. They are showcasing how great the Amaro Angeleno is — a product they've made for a long time and that is decidedly NOT trying to approximate Aperol. They've highlighted the balance and finesse of the Amaro with a little bit of grapefruit and a quality soda water. It's terrific: all you have to do is pour it over ice and try not to drink the entire six pack yourself.
Price:
$19.99
Angel's Envy 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
By: Jennifer Lee | Review Date: 9/14/2020 | Send Email
By: Jennifer Lee | Review Date: 9/14/2020 | Send Email
Butterscotch. Toasted Caramel. Brown sugar. But mainly, butterscotch. I love butterscotch, so naturally I gravitated towards this Angel's envy like a child in a candy store. In fact, you could even make the comparison that this is liquid butterscotch "candy" for adults. On the palate this rye whiskey is smooth and supple and goes down super easy. I love to drink it as digestif after dinner, but you could easily make this an anytime sipper. If you love sweet flavors and rye, you'll love this one. You won't regret it.
2015 Barde-Haut, St-Émilion
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 9/11/2020 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 9/11/2020 | Send Email
A bit more flamboyant than many Barde-Haut offerings and showing the richness of the vintage but with plenty of tension and tell tail mineral on the finish. This shows off ripe raspberries, fig and dark plum fruit in the dense middle before the tannin and mineral buried underneath pull the finish along.
Angel's Envy 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 9/10/2020 | Send Email
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 9/10/2020 | Send Email
Less cloying than the Angel's Envy Bourbon finished in Port barrels, this Angel's Envy Rye is definitely still a big sweetie! Butterscotch is the first characteristic that I notice coming from the Rum barrel finish and it does NOT let up throughout the dram. There are layers of gentle spice of cardamom, cinnamon bark, and red pepper. I pick up on a red fruit medley that eventually comes to rest as red licorice mixing with spice and pecan pralines. The core Rye elements poke through intermittently, but everything keeps coming back home to butterscotch. If you have a sweet tooth or are looking for a new after-dinner whiskey then check this out.
Angel's Envy 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 9/10/2020 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 9/10/2020 | Send Email
This rye has been highly allocated for a very long time and the small quantities that we do get typically disappear in a day or two. We were finally able to secure a large enough parcel to shout out its availability. If you love the Angel's Envy Bourbon, do not miss this opportunity to stock up the rye at a sharp price. It's a perfect cocktailing rye with its elevated proof (100 proof) and sweeter profile thanks to the Caribbean Rum finishing. This added step transforms the classic 95% rye mashbill into something altogether different. While the underlying backbone of spice from the grain is there and carries through the palate and into the finish, the nose is all sweet caramel and confection with tropical fruits. Black strap molasses and fine Cognac eau de vie notes dominate. The brown sugar flavors mix into perfect balance with the pepper spice of the rye. It's a great whiskey for a Manhattan with just a dash of vermouth. If you seek a rich round style of whiskey for an after dinner drink neat or on the rocks, this is also a perfect candidate.
Old Forester "1920 Prohibition Style" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
By: Greg Dudley | Review Date: 9/8/2020 | Send Email
By: Greg Dudley | Review Date: 9/8/2020 | Send Email
My favorite of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series lineup. The nose brings creme brulee, baking spices, stone fruits, and some rye spice. The palate is flavorful and intense, and at 115 proof, this bottle is not as hot on the palate as the proof might suggest. I get apple pie, more creme brulee, a bit of barrel/oak, and it finishes with baking spices and a hint of rye spice. Incredibly drinkable for its proof. I enjoy it neat or over one big cube.
Alexandre Le Brun "Tradition" Brut Champagne
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 9/6/2020 | Send Email
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 9/6/2020 | Send Email
Creamy, toasty, super bright with a hint of honey and brioche.
Fun and funky in a good Champagne way.
It is beautiful, complex and layered with such harmony in flavors and balance. It will be the perfect addition to your celebration or just a delightful addition to any occasion.
Price:
$37.99
Moussé Fils "Eugène" Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/2/2020 | Send Email
By: Dejah Overby | Review Date: 9/2/2020 | Send Email
Cedric Mousse Champagnes are one of my top favorites, mostly because of their use of Meunier, stainless steel and malolactic. This is a great value with a ton of work put behind the making of these Champagnes. This bottling is 80% Meunier, 20% Pinot with a blending of 50% 2015 vintage juice and 50% 2003-2014 juice somewhat of a solera style but fresher. There's tons of layers and texture, a light lemon curd along with a fresh fruit bowl complexity. Some ginger spiciness shows in the mid but this is a quaffable Champagne, so easy to drink on its own. If you had to have a snack, I'd recommend a simple pate with toasted almonds and dried apricots keep it short and simple with this one.
Alexandre Le Brun "Tradition" Brut Champagne
By: Dulcinea Gonzalez | Review Date: 8/28/2020 | Send Email
By: Dulcinea Gonzalez | Review Date: 8/28/2020 | Send Email
Decadence on a budget! Here's a delightfully rich Champagne with an aroma of a freshly baked baguette, lemons and herbs. It's taste is plush and broad at one end and then fresh and lemony, grapefruity at the other leaving a well balanced round finish. This would be a top pick for an indulgent Champagne breakfast or a simple brunch time toast! Santé.
Price:
$37.99
Alexandre Le Brun "Tradition" Brut Champagne
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 8/26/2020 | Send Email
By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 8/26/2020 | Send Email
Everyone on staff here at K&L loves Le Brun Champagnes, but this is one of my all time favorites! This sparkler is incredibly aromatic with sour lemon, fresh cream, and solid minerality. What puts it over the top for me are the scents of brightly blooming wild flowers. The palate begins gently with lemon curd dessert before reaching a vibrant acidity, then ending with a grapefruit pith finish. Outstanding.
Price:
$37.99
Alexandre Le Brun "Tradition" Brut Champagne
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 8/25/2020 | Send Email
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 8/25/2020 | Send Email
This is a champagne I buy for me. It's made of 1/3 each of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier each giving their own special character of baked apples on the pallet, bread and/yeast aromas on the nose and savory notes on all of it. This blend is a perfect recipe that I want over and over.
Price:
$37.99
ArteNOM "Seleccion 1579" Blanco Tequila (750ml)
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 8/24/2020 | Send Email
By: Andrew Tobin | Review Date: 8/24/2020 | Send Email
NOM 1579 is widely hailed as one of the best Tequila distilleries in Mexico. ArteNOM has been kind enough to source a special batch from them to share with the world and I for one, am thrilled they did! The nose is soft with hints of lime, fresh pineapple, black pepper and green herbs all wrapped up in a tangy cream. Oh man does the palate come through after with a huge savory herbaceous punch right up front that rounds into sweet vanilla cream notes. Minerality completely defines the finish with a nice wet stone pull that finishes clean and lean. The quality of the tequila that ArteNOM sources at this price range is amazing, this is definitely one of the best Blanco's on the shelf!
Price:
$54.99
Oka Kura "Japanese Bermutto" Japanese Sake Vermouth (720ml)
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 7/29/2020 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 7/29/2020 | Send Email
This is insane - while not technically a vermouth because it doesn’t use wine, it’s basically Japanese sake based vermouth. It drinks like a less sweet blanc vermouth, but not quite dry. It’s got all the lift and bright aromatics of sake taken to 11 by the addition of Japanese citrus’ like Yuzu and Kabosu and made even still more complex by peppercorns and mugwort along with a host of other bitters and spices local to Kumamoto. Try it in a martini or just on the rocks with a twist. It’s exceptional.
Price:
$29.99
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/25/2020 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 7/25/2020 | Send Email
This Brut Rose has consistently been the darling of both staff and customers. It is composed of 100% Pinot Noir and retains a classic, clean, fresh raspberry and dark strawberry character. Dark raspberry and candied orange on the nose. These days, there are also more mineral notes and hints of orange marmalade and black raspberries. A somewhat richer style, at the forefront, but, balanced with tangy acidity on the finish. The primary fermentation is done with sugarcane while secondary fermentation is done with beet sugar. As is usual with this producer, quality has increased even more over the past few years without significant price increases.
(Updated, 22 July, 2020).
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 7/22/2020 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 7/22/2020 | Send Email
It can be tricky to define pricey Rosé Champagne as a "bargain," but when one considers just how much care goes into each bottle of Laurent-Perrier, it suddenly seems underpriced. Made with extended maceration and using the more difficult saignée method, their Cuvée Rosé is special. Deep red berry fruit shines through the lifted palate, with both richness and minerality coming through to the clean finish. This is a substantial rosé – great with food – yet elegant with tiny bubbles and a citrusy freshness. The fact that the bottle is gorgeous and the house pedigree dates back to 1812 only adds to the glamour of this lovely, high quality Pinot Noir Champagne.
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Stephanie Vidales | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
By: Stephanie Vidales | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
The Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose is one of my favorite rose Champagnes in the store! It comes from all Grand Cru vineyards mostly in the south and north of the Montagne de Reims and is entirely Pinot Noir. It has a gorgeous salmon-pink color in the glass, and is very expressive on the nose and palate. It's full of red fruit character and richness from 5 years aging on the less. Every time I go back to this wine it never disappoints!
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
Bright, fresh, rosé Champagne with lovely fruit and excellent purity. It shows some subtle notes of crushed mint and strawberry coulis. The quality of the all Grand Cru Pinot Noir fruit sources really show through on this wine. The elegant pure red fruit flavors are balanced by a nice tart cranberry acidity on the finish. A true classic!
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
You don't become one of the world's best selling Rose Champagnes for no reason. The all Pinot Noir, all Grand Cru LP Rose is truly a gem - rich and plenty powerful, with a palate of lightly spiced raspberry and wild strawberry fruit and a creamy finish and framed by perfect acidity. Somehow LP manages to combine richness and elegance into one stunning Champagne
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 7/21/2020 | Send Email
Everything about Laurent Perrier's Cuvée Rosé is rich and seductive: the deep pink hue, the lush Pinot Noir fruit flavor, the silky texture. The fruit, entirely Grand Cru Pinot Noir, is destemmed, crushed and left in contact with the skins for an unusually long 72 hours, before being vinified and aged on the lees for four years. The result is a wine rich in the pure flavors of strawberries, raspberries, black cherries and hazelnuts with a creamy texture, crisp bubbles, and incredible length. This is a very delicious — and unique—rosé Champagne.
Tentaka Kuni "Hawk in the Heavens" Junmai Sake (720ml)
By: Stephanie Vidales | Review Date: 6/9/2020 | Send Email
By: Stephanie Vidales | Review Date: 6/9/2020 | Send Email
Hawk In The Heavens is an incredibly food friendly, earth driven sake perfect for your summer barbecues. On the palate, this Junmai is dry yet rich with flavors of mushroom, walnut and grass. It can be served slightly chilled, or room temperature to accentuate the rounder body and umami character.
Price:
$29.99
2019 Feytit-Clinet, Pomerol
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 6/4/2020 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 6/4/2020 | Send Email
The process behind the seamless quality of Feytit Clinet is an arduous one. Yields are kept especially low in the vineyards and are entirely hand-picked, the wine undergoes extended lees aging, and then about 18 months in 80% new oak. The process delivered for 2019! On the nose, rich plums, black licorice, mulberries, violets and toast. The palate is rich and velvety without being heavy, with juicy acidity giving the fruit life and vibrance on the finish. 90% Merlot 10% Cabernet Franc
Palmer & Co. "La Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 5/14/2020 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 5/14/2020 | Send Email
This one of the toastiest, richest Champagnes, and I love the brioche, beure d’Issigny and Meyer lemon curd in this Champagne. I find that the hazelnut-like fruit of Verzenay stands out in this bottle. I love this as an apéritif, and I think it would also do very well with an equally decadent meal such as lobster. A toast to you!
Montechiara Prosecco
By: Blake Conklin | Review Date: 4/4/2020 | Send Email
By: Blake Conklin | Review Date: 4/4/2020 | Send Email
We all need our go to every day bubbles. But instead of putting your hard earned dollars towards bubbles of lesser quality, dare I say Barefoot, why not focus your dough towards this absolutely stunning Prosecco from Montechiara. Having a graduation party and need some bubbles for a toast? We got you covered! Great for aperol spritz, and extra dry enough to be enjoyed on it's own, you will not be disappointed!
Price:
$10.99
Montechiara Prosecco
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 3/31/2020 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 3/31/2020 | Send Email
This is it: the Prosecco your toast has been dreaming of. Subtly sweeter than Brut but not overwhelmingly so, the Extra Dry style of Montechiara is the perfect cocktail base - pair it with Aperol for spritzer magic! Once you experience the value and versatility of this bella little workhorse, you'll want to buy a case and celebrate.
Price:
$10.99
1964 Chateau de la Grangerie Leon Beyries "La Hauresse" 60 Year Old K&L Exclusive Armagnac (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 3/5/2020 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 3/5/2020 | Send Email
This bottle proves what other K&L staff members have already said, and that is, that Armagnac has some of the best deals for those looking for aged spirits. At an almost unbelievable price this bottle has a lot of offer. The nose is very seductive and inviting, with complex layered floral and caramel notes. In the mouth it is concentrated and creamy, with Grangerie elegance still present. This is a spirit to sit down with and think about.
Price:
$149.99
2016 Labégorce, Margaux
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 3/4/2020 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 3/4/2020 | Send Email
Is there a property that offers more for less in Left Bank Bordeaux than Labégorce these days? It's a tough call, but they're definitely on a short list. On the 2016, layered aromas hint at blackberry confit, crushed violets, and asphalt. While the nose hints at a brooding wine, the palate shows terrific refinement with waves of pure deep red fruit, a terrific texture, extremely fine tannin, and lingering acidity that gives it lift. This will need a bit of time, but it shows a lot of the character of the vintage and the appellation already. 2016 Labégorce is a terrific effort and a fantastic value among its peers.
1964 Chateau de la Grangerie Leon Beyries "La Hauresse" 60 Year Old K&L Exclusive Armagnac (750ml)
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 3/3/2020 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 3/3/2020 | Send Email
Mindbogglingly complex and comically cheap. Grangerie has long been one of my favorite Armagnac producers due to the incredible balance of wood and fruit forwardness of their spirits. After a shocking 54 years in oak this brandy has so much to offer. The defining fruitiness is very much alive and present and has mingled so elegantly with the French oak. Fresh stone fruit and berry compote get cooked down into a heavy reduction redolent of maple syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a touch of coffee. Pipe tobacco and aromatic cedar and sandalwood swirl about the glass. And that's all just on the nose. When you finally get around to sampling the spirit the paradigm shifts. It's where the extraordinary age becomes truly apparent. The tannin profile is astounding. Plainly it has a huge wood influence after all that time and there is no mistaking it for anything else, but the grip from the wood is just strong enough to hold your attention, but not yank you around. It's like the sure hand of a master craftsman working a block of wood or a chunk of stone - firm, yet controlled, strong, but elegant. All the while, the underlying brandy fruit persists. This flavor profile and nearly five and a half decades of aging, all for $150 is insane. Given the current state of pricing in aged spirits, it's possible we have never had a deal this good.
Price:
$149.99
1964 Chateau de la Grangerie Leon Beyries "La Hauresse" 60 Year Old K&L Exclusive Armagnac (750ml)
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/3/2020 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 3/3/2020 | Send Email
First, what an absolute treat. A 54 year old Armagnac for just $150 is an insane deal, further highlighting how underappreciated Armagnac is compared to the better known Cognac, to the detriment of the consumer. The complexity on the nose is just crazy. There's an intense yet delicate florality that blends into caramels and hints of mocha with generous amounts of ripe fruit. This is the kind of spirit you could just swirl and sniff all evening and find something new time and time again. The palate is mind-blowingly smooth with the mocha notes shining out even more brightly and twining and interplaying with the caramel and the still very fresh fruit on the palate. As the palate turns toward the finish, it's long and savory with nice amounts of barrel spice accompanying the white pepper and tobacco. This is a truly special Armagnac and you'd be doing yourself a disservice passing this up.
Price:
$149.99
2016 d'Aiguilhe, Côtes de Castillon
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 2/17/2020 | Send Email
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 2/17/2020 | Send Email
Very appealing smokey aromatics with an intense palate that is full of cherries, cocoa and oak spices. It is full body and definitely not shy. It is luscious and utterly mouthwatering. Enjoy!
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Lauren Seward | Review Date: 2/16/2020 | Send Email
By: Lauren Seward | Review Date: 2/16/2020 | Send Email
Don't let the price fool you! This is one of the best deals in our entire Champagne collection and is THE go-to for K&L staffers looking for a last-minute bubbly. A Muenier-forward blend from far-western Champagne that spent 3 years on the lees, this bottle is toasty and nutty on the aromatics, with a fruity palate and very balanced acidity. Looking to spice it up at your next party? Consider purchasing this in magnum format - it is even better and was aged for an extra year on the lees.
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Jennifer Lee | Review Date: 2/15/2020 | Send Email
By: Jennifer Lee | Review Date: 2/15/2020 | Send Email
This champagne is one for toasting! Having aged 3 years on the lees (4 years for magnum size) the toasty nut flavors shine through and hit my taste buds dancing. Mad with 40% reserve wines, the liveliness and acidity leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your meal. Delicious for any occasion. Cheers!
Fallet-Dart Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Heather Vander Wall | Review Date: 2/15/2020 | Send Email
By: Heather Vander Wall | Review Date: 2/15/2020 | Send Email
I recently revisited this wine, and fell in love all over again. I'm a big fan of all the Fallet Dart wines, but this rose Champagne knocks it out of the park. The palate is bursting with tangerine, clementine and a whole array of citrus fruits. On the back end you find the lovely red cherry notes and a pleasant, creamy weight. The whole is bolstered by fresh, vibrant acidity, making this stunning rose Champagne one of my absolute favorites.
Price:
$39.99
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 2/13/2020 | Send Email
By: Muriel Sarik | Review Date: 2/13/2020 | Send Email
This is the best value champagne we have and it is absolutely delicious. I serve this a lot at home and it never seizes to amaze me how complex it is. Whether I'm cooking, eating or mingling this champagne keeps grabbing my attention to all its flavors and textures
The added bonus is that we have 3 different sizes 375ml, 750ml and 1.5lt.