K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 12/22/2017 | Send Email

I know what you might be thinking: "I've had the Ariston Aspasie Carte Blanche dozens of times at this point." I've consumed at least 100 bottles of this in my 10 years at K&L, but unless you've bought a bottle post-November 2017 then you haven't had the new and improved Carte Blanche. You can look at my colleague Gary Westby's review for the technical details, but the short version is that the technological advancements put into place six years ago at Aspasie are just now showing up in the bottle, after five years of lees aging. If you thought you were getting a bargain for a sub-$30 Champagne before, you're getting a better version today. The control that the Aspasies have over the fermentation and pressing now results in a much fresher wine. More dynamic on the palate, cleaner on the finish, and livelier in every way, my most recent experience with the Carte Blanche was like drinking it again for the first time. If it's been a while since your last bottle of Aspasie Carte Blanche, you may want to consider revisiting this soon.

Price: $37.99

Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Brian Fogarty | Review Date: 12/12/2017 | Send Email

Champagne is always a welcome choice and not just for special occasions, but when you open a bottle of single village Grand Cru Champagne that is an occasion all unto itself. Mesnil sur Oger is a quant hamlet in southern half of the Cote du Blanc with many famous parcels, and the Launois family captures that specific essence perfectly. The toasty, brioche nose opens up quickly to reveal yellow fig, Golden Delicious apple, fields of jasmine, a walnut nuttiness and then you find the hints of chalk you were looking for. On the palate the apple gets firmer and a little more Granny Smith, pear and white pepper can be found, and the chalk is easily detected. The wine has firm acidity but leaves plenty of room to experience the softer elements.

Price: $44.99

Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Tradition" Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne

By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 12/5/2017 | Send Email

One of my favorite things about Meunier dominant Champanges is the depth, fullness and polish it adds to a wine. This brut from a new, all estate grown producer is 100% Meunier and brings that alluring full body character to the glass while inviting us into a complex, expansive and elegant experience with lots of fruit, spice and a touch of fresh earth. Another great Champagne to add to your collection!

Price: $29.99

Pol Roger "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 11/29/2017 | Send Email

An exceptional, value-priced offering from a house with clout, “White Foil” is subtly smoky and weightlessly creamy, with rich apple fruit balanced by enough acid to maintain focus through to the snappy but long finish. Pol Roger is the Champagne of royalty, and the care that goes into this cuvée is apparent. Aged 48 months on the lees and based on key spectacular vintages, this shows hints of toastiness, despite seeing no oak, and – like all Pol Roger releases – is still hand-riddled. This is one of our most requested Champagnes in Hollywood, and for good reason.

Price: $64.99

Pol Roger "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/29/2017 | Send Email

Pol Roger, long the favorite Champagne House of the Royal Family of Great Britain, takes special steps towards exceptional quality in their Brut Reserve. The nonvintage cuvée is an equal blend of the three allowed varieties, which are double cold-settled and slow fermented in the particularly cold cellar (9°C) entirely in stainless steel. The result is incredibly pure fruit flavors of lemon citrus, apples and stone fruit with a generous, creamy texture from the 9g/L dosage and extended lees aging, during which each bottle is hand-riddled. Considering the process, this is and always has been a great value in bubbles.

Price: $64.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut

By: Joe Bruno | Review Date: 11/28/2017 | Send Email

Delicious and reasoned priced French sparkling that won’t break the bank. Aromas of white lilies, apples, and stone fruit. I was struck by the size of the bubbles in this Crémant; they are much finer and smaller than expected, lending themselves to contribute to the lovely mouthful. Flavors of white nectarine, bosc pear, and golden delicious apple give way to a honey note on the finish. Lively and fresh, stock up on this for your next party or get-together

Price: $14.99

Pol Roger "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 11/28/2017 | Send Email

A classic for a reason. The cellars of Pol Roger are the deepest and coldest in Epernay, reaching over 110 feet into the chalk, and here every bottle is still hand riddled. This toasty, well balanced grand marque is composed of about 1/3 each Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. It is treated to four years of ageing on the lees and has 25% reserve wines in the blend. It makes a lovely aperitif, and is supremely well balanced. If you haven't had this lately, it is a must try!

Price: $64.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

By: Morgan Laurie | Review Date: 11/27/2017 | Send Email

This old favorite is back again just in time for the holidays! Perfect as an aperitif, a bottle to toast with or something to open for friends and family who drop by, this little bottle of bubbles is sure to please everyone! Fresh, zippy, lively and full of finesse, this is an inexpensive gem to pick up a few bottles of so you'll always be prepared.

Price: $14.99

Mas Codina Brut Reserva Cava Penedès

By: Elsa Baez | Review Date: 11/25/2017 | Send Email

By far the best Cava I have ever tasted! Mineral and green apple notes with a crisp and dry finish. A perfect bubbly option for any occasion, especially for upcoming holiday gatherings.So much greatness at a fantastic price. Stock up for the holidays!

Price: $13.99

2009 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne

By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 11/7/2017 | Send Email

There’s a real purity of fruit to Cristal’s 2009: apple shines through, with lovely sweetness tempered by bright acid and a delicate finish. This is an easygoing vintage, so much so that Roederer pushed it ahead of the more structured 2008, and there’s a lot to love about this layered release: creamy roundness, subtle leesy character, and for the first time, all organic, Grand Cru vineyard sources! 40% Chardonnay from chalky soil adds freshness, while the remaining 60% Pinot Noir lends accessibility. Cristal is always a treat, but the complex, age-worthy 2009 overdelivers.

Price: $329.99

2009 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/7/2017 | Send Email

Among the prestige cuvées in Champagne, Louis Roederer’s Cristal stands out for its delicacy, purity and precision. It is made entirely from mid-slope Grand Cru vines, with no malolactic fermentation and seven years of lees aging. Even in its relative youth, the 2009 displays a meticulous nature: mouth watering, fresh citrus fruit and white flower flavors with subtle underlying pastry notes that meld seamlessly with the richness from the long lees aging. This impressive vintage will last at least 30 years, so set a couple aside!

Price: $329.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/23/2017 | Send Email

Stone fruit and Anjou pear flavors are broad and pure on the palate. Lively acidity on the crisp finish makes the flavors last for a minute. The fruit is pronounced and very clean, with just a hint of autolytic flavors mingling with the fruit on the back end. Delicious Blanc de Noirs!

Price: $34.99

Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne

By: Joe Manekin | Review Date: 10/23/2017 | Send Email

Containing base wine that is barrel fermented, and then given a generously long ageing on its lees, this cuvée is rich, elegant and expensive tasting. That said, given the quality of the base wine and the blocking of malolactic, there is a fine line of acidity marking this rich barrel aged Champagne, as well as a soft bead as well. A great Champagne for a meal, though for my taste I would be just as happy sipping on this and simple hors d'oeuvres as I would be enjoying it with a sumptuous meal.

Price: $99.99

Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Tradition" Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/21/2017 | Send Email

Made from only Pinot Meunier, this Blanc de Noirs carries aromas of Bing cherries, red apple and Asian pears, with a hint of lees on the back end to create the cherry pie experience with just a hint of spicy herbs. It’s very dry with incredible acidity.

Price: $29.99

Ardbeg "An Oa" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 9/30/2017 | Send Email

The An Oa is the best new Ardbeg I’ve tasted in more than five years and it’s the roundest and easiest to drink of the regularly available editions. While it doesn’t pack the power that both the Uigeadail and Corryvreckan offer with their bold proofs, it makes up for it with richness and a rounded sweetness on the finish. You get all the peat, brine, smoke, and salt that you could ever want, but with more texture and perhaps finesse—not something we normally associate with the beastly Islay profile. In any case, this is the first bottle of Ardbeg in some time that I’ve been adamant about buying for my own personal daily enjoyment, not just my collection.

Price: $64.99

WA: 93

Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila (750ml)

By: Adam Winkel | Review Date: 9/28/2017 | Send Email

This is a beautifully sippable blanco that reminds me why I like tequila so much. There's a lot of character and purity here with sophisticated shades of fruit and soil tones. There's no burn on the entry which invites you to really savor it and appreciate that there's no wood to get in the way of the agave. But the "premium" pedigree here for me is the persistent, bright, sun-shiny length of the finish.

Price: $77.99

WE: 92

Charles de Cazanove Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/27/2017 | Send Email

Very impressive Pinot dominant blend at a great price. The fruit comes mostly from the famous Montagne de Reims, where Pinot reigns supreme. It has beautiful, soft red fruit like cherries, strawberries, blood orange and marmalade that mingle perfectly with the toasty yeast. The fruit pops with vibrant acidity and the rich texture keeps you reaching for more.

Price: $29.99

Charles Heidsieck "Brut Réserve" Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/27/2017 | Send Email

In a lineup with 12 other Grand Marques, Champagne Charlie was at the top of my list of favorites. The Brut Reserve uses up to 20-year-old reserve wines for 40% of its blend and combines the flavors of fresh stone fruit and pears with quince and dried apricots for a rich, but ultimately refreshing and vibrant profile.

Price: $54.99

Taittinger "La Française" Brut Champagne

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/27/2017 | Send Email

This is one nonvintage brut from a Grand Marque that is well worth the money. The blend is 40% Chard, 35% Pinot, 25% Meunier and spends nearly 4 years on the lees in stainless steel. The result is vibrant, pure flavors of apples and pears with an underlying toastiness that accents the fruit.

Price: $54.99

JG: 91

RP: 90

Ardbeg "An Oa" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 9/20/2017 | Send Email

I'm so thrilled this has arrived! I was fortunate enough to taste a sample 3 weeks ago and I've been hounding David about the release date ever since! Better yet, this isn't a flash in the pan. This is part of the new core lineup at Ardbeg and boy does it live up to my high expectations for Ardbeg flagship products. Beautifully married, this blend sings with sea salt brine, extinguished bonfire, malty goodness, and toasted brush. It's even better on the palate. The sweetness of the PX casks really livens up the mix. Cocoa notes and a bourbon spice profile play beautifully with a candied granola that is blanketed in the smooth smoky profile of Ardbeg you already love. Did I mention this is here to stay? I only have to buy one today, because after I finish it I can buy another next week. And the week after. Glorious.

Price: $64.99

WA: 93

Ardbeg "An Oa" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/19/2017 | Send Email

This incredibly elegant and sophisticated Ardbeg retains the peaty personality of the distillery while showcasing a suaver side of Islay. I enjoyed my little taste of this immensly, and I can't wait to take it home and drink it my favorite way- after dinner. Any fan of Islay malts should have a bottle of this generous, textural Ardbeg!

Price: $64.99

WA: 93

A. Smith Bowman Distillery "Bowman Bros" Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 9/6/2017 | Send Email

The wonderful Bowman Bros Bourbons are an odd thing. This is one of the only triple distilled bourbons out there and it starts with distillate from Buffalo Trace (mashbill #1 & #2) being trucked out to the Bowman facility in Virginia. It's distilled a third time (the continuous still and again on the doubler at BT should count as two) on the Bowman's pot still, which looks as though it might be a component on a space rocket built in the 1800s. The resulting distillate is rich and supple, unique, but familiar. The small batch is a great balance between the sweet Bowman's style and some nice rye spice. An easy going whiskey at a great price that hints at the potential of some of Bowman's higher-end offerings.

Price: $29.99

WE: 90

Four Pillars "Bloody Shiraz" Gin (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 8/31/2017 | Send Email

This Gin has beautiful dark red color which will add a pleasant visual dimension to a gin and tonic. In the nose there is an interaction of sweet fruit and juniper aromas. In the mouth it is rich and round with the sweetness of the shiraz interacting with subtle botanical and citrus notes. The Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz is a new flavor direction in the gin section providing more depth and choice.

Price: $29.99

Four Pillars "Bloody Shiraz" Gin (750ml)

By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 8/30/2017 | Send Email

I was willing to buy this bottle based on the aromatics alone, well that and the fact that Four Pillars seems incapable of making a bad gin. Watching this come in and getting to finally taste it makes me do a happy dance. The aroma juniper, sweet orange, bitter herb, red berry are all present here and hint at the tastiness hiding within this bottle. The flavor here is reminiscent of a SloGin but brighter and drier than most I have tasted. The beauty of the Four Pillars botanicals are still here just surrounded and submerged in sweet red fruit, more spice and a perfect amount of sweetness. I can't wait to try it in a Negroni and I feel I won't even need the sweet vermouth.

Price: $29.99

Professor Fritz Briem "1809" Berliner Weisse, Germany (500ml.)

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/29/2017 | Send Email

Drinking the 1809 Berliner Weisse from Professor Fritz Briem brings takes me back to my first visit to Berilin, just before the wall came down. This refreshing, light, delicately fruity and subtly sour beer made me think of loud, smoky clubs in Kreuzberg. I might have to spin some Einstürzende Neubauten this weekend and drink a couple of these delicious brews!

Price: $6.99

Amara Sicilian Amaro d'Arancia Rossa (750ml)

By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 8/27/2017 | Send Email

A confession, I love Amaro, there’s a huge trend toward Amaro, vermouth and bitters but this one is really unique. The Sicilian orange peel just dominates not only in the aromatics but it is the signature flavor throughout. I frequently find Southern Italian Amaro too sweet for my taste this one is impeccably balanced. I love it over ice with a sprig of rosemary, sometime I add a splash of soda.

Price: $49.99

Arette Artesanal Blanco Suave Tequila (750ml)

By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email

This tequila really showcases the pure, bright flavors that agave is known for when not muddled by added sugars or over-manipulation. With a lighter finish than many of the other tequilas on the shelf , this Arette Suave Blanco lends itself to sipping on its own quite nicely, without being overwhelmed by alcohol. Though I find it would do equally well in a cocktail since its lighter style can help it blend seamlessly with other elements without being an overpowering presence. The Arette is back in stock, but with its ability to appeal to such diverse tastes, it is sure to be gone again soon.

Price: $42.99

WE: 90

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 8/12/2017 | Send Email

This Bourbon has inviting and pretty aromas. In the mouth it is soft and juicy with rich caramel and dark dried fruit like flavors. There is a nice finish with a touch of vanilla. The only problem with this Bourbon is that it might be too easy to drink.

Price: $24.99

Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne

By: Blake Conklin | Review Date: 8/11/2017 | Send Email

Nice subtle sweetness, and overall a fun bottle of Champagne.

Price: $59.99

Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne

By: Blake Conklin | Review Date: 8/10/2017 | Send Email

Quite possibly the driest of the dry, I've had when it comes to champagne. The Ultra Brut from Laurent Perrier is unique in it's own right and worthy of a try to the Champagne lover.

Price: $84.99

WE: 94

Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Blake Conklin | Review Date: 8/10/2017 | Send Email

You probably won't find a good quality champagne at this price anywhere else, and on top of that, this champagne is actually fantastic! You want to bring champagne to a party, celebration, or dinner party, but don't wanna spend more than 25 bucks? Then this is the champagne for you!

Price: $29.99

JS: 90

Doctor Bird "Moscatel Cask Finish" Traditional Pot Still Jamaican Rum (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 8/7/2017 | Send Email

When I first saw this product come in I must admit that I though it was some type of gimmick product. But I was wrong. This is serious and delicious rum. The nose starts out with hints of caramel and subtle earthy notes. In the mouth it is dry, complex, earthy and round. This rum should please fans of Jamaican Rums. With a touch of water the rum opens up a little and the flavors become more pronounced.

Price: $29.99

Leopold Bros. "Summer" Limited Edition Gin (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 8/7/2017 | Send Email

This is my favorite Leopold Brothers Gin so far. It is lively and delicious and worth taking a look at. There is a nice combination of juniper and citrus that works out well. It is the citrus , especially the orange flavors that stand out. A long orange influenced finish finishes the package.

Price: $34.99

Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne

By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 8/6/2017 | Send Email

Sometimes change it difficult, sometimes it is good, very good. The change we see from Laurent Perrier as their Brut label moves into their La Cuvee comes from the addition of Cote de Blanc vineyard sites to their already impressive holdings. The Cote de Blanc, located in the Marne, is known for growing almost exclusively Chardonnay and doing it well (as seen by the 6 Grand Cru villages!) With many options at their fingertips, LP decided to create the La Cuvee as their new entry level label with more, higher quality Chardonnay than the Brut and an extra six months on the lees to keep the texture we know and love. Elegant aromas of yellow apple and baking spice mirror that of the Brut while notes of sweet meyer lemon and hints of anise show this new label's complex nature. The grace and softness of palate from both the lees aging and blend of Pinot Noir and Muenier is not lost from the additional Chardonnay but a soft acidity lifts it slightly while carrying the wine to a long, delicate finish. And as always, Laurent Perrier is bringing all this at an incredible price!

Price: $59.99

Leopold Bros. "Summer" Limited Edition Gin (750ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 8/2/2017 | Send Email

This is seasonal drinking at its finest. And what finer season for a G&T or Negroni than Summer! It's a fabulous combination of style. It has rich fruit on the nose: the blood orange really pops and screams of hot summer nights. Floral aromatics accompany the oranges and invite you outside for a stroll through the garden. The savory juniper finish leaves you feeling like you're drinking a classic London Dry. Perfectly refined. I'll be making my first of many G&T's with it tonight!

Price: $34.99

Leopold Bros. "Summer" Limited Edition Gin (750ml)

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 8/2/2017 | Send Email

This is the perfect gin to finish the dog days of summer with. Juniper, blood orange, coriander and lemon myrtle compose the flavor profile, lending this Colorado libation a great balance between refreshing fruitiness and plenty of intriguing spice.

Price: $34.99

Mulholland New World Gin (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/2/2017 | Send Email

Mulholland Spirits is LA's newest brand. These guys are all about having fun and giving people spirits that they love to drink. This gin definitely falls into the gin for non-gin drinkers category, although I've seen plenty of London Dry drinkers come back for a second bottle. Tons of citrus, cucumber, and a distinct lavender note, this is perfect for someone who LOVES Hendricks.

Price: $27.99

2014 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 7/28/2017 | Send Email

Veronique Sanders can do no wrong at Haut Bailly and this property is a star in Bordeaux. A very well-made wine with ripe cherry and cassis notes. Bright fruit and lively acidity balance the tannins very well, and the finish is long and quite complex. One of the truly great 2014s.

Price: $129.99

2014 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 7/28/2017 | Send Email

This is elegant and complex with touches of earth and tobacco, plenty of sleek dark fruit and very classy lines. Intense, bubbling with potential and in need of a few years in bottle or a few hours in decanter; this is a fantastic wine.

Price: $129.99

Domaine Hubert "K&L Exclusive" Pays d'Auge Vieux Calvados (750ml)

By: Anthony Russo | Review Date: 7/19/2017 | Send Email

This was my first time drinking Calvados and instantly fell in love. Apple cider for adults. Distilled in old school, alembic copper stills, I couldn't believe how intense the flavors of cider, brown sugar, and warm apple pie can be found in a spirit at this price.

Price: $34.99

Paranubes Oaxacan Aguardiente de Caña Agricole Rum (1L)

By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 7/18/2017 | Send Email

Wow, I mean seriously wow. This is one of those spirits that just makes me sit up and take notice. The nose immediately hits you with a fairly big grassy and slightly woody note. However, as powerful as the aromatics here are the body is light and balanced. Beautiful oxidized fruit, a touch of earthiness, much less aggressive than many agricole. Although David has just been sipping it this is the kind of spirit I cannot wait to start making cocktails with. I love when I get to play with something new and this is going to be a very good summer with this spirit I feel.

Price: $39.99

Paranubes Oaxacan Aguardiente de Caña Agricole Rum (1L)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 7/14/2017 | Send Email

Interesting and delicious, this rum is a real surprise for me because I never thought that I would be tasting a rum agricole from Oaxaca. The nose is intense and expressive with grass and herb smells. This leads to soft fruity flavors with a hint of sweetness but over all this rum is on the dry side. Tasty alone ( if you like the agricole flavor profile) it should make great cocktails.

Price: $39.99

Paranubes Oaxacan Aguardiente de Caña Agricole Rum (1L)

By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 7/14/2017 | Send Email

The Paranubes Oaxacan aguardiente de caña is one of, if not the, best agricole rhums I've ever tasted and it beautifully balances a smooth and fruity character with the grassiness and the intense cane flavor of something like Neisson. What it removes is the funk, the earth, and the sometimes bitter notes that send some people running for the hills. The aromatics are absolutely stunning—there is a pure and unflinching note of raw cane that absolutely explodes from the bottle. At 54%, the rum is no slouch. But it's clearly distilled with a master hand because it's incredibly polished despite all that intensity. I could drink this straight out of the bottle, neat in a glass, on the rocks, in a cocktail, or simply with soda. I can't get enough of it—it's that good.

Price: $39.99

Black Cow Vodka (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/28/2017 | Send Email

What is this sorcery? Made from 100% West Dorset milk? Nothing else. How can it be? It's just impossible. But nonetheless here we are. Pure Milk vodka. And it's delicious! Soft, supple, slightly sweet and creamy. This stuff is textured and nuanced in the perfect way. Understated yet still distinctive somehow. Distiller and dairy farmer Jason Barber came up with the plan to utilize leftover whey from his cheese making operation. This is fermented into a wheat beer and distilled before being blended (with what I can only assume is more milk) and filtered to create the utterly (sorry) unique spirit. Keep an eye out for the Black Cow Deluxe Cheddar which is also made by Mr. Barber. Should pair perfectly!

Price: $29.99

WE: 91

Tequila Fortaleza Reposado Tequila

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/28/2017 | Send Email

I go on and on about how much I like Fortaleza. They're the most authentic. No one else comes close. Most of the rest of the agave in Mexico is wasted on crap industrial production. blah blah blah...While all these things are true that's not what matters most. What matters about Fortaleza is that it's absolutely delicious. The Reposado is often the one I find myself reaching for. Their repo is the perfect balance between the gorgeous and complex agave spirit that they produce and the oxidative complexity of barrel aging in the hot Jalisco climate. The perfect showcase for this juxtaposition. But regardless of any intellectual exercise, it just tastes utterly delicious. Soft barrel influence envelopes the gorgeous peppery fruit and floral components of the spirits. Nuanced spice and touches of smoky barrel. Very few come close indeed.

Price: $79.99

Limit of 1 per customer

Arette Artesanal Gran Clase Extra Añejo Tequila (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/28/2017 | Send Email

The Arette Artesanal is the first Extra Anejo I really fell in love with. The Gran Clase Suave is one of the easiest to drink spirits in the store. Crème caramel, sweet tropical fruit and a smidge of peppery agave fruit found out this exceptional offering from one of Tequilas great distillers. I love the classic looking bottle, but very few extras match the balance and complexity without overpowering with sweet oak. There's no questions that El Llano distilleries commitment to quality remains second to none.

Price: $149.99

WE: 94

Mezcal Vago Ensamble En Barro by Tio Rey (Red Label) Ancestral Mezcal (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/28/2017 | Send Email

This is the real deal clay pot distilled mescal. Tio Rey does it again with this stupendous oily unctuous funky style. Sweet agave fruit dense mesquite smoke and tons of vegetal earthiness. An absolute pleasure to drink although it can kind of take over you night/life if you're not careful.

Price: $99.99

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 6/13/2017 | Send Email

As my colleagues have said- this wine is all about the lees. 7 years give this wine an elegance of weight down the mid palate while the Pinot Noir dominance gives a tart fruit character. That small addition of high quality chardonnay brings bright meyer lemon flavor and enough acidity to keep the wine long lived on the palate. I can see this wine being extremely food friendly- a grilled swordfish or a baked chicken would be perfect pairings!

Price: $37.99

Fallet-Dart "Cuvée de Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 6/10/2017 | Send Email

Most often Pinot Meunier is the backup dancer to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Champagne, but Fallet-Dart has taken the chance to bring it center stage in their Grand Reserve! I fell for PM-heavy Champagnes last year when I had one from Michel Loriot, and they continue to stun me with their suppleness, bold aromatics and concentration while still being fresh, long lived, and elegant. The Grand Reserve checks off all those desired characters and is extremely food-friendly. My fiance and I enjoyed this with a rotisserie chicken, fresh bread and cheese—absolutely delicious! It is weighted enough to stand up to the rich meal while the unanticipated acidity refreshes the palate. With that said, I think the wine is extremely versatile and could be paired with lighter dishes such as sautéed white fish with a white bean and tomato salad or even a grilled chicken salad. Either way, I will be drinking it again soon!

Price: $34.99

2016 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/10/2017 | Send Email

“Huge ripeness on the nose. Perfect, sweet deep purple fruit of blueberry and blackberry, silky and plush. Impossible not to love as it is fantastic tasting wine with a long, dry finish full of fruit and minerals." Delicious and 3 Stars! Ralph Sands

Price: $189.99

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