K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2025 Domaine les Pins "L'Instant" Bourgueil Rosé

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 4/29/2026 | Send Email

I’m always delighted when Domaine les Pins' outlier rosé hits the shelves. Made from 100% Cabernet Franc by one of our favorite Direct Import producers, it comes from sandy, gravelly soils that lend both lift and character. Aromatically, it stands apart: fresh strawberry and watermelon lead the way, followed by a subtle thread of rosemary and a hint of rose petal. It’s a distinctive alternative to the sea of Provençal rosé—more savory but just as refreshing. An easy addition to any weeknight lineup, and another standout value from our Direct Import portfolio.

Price: $13.99

2025 Domaine du Vieil Orme Touraine Blanc Sauvignon Blanc

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 4/29/2026 | Send Email

We often refer to Touraine Sauvignon Blancs as “baby Sancerres.” There’s real overlap in the terroir, with soils rich in clay and limestone, and the moderating influence of the Loire and its tributaries keeping the wines fresh, lifted, and vibrant. The key distinction—beyond the far more accessible price point—is the fruit profile, which tends to show a bit more flesh and ripeness. Vieil Orme has been a longtime staff and client favorite, and the new 2025 release is an absolute delight. There’s a subtle mineral backbone, but the wine leans into generous notes of candied lemon peel, pineapple, and a touch of passion fruit. Bright, expressive, and downright crushable, this easily qualifies as one of the best values for Sauvignon Blanc on the shelf—regardless of category. Another triumph from one of our favorite Direct Import producers.

Price: $14.99

2024 Domaine la Clef du Récit (Anthony Girard) Sancerre

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 4/29/2026 | Send Email

Anthony is one of my favorite visits in Sancerre. Time with him inevitably turns into side quests—adventures that drift well beyond vineyards and restaurant tables. On one visit, he introduced me to a game he’d invented, a kind of improvised pétanque played with work tools. We stood around tossing metal objects at each other, drinking through a vertical of his Sancerres and eating locally sourced chèvre. On another trip, before even stepping into the vines, we wandered the forest collecting flowers for his daughter’s school project, followed by a visit to his brother’s goat farm, where we watched the herd prepare for kidding season. Eclectic and always unpredictable, these visits offer a glimpse into Anthony’s mindset—and, ultimately, his winemaking. His latest release, the 2024 Sancerre, is astoundingly good. Arriving later than most (with some producers already showing 2025s), it captures a striking purity of Sauvignon Blanc. There’s a clear sense of terroir: pronounced minerality, citrus rind, and a delicate overlay of white flowers with a chalky, saline edge. Polished yet energetic, this is everything you hope for in top-flight Sancerre. Having followed his wines over many vintages—including with bottle age—this is built to evolve beautifully over the years.

Price: $29.99

WE: 90

2021 Kobler "Bacigalupi Vineyard" Russian River Valley Zinfandel

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Pretty nose with really nice and ripe fruits, but there's like something holding back it's not going full tilt, but it's giving me all the fruit that I really need even if it's not all the fruit I might want out of a Zinfandel. Blackberry, bright blueberry, some dark stewed cherries, and some dark flowers in the background. The palate is juicy but still has structure, and really nice acidity. It's just lovely and easy and for the price, it's really compelling and quite an easy drink.

Price: Hidden

WE: 93

JD: 91

JS: 91

2024 Samuel Louis Smith "Baytree Lane Vineyard" Sonoma Valley Gamay Noir

By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

This wine has a beautiful, intriguing nose of raspberry and cherry, with subtle aromas of wet stone. On the palate, it balances juicy red fruit flavors with bracing acidity. Overall, this is a wine of incredible freshness and precision that's a great call when it's too hot for heavier reds, and pairs well with chicken or pork hot off the grill!

Price: $32.95

JD: 97

WE: 94

2022 Château Malherbe Côtes de Provence Blanc

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

This is a slightly unusual blend, Rolle which is French for Vermentino and Semillon and I really feel people should be doing some more of this. There's more than a touch of oak, but the fruit still shines through really lovely citrus and tree fruits, maybe a peach thrown in for good measure. The mouthfeel is just fantastic, really luxurious and waxy from the Semillon, but then more fruit and great acid come through followed by the barrel and barrel spice. I really was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, it's really a great example of a kind of abstract Bordeaux blanc and more successful than some I've had. Top tier.

Price: $44.99

2023 I. Brand & Family "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

This is probably the third vintage of this that I remember trying, and they've all followed the same stylistic profile as I can recall, it's that kind of purposefully reductive yet seductive style of Chardonnay. There's some matchstick and flint from the reduction, and then behind that just this super pretty and pristine apples and lemons hanging out just being cool fruits, chilling with the barrel spice. The palate is creamy from the oak, kind of opulent and this is where the seduction comes, between the mouthfeel and the lingering barrel-forward finish there's just something about this that pulls me back in for another sip, even when I've fully written my note. The finish is like, almost ridiculously long and it's so ridiculously good as well, I really really like this wine and wish seven generations of blessings upon the Brand family for this bounty they have offered us.

Price: Hidden

DC: 94

2024 Assiduous "Basor Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Gris

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Assiduous are, as I have mentioned before, one of our constant staff favorites. It's because the wine is so legit and the pricing is always more than fair. This has touches of apricot, white flowers, pretty lemon, and just this super light yellow cherry note in the far back along with this super light dried grass note. The palate has green apple, crushed rocks, some flowers, and just this fantastic acidity that makes it super fresh and juicy. I just love this, it's interesting and fresh, and feels like something I want to bring to a dinner just to share this winery with other people. This is a wine that makes me happy. Maybe it'll make you happy too.

Price: $19.95

JD: 93

2024 Samuel Louis Smith "Les Granitiers" Monterey County Chardonnay

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Sometimes you just smell a wine and smart smiling, gosh diggity darnit if this isn't just that type of wine. Seriously my only note for this from the tasting is "lol shut up" it's that good, and I'm that small brained. There's this super fresh and pure fruit at the very front, with this really lovely mix of apple and lemon and then it has this perfect roundness, it smells completely spherical to me, in this kind of perfect way. The palate is fresh, bright, with amazing minerality and more roundness from the barrels. There's super bright and fresh apple doused with lemon, lemon curd, really dry and stony granite minerality, and then after that some bruised apple with more lemon. It's this palate that hits you from so many directions at once, it's totally entrancing. I don't know if perfection is attainable, but this is more than close enough.

Price: $32.95

JD: 98

WE: 94

2021 Ernest "Alder Springs Vineyard" Mendocino County Chardonnay

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

I really love lime notes and this Chardonnay opens with this super freshly zested lime and crushed river stones, behind that there's some bruised apple and a touch of barrel. There's a little hint of lime on the palate as well, but it's mostly outpaced by the lemon that kind of comes in and hipchecks it aside. There's green apple drenched in lemon, more crushed rocks, and then the barrel comes in and rounds everything out, there's a little touch of creamier fruit and then little barrel spice notes. This is really a great crowd-pleaser Chardonnay that can probably work for almost all palates, it's got enough barrel and roundness that people who need a larger Chardonnay can probably get by, and not so much oak that it will drive most others away. It's really an exciting bottle of us to have, and I'm gonna sell a lot of it. To my Mom, at least. Maybe you'll buy some too.

Price: Hidden

VN: 94

WE: 94

JS: 93

2025 Pax "Helios" California Chenin Blanc

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Chenin Blanc is one of those varietals that makes me feel dumb, like I just don't get it, but then I realize that for my palate there's just a lot of mid Chenin Blanc in the world. Whenever I'm presented with an excellent example I find myself enjoying the heck out of and I mean obviously I'm talking about this wine, c'mon. There's a pretty yellow apple on the front, some crushed stones, lemon candy, white and yellow flowers, and a kind of very lightly herbal thing in the far background. The palate is clean and just a toucher richer than I thought it would be, but I'm not mad about it, there's more yellow apple, a little hint of peach, some bright lemon curd, a little bit of dried herbs, and then just a little bit of like the memory of honey on the totally dry finish, it's just got this kind of honey echo there that reminds me after I've had like a big spoonful of honey right out of the jar, as we all do from time to time, but like a half an hour later. Either way, for this price, this wine is absolutely amazing and I like Chenin Blanc and it all makes sense to me now.

Price: $19.95

VN: 91 - 93

2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Bianco Sauvignon Blanc

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

In a vintage like 2023, this wine is absolutely electric. It completely bypasses the heavy, tropical, and over-oaked traps that plague warm-climate Sauvignon Blanc. The nose doesn't hit you with cheap passionfruit or sweet melon; instead, it delivers a profound, high-toned wave of crushed white stone, wild sage, green almond, and a distinct, cooling blast of saline marine air. On the palate, it is a masterclass in texture and tension. It possesses an enveloping, waxy weight from its time in barrel, but it absolutely refuses to be fat. It is propelled by a laser-focused, vertical spine of acidity and a "crunchy" nervous energy that cuts straight through the richness. The finish is bone-dry, driven by a fierce, mouthwatering saline snap that lingers for minutes.

Price: $249.99

JA: 99

DC: 95

2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Toscana (375ML)

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

This vintage completely redefines the estate's profile, trading in sheer mass for breathtaking electric tension and strict, unyielding structure. The 2023 vintage completely bypasses the jammy, baked traps of the Maremma coast. It leaves the sweet cassis behind to deliver a brooding, cooling wave of crushed graphite, cedar box, and dark, macerated blackberry, all tightly wound with a profound hit of wild Bolgheri macchia—roasted rosemary, eucalyptus, and wild mint. The Cabernet and Merlot here are framed by a rigorous grid of chalky tannins. They are ultra-fine but incredibly demanding, clamping down hard on a bone-dry, fiercely savory finish. This is a tense, uncompromising masterpiece that demands absolute patience. Lock this away in the darkest corner of your cellar for at least a decade.

Price: $149.99

2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Toscana

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

This vintage completely redefines the estate's profile, trading in sheer mass for breathtaking electric tension and strict, unyielding structure. The 2023 vintage completely bypasses the jammy, baked traps of the Maremma coast. It leaves the sweet cassis behind to deliver a brooding, cooling wave of crushed graphite, cedar box, and dark, macerated blackberry, all tightly wound with a profound hit of wild Bolgheri macchia—roasted rosemary, eucalyptus, and wild mint. The Cabernet and Merlot here are framed by a rigorous grid of chalky tannins. They are ultra-fine but incredibly demanding, clamping down hard on a bone-dry, fiercely savory finish. This is a tense, uncompromising masterpiece that demands absolute patience. Lock this away in the darkest corner of your cellar for at least a decade.

Price: $249.99

2025 La Marea "Kristy Vineyard" Monterey County Albariño

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Such a pretty little nose on this guy, there's such a casual elegance to it, unmistakably Albariño, with this gorgeous and perfectly ripe peach in a field of white flowers. The palate is still super peachy, but I get some yellow plum, and of course more white flowers. There's a kind of slightly stony minerality on the lingering finish, and there's gorgeous acidity pushing through the whole palate. This is definitely a porch wine for me, that sure you could pop the cork and just crush it, but with a couple finger foods or some cheese this would absolutely rule. I love it, summer fun all bottle long.

Price: $19.95

DC: 92

2023 Antech "Emotion" Extra Brut Rosé Crémant de Limoux

By: John Downing | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Sparkling Rose is normally on the pricey side which makes this one truly rare. It's nearly impossible to fine a Rose of this quality under $20. It delivers subtle red fruits, a low dosage and an unmatched complexity and value at the price. Great with or without food.

Price: $17.99

JD: 90

2023 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Feinherb "Uralte Reben" Mosel

By: John Downing | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

I've long appreciated well made German Rieslings as they offer lower alcohol levels along with delicious fruit, crisp acids and compatibility with a wide variety of foods. They're especially ideal for our Western US climate. This first-class white has distinct granite mineral aromas and rich orchard fruit flavors along great depth and complexity. Can be appreciated now yet will cellar nicely.

Price: $44.99

JS: 98

VN: 95

RP: 92

2024 Alzinger "Ried Loibenberg" Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Wachau

By: John Downing | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Alzinger is one of my favorite Austrian wine producers and this one reminded me why. It's an incredibly complex and complete Gruner that combines bright, lifted aromas and flavors with a textural palate. Ample underlying acidity keeps it fresh and lively. Truly outstanding Gruner.

Price: $59.99

VN: 95 - 97

2024 Carl Loewen Alte Reben Riesling Trocken (dry) Mosel

By: John Downing | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

This is a very unique and special wine. It's difficult to believe it's actually dry as there is so much delicious fruit extract. It bursts with richness and loads of delicious tropical fruit flavors. Excellent acidity adds freshness and length. Impressive.

Price: $27.99

JS: 95

VN: 93

WS: 92

2023 Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Rouge

By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

A delightful young wine that, without a doubt, will only get better in the next few years. On the nose, you get blackberry, plum, and a pleasant hint of charcuterie. The palate is dominated by berries and high tannins. It has a medium-to-full body and a long finish. This wine can provide immediate satisfaction or, if you'd prefer a more velvety mouthfeel, be a great wine to lay down for a couple years.

Price: $17.99

JD: 94

JS: 92

RP: 91

2025 La Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

Composed of certified organic Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah, the 2025 La Bargemone Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé is no porch pounder. For goodness’ sake, please give it some space and time to be admired for its vivid flavors and impossibly juicy splendor. It generously offers up a cornucopia of ripe red berries, red-fleshed plum, white nectarine, rose petals, and a hint of Meyer lemon zest. I’m sad my tasting glass is empty right now, and I’m daydreaming about when and where I’ll drink it again, and with whom.

Price: $18.99

2024 Montmassot Picpoul de Pinet

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 4/28/2026 | Send Email

The 2024 Montmassot Picpoul de Pinet is a casual, quaffable, come-as-you-are white and one of our best deals for everyday drinking. This is a bottle you could bring to a party and no one would argue about it. It’s a crowd-pleaser to the core. Fresh, dry, and steely, it shows tasty notes of white peach, lime zest, and wet stones, followed by subtle pear and a clean, orange blossom–imbued finish. It’s a no-brainer with no pretense, totally my speed for most days. Serve with a salad, sushi, ceviche, fried chicken, or light snacks. With the money you save, you could pick up some chèvre and crackers or a baguette and make a nice evening out of it when shared with a friend.

Price: Hidden

2017 Elio Grasso "Gavarini Chiniera" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/27/2026 | Send Email

Here is one of those deals that stops you in your tracks: a single-vineyard Barolo from a master producer, Elio Grasso, at a price we almost never see. The "Gavarini Chiniera" is a benchmark for Monforte d'Alba, and this is your chance to get it for a steal. The 2017 vintage was hot and dry, resulting in wines of immense concentration and power. In lesser hands, these wines could be clumsy, but this is Elio Grasso. He has channeled that intensity into a wine that is both powerful and impeccably balanced. The nose is a captivating storm of ripe dark cherry, plum, and licorice, layered with those classic Monforte notes of iron, scorched earth, and savory herbs. What makes this offer so compelling is the wine's readiness. At this point in time, the 2017 is ready to go—a more forward and accessible Gavarini Chiniera that is absolutely delicious and thrilling to drink now with a decant. Yet, its formidable structure ensures it has many years of beautiful evolution ahead of it, easily 15-20 more. For this price, it’s an absolute must-buy. You rarely, if ever, see this iconic single-vineyard Barolo priced so low. This is a true killer deal and the perfect powerhouse red to stock up on for the upcoming holiday season.

Price: $89.99

2023 Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Rouge

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 4/27/2026 | Send Email

I’ve had the chance to visit Fondrèche several times over the years, and sitting in the shadow of Mont Ventoux, it remains one of the most impressive estates in this otherwise humble appellation. A diverse mix of alluvial soils, schist, and clay-limestone gives the domaine a broad palette of terroirs to work with, creating wines of real depth and character. Ventoux still flies a bit under the radar, which keeps prices refreshingly accessible for the level of quality in the glass. Fondrèche’s Ventoux Rouge has been a touchstone for us since we began working directly with the estate nearly a decade ago. Built primarily on Grenache, with support from Syrah and Mourvèdre, it’s packed with lush raspberry fruit that unfolds into layers of bramble, spice, and a subtle mineral edge. This is serious wine for under $20—easily one of the Rhône’s standout values. Another beautiful release from our friends at Fondrèche.

Price: $17.99

JD: 94

JS: 92

RP: 91

New Era 9 Year Old "K&L's Tesseract" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/26/2026 | Send Email

The wonderful people at New Era have done what nearly every lover of bourbon has always dreamed of—turned their love of this golden elixir into a full time occupation. For Zane Brammell it started with simply sharing his love of the spirit with hundreds of other people and eventually developed into this wonderful new brand. Along the way he enlisted some industry veterans to help his cause, and that's how we connected through an old friend, Kris Comstock of Buffalo Trace fame. Kris was integral to our success in the early days of K&L's KY Barrel program. Our selection was to take place in a little restaurant in the tiny, historic town of Midway, and my colleague Stephanie Manning joined for the festivities. We enjoyed a hearty lunch before cracking into their samples and, despite my insisting we wanted anything except more Wilderness Trail, this barrel stood out among the eight samples we tried. The classic Black Label Wilderness Trail recipe, but aged MUCH longer than we've seen from the distillery's single barrels, which never even crack into the 6 year range. Anyway, it was such a revelation we knew we couldn't let it slip from our grasp. New Era's fun newsprint labels were the perfect canvas to utilize the beautiful art designed by Stephanie's own grandmother, Dorelle Heisel. Her exquisite, mind-bending design represents perfectly the dimensional enigma that this barrel represents. Anyway, let's have a taste! The color is a vibrant mahogany (1.6). The nose is so tight and tied up after opening it needs plenty of AIR! Don't make the mistake of guzzling this right out of the bottle. No, no, it's got so much there, but needs time and air. If you let it wait out, you'll notice an incredible array of sweet confectionary flavors, but the baked apple, cherry compote, and dark chocolate notes dominate. On the palate, some very unusual combinations here with big cinnamon and leather coming in after roasted oak, sweet baked orchard fruit, and jammy red fruit. It's not quite like anything else out there to be honest, and it's hard to pinpoint another distillate in the same flavor range, but that doesn't stop it from being completely delectable. Occasionally, different and delicious are one and the same, and this is a perfect example of that. New combinations of classic flavors, but it will especially reward the most patient drinkers.

Price: $129.99

2023 Antech "Emotion" Extra Brut Rosé Crémant de Limoux

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 4/25/2026 | Send Email

This is the kind of rose that instantly makes everything feel like summer! Bright strawberry, watermelon, and a touch of citrus zest glide across the palate, backed by a crisp, refreshing finish that keeps you coming back for another sip. It's light and energetic, and effortlessly drinkable, but still has just enough texture to feel polished rather than simple. A perfect grab for warm evenings, casual dinners, or anyone who wants a Proviçal-style rosé feel with a little extra charm.

Price: $17.99

JD: 90

2021 Ventisquero "Obliqua" Carménère Valle de Colchagua

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 4/25/2026 | Send Email

This is Carménère done right- ripe, polished, and just a little big wild. Dark plum, blackberry, and black cherry lead the way, backed by that signature Carménère note of smoked herbs, cocoa, and touch of cracked pepper. The texture is plush and generous, but there's enough structure and savory edge to keep it from ever feeling heavy. Apalta is one of Chile's top terroirs, and this shows why-depth, balance, and serious value in the glass. Perfect for anyone who loves bold reds but wants something more distinctive than the usual Cabernet.

Price: $61.99

DS: 96

TA: 96

JS: 93

2025 La Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé

By: Cary Herrman | Review Date: 4/25/2026 | Send Email

A more expressive take on Provence than the usual pale and quiet style. The nose is immediately aromatic, leaning tropical with notes of peach and melon, plus a subtle hint of banana that adds a slightly exotic edge without overwhelming things. On the palate, it shows a bit more depth than expected. The fruit carries through, balanced by enough freshness to keep it focused. There's a nice texture here, giving it some presence, and the finish is notably long, with those tropical notes lingering in a clean and composed way. A well put-together rose that stands out for it's aromatics and length while still keeping everything in check. Easy to enjoy, but with enough character to hold your attention.

Price: $18.99

2015 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru "Vaillons"

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 4/25/2026 | Send Email

This Chablis with patience, and it shows. Nearly a decade of aging brings deeper, more layered expression of Chardonnay, with notes of lemon curd, baked apple, and chamomile unfolding over a core of classic oyster shell minerality. The texture is broader and more generous than typical young Chablis, yet still driven by a vibrant, saline backbone that keeps everything lifted and precise. A rare opportunity to experience Premier Cru Chablis with real bottle age-complex, refined, and quietly powerful.

Price: $64.99

2024 Laberinto "Cenizas de Laberinto" Pinot Noir Valle de Maule

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 4/25/2026 | Send Email

Bright and lifted, this Pinot Noir opens with aromas of red cherry, cranberry, and rose petal, accented by subtle smoky and mineral nose. The palate is fresh and energetic, vibrant red fruit, fine tannins, and a touch of earthy complexity. A gentle savory edge and underlying volcanic character add intrigue, leading to a clean, balanced finish. A distinctive, cool-climate Pinot Noir that overdelivers with freshness, character, and value.

Price: $21.99

2022 North Valley "Compass" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 4/25/2026 | Send Email

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir for only $19.95? Well, yes and no. Yes, it's $19.95 at K&L, but it's higher everywhere else - if you can find it. The 2022 North Valley Compass is a blend from five biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Willamette Valley and is pure organic Oregon Pinot Noir that punches way above its price point. Aged for ten months if French oak, 25% new, the Compass has notes of black tea, blackberry, dark strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate, rose petals, and baking spices

Price: $19.95

2024 Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 4/25/2026 | Send Email

$18.95 for this California classic? Are you kidding me!? Seghesio Family Vineyards has been in Healdsburg since 1895 and is the oldest continuous family owned and operated winery in California. That's 125 vintages over 5 generations! Seghesio is only 1 of 100 California wineries that operated during the tragic scourge that was Prohibition. And you can't get more California classic than Zinfandel! USA! USA! USA! The Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel is an institution and the 2024 delivers in spades. On the nose and palate, blueberry, dark chocolate, espresso, spice, fennel, blackberry, soy sauce, and fresh herbs. An excellent new chapter in the storied history of Seghesio. Love it!

Price: $18.95

2025 La Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé

By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

Delightful nose of candied grapefruit. Kiwi and strawberry on the palate. Invite your friends, put in on ice and watch the afternoon melt into the sunset, with smiling faces all around.

Price: $18.99

2021 Château Sainte-Eulalie "La Cantilene" Minervois La Liviniere

By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

Complex, elegant nose gives cassis, seasoned wood and stewed red fruit. Palate shows beautifully, expressing red stone fruit. Nice lingering finish. Wonderful for the price.

Price: $24.99

JD: 94

2024 E. Pira Chiara Boschis Barolo Chinato

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

The ultimate conclusion to an Italian dinner. Chiara’s Chinato is a labor of love—a fortified Barolo aromatized with a secret recipe of herbs, spices, and barks (including Cinchona). It is rich, bitter-sweet, and profoundly complex. In an era where many houses have moved to commercial styles, Chiara maintains the traditional depth that makes this one of the world's great digestifs.

Price: $49.99

2024 E. Pira Chiara Boschis Langhe Nebbiolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

Don't call this an "entry-level" wine; it is a serious Nebbiolo sourced from prime parcels in La Morra. The 2024 is incredibly fresh and expressive, dominated by a bouquet of cherry, raspberry, and dried rose. It is vibrant and "nervous" in the best way, making it the perfect bottle to open while you wait for the Barolos to cellar.

Price: $39.99

2022 E. Pira Chiara Boschis "Cannubi" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

The 2022 Cannubi is a triumph of finesse over heat. It is deep and restrained, showing a sleek elegance that is hard to find in a warm year. Expect a myriad of sweet perfumes—red fruit, spice, and the signature balsamic notes of mint and eucalyptus that only this hill can provide. Suckling calls it "profound in its depths" with plush tannins you can really sink your teeth into.

Price: $149.99

JS: 97

VN: 91

2022 E. Pira Chiara Boschis "Mosconi" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

A total powerhouse. This is one of the most refined expressions of Mosconi we’ve seen, managing to maintain its structural presence while layering in stunning floral overtones. It is austere, complex, and driven by a massive mineral core. Notes of bright cherries, cedar, and sliced mushrooms lead into a driving, persistent finish.

Price: $99.99

JS: 98

VN: 93

2022 E. Pira Chiara Boschis "Via Nuova" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

The "New Road" is outstanding for its pure savoriness in 2022. It is a vibrant, mid-weight Barolo that perfectly balances the characteristics of its six constituent vineyards. Expect earthy strawberries, peonies, and restrained blood orange on the nose, with a silky, dainty palate and tannins that add a surprising, chocolatey touch.

Price: $89.99

JS: 95

VN: 94

2013 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru "Cote de Lechet"

By: Jackson Kelly | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

What a steal, 5 dollars per year of age on Premier Cru Chablis! This wine is worth every penny, a crisp, complex expression of a prized appellation. On the palate, this wine is bursting with minerality, with notes of apple, pear, and lemon zest, complemented with salinity and a touch of honey. 2013 Chablis is drinking beautifully right now, and this is certainly among the best options on the market.

Price: $64.99

2024 Torres "Pago del Cielo - Celeste" Verdejo Rueda

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

Albariño might be the white grape people most commonly associate with Spain, but I’d like to nominate another worthy variety: Verdejo. The flagship white grape of Rueda, a region sandwiched between Ribero del Duero and Toro in north-central Spain, Verdejo produces stunning wines of concentration and complexity, with perhaps a touch more body and stone-fruit-driven intensity than Albariño. The region is more inland and warmer than coastal Spain, but high elevation and a big temperature swing between day and night helps to keep the wines here snappy and fresh. The other major white grape grown in Rueda is Sauvignon Blanc, and when blended with Verdejo, as the 2024 Pago del Cielo “Celeste” Verdejo is, each variety complements the other, leading to a sum greater than its two individual parts. In this wine, 14% Sauvignon Blanc highlights youth and primary fruit, lending an ultra-zesty and racy finish, while the Verdejo contributes signature yellow peach and nectarine notes, as well as Meyer lemon zest and orange blossom. Incredibly vibrant, with ripe and juicy yellow fruit notes, the finish lingers. This wine is fermented in stainless steel, which emphasizes its crispness and vibrancy, then aged in the same tanks on the fine lees, which adds a bit of richness on the palate – just enough to add depth and weight – making it perhaps the ideal food wine for warm summer days. I would pair this wine with shrimp cocktail, sushi, summer salads, or even just on its own, hopefully poolside on a sunny day.

Price: $15.99

TA: 93

VN: 90 - 92

2015 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru "Les Lys"

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

Les Lys is one of the most underrated Premier Cru sites in all of Chablis. Capable of producing some of the region’s most profound and complex wines, it has somehow remained under the radar for many enthusiasts—making the 2015 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis all the more exciting. The nose opens beautifully with aromas of lemon peel, white flowers, crushed rock, and hints of flint. The palate delivers impressive energy and intensity, with citrus notes fanning out across the wine’s layered, complex structure. There is depth here with layer upon layer of fruit and spice seamlessly supported by vibrant acidity and lifted by captivating aromatics. A wine to love, and a remarkable opportunity to enjoy a Chablis of this caliber with over a decade of age at such an appealing price.

Price: $64.99

2015 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru "Vaillons"

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

The 2015 Vaillons opens with an intensely flinty nose that gives way to aromas of lemon chiffon and dried herbs. The palate is richly textured, with abundant orchard fruit balanced by a surge of acidity and energy. The mid- to back-palate is particularly impressive, revealing layers of fruit and complexity that carry seamlessly through to a finish marked by classic Chablisienne character.

Price: $64.99

2013 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru "Cote de Lechet"

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

A beautiful nose of Red Delicious apple and pear mingles with notes of straw and lemon. The palate shows wonderful drive and verve, with racy acidity that carries orchard fruit, wet stone, and flinty mineral tones across the palate, building complexity from start to the long, satisfying finish. A truly delicious Chablis, it feels remarkably vibrant and exuberant for a wine at 13 years of age.

Price: $64.99

2024 Ridge Vineyards Paso Robles Grenache Blanc

By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

While the winemaker behind this delicious Grenache Blanc is being playful, this bottle doesn't play around. You can really tell how much effort went into making it- from the precise combination of varieties (85% Grenache Blanc, 12% Picpoul, and 3% Roussanne), to the meticulous fermentation process that involves stainless steel, barrels both old and new, as well as amphora and concrete tanks mixed in. The result? A vividly aromatic wine, that’s complex and serious but still fresh and vibrant. The bright acidity balances the smoky flint notes, and the savory minerality ties the whole thing together beautifully.

Price: $36.95

DC: 94

JS: 94

VN: 92

2024 Matteo Ascheri Langhe Nebbiolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

If the brilliant 2021 Barolo is the benchmark for value and precise terroir expression, the 2024 Langhe Nebbiolo is the ultimate everyday proof of Matteo Ascheri's no-nonsense approach. This is exactly what entry-level Nebbiolo should be: pure, unmanipulated, and completely stripped of any commercial makeup. The nose is incredibly open and fragrant, immediately mirroring the ethereal qualities of his Barolo. . It is undeniably one of the smartest, most expressive everyday Nebbiolos on the market.

Price: $24.99

2024 Raen "Royal St. Robert Cuvée" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 4/24/2026 | Send Email

A truly benchmark expression of the ultra-cool, western edge of the Sonoma Coast. This wine is sourced from a handful of vineyards, all within a few miles of the frigid Pacific. Fruit comes from Occidental, Bodega, and Fort Ross, where temperatures tend to hover in the upper 60s and low 70s even in mid-summer. This long, moderate growing season allows for incredible flavor development while preserving the fruit’s natural acidity. Clones include Calera, Swan, and Dijon selections 667, 115, and 777. The wine is made with 100% whole-cluster native fermentation and aged in neutral French oak to preserve a pure expression of the coast. The nose soars from the glass with dried rose petals, alpine strawberry, bramble leaf, torn herbs, camphor, subtle leather, and earthy spice. The fruit profile mirrors the aromatics beautifully, with wild red berries, black raspberry, lifted floral tones, and deeper earthy notes. Woodsy spice, coastal chaparral, and brambly tones are always present, interwoven with the bright red fruit. Long and silky on the palate, this is beautifully resolved even as a young wine, though it will surely become even more striking and gain additional mid-palate breadth with a few years in bottle. A singular, distinctive, and truly compelling expression of Pinot Noir that deserves a place on anyone’s dinner table.

Price: $73.95

JS: 99

2024 Aniello Blanco de Pinot Noir Rio Negro Patagonia

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 4/23/2026 | Send Email

So fresh, flavorful and fun, this is my pick for the wine of the summer. The 2024 Aniello Blanco de Pinot Noir from Patagonia is a refreshing white wine vinified from 100% Pinot Noir, however, it is actually the palest shade of pink possible, more akin to a vin gris style of rosé from France. This tiny amount of pigmentation is extracted during the pressing of the fruit – the bunches of Pinot Noir are put directly into the press, and during this process itself, a subtle amount of color is extracted from the grape skins as the juice is extracted from the berries. Aniello is located in the heart of Patagonia, in southern Argentina, where long sunlight hours combined with cold nights help to create wines with great intensity and an electric, refreshing feel on the palate. This is evident in the Aniello, where a high level of fruit concentration is contrasted by bright acidity and lingering minerality. Also, an interesting characteristic about white wine made from red grapes is that many typical red fruit aromatics remain: in this wine, fresh strawberries and cream, juicy red plum and a slightly tarter red currant note. Aging in concrete and neutral barrels on the fine lees adds white almond and yeasty brioche to the mix, all backed up by a bracing, lingering finish. At this price, there’s a lot to like here: top-notch winemaking from a premium (and very up-and-coming) wine region, leading to a highly unique style of wine that would be very fun to serve to guests – after all, how many people have tried a white Pinot Noir from Patagonia? This is one to buy by the case while still available.

Price: $14.99

JS: 91

VN: 90

1993 Les Vergers De La Moriniere (Domaine Hubert) 32 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" Pays d'Auge Vieux Calvados (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/22/2026 | Send Email

There's just no reason for this to be so inexpensive. I'm not saying I feel bad about it, but honestly considering how expensive old calvados is from normal channels, it seems the Hubert's are beating the market by a mile. Anyway, the price is not what matters here, it's the exceptional quality! I'm going to have trouble not drinking this whole sample! The nose is fully developed with rich deep roasted apple, dense toasted vanilla, a huge array of old woods and bitter barks, subtle savory herbs and sweet spices. On the palate, we've got pick dense warming spice up front, with more oak and vanilla, followed by a long sweet dark baked apple on a long lingering, very satisfying finish. It's a big boy at 45%, but has more depth, intensity and richness than almost any apple brandy on the market today. We've sold this vintage before, but it continues to deepen and widen as it ages. It's simply astounding that with the current political situation we're able to sell it at the same price we did years ago, even though it's now much older. It can't last forever, but I wish it would.

Price: $99.99

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

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/22/2026 | Send Email

Its absolutely nuts that we're still able to get this stupendous product on the shelf for $35. The simple fact is that apple brandy production is extremely slow and difficult. It requires years and years of waiting for the trees to produce enough fruit for them to be commercially viable. But the Huberts are nonetheless putting exceptionally high quality brandy into great old would and doing it at a very reasonable price. Let's taste it! The first nosing is fragrant and round with soft ripe apple, hints of sweet spices and bake pears. The palate is very zesty and bright, moving more toward your granny smith than the baked pear on the nose. Medium bodied with a super round soft finish. There's tons of character here, so into the cocktails is where this will suit most people, but if you've ever been to Normandy this is as good as anything you'll ever try. It is the perfect thing to put on the table for the "trou" in your holiday dinner. An incredible digestif by any measure.

Price: $34.99

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