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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
Professor Fritz Briem "1809" Berliner Weisse, Germany (500ml.)
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/29/2017 | Send Email
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
2007 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 8/28/2017 | Send Email
By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 8/28/2017 | Send Email
This classic wine, from a cooler vintage still has a long way to go in the cellars, however after decanting it for say... 1 hour or 2, it delivers a nicely perfumed aromatics and a robust palate that really shows off its terroir.
Amara Sicilian Amaro d'Arancia Rossa (750ml)
By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 8/27/2017 | Send Email
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
2007 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/24/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/24/2017 | Send Email
Another '07 that is out performing the price point. The ultra old school style, which is usually pretty darn tannic until they're 20+ years old is actually showing extreme elegance in this cooler vintage. Big perfumed nose of mineral, gravel, dark cherry and exotic aged woods. Structured and mouthfilling, but not heavy or tight at all. For the quality and reputation it's great to take advantage of the odd vintage discount.
2009 Coufran, Haut-Médoc
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email
Chateau Coufran lies just north of St-Estèphe in the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne. There are 76 hectares of vineyards planted entirely on gravel soils close beside the Gironde River. Atypically for a Left Bank property, the grape varieties planted are almost entirely Merlot (85%), earning Coufran the nickname “the Pomerol of the Médoc”. I had the good fortune to taste a barrel sample of the 2009 Coufran at the chateau in 2010. The owner, Eric Miailhe, confided at that time that he considered it the finest wine he had ever made. Now, five years after bottling, the wine truly shows the strength of the outstanding ’09 vintage – very fresh with lively acidity and very fine, but still firm tannins. There is plenty of sweet fruit here with notes of fresh picked blackberry and damson plum. A terrific value from one of the great vintages of the decade.
2009 Coufran, Haut-Médoc
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email
It's great to see how this wine has come around over the years. We've been getting shipments of the 2009 Coufran since the vintage was released in 2012 and I've been slowly tasting bottles throughout the years, watching what was once a merlot-driven and supple wine from a ripe vintage mature into a savory, complex, and serious bottle of mature Bordeaux. Tasting it today, it's at its most profound position yet. The wine is much leaner than it was a few years back and has shed some of that baby fat, now resembling something with age from St. Emilion or Pomerol. For the price its tough to beat, especially when stacked up against some of the other $20 bargains we have in the store. Few, however, show as much evolution as the Coufran. This is a Wednesday night steak frites wine at its finest.
2009 Coufran, Haut-Médoc
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email
We have a few house favorites when it comes to Bordeaux here at K&L, and the 2009 Coufran, Haut-Médoc confirms why we love this property. For the Haut-Medoc, this wine has a huge proportion of Merlot at 85% and just a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon at 15%. In its youth, the wine had a big, ripe, plumy nose, but was still very elegant in the mouth. It reminded me very much of old fashioned Pomerol; medium bodied, pure, racy Merlot without the extraneous sugar and oak. At the price, too much of this wine was probably consumed too young, but the patient will now be rewarded with a great experience at a very small price.
Arette Artesanal Blanco Suave Tequila (750ml)
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 8/18/2017 | Send Email
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.
Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 8/12/2017 | Send Email
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
By: Blake Conklin | Review Date: 8/11/2017 | Send Email
Nice subtle sweetness, and overall a fun bottle of Champagne.
Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne
By: Blake Conklin | Review Date: 8/10/2017 | Send Email
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.
Doctor Bird "Moscatel Cask Finish" Traditional Pot Still Jamaican Rum (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 8/7/2017 | Send Email
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
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
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!
Leopold Bros. "Summer" Limited Edition Gin (750ml)
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 8/2/2017 | Send Email
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
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
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
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.
2014 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 7/28/2017 | Send Email
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.
2007 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 7/24/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 7/24/2017 | Send Email
K&L's notes in 2008 - Good entry...sweet middle. Aristocratic. Very good. At the UGC the wine was full and ripe. Big wine on palate and sweet mid-palate impression. Tannic finish. At the property the wine exhibited a deep purplish color and fine red berry aromas and flavor. On the bigger side. 50 hectoliters per hectare here which is normal. 70% cabernet and 26% merlot with the rest cab franc. This wine could be the best value in older Haut Bailly wines-one of our favorites in Bordeaux.
Domaine Hubert "K&L Exclusive" Pays d'Auge Vieux Calvados (750ml)
By: Anthony Russo | Review Date: 7/19/2017 | Send Email
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
Black Cow Vodka (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/28/2017 | Send Email
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!
Arette Artesanal Gran Clase Extra Añejo Tequila (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/28/2017 | Send Email
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.
Mezcal Vago Ensamble En Barro by Tio Rey (Red Label) Ancestral Mezcal (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/28/2017 | Send Email
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
Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (375ml)
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/20/2017 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/20/2017 | Send Email
This is our most popular half bottle of Champagne by far. 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.
Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (1.5L)
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/20/2017 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 6/20/2017 | Send Email
I always have to order extra of these magnums - Clyde & Trey always gobble up about half of what we get! All Champagne has an advantage in magnum, seeing more surface area for lees contact and half the amount of air exposure. The Bonville family doubles down by giving these an extra 2-4 years of ageing! 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 1920's, 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. Already exceptional out of 750, the Bonville Selection picks up both richness and zip in the larger format bottle - making it the "smallest" big bottle that we have. It ends up empty far too soon!
Price:
$109.99
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 6/13/2017 | Send Email
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 Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Sharon Kelly | Review Date: 6/12/2017 | Send Email
By: Sharon Kelly | Review Date: 6/12/2017 | Send Email
A pleasing, plush style with plenty of red fruits, subtle herbal notes due to the percentage of Pinot Meunier, and a very favorable toasty quality. I enjoyed this with friends after a long work week and it certainly did not disappoint.
Price:
$39.99
Fallet-Dart "Cuvée de Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 6/10/2017 | Send Email
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 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/10/2017 | Send Email
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/10/2017 | Send Email
2016 Haut Bailly represents 55% of the crop and is 53% CS 40 M 4PV and 3CF “A deep attack of dark raspberry fruit, very, very strong and concentrated, full of structure and drive, serious wine. Firm tannins and loaded with minerals. Reminds me a lot of the great 2010, 3 stars” Ralph Sands
2016 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/10/2017 | Send Email
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
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
A more subtly rounded Champagne than the Grand Reserve, the Grand Selection from Fallet Dart is blended with mostly red fruit, like the Grand Reserve, but the small about of high quality Chardonnay in the blend makes an impression, and an important distinction. There is also an extra two years on the lees, with a total of six years aging, which creates a slightly funky nose with a clean, bright palate with a hint of toast, and an earthy, chalky quality.
Price:
$37.99
Mas Codina Brut Rosé Reserva Cava Penedès
By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
By: Rachel Alcarraz | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
How many hand picked, hand riddled sparkling wines can you find for $12.99? Not many I think! We have all been lucky enough to enjoy the Mas Codina brut for the past few seasons and now we can enjoy the rose! Being from the hot, dry region of Penedes, the Pinot Noir grapes are picked in early August to keep the sugar levels down and the acidity up to create a dry, fresh rose. The wine is filled with the classic Pinot Noir notes of fresh berries and ripe cherry with a dry, chalky backbone that makes the wine non-stop!
Price:
$14.99
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
The Bollinger Special Cuvee is a Champagne for the connoisseur, as it is created painstakingly from up to forty percent reserve wines, which are stored in Magnums, under half pressure, and hand disgorged before bottling! This is a Champagne of exceptional quality and small production, created from grapes grown on Chalky, south facing soil. Aromas of lightly toasted nuts lead to a broad, very dry palate, with a dominant, chalky minerality and a slightly creamy roundness.
2016 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/9/2017 | Send Email
We all love this property and its managing director Veronique Sanders. Ever since she started managing the estate in the very late 90s, Haut Bailly has been one of K&L’s best selling Bordeaux wines. 53% CS here and 13.6 alcohol. My notes—Pure silk!! And at the property-Iron fist in a velvet glove! Refined, seamless, Balanced. You name it. But the quantities they release will not be much for us.
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 6/8/2017 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 6/8/2017 | Send Email
Bollinger is one of my immediate go to houses for people looking for a known name that delivers stunning wine for the price. The special cuvee from them is the perfect place to start with this all family owned estate. Lovely fruit notes of early plum, red fruit, and green apple with a little wood and spice are all firmly in balance here. The level of complexity is impressive and the finish is soft but does not fall flat in any way. There is also a beautiful tartness to the wine from the acid that serves to enhance the overall experience.
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Joe Manekin | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
By: Joe Manekin | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
Oh man, is this good, soooo good! We have to be careful around here about picking favorites in the Champagne category, because the fact is that we all love Champagne and our current favorite may be bested by yet another delicious bottling before long. That said, for many of us, Bollinger is a long-time favorite amongst the grande marques, a true original and - without going into detail - a process that is ridiculously labor intensive, manual and expensive even for their Special Cuvee. With aromas of loquat, and a slightly savory, Beurre Blanc like note, the current bottling immediately drew me in in. It may be the 1/3 barrel fermented aspect of the base wine, the presence of 10-20 year old reserve wine, or my experience with the other great chalky soil based wine region of Europe, but I detected just a passing resemblance to Manzanilla here! A bright, delicious, complete and complex palate seals the deal and Bollinger continues to be one of my absolute faves.
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Joe Manekin | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
By: Joe Manekin | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
Laurent Perrier will soon be releasing a new bottling of their NV Brut, which will go by the name of "La Cuvee." It is not simply a re-launch with a neat new package (well it's that too, of course), but a wine that sees 5% more chardonnay - reflecting their recent purchase of another house with prime Chardonnay holding - as well as an additional 6 months ageing on the lees for a total of 3.5 years lees ageing. And how is the wine? Well, tasted side by side with a bottle of LP's former cuvee, there is a notable difference. Yellow and white fruits on the nose lead to a nicely rich palate, with great presence and autolytic, yeasty qualities. It's saline, intense, and dry, seemingly with a lower dosage than in the past. I like them both, though for my money this new release is definitely a step up!
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
I find this to be one of the most interesting Champagnes we have on the shelves right now because of how many different notes and tastes it possesses. While Bollinger is one of the larger houses in Champagne, they are absolutely one of the best. The amount of care and work they put into their Champagne is unreal and the dedication to quality is beyond almost all others. The average age of the wine in this bottle is ten years old and one third of it is barrel fermented, which is far less common in Champagne. Topping wine in this house is kept in magnum bottles, separated by cru and vintage, which means they have to pop every single one when it comes time to add dosage to the bottles. This painstaking work results in an unbelievable wine and one I would be happy to have anytime.
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Joe Manekin | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
By: Joe Manekin | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
The mere fact that this cuvee from Fallet Dart has a whopping seven years on the lees should immediately grab your attention. That said, it's not all about the lees, you need to start with great base wine. This is absolutely the case for this delicious bottle of Pinot Noir based bubbles made an hour west of Epernay. A bright nose loaded with citric fruits leads to a focused, lively, fresh and engaging palate. Compared to their also tasty Grande Reserve, this wine comes across as drier and slightly lower dosage. Fantastic value for money, and a likely selection for house Champagne at our place. If you are inclined to do the same, it will be super affordable at under $35!
Price:
$37.99
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
The "La Cuvee" is one phenomenal release from well-known and highly regarded Champagne producer Laurent Perrier. Aged three and a half years on the lees, this wine exhibits the dedication LP shows to the quality of their Champagne. They have chosen to hold this wine back until it is perfected, rather than release it before it has had time to fully develop, even if that means potential years of lost income. The bottling exhibits a juiciness and fuller body than their "Brut" sparkler, but is still bright and lively from the acid-driven Chardonnay. While many Champagne houses believe great wine is made in the cellar, not the vineyard, LP shows a dedicated respect to the fruit in their bottlings, with the Chardonnay in "La Cuvee" being of exceptional quality. This is a special bottle that is still incredibly affordable and available for everyone to enjoy.
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 6/7/2017 | Send Email
This Champagne hits all of the elements for me that I expect in a great sparkling and is one of the most well balanced I have ever come across, which is incredibly rare at this price. Fallet-Dart is situated in the far western, slightly lesser-known village of Drachy and this wine benefits from being made from only fruit grown on the estate. With up to seven years aging on the lees, this Champagne exhibits fantastic body and depth and the Pinot Noir heavy blend really showcases that varietal. The Chardonnay brings brightness and acidity and rounds of the palate fantastically. Definitely my favorite Fallet-Dart and at this price can be one approachable for any Champagne lover.
Price:
$37.99
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
This Champagne is crazy good! Crazy because its primary fermentation is 1/2 done in barrel and crazy because the 1/2 of the wine is aged in magnum at 1/2 pressure (3 fathoms) and then disgorged and blended in. Two hundred and fifty-thousand magnums hand-disgorged and tested for cork taint as the mags are aged on the cork, not crown cap. Who does this?! The Special Cuvée is bright and lively on the initial taste but, fleshes out and the trademark Bollinger golden fruits and caramel come into play. Super, super long finish! Still a family-owned Champagne house!
Bollinger "Special Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
By: Sal Rodriguez | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
You don't get this fine of a wine without putting in a lot of effort! If I had to give a gift and it needed name recognition, and it had to be epic, and it had to be less than 100 dollars - This is it!! Intense, spicy musk, with a serious presence. Lots of weight and complexity to explore. Great minerality and plenty of apple flavors to enjoy. A perfect bottle of bubbly!
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
Laurent Perrier's "La Cuvee" is a more powerful, richer and more focused iteration of their Brut Champagne, with extended aging in the bottle for six months, for a total of three and a half years on the lees. There is a similar clean and citrusy herbaceous quality in the initial aromatics, which speaks to the quality of the Chardonnay that drives the blend. The palate is broader and richer than that of the original Brut, with subtle flavors of white peach and frozen cherry, but a similar, yet more pronounced, chalky minerality comes to the forefront. "La Cuvee" is a beautiful Champagne which will delight lovers of their Brut and new fans alike.
2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
Year on year, Leoville Barton continues to deliver wines that are firm, structured, and uncompromisingly tannic in their youth. The 2016 is very much on point with substantial, though very fine, tannins. What is particularly striking is the sheer intensity of the color, from palate-staining purple to nearly inky black. Loads of black fruit here as well. Superbly ripe with notes of fresh blackberry and hints of richer cassis. Like many of the Left Bank wines in 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon very much takes the lead here. Patience will be required but this ought to age magnificently.
Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
If you are a Champagne House that carries the name recognition and appeal of Laurent Perrier how do you change your signature offering? Easy, you introduce a wine like the new La Cuvee. Taking on new vineyards and changing the basic cepage Laurent Perrier also decided that a longer lees time was also just what this new cuvee needed. The result being a continuation of what they are capable of and I believe a treat for all of their customers. This new champagne features a slightly creamier nose than the Brut and is filled with delectable stone fruit, cream, and plenty of balancing acid. I am fairly confident that those who are already familiar with this house will be delighted with this change and the handful of people who haven't tried them yet here is exactly where you should start.
2016 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 6/6/2017 | Send Email
The most opulent of the First Growths in 2016 has an almost flamboyant fruit profile but stays firm, dry, powerful and super fresh on the finish. This has a strong middle of blackberry and raspberry cream, lots of mineral and a long, sweet finish of finely integrated tannin. This was easy to taste and already delicious.
2016 Canon, St-Émilion
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
One of the best terroirs in St Emilion and the wine is again of the better 2016s. . Tasted out of barrel. Toasty aromas, black color-black cherry flavors. Ethereal wine.
2016 Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/1/2017 | Send Email
59%M, 37%CF, 3%CS. Tons of red rose and Asian spice aromas. Quite elegant wine with layers of sweet red fruits. Classy wine, but probably very expensive.