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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
Marie Duffau Napoleon Bas Armagnac (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 4/11/2017 | Send Email
The easy drinking Marie Duffau Armagnacs have brought more people into this category than almost any other product. This is the country's best selling Armagnac and with good reason. If you're looking for round soft and supple this is about as good at anything at this price.
Lagavulin 8 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 4/6/2017 | Send Email
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 4/6/2017 | Send Email
This 8 year version of Lagavulin is even more quintessentially Islay than the 16. It's fresher, livelier, peatier, and simply more dynamic on the palate. I also love that Lagavulin paid homage to the classic whisky travel book "The Whisky Distilleries of Scotland" by Alfred Barnard, a writer who visited all 150 active distilleries in the UK back in the late 19th century. He specifically mentions an "exceptionally fine" Lagavulin 8 year expression, and it's clear from tasting the modern rendition why he felt so strongly. It's a lovely whisky and it very much speaks to the strength of what may be Scotland's top producer.
Charles Baur Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 4/2/2017 | Send Email
By: Christina Stanley | Review Date: 4/2/2017 | Send Email
A perfect springtime sparkler! A beautiful pale salmon hue, with fine creamy bubbles, this wine is crisp and dry on the palate with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Aromas of toasted marcona almond and cream rise out of the glass, and delicate flavors of frozen raspberries and orange zest essence round out the palate and finish.
Price:
Hidden
Glenlivet 12 Year Old "Double Oak" Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
Glenlivet 12 is the ubiquitous favorite of so many, there's just nothing wrong with it. It's a benchmark whisky and responsible for defining an entire style and introducing an entire generation of drinkers to single malt. It remains a wonderful value and one of best-selling whiskies in the store.
Aberlour 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
Aberlour 12 year is a fine little whisky from the tiny distillery in the town of the same name. At this price it's hard to argue with their Double Cask Matured entry level. It's a great alternative to Balvenie Doublewood or even the 'Farclas 12 year each at $10 more than the Aberlour. Expect a good malty base note, subtle fruit framed around easy sherry influences, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and baking spice spice. Solid stuff.
Balvenie 25 Year Old Single Cask Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
For all the fanfare that big old sherried Speysiders get, the wonderful single cask 25 year from Balvenie truly delivers what I would consider to be the most authentic Speyside experience. Its character is not masked by any wine influence and the characteristic Balvenie deep, rich spirit does wonders after two and a half decades in a hogshead. Deep oak, wild honey and baking spice without any green or vegetative qualities. Ultra creamy and decadent on the palate, seamless and satisfying, with complexity building as it finishes. Honey and spice and everything nice. Big oak, but good oak.
Price:
$910.00
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/29/2017 | Send Email
Dalwhinnie 15 year is one of those wonderful malts that tends to turn non-Scotch people into whisky fanatics. The lightly peated malt of Dalwhinnie is aged to perfect maturity in their excellent 15 year offering and certainly deserves its place in the Classic Malt portfolio. The beautiful distillery produces a fruity style that shows no signs of peat on the nose by the time its 15 years old. Instead, expect toasty oak, amber honey, floral oils and baked apple. The palate is rather sweet with the tiniest hints of smoke popping out at the end. Malty and fresh, this is easy-drinking stuff with plenty of character behind that sense of overt pleasure.
Price:
$74.99
Lagavulin 8 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/28/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/28/2017 | Send Email
Absolute magic! I've always been a bigger fan of the out of control cask strength 12 year old over the (still wonderful) standard 16 year. To be able to get an affordable, if slightly tame version of that is an exceptional score! There's just SO much going on here. This is real deal stinky briny, sooty oily Lagavulin. I'm not even going to bother attempting to describe this further, but this is without a doubt one of the best peaty whiskies on the shelf at any price. Forget the age and focus on the flavor. $60? Laphroaig Cask Strength and Ardbeg Uiggy have another for contender here for best bang for your buck peater in the store and I'm leaning toward the man in the middle. Good old laggy, lag, we don't deserve you.
Clear Creek "McCarthy's" Oregon Single Malt Whiskey
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/28/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/28/2017 | Send Email
The lovely McCarthy Whiskey is our friend Steve's real legacy and it was bitter sweet to try this new batch now that he's passed the reins on to new owners. Steve is just a fabulous distiller and since the distillery acquired the Clear Creek Brand at the beginning of 2014 and McCarthy's is always aged 3 years in Oregon Oak, this is likely the last of his personal distillate. The small scale has always meant subtle difference in each bottling, so batch variations is to be expected here. While the aging and blended would have been completed by the new owners at Hood River, the heart of this spirit is still Steve's. It remains a wonderful and unique offering, that's equal parts clean peat and woodsy oak. One the palate the campfire and pine notes really turn up. Many years ago, Steve had a great idea to buy peaty Scottish barley from Islay, distill it on a pot and age it in Oregon Oak and hopefully his legacy will continue for many years to come, but right now this whiskey remains a classic as it always has been, delicious!
Price:
$59.99
Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Barrel Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/28/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 3/28/2017 | Send Email
The very special Balvenie 12 Year Single Barrel is really where real connoisseur of this Speyside gem should start their journey. This is true NAKED obfuscated Balvenie. Indeed, it is equally unchilltered and has much more body and richness than the standard 12 year. You don't get the tinge of Sherry that the Doublewood provides, but this is easily twice the whisky only a slight premium over the standard offering. The nose is chalked full of the most subtle aromatics and picking them out is difficult due to the complexity. Tons of fresh malt, ripe green and yellow fruits, wild herbal undertones. On palate, plenty of those stones fruits taking front and center. Great texture, great freshness and a wonderful minty malty finish. These are of course single barrels so subtle differences exist, but I haven't had a stinker yet. Grab them while you can.
Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: John Majeski | Review Date: 3/4/2017 | Send Email
By: John Majeski | Review Date: 3/4/2017 | Send Email
In trying to get my head around the physics behind all those tiny bubbles in a bottle of Champagne l discovered a wonderfully fascinating little book called Uncorked, by Gérard Liger-Belair. Apparently gravity drives the velocity of the bubbles in a flute of Champagne, so the best spot in the solar system to achieve the absolute tiniest bubbles would be on… you guessed it— Jupiter, with about 100 times the gravity of our own sparkling blue orb. Pack your bags, but before you go flying off into space, try a bottle or two of this incredible direct import. Created from superb Pinot Noir cultivated in the renowned Le Riceys terroir near Aube, the “Reserve” harbors a panoply of rich flavors ranging from citrus fruits to fleshy pears, apples, nectarines and beyond, embodying an elegant, creamy mousse and miniscule, dare I suggest, ‘out of this world’ bubbles. Now prepare for takeoff!
Price:
$34.99
Jacopo Poli Sarpa di Poli Con Tubo Grappa (700ml) (Local Delivery Only - cannot ship)
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 2/23/2017 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 2/23/2017 | Send Email
When I started working in the wine industry, I managed a store owned by a Greek family in Texas. Every year they would visit the mother country and bring back a true cornucopia of artisanal Greek paraphernalia: Kalamata olives, feta cheese, dried figs and wild oregano, olive oil and candied fruits. What I most looked forward to, though, was the grappa that an uncle made that came to me in a big plastic soda bottle. This stuff was the elixir of the gods. When I quickly and inevitably ran out I could never find a commercially available substitute…until I tried Jacopo Poli’s Sarpa di Poli. See, this grappa is made with as much care and in equally small batches in Schiavon, Italy as the Greek grappa that came in the soda bottle. It’s made from the pomace of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and has deep penetrating aromas of jasmine, sweet pear, green fruits, coriander and anise. It’s bone dry and super clean on the palate but maintains that rich flavor profile for over a minute on the finish. I love all the spirits of the world, from rich Highland Single Malts to funky agricole Rhums, but when all is said and done, nothing is as exciting and satisfying for me as an artisanal grappa like this.
Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne (375ml)
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 2/14/2017 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 2/14/2017 | Send Email
Aged 36 months on the lees, the Brut Reserve is clean and vivacious, with rich stone fruit and honey, plus that classic chalky finish. Billecart-Salmon is my go-to Champagne when looking for a crowd-pleasing yet sophisticated sparkler. It has just the right amount of house name recognition while staying true to quality, and the brighter house style is both refreshing and elegant. An easygoing, impressive favorite that never disappoints, plus it's an incredibly reasonable price, especially for a half bottle.
ArteNOM "Seleccion 1579" Blanco Tequila (750ml)
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 2/14/2017 | Send Email
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard | Review Date: 2/14/2017 | Send Email
The sweetness derived from the higher altitude this agave is grown at really shines through and makes this an amazingly easy sipping tequila. The incredibly smooth texture accentuated with great fruit flavor and slight spice makes this blanco one to treasure. A wonderful expression of how high-end tequila could taste from an respected, established, individual producer.
Price:
$54.99
Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Trilogie" Brut Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 2/7/2017 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 2/7/2017 | Send Email
Wow, Trilogie overdelivers! Stonefruit up front with a buttery richness through the creamy palate, this higher-end Lamoureux still shines with bright acid and a super delicate bead, plus a coating mouthfeel. I paired this with less-than-elegant queso and salty chips while in Austin, TX, and the combination of lift and toastiness (thanks to five years on the lees) struck a lively, lovely balance.
Old Forester "1920 Prohibition Style" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
By: Julio Santos | Review Date: 2/4/2017 | Send Email
By: Julio Santos | Review Date: 2/4/2017 | Send Email
This is an amazing bottle of bourbon. On the nose a powerful aroma of oak, red fruits and spice. The rich palate is even better; it starts off with baking spices, some nuttiness and continues with maple syrup and baked cinnamon apples. It slowly fades to a spicy, oak and caramel finish. Because of the intense characteristics I found it easy to enjoy this 115 proof bourbon neat, or you can add an ice cube or two and still taste every part of this great juice. I am amazed by this bottle – this bourbon has it all!
Old Forester "1920 Prohibition Style" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 2/3/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 2/3/2017 | Send Email
The Old Forester 1920 is as fabulous as it is frustrating. Yes, it's no age statement! Some of the marketing has alluded to it being an old expression, but nothing concrete can be found. The mashbill remains a mystery, though we can assume it's the modern Old Forester recipe (72%, 18% Rye, 10% Malt), Brown-Foreman isn't above experimenting. All we know about this stuff is that it's high proof, it's got something to do with Prohibition and it's absolutely delicious. Big powerful nose of pepper and rye spice unfolds into caramelized apples and dark exotic spice. The spice takes front and center on entry, but brings in some red fruits and burnt sugar as it lingers toward a long soft finish of nutmeg, cloves and green apples. The only other fact we know for sure is that we'll all be kicking ourselves when we finish our bottle and realize we should have bought more.
Old Forester "1920 Prohibition Style" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 2/3/2017 | Send Email
By: David Driscoll | Review Date: 2/3/2017 | Send Email
This was my favorite single Bourbon release of 2016 and I'm thrilled we were able to get another large allocation of it. Regardless of whether you want to get wrapped up in the story about how this was based on the Prohibition era recipe, there's no doubt about it: this is a delicious bottle of American whiskey and it easily stands out from the crowd of currently available options. There's a weight and a richness that coats the palate and the 115 proof brings plenty of punch with a flurry of baking spices. I love the graham crackery goodness as well. I don't taste a lot of Bourbons these days that really have a deeply concentrated flavor of dark grains. This has it in spades. Add this to your short list of new and exciting Bourbons right now.
Jean-Jacques Lamoureux Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 2/2/2017 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 2/2/2017 | Send Email
I have only been down to Riceys at the southern tip of Champagne twice. Vivien Lamoureux’s vineyards are only three miles away from the border, and he makes both Champagne and Burgundy. Due to French law, they are produced in different cellars on their respective sides of the boarder. In the past, Les Riceys seemed switched hands between the Comtes de Champagne and the Dukes of Burgundy to many times to count, and that split heritage is very evident in Vivien’s Chamapgne! If you love full bodied rose with plenty of Burgundian Pinot Noir flavor, this one is not to be missed!
Price:
$39.99
Mas Codina Brut Reserva Cava Penedès
By: Ivan Diaz | Review Date: 2/2/2017 | Send Email
By: Ivan Diaz | Review Date: 2/2/2017 | Send Email
For my money, Cava like Mas Codina stands head-and-shoulders above more popular, expensive, but less polished sparkling wines. The bubbles are finer, creating a mousse-y texture on the palate, while the flavors of nectarine, baked apple, and subtle flowers are balanced and restrained in a way that avoids any cloyingness. At only $12.99, this is an incredible value with truly romantic expression perfect for any intimate occasion.
Price:
$13.99
Santa Teresa 1796 Ron Antiguo de Solera Rum Venezuela (750ml)
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 1/30/2017 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 1/30/2017 | Send Email
This wonderfully rich, but balanced Solera style rum is one of my go to's for those just getting into rum or those who have been long time fans. Dark, warm fruits and notes of toffee are not cloying, but rather they compliment each other and the strong streak of vanilla that brings this rum to a close.
Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/24/2017 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/24/2017 | Send Email
Aged 36 months on the lees, the Brut Reserve is clean and vivacious, with rich stone fruit and honey, plus that classic chalky finish. Billecart-Salmon is my go-to Champagne when looking for a crowd-pleasing yet sophisticated sparkler. It has just the right amount of house name recognition while staying true to quality, and the brighter house style is both refreshing and elegant, at an incredibly reasonable price. A favorite that continues to impress!
Billecart-Salmon Le Rosé Champagne (375ml)
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/24/2017 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/24/2017 | Send Email
This sets the bar for spectacular brut rosé! Gorgeous rose petal and delicate white peach on the nose, followed by pure strawberry fruit gleaming on the palate, this showcases the bright house style while adding the sophistication of mousse texture and a minerally finish. There’s freshness throughout, plus substance – this would be a great wine to pair with heartier meals, although its elegance makes a glass equally at home with caviar. Tiny creamy bubbles and lovely color only enhance the drinking experience. And while Billecart-Salmon uses all three big Champagne varietals, they have traditionally championed Pinot Meunier and the result is a delicate, nuanced wine with depth. And not that it's necessarily indicative of quality, but the 375ml bottling is especially adorable, using the same bulbous shape as the full 750. It's a consistently special treat, just the right size for a tiny victory.
Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/17/2017 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/17/2017 | Send Email
This sets the bar for spectacular brut rosé! It’s hard to gush about Billecart-Salmon without feeling like you’re piggybacking on critical accolades or following popular opinion, but this best-selling Champagne is worth the hype. Gorgeous rose petal and delicate white peach on the nose, followed by pure strawberry fruit gleaming through the palate, this showcases Billecart-Salmon’s bright style while adding the sophistication of mousse texture and a minerally finish. There’s freshness throughout, plus substance – this would be a great wine to pair with heartier meals like fried chicken, although its elegance makes a glass equally at home with caviar. Tiny creamy bubbles and lovely color only enhance the drinking experience, and cooler, longer fermentation in stainless steel (3-5 weeks!) keeps everything crisp. Billecart-Salmon uses all three big Champagne varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and curiously, more Pinot Meunier than most houses. They have traditionally championed Meunier and the result is a delicate, nuanced wine with depth. Perfect for any occasion, even if that occasion is a weeknight spent on an apartment balcony, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne is reliably special.
2005 Magdelaine, St-Emilion
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 1/15/2017 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 1/15/2017 | Send Email
I started collecting Bordeaux in 1971, and one of the first wines I bought was 1967 Magdelaine after I tasted it in Hawaii (Ilikai Hotel) that same year. I loved this property during the ’70s and ’80s when it was brought in by importers Bercut Vandervoort & Co. The last vintage of this (once) famous property was the 2011. In 2012 it was merged with Château Bélair-Monange. We have just gotten a small sampling of vintages direct from the property. The superb 2005 is a cellar candidate.
Luxardo Bianco Bitter Liqueur (750ml)
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 1/6/2017 | Send Email
By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 1/6/2017 | Send Email
Like many cocktail aficionados and lovers of all things Italian, our staff members here at K&L just can’t get enough of the amazing selection of Amaros that David Driscoll has been stocking our shelves with. One of the most exciting recent arrivals is this Bitter Bianco from Luxardo. This is the perfect Campari substitute for making a Negroni Bianco. We have been playing around with different recipes, but my current favorite is equal parts Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Bordiga White Vermouth, and Berry Bros & Rudd "No. 3" London Dry Gin. Shake with ice and serve up in a martini glass with a twist of orange.
Price:
$27.99
Angeleno Amaro (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 1/5/2017 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 1/5/2017 | Send Email
This is a wonderful and lively amaro. It will be great before dinner or as a nice pick up me in the afternoon. The Amaro Angeleno has bright and inviting orange and lemon aromas and flavors.It finishes with a hint of bitter that helps make this product so refreshing.
Price:
$32.99
Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila (750ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 1/3/2017 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 1/3/2017 | Send Email
Ultra smooth blanco component from the wildly successful Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila Joven. The spicy black pepper and dark mineral notes are softened by a third distillation. Usually, I would avoid triple distilled Tequila because they tend to lack character, but this Blanco is definitely the exception to that rule of thumb. The result is a fruity, whimsical blanco, that provides good depth and structure thanks to the ultra high quality lowland fruit that's being used. Drinking Blanco is becoming cool again and this is one of the best options to get you away from the oaky extra anejos or the ultra intensely flavored old school blancos.
Franck Bonville Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 12/7/2016 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 12/7/2016 | Send Email
Every year, the K&L staff finishes each incredibly busy day of December over a bottle of champagne. We kicked it off this year with this gem, and it was a sight to behold. Every member of the team took a quiet moment to contemplate and appreciate the beauty and elegance of this rosé with closed eyes and furrowed brows, followed by a “whoa…” Rich, creamy red fruit flavors…black cherry, strawberry, raspberry…a soft and rounded texture and just a tiny hint of toast. At this price, I’m tempted to finish all my busy days with Bonville Rosé.
Price:
$59.99
Franck Bonville Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 11/21/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 11/21/2016 | Send Email
With so many amazing DI Champagne to choose from it is often fard for me to pick a favorite, fortunately in the Rose category there is almost no competition. Because Olivier Bonville only grows Chardonnay he trades some of his amazing Grand Cru fruit for a little Pinot Noir to blend in. The result is an amazing tart, bright Rose wine that has the length and drive of a Brut but with a beautiful cherry note added. Black and red cherry flavors against a dry blanc de blanc? Yes please, this is a must have for almost any type of Champagne lover.
Price:
$59.99
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (375ml)
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
The Ariston family are some of my favorite winemakers who produce some of the best small-estate champagnes that we carry. This blanc de blancs is no exception. It carries their reputation for excellent quality at an affordable price. This is a creamy, rich style of blanc de blancs with a rich mousse and lemon meringue flavors. Fleshy, without being heavy, it has a long, subtle finish of apple and pear fruit. A great way to start a party or meal!
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (375ml)
By: Dave Genevro | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
By: Dave Genevro | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
A great wine from Champagne under $40?! I was shocked not only at the price, but the wine inside the bottle is really great stuff. It is a perfect sparkling wine for entertaining or at your dinner table. The apples/pear fruits on the nose and palate and the expressive nature of this wine makes it appeal to palates almost all the way across the board.
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (375ml)
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
I recently enjoyed this while relaxing in a hot tub on a nice summer evening in California; it was perfect! Fresh and pronounced flavors of pear and apricot combine with a crisp acidity and lush creaminess for a wine fresh and approachable in style. The perfect accompaniment to any moment of leisure, at a price far below its value!
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne (375ml)
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
We have been working with Aspasie for years, as they were our first direct import Champagne producer. Their wine continues to be of the highest quality, making it the best value Champagne in the store. Year after year, the rosé is my favorite rosé in the store. With flavors of black cherry, ripe cranberry, rosemary and an earthier backbone, this rose is beautiful both as an aperitif and especially fantastic with food. Try it with a roast duck or heavier fish like salmon or tuna steak.
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne (375ml)
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
A perennial favorite, the rosé does not disappoint on this go-round. Pretty raspberry and black cherry notes highlight the freshness and richness of the wine. Unbelievable quality at the price.
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne (375ml)
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/30/2016 | Send Email
An electric rosé! Composed of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Meunier, this expensively-made wine goes through carbonic maceration and the saignée method, with a little still red wine added in. The result is stunning: gorgeous wild berry fruit with delicate bead, bracing acidity and a clean, minerally finish.
Price:
$24.99
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 12 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/28/2016 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/28/2016 | Send Email
This single malt is very easy to drink and enjoy. It is creamy, rich and soft with an interesting complexity. It also has a lively and fresh nuance to it that helps make it an exciting addition to our single malt selection.Very good.
Price:
$89.99
2012 Château de Montfaucon "Baron Louis" Lirac
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/27/2016 | Send Email
By: Steve Bearden | Review Date: 10/27/2016 | Send Email
This Chateauneuf-du-Pape wannabe comes from 50-to-90 year old vines and could go head to toe against any $50.00 wine from anywhere in the world in my opinion. This is dark and spicy with deep blue and black fruit, a touch of earth and very fine, ripe embedded tannins imparting wonderful structure. The proportion, balance and overall harmony make for a wine that is drinkable now but will improve for up to a decade in a cool cellar.
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 12 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 10/21/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 10/21/2016 | Send Email
One of only three active distilleries in Campbeltown, this new offering created in the revamped Glengyle is created using old techniques, and the dedication shows. Beautiful white fruit and spice layer the peat, showcasing the uniqueness of Campbeltown. Lovely layers of smoke move throughout this whisky and bring it to a finish with medium heat and spice. Full-flavored yet balanced, this is a cool new offering for those who love every different expression of peat, smoke, and of course, Campbeltown.
Price:
$89.99
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
In my humble opinion, the most underrated sparkling on the market is the Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine ($24.00). There’s a touch more Chardonnay in the rosé than in the brut, and the Chardonnay clearly shows itself in the soft, creamy texture and elegance of this cuvee. The Pinot Noir helps round out the rosé with a delicate berry fruitiness that is balanced with a zippy blood orange finish. And while this elegant and delicious rosé is the perfect sparkling wine to bring to any holiday occasion, be prepared to bring two because it will go fast!
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparkling Wine (1.5L)
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
After tasting the Roeder Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparkling Wine, it’s hard to believe that it is a domestic sparkling and that it only costs $21.99! What sets this domestic sparkling apart from the rest is how dry it tastes. I always have a problem with how high the dosage levels are in domestic sparkling wines but not with the Roederer Estate Brut. The nose is bright and lively with fresh pear, tangerine and clean bread yeast notes. And while the palate is friendly and accessible with riper pome fruit and clean melon flavors, this domestic brut finishes precise and focused.
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparkling Wine
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
After tasting the Roeder Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparkling Wine, it’s hard to believe that it is a domestic sparkling and that it only costs $21.99! What sets this domestic sparkling apart from the rest is how dry it tastes. I always have a problem with how high the dosage levels are in domestic sparkling wines but not with the Roederer Estate Brut. The nose is bright and lively with fresh pear, tangerine and clean bread yeast notes. And while the palate is friendly and accessible with riper pome fruit and clean melon flavors, this domestic brut finishes precise and focused.
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparkling Wine (375ml)
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
By: Mari Keilman | Review Date: 10/12/2016 | Send Email
After tasting the Roeder Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparkling Wine, it’s hard to believe that it is a domestic sparkling and that it only costs $21.99! What sets this domestic sparkling apart from the rest is how dry it tastes. I always have a problem with how high the dosage levels are in domestic sparkling wines but not with the Roederer Estate Brut. The nose is bright and lively with fresh pear, tangerine and clean bread yeast notes. And while the palate is friendly and accessible with riper pome fruit and clean melon flavors, this domestic brut finishes precise and focused.
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/11/2016 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/11/2016 | Send Email
From the first sparkly sip, you can tell that the 100% estate-grown Roederer Estate Brut Rosé is special. Full of texture, creaminess, and super effervescence, with orange and bright cherry fruit, this is a fresh rosé with a dry, almost pithy finish.
Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes
By: Heather Vander Wall | Review Date: 10/10/2016 | Send Email
By: Heather Vander Wall | Review Date: 10/10/2016 | Send Email
Don't miss the two words "Vieilles Vignes" in the name of this wine. The lovely Blanc de Blancs of Boulard Bauquaire owes much of its complexity and depth to the 70-year-old vines from which the wine is made. Like a classic Blanc de Blancs, this wine shows elegant, stony aromas that are rather austere at first, but on the palate, the depth of flavor is phenomenal. Not only is there an impression of full, rich, apricot fruit and even some red berry elements, but the drive of the acidity takes a position here very well integrated to the whole. This wine is hardly lacking in body and richness, but it is not due to the boldness of a red grape, rather it is all in the old vine power.
Price:
$44.99
Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 10/4/2016 | Send Email
By: Shaun Green | Review Date: 10/4/2016 | Send Email
Oh wow, I tasted this and immediately bought a case. It's amazing to find any Champagne from seriously old vines at all, much less at this price. Rich and creamy as you would expect from all my colleagues' reviews and one of the best deals in Champagne in the store.
Price:
$44.99
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 9/27/2016 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 9/27/2016 | Send Email
Wow. Mostly from the 2010 vintage (you can tell by inspecting what’s printed on the cork), this is a field blend of indigenous varietals Arbanne and Meslier, plus Pinot Blanc, and is drinking beautifully. Neroli on the nose, more aromatic and complex than just citrus, and riper fruit through the palate, thanks in part to later-ripening Pinot Blanc. But that orange blossom really comes alive after aging, as Cepages d’Antan is bursting with honeysuckle, white floral, tart lemon, beeswax, and wild honey, plus weighty biscuit notes from a longer time on the lees. The acid is still bright, but what really sets it apart is a slight earthy funk, with interesting rusticity and depth in addition to elegance. A must try for oenophiles, though even casual Champagne fans will enjoy.
Price:
$119.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 9/27/2016 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 9/27/2016 | Send Email
An electric rosé! Composed of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Meunier, this expensively-made wine goes through carbonic maceration and the saignée method, with a little still red wine added in. The result is stunning: gorgeous wild berry fruit with delicate bead, bracing acidity and a clean, minerally finish.
Price:
$42.99
Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne Magnum 1.5L
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/25/2016 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/25/2016 | Send Email
This is the best-selling Champagne in the USA.
Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne (375ml)
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/24/2016 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/24/2016 | Send Email
Of all the grand marques, no one offers a cleaner, purer example of Champagne fruit and refreshment than Billecart-Salmon. The Billecart family pick earlier than most, and run the coldest, longest fermentations in all of Champagne to deliver their inimitable, graceful house style. If you are looking for the ultimate in balance aperitif Champagne, you have found it!