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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
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.
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
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 "(RED) Cuvée Brut Reserve" Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/17/2017 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 1/17/2017 | Send Email
Billecart-Salmon doesn’t stop at killer rosé! They also have heart, recently collaborating with charity (RED) on a limited edition of their focused, crowd-friendly NV Brut Reserve. This bottling initially confused customers and staff alike, but while the label reads red, inside, the wine is the exact cuvée we know and love! Aged 36 months on the lees, this is clean and vivacious, rich with stone fruit and honey, plus that classic chalky finish. The only difference is that an extra $5 will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS. Billecart-Salmon is (RED)’s only Champagne partner, with the goal of raising $100,000. And with Champagne this good, that should be easy.
Price:
$69.99
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.
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
La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 11/1/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 11/1/2016 | Send Email
This is one of our most popular sparkling wines throughout the year because it is delicious and super affordable. Now with the prospect of holiday parties, get-togethers, and long evenings, this is the perfect everyday bubbly. Stone fruit, citrus notes, a creamy mouthfeel, and lots of tiny bubbles mean this wine can be the start of any evening.
Price:
$14.99
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: 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
Jade "Nouvelle-Orléans" Absinthe Supérieure (750ml)
By: Mahon McGrath | Review Date: 10/26/2016 | Send Email
By: Mahon McGrath | Review Date: 10/26/2016 | Send Email
It took me a long time to get around to this, but it was always in back of mind. I knew I wanted to check this out when I first heard about it, well before absinthe had even been declared once more legal on our shores. While I have never found anise to be a flavor I crave, I really did enjoy tasting my way through the absinthes that washed up on our shores after the ban was lifted, unlike, it seems, the vast majority of people in the US of A. The Nouvelle Orleans is a wonderful example of why I do find absinthe so much more appealing than anisette: it is like a cocktail in its mixture of a variety of flavors, albeit one that has been pre-mixed and bottled for you... in the nicest possible way, of course. In this particular example, no one flavor gains the upper hand, nor does it hit you fortissimo; it blends into a complex but seamless whole. Total elegance, no sugar needed. While I probably shouldn't have waited so long to sample this, I can at least take comfort in the fact that I haven't waited in vain.
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!
Nikka "Yoichi" Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 9/21/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 9/21/2016 | Send Email
This may be my favorite offering from Nikka, which is saying something. The whisky opens with fruit, hints of spice, and of course a lovely layer of peat. Unlike some of the other Nikkas, this whisky plays on a more fruity note, loaded with baked pears and green apple, and baking spices like cinnamon and cardamom finish it off. The peat here is more smoldering than outright smoke and adds to the complexity. The lack of age statement here in no way diminishes from how good this bottle is, working well either neat or as a highball.
Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/16/2016 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/16/2016 | Send Email
This bone dry offering from the prestigious Laurent Perrier house is elegant, fresh and satisfying. This no-dosage cuvée consists of 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir from high quality vineyards that display a subtle toasty quality over clean green apple and fresh citrus flavors. Wonderful expression of the Champagne terroir and one of my favorite takes on the style.
Drappier Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Champagne
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/16/2016 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 9/16/2016 | Send Email
Made from 100% Pinot Noir. The minerality in this low sulfite, no-dosage Brut Nature is vibrant alongside the dry, bright red fruit flavor of the Pinot Noir. The clean, crisp finish seals this as one of the best Brut Natures in stock.
Price:
$54.99
Gosset "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/15/2016 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/15/2016 | Send Email
We were very lucky to have Gosset export director Bertrand Verduzier come from Epernay to present his Champagne at the summit this year, and we learned a ton about this very old grand marque. Their flag ship wine is the Gosset "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne, and it is an exceptional wine. The current batch is composed of 43% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir and 15% Meunier with 20% reserves that are blended in the solera style. They never do any malolactic fermentation for this wine, and as such need to age it for a minimum of 4 years on the lees before disgorgement. It has an almost green color in the glass, and has a great tension between opulent toast and chalky, nearly apple like crunch. If you like this Champagne, be sure to put some in the cellar, I have had them going back 30 years and they are spectacular with age as well as young!
Drappier "Carte d'Or" Brut Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/15/2016 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 9/15/2016 | Send Email
The best non-vintage of our whole Champagne summit was the Drappier "Carte d'Or" Brut Champagne. That is saying a lot, since we tasted so many greats! This combination of 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier and 10% Chardonnay is made with the lowest sulfur counts of any grand marque Champagne. The fruit for this is all from the Aube and Kimmeridgian clay rather than the chalk of the Marne. It is also mostly estate grown. This gives Champagne not only with the lovely red fruit expression one would expect from so much Pinot, but also layers of nearly Chablis like minerality. If you like dry, yet full flavored Champagne, you it to yourself to try the Drappier!
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 8/12/2016 | Send Email
By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 8/12/2016 | 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:
$44.99
La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 8/8/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 8/8/2016 | Send Email
Reading over all of the reviews for this delightful bottle of bubbly I realize that I have nothing new to add except to ditto everything that has been said about it. Is it a fantastically fun summertime bottle resplendent with notes of strawberry and citrus and a tantalizing tart taste on the tongue? In a word, yes. Basically this is a perfect little bottle to toast success, friends, BBQ's, picnics, and Monday's with. Enjoy!
Price:
$14.99
Westland Flagship American Oak Single Malt American Whiskey (700ml)
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 8/6/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 8/6/2016 | Send Email
The fact that Westland makes an amazing whiskey is no longer knew news, but hearing about it and tasting it are two different things. The Westland American Oak is reminiscent of many of my favorite single malts from Scotland and still it's own animal. Vanilla and a hints of fruit in the nose lead to a creamy vanilla, butterscotch, and coffee palate. This does not taste like a new distillery from the US, this tastes like someone has been crafting this whiskey for years in some country older than ours.
Westland Flagship American Oak Single Malt American Whiskey (700ml)
By: Gary Norton | Review Date: 8/5/2016 | Send Email
By: Gary Norton | Review Date: 8/5/2016 | Send Email
Westland's American Single Malt is truly a show stopper. It houses very pure single malt Scotch-like characteristics (reminiscent of a classic Speyside) while adding some additional notes of vanilla extract, espresso bean and dried Medjool dates. This could be a game changer for you, come scoop a bottle and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Weihenstephaner "1516" Kellerbier (Unfiltered), Germany (330ml)
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/20/2016 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/20/2016 | Send Email
Thank you Weihenstephaner- in one magnificent beer you have celebrated one of the best beverage laws of all time and delivered a magical drink that I cannot get enough of. In 1516, Reinheitsgebot, the Bavarian beer purity law was put into effect, providing legal recourse against fraudsters who would adulterate their beer with anything other than water, malt and hops. When drinking the 1516 I can imagine stiff, medieval punishments for today's hipsters and their cold brew coffee and peanut butter stout! Weihenstephaner has not tried to "innovate" with this excellent lager- they just crafted something as close to perfection as you can get. This is graceful. refreshing beer, and the only thing wrong with it is the all to small 330ml size. By two- you will want the second one!
Price:
$2.69
Orval Trappist Ale, Belgium (11.2 oz bottle)
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/20/2016 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/20/2016 | Send Email
As a young wine professional I often yearned for a complex drink when I didn't have the money to afford it. At times like that, I always turned to Orval, a beer that provides an experience akin to 1er Cru Burgundy, but at a price that I could easily afford even when rent was due. Somehow the monks manage to combine great lift, refreshment and ease of drinking with serious layers of savory complexity. The look of the stuff in the glass is worth the price of admission on its own... The Belgian lace this ale throws always takes longer than I want to wait to come down in the glass low enough for me to have a sip!
San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore
By: Sarah Covey | Review Date: 7/12/2016 | Send Email
By: Sarah Covey | Review Date: 7/12/2016 | Send Email
This Prosecco never fails to impress me. Pretty citrus, pear, spice and golden delicious apple nose, lovely minerality. A clean and refreshing Prosecco for your summer entertaining! Try it with fresh black figs wrapped in proscuitto, tiny goat cheese & fontina grilled cheese sandwiches, or simply to toast a fun night with friends.
Price:
$15.99
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin (750ml)
By: Sarah Covey | Review Date: 6/23/2016 | Send Email
By: Sarah Covey | Review Date: 6/23/2016 | Send Email
I LOVE THIS GIN! Coming from a person who at present has 21 different open bottles of Gin on her bar (and, no I am not exaggerating), this is the Gin I am going through at the most rapid clip right now. It's killer. When I met the hilarious and entertaining man who made it- Stuart- he put a tiny slice of orange in my G&T. I thought he was nuts. Then I tried it. I refuse to drink my G&Ts any other way now- the brightness of a fresh piece of orange (or a twist) beautifully enhances the orange notes in this fun Gin. Looking for a really fun new Gin for summer? This is it!!!
Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin (750ml)
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 6/23/2016 | Send Email
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 6/23/2016 | Send Email
The Navy Strength compared to the Rare Dry has more zesty notes of orange and lemon rind, lemon grass, sea salt and anise. At 118 proof, this is serious stuff that should be stocked in every cocktail enthusiast's bar.
Price:
$39.99
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin (750ml)
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 6/23/2016 | Send Email
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 6/23/2016 | Send Email
Beautiful and bright, the Rare Dry has notes of fresh squeezed blood oranges, sweet herbs, sage, juniper and a hint of basil. It's the perfect gin for tonic or citrus heavy gin cocktails.
Charles Baur "Emotion" Cremant d'Alsace Brut
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 6/20/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 6/20/2016 | Send Email
The color is a beautiful pale straw. The bubbles are lively. There is a generous toasty nose to make the champagne lover blush. The Chardonnay dominates with green and golden apples, a touch of pear on the palate and a satisfying autolytic character. The bracing acidity gives a lemon lime zest and leaves this bubbly extremely refreshing. A great party-time sparkler.
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
By: Heather Vander Wall | Review Date: 6/20/2016 | Send Email
By: Heather Vander Wall | Review Date: 6/20/2016 | Send Email
For those of you excited about varietal character in your Champagne, this is a great wine! Showing plenty of red fruit from the Pinot Noir dominance, this wine is richer, with nutty texture and excellent follow-through on the palate. I generally lean towards Chardonnay-based Champagnes, but this wine might be changing my mind. The elegant Pinot Noir character shows through with such purity and finesse, it easily rivals the elegance of a blanc de blancs. I will definitely be stocking up on these!
Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky (750ml)
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 6/19/2016 | Send Email
By: Andrew Stevens | Review Date: 6/19/2016 | Send Email
I, like so many others, really like a lot of what Suntory has to offer. There are so many wonderful whiskeys they put out, unfortunately many of these have gotten super expensive and rare. Fortunately, they are trying to fill in the gap with a more everyday whiskey, and the Toki is just the product to do that. A lightly fruited nose reminiscent of caramel apple and vanilla leads to a smooth and somewhat fruity whiskey. Baked apple and stone fruit notes are rounded with touches of vanilla and a somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Low heat finish rounds out the delightful little whiskey.
Price:
$29.99
Charles Baur "Emotion" Cremant d'Alsace Brut
By: Mahon McGrath | Review Date: 6/17/2016 | Send Email
By: Mahon McGrath | Review Date: 6/17/2016 | Send Email
The golden apple and lemon tart nose pick up a prominent dried ginger spiciness. The evocation of softer flavors like pastry crust on the palate are firmed up by a greater degree of acidity than one typically finds in a Cremant, which creates the impression of the wine leaning in more of a Champagne-esque direction. Even if it doesn’t muster quite that degree of verve, layering, or richness, it is one of the best alternatives we've got!
Charles Baur "Emotion" Cremant d'Alsace Brut
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 6/16/2016 | Send Email
By: Olivia Ragni | Review Date: 6/16/2016 | Send Email
Sometimes sparkling wines with no dosage are piercingly acidic but the Emotion manages to be completely dry while still maintaining balance. The nose has a touch of toasty aromas without being overpowering, while yellow apples, pears, toasted walnuts and honeysuckle round out the nose. There is great mid-palate weight and texture with some brioche, apple and quince characteristics and frothy, clean bubbles with a long, lovely dry finish. The perfect accompaniment to tapas and charcuterie.
Charles Baur "Emotion" Cremant d'Alsace Brut
By: Eric Story | Review Date: 6/15/2016 | Send Email
By: Eric Story | Review Date: 6/15/2016 | Send Email
I really could have used this wine in my life a few parties ago - could have served the same quality of wine for a fraction of the price. The fruit characters in here are fantastic and has an appeal which nobody can deny.
Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin (750ml)
By: Kyle Kurani | Review Date: 6/10/2016 | Send Email
By: Kyle Kurani | Review Date: 6/10/2016 | Send Email
I love when a navy strength gin is elegant and beautiful despite its high proof. The Four Pillars Gin is at the same time powerful and graceful, bursting with lime zest and exotic spices, the main flavors shine through beautifully. They are supported by hints of anise and coriander, and delivered with a supply textured and warm mouthfeel that comes from the higher proof. Incredibly well balanced, and supremely delicious!
Price:
$39.99
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin (750ml)
By: Kyle Kurani | Review Date: 6/10/2016 | Send Email
By: Kyle Kurani | Review Date: 6/10/2016 | Send Email
Gin of the year. It's only June, and I feel very safe saying that because this is the best gin I have tried since Monkey 47 hit American shores. Incredible flavor profile, ultimate mouth feel, put it on the short lists of gins that will always be on my home bar. The palate and nose are just chock-full of floral and spice notes, fresh nutmeg, anise, violets, with the power of juniper held in the perfect balance.
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 6/6/2016 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 6/6/2016 | Send Email
This a classic style gin. There are juniper and citrus aromas with a floral hint. In the mouth it is dry with balanced savory and citrus flavors.
2015 Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/3/2016 | Send Email
By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 6/3/2016 | Send Email
Smith Haut Lafitte- 63%CS 33M Round and broad with loads of grapey ripe-sweet fruit that coat the entire mouth with hints of licorice and spice. Long finishing and very tasty. Another delicious SHL! 2 Stars!
2015 Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/3/2016 | Send Email
By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 6/3/2016 | Send Email
I loved this wine. In my opinion, one of the best three of the vintage.
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin (750ml)
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 6/2/2016 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 6/2/2016 | Send Email
The number one thing that impresses me about these Four Pillars gins is the textural richness they have. As gin is typically an un-aged spirit it can often be bursting with bright flavors but lacking any real softness or texture on the palate. Four Pillars has serious flavor and mouthfeel. The use of small copper pot stills instead of larger column stills has allowed this spirit to retain a rich round texture and the use of "whole" botanicals, right in the still means the flavors and super vibrant too. The last gin that got me this fired up was the Monkey 47...that gin was more than twice the price of this bottling...I'm loading up for summer!