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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

St. George "Botanivore" Gin (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/3/2011 | Send Email

There seems to always be something exciting and delicious coming from the people at St. George. The Bontanivore is a lovely and aromatic offering. It is complex with layers of enticing aromas but is not light or flavorless. If I had to choose a word for this gin it would "elegant". I would also add delicious.

Price: $29.99

WE: 93

San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore

By: Kyle Kurani | Review Date: 9/27/2011 | Send Email

Exactly what I look for in a Prosecco, crisp, refreshing and fruity without being sweet and cloying. Greg did a wonderful job finding this producer to bring in directly, stone and core fruits jump out of the glass, continuing on the palate with a lovely clean mouth feel. A bright lovely drink that is the perfect start of an evening.

Price: $15.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne (375ml)

By: Kyle Kurani | Review Date: 9/27/2011 | Send Email

Wonderfully balanced bubbles for a wonderfully balanced price tag. The Carte Blanche is my most often used excuse to open bubble just for the sake of having a glass of Champagne, there are always a couple of bottles stashed away around my house. Powerfully elegant, with toasted nutty notes and a length on the finish that reasserts why I love this wine.

Price: $19.99

Ariston Aspasie "Brut Prestige" Champagne (1.5L)

By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 9/23/2011 | Send Email

One of my favorites among our direct import Champagnes. The ONLY way to enjoy this wine more is to drink it out of magnum. Rich, ripe fruit, classic "toasty" brioche character. I took a bottle this weekend to a large party with many wonderful bottles of wine open for the sampling. My only regret is that I didn't bring TWO magnums; this was one of the first bottles emptied.

Price: $99.99

El Dorado 12 Year Old Demerara Guyana Rum

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/28/2011 | Send Email

An incredible example of why the El Dorado Rum should be considered some of the world's finest. From a famous rum producing nation, Guyana, Demerara Distillers Ltd is the last functioning distillery in this Caribbean jungle nation. Using some of the world's oldest stills, DDL has been able to continue Guyana's legacy of producing the finest rums. Every offering from El Dorado is strikingly different, but the 12 year stands alone in terms of bang for your buck. This is a blend of 4 rums from 4 different types of still and represents the old style Guyana rum. Delicious!

Price: $36.99

Barbancourt 5 Star 8 Year Old Haitian Rum (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/28/2011 | Send Email

Haiti's largest export is rhum. Barbancourt is essentially the ONLY rhum being exported from the troubled island nation. It is a testament to their commitment to quality. Made in a very similar style to the AOC rums of it's neighbors Martinique and Guadeloupe, Barbancourt 5 Star is one of my favorites. Fresh and light on its feet, you have all the intensity of a great Agricole rhum without the funky undertones. One of the best values in the store.

Price: $34.99

Rare Wine Company "Historic Series - Savannah" Verdelho Madeira

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/28/2011 | Send Email

Madeira has been relegated to the shelves of cooks for years, but the Rare Wine Co. is changing that with it's phenomenal line of Historically significant single variety Madeiras. This shows intense fresh cotton candy, freshly cracked almond and a deep earthy rancio fruit on the nose. The palate EXPLODES with acidity negating any sweetness that might have been there. Because of the ridiculous way they make Madeira, this basically has no shelf life, so open it today and drink over the next year!

Price: $55.99

La Cigarrera Manzanilla Sanlucar de Barrameda (375ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/28/2011 | Send Email

Gwah! Great Manzanilla for nothing at all. If you don't like sherry then we can't be friends, but if you at least try this bottle I'll forgive you forever. An accurate example of this stupendous style of sherry. Intense and nutty, very very rich with a racy balancing acidity. This is what I LIKE!!!

Price: $18.99

Louis Roque "La Vieille Prune Reserve L.O.R." Plum Brandy (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/28/2011 | Send Email

I'm smitten with this fun little spirit from the north eastern part of the French Southwest. This plum brandy is one of the easiest to appreciate, but will impress even the most jaded brandy lover. Forward sweet oak proceeds and incredibly deep fruitiness. No heat on the palate, the powerful fruit feels like its been sweetened, but it's in fact very dry.

Price: $54.99

Combier Liqueur D'Orange Triple Sec (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 8/28/2011 | Send Email

I'm picky about my triple sec. Most people look at triple sec like a filler, something that doesn't really have to be of the highest quality. I say to them, "look again!" Trying triple sec of varying quality side by side will immediately tell you that this assumption is flawed. Combier is one of the finest triple sec available and should be considered as such. This makes every difference in your drink so don't skimp.

Price: $34.99

Cognac Park VSOP Cognac (750ml)

By: Gary Lai | Review Date: 8/20/2011 | Send Email

Pure sheer silkiness! This cognac has quiet elegance and classiness!

Price: $54.99

Pol Roger "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Christie Brunick | Review Date: 8/11/2011 | Send Email

One of my new favorite finds at K&L! This is a gorgeous Champagne. Lots of focus and elegance showing from start to finish. Just slightly toasty, this Brut is full of integrated acid and fresh minerality that will have your taste buds tingling and salivating for more! An amazing value for under $40 as well! Stock up for the holidays before its gone!

Price: $64.99

Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne

By: Clyde Beffa Jr. | Review Date: 8/9/2011 | Send Email

As focused as ever, almost lemony on the palate and super refreshing. It reminds me of when we sold a special Billecart "K&L Cuvée" years back.

Price: $64.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 7/29/2011 | Send Email

This is the go to value Champagne here at K&L. Dry, toasty with subtle fruit notes. Everything you want from Champagne except for the price tag!

Price: $37.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut

By: Steve Greer | Review Date: 7/19/2011 | Send Email

I think this is turning out to be the company's favorite under $15 sparkling. It is finally back. There is a great balance between mineral, citrus, fruit with a nice mouth-feel.

Price: $14.99

2010 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

By: Steve Greer | Review Date: 7/5/2011 | Send Email

Fantastic. This vintage is the first year they are certified biodynamic. They also are using a horse to farm about 60 acres, and Alfred Tesseron wants to add one horse a year. This attention to detail in the vineyard is paying off in the finished wine. Very expressive on the nose, it has lovely floral qualities, blackberry and spice. There’s pure black fruit on the palate finishing with some astringency, but the fresh fruit balances the tannins. Buy this as soon as you can!

Price: $279.99

La Caudrina "La Selvatica" Asti

By: Sarah Covey | Review Date: 7/4/2011 | Send Email

A soft, mildly sweet Moscato d'Asti with light floral aromas. A pleasant choice (best when chilled) to enjoy on its own or for a sunny Sunday brunch on the terrace with friends!

Price: $22.99

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur (750ml)

By: Sarah Covey | Review Date: 7/4/2011 | Send Email

Drinking St. Germain is like drinking liquid flowers! Subtle, sweet and captivating. Who knew that hand-picked elderflowers from the French Alps could be so lovely? Delicious with Gran Cava champagne with a curly twist of orange, even more amazing with soda on the rocks! I served St. Germain with soda and fresh watermelon juice at a springtime cocktail party, and could hardly keep up with the demand! My absolute favorite spirit for spring and summer!

Price: $34.99

WE: 96 - 100

Russian River Brewing Co. "Blind Pig" IPA, California (510ml) *NO SHIPPING/TRANSFERS OUTSIDE BAY AREA*

By: Jeremy Bohrer | Review Date: 7/4/2011 | Send Email

Hops, hops and more hops...but balanced. Russian River Brewing is making some of the most sought after beers in the country these days and for good reason. The Blind Pig has everything you could want in an IPA. It's bitter but balanced with some fruit and spice. I may be a vegan but I love me some Blind Pig.

Price: $5.99

Limit of 12 per customer

Louis Roque "La Vieille Prune Reserve L.O.R." Plum Brandy (750ml)

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 7/4/2011 | Send Email

This has got to be one of the most interesting spirits that I have tasted in a long time. The Roque Vieille Prune is, however, more than interesting, it is very good. It has seductve prune aromas that lead to prune and aged cognac like flavors. The Roque Vieille Prune should delight and surprise even the most jaded spirits drinker.

Price: $54.99

El Dorado 15 Year Old Demerara Guyana Rum (750ml)

By: Mahon McGrath | Review Date: 7/1/2011 | Send Email

Demerara-rah; that’s the spirit! The El Dorado 15 year certainly shows the benefits of the time that the spirit spent in barrel in the initial intensity of the nose and palate. What is better still is it pulls back a bit towards the finish and finds a little reserve, avoiding the bombast of certain other “too much isn’t nearly enough” long-aged spirits. Toasted chestnuts, antique woodsy vanilla and candied pear, papaya and pineapple ornament a core of lush, sweet sugar cane that switches about between the continuum of sugar-brown sugar-molasses without ever settling on just one, a sort of olfactory iridescence. Pull up an evening and a chair and settle in; you’ll want to linger long—in the same way that the finish does—with this rum.

Price: $59.99

WE: 90 - 95

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Jim Boyce | Review Date: 6/30/2011 | Send Email

This is another outstanding, easy to like champagne from Bonville. 100% estate chardonnay from three vintages, this bottle intertwines clean citrus and crisp apple with solid, chalky minerality to create some seriously great bubbles. Refreshing alone on a warm summer day or paired with some of your favorite seafood appetizers, this champagne is sure to please.

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Mike Parres | Review Date: 6/18/2011 | Send Email

This is made of 40% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir and 30% meunier. Bone dry,with good complexity & GREAT price.

Price: $37.99

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

By: Steve Greer | Review Date: 6/7/2011 | Send Email

This is our best value Champagne in the store. Comprised of all three grapes this Champagne shows you can have both good value and great taste. Nutty, brioche and apple fill the nose and palate with a mouth filling mousse. Only $24.99 and I promise everyone you poured this for would enjoy it.

Price: $37.99

Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Steve Greer | Review Date: 6/7/2011 | Send Email

Every year this is one of my favorite Champagnes. Green apple and mineral on the nose and palate and the 3 years on the lees provides a fantastic mouth feel with plenty of acidity keeping it very crisp and clean. 100% Grand Cru fruit for only $34.99. Crazy.

Price: $39.99

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Mike Barber | Review Date: 5/31/2011 | Send Email

Always one of our best direct import champagne producers! Clean, crisp, bright - and the price is amazing!

Price: $53.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

La Cigarrera Manzanilla Sanlucar de Barrameda (375ml)

By: Mahon McGrath | Review Date: 5/30/2011 | Send Email

This manzanilla plays down the toasted almond dimension of sherry, and offers instead clean, vibrant, salty aromas coupled with golden apple and a little sprinkling of parsley, even. Take a sip, and you’ll find a smooth texture and a pleasantly plump middle palate, finishing with a citric pucker and a lingering evocation of wet stone. Well worth trying where you’d normally reach for muscadet, say.

Price: $18.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut

By: Jeff Garneau | Review Date: 5/20/2011 | Send Email

The region of Saumur in the Loire Valley of France is the largest producer of sparkling wines outside of Champagne. This blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc is an astonishing value at $11.99. Dry and crisp in style with a rich, creamy texture. Affordable by the case for a special event. Inexpensive enough to enjoy guilt-free any night of the week. Sante!

Price: $14.99

2010 Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe

By: Steve Greer | Review Date: 5/16/2011 | Send Email

Spice and currant with big, lush fruit and spice on the palate. Polished with balanced tannins.

Price: $299.99

2010 Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe

By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 5/16/2011 | Send Email

Great concentration. Hints of orange peel on the strong finish.

Price: $299.99

2010 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Mulan Chan-Randel | Review Date: 5/13/2011 | Send Email

Along with the beautiful fruit nuances that seem to be evident throughout this vintage, this wine displays more grounded notes of tobacco, damp earth and black tea. Full, ripe tannins place this Pessac clearly at the other end of the tasting spectrum from the more elegant 2010 Margaux (note: Angludet, Malescot) but I find it to be delicious.

Price: $224.99

2010 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Steve Greer | Review Date: 5/13/2011 | Send Email

Minerals and pure red fruits. Balanced structure. Fantastic.

Price: $224.99

2010 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Alex Pross | Review Date: 5/13/2011 | Send Email

A must buy! After the duo from Haut-Brion, Haut-Bailly may be the top performer in Pessac, producing wines with a very singular feel. Layers of supple red fruit intermingle with sandalwood accents from oak barrels.

Price: $224.99

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur (750ml)

By: Jacques Moreira | Review Date: 5/4/2011 | Send Email

I love it to bits! A little drop of its magic will transform a simple bubbly into the most amazing Champagne cocktail. Thumbs up!

Price: $34.99

WE: 96 - 100

Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne

By: Christie Brunick | Review Date: 4/16/2011 | Send Email

If I could pick any Champagne to drink on a daily basis regardless of price, it would be the Beautiful Billecart Salmon Rose! Without a doubt your last sip will still taste as good as the first. And your obsession will start at your first sip. This is a clean and elegant style that will impress just about any level Champagne drinker

Price: $94.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut

By: Christie Brunick | Review Date: 3/9/2011 | Send Email

Its a beautiful thing to have an exceptional sparkler for an amazing price! This is always one of my favorites to always keep on hand at home because it is so fresh, minerally, with crisp acidity, elegant zesty bubbles, what more could you ask for from the Loire Valley? Its perfect day and night!

Price: $14.99

Rare Wine Company "Historic Series - New York" Malmsey Madeira

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/7/2011 | Send Email

I had this Madeira at the same tasting that I had the Savannah from the same series and though different from the Savannah, it is just as intriguing. Where the Savannah tends towards the dry side, the New york tends towards the sweet. Where the Savannah is not bone dry, the New York is not super sweeet. It has a nose of candied oranges, coffee and candied bacon. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, toffee, date and hazelnuts. Like the Savannah, it is worth every cent!

Price: $59.99

Rare Wine Company "Historic Series - Savannah" Verdelho Madeira

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 3/7/2011 | Send Email

We recently had a staff tasting of the wines of Spain and Portugal and had the opportunity to taste this excellent Madeira. I absolutely loved it. A nose orange peel and roasted nuts. This one is quite dry,though not bone dry, with flavors of almonds, nectarines and citrus. Worth every penny.

Price: $55.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

By: Kyle Kurani | Review Date: 2/28/2011 | Send Email

Rose with dark fruit and a very fine bubble structure for less than 15 dollars if just fine in my book. A glass of this on a sunny day while on a deck with a view would make this wine sing.

Price: $14.99

Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne

By: Adam Parry | Review Date: 2/27/2011 | Send Email

The Aristons' vineyards are vastly different than those of the the other blanc de blancs producers that we carry in the store. This is a creamy style Chardonnay Champagne that is always a crowd pleaser. An excellent value.

Price: $44.99

Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne

By: Jim Boyce | Review Date: 2/27/2011 | Send Email

Crisp and clean with light fruit on the palate, this Ariston Blanc de Blanc is a real crowd pleaser! Apple nose and a creamy body balanced with a solid mineral mid palate makes for a slightly more complex blanc de blanc thats affordable. Grab a couple bottles for your next occcasion!

Price: $44.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 2/19/2011 | Send Email

Bright,fresh, clean and juicy, this is the perfect sparkler for parties or just plain enjoyment at any time. The Deligeroy Cremant Rose has a beautiful dark pink color, nice subtle berry flavors and a dry finish. All of this for a great price.

Price: $14.99

Old Weller "Antique" 107 Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Gary Lai | Review Date: 2/12/2011 | Send Email

The Old Weller is becoming my everyday favorite. Sure there are pricier and more complex tasting bourbons, but for under twenty bucks, this is one smooth and easy drinking goodness! For something that is 107 proof, you won't even taste the alcohol. No burning sensations in the back of your throat! Such elegance!

Price: $69.99

Limit of 1 per customer

J Vineyards Russian River Valley Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/7/2011 | Send Email

I love this Brut Rose and it is finally not being overlooked by the Cuvee 20. Bright cherry fruit and hazelnuts with cream. Strawberry and raspberries in the mouth with a nice, long dry finish. Yummy!

Price: $34.95

J Vineyards "Cuvée 20" Russian River Valley Brut Sparkling Wine

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/7/2011 | Send Email

One of my favorite domestic bubblies. A very pretty nose of white flowers and minerals. On the palate, green apples and grapefruit with a samll bubble and a creamy pear finish. All this at a very affordable price.

Price: $29.95

DC: 96

WE: 91

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

By: Illya Haase | Review Date: 2/3/2011 | Send Email

This is well-balanced in the mouth and enhanced by a fresh but subtle finish. It also has tiny little bubbles, which always makes me happy! I love Cabernet Franc for sparkling wine, it has some great body and lovely fruit. For the price, buy a case!

Price: $14.99

Dudognon "Vieille Reserve" Grand Champagne Cognac (750ml)

By: Mahon McGrath | Review Date: 1/29/2011 | Send Email

The Dudognon Vieille Reserve puts me in mind of golden, late afternoon sunshine. It isn’t the spirit’s color, but rather the gentle, relaxed warmth this spirit seems to contain. If only we all had such refinement and grace in our twenties! The Vieille Reserve is a slight notch up in amplitude from its younger sibling, the Reserve, taking on a weightier texture and greater length while retaining an obvious stylistic kinship in its purity and delicacy. Powdery, dusty vanilla and warm spice joins light caramel, citron and dried apple notes, which then fades longer than the diminuendo on a seventies rock track outro. You'd have to be something of a curmudgeon not to feel this.

Price: $84.99

VN: 95

WE: 94

Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne

By: Christie Brunick | Review Date: 1/5/2011 | Send Email

Ariston has done it again! They have created a Blanc de Blanc Champagne that is so unique and special compared to all the typical blanc de blancs on the shelf. Right off the bat after the Champagne Pop you get a whiff of the aromas of fresh baked brie, ripe apple, and Gruyere fondue...followed by a mysterious mid-palate chalk full of minerals and body. This isn't your typical super racy and tight blanc de blanc. It is fully developed into a mature ready to drink state of mind. Finishes with caramelized fruit and nuts...Enjoy!!

Price: $44.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

By: Steve Greer | Review Date: 12/28/2010 | Send Email

This is a perfect New Year's Eve Rose. On the nose bright cherry and strawberry aromas that carry through on the palate. The bright fresh red fruit flavors are surrounded by a more refined mouth feel. The price makes it affordable for a party.

Price: $14.99

La Petite Marquise Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 12/28/2010 | Send Email

Party bubbles. A touch darker than you'd expect. Dark fruits fine bubbles and a crisp finish.

Price: $14.99

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