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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
1996 Old Forester "Barrel Reserve 96 - Olympic Games Commemorative Bottle" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (1L)
By: Stephanie Manning | Review Date: 7/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Stephanie Manning | Review Date: 7/20/2026 | Send Email
Living in Kentucky, my familiarity with Old Forester runs deep. It only takes one sip—or even one sniff—to know it’s that particular dram beloved by local Louisvillians. That’s why encountering a rare Old Forester release such as this one is such a profound treat; Brown Forman’s bottling for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta is unique across the board.
Released as a duty-free exclusive, this bottling was not officially licensed by the Olympic committee, and therefore does not say “Olympics”, “Atlanta”, or even “1996” on the bottle. Also strange, a decision was made to drop the classic “Old” from the brand name itself. Distilled during the distillery’s lean years and bottled right between their flagship products at 96 proof, the whiskey is at least 12 years old (though infuriatingly, the bottle doesn’t mention this either!)
Despite these oddities, this bourbon holds its head high among the classic double-digit Old Forester releases such as Birthday Bourbon, which surfaced over 7 years later. The nose is lighter than expected, with notes of citrus, antique furniture, and green apple, with something slightly herbaceous, like the scent of a tomato leaf. The first sip ushers in that classic Old Forester cherry with an initial sweetness that quickly turns into graceful dry spice on the palate. Baking spice meets a wide range of fruit here, with orange oil accompanying fig, roasted walnut, and cinnamon. The finish is beautifully long and rich, ripe with caramel sweetness; reminds me of an old-timey candy shop with a faded hint of tobacco still in the air. Overall, it is remarkedly balanced; neither the proof nor the oak hits you over the head.
Clean and classic, this bourbon is an easy sipper, with the time spent in oak leaning more towards elegance than boldness. These bottles are some of the few left in circulation, and were sourced directly from a long-time employee of Brown Forman in Kentucky. It is truly a whiskey from a bygone era; one that has slipped through the cracks and onto our shelves.
Price:
$500.00
2018 Baron-Fuenté "Rebelle" Brut Nature Champagne
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 7/20/2026 | Send Email
This brut zero does no-sugar champagne perfectly. While some bottlings in this style are out of balance and fall short on the finish, the Rebelle offers up a zero dosage style that has good richness in the mouth and a very long finale. If you like this style, it is a must try and if you are new to zeros this is the perfect place to start. I love the combination of white flowers from the top class chardonnay, nice brioche from long lees ageing and of course great back end crispness. So good!
2023 Carboniste "Whale" California Sparkling Chardonnay
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 7/20/2026 | Send Email
Today we have a wine that proves classy, luxurious, dynamic sparkling wine doesn't have to break the bank! Carboniste has long been a favorite here at K&L with its outstanding range of bubbly, spanning everything from delightfully esoteric pét-nats to traditional method, grower-Champagne-inspired wines from top single-vineyard sites. Carboniste is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Dan and Jacqueline Person. They are fully committed to small-batch sparkling wines and work out of a modest warehouse winery in Sonoma. Dan is a true master of his craft and has become a trusted source of knowledge for many of his peers in the industry on all things sparkling wine.
Many of Carboniste's labels feature ocean creatures: octopus, urchin, crab...but today we're featuring the grandest of ocean voyagers: the whale. Carboniste's Whale Sparkling Wine is Chardonnay-based, with parcels of fruit sourced from Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Sonoma counties. The really intriguing thing here is that rather than maturing the wine for an extended period on tirage, Dan ages the still base wines for up to 32 months in neutral oak casks before giving the wine another 12 months on its lees in bottle. The wine is then hand-disgorged and finished with a very minimal dosage.
This unique approach perfectly captures the rich, golden fruit and unctuous texture of California Chardonnay while combining it with coastal freshness, saline minerality, and subtle toasty notes from the lees aging. The low dosage keeps the wine bright, vibrant, and zesty on the palate, drawing you back for another mouthwatering sip. This is a stunning bottle of sparkling wine from a small boutique producer at an exceptional price. It's no surprise this earned a massive 98-point score from Jeb Dunnuck, it's a winner through and through.
2018 Launois "Helia" Rosé Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Pale garnet color. Deep orchard earth and red fruit nose. Deep, complex palate gives that same red fruit. Endless finish shows the minimum three years on the lees. Lovely!
Price:
$74.99
2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Mother vines planted in 1947-1953. Pale gold color. Warm honey nose. Aged at least three years on lees, giving a rich palate. Incredible Champagne for the price!
Price:
$79.99
Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Dry mineral nose. Palate is round and rich, yet still dry. Light bubbles dance on the palate. Four years on the lees give a beautiful finish.
Price:
$44.99
Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (1.5L)
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Benchmark Champagne for quality at price. Warm honey nose. Rich pastry palate also gives red apple peel. Lasting finish. Buy in quantity as it sells out.
Price:
$89.99
Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Benchmark Champagne for quality at price. Warm honey nose. Rich pastry palate also gives red apple peel. Lasting finish. Buy in quantity as it sells out.
Price:
$39.99
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Amazing dry nose of baguette. Complex autolytic palate from minimum eight years resting on lees. Kudos for cultivating the indigenous Petit Meslier (40%) and Arbanne (40%) grapes, along with Pinot Blanc (20%). Lasting finish.
Price:
$119.99
2014 Ariston Aspasie Brut Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
25 year-old vines give depth and complexity. Light gold color. Rich nose of Golden Delicious apple late in season. Coats the palate with pastry and spices. Perfect for fall/winter holiday celebrations.
Price:
$49.99
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (375ml)
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The varied soil types of clay, limestone and sand give this a complex palate. Earthy and delightful. Enjoy!
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (1.5L)
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The varied soil types of clay, limestone and sand give this a complex palate. Earthy and delightful. Enjoy!
Price:
$99.99
Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The varied soil types of clay, limestone and sand give this a complex palate. Earthy and delightful. Enjoy!
Price:
$44.99
Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne (375ml)
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Rose gold color. Bright hard apple cider nose. Great depth and some chalkiness. Dances on the palate. Amazing for the price!
Price:
$19.99
Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Rose gold color. Bright hard apple cider nose. Great depth and some chalkiness. Dances on the palate. Amazing for the price!
Price:
$37.99
Baron-Fuenté "7" Brut Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
This tete de cuvee is aged for a minimum of seven years on the lees. A rich nose of baked apples. Bright fruit on the palate and finish. Marvelous!
2018 Baron-Fuenté "Rebelle" Brut Nature Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
This old-vine vineyard on a warm site gives incredible richness to this zero dosage Champagne. Rich, elegant nose. Coats the palate with pie crust and finishes beautifully. Enjoy!
Baron-Fuenté "Quinconce" Brut Champagne (formerly Esprit)
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Seven years on the lees has the nose give lots of toast and brioche. Light mouthfeel and bright palate. Nice, dry finish. Outstanding!
Price:
$39.99
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Reserve" Brut Champagne Magnum (1.5L)
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Bright apple tartine nose. Palate gives fine bubbles and a taste of brioche. Beautiful finish. A tremendous Champagne for the price!
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Jonathan Parnell | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
Bright apple tartine nose. Palate gives fine bubbles and a taste of brioche. Beautiful finish. A tremendous Champagne for the price!
2024 Villota "Selvanevada" Blanco Rioja
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
I have a soft spot for Spanish white wines. They're often aromatic, fruity, fresh, and low in acidity—exactly the style I find myself reaching for. Selvanevada Blanco is a great example. The blend is beautifully put together. Viura brings fruity aromas, with floral and honeydew notes. Tempranillo Blanco adds a touch of acidity along with tropical and citrus notes that give the wine extra texture and richness. Grenache Blanc contributes pear and apple notes that keep everything lively and bright. Six months on the lees, along with time in neutral French oak, add layers and depth without taking away from the wine's freshness. This is the kind of bottle I'll happily open for no particular reason at all.
2024 Fattoria Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
When Elisabetta Geppetti took the reins at Le Pupille in the late 1980s, southern Tuscany was largely viewed as a viticultural wild west, prone to producing heavy, alcoholic reds devoid of structure. Geppetti single-handedly rewrote that narrative. While her flagship Saffredi proved the region could yield world-class depth, it is this baseline Morellino di Scansano that cements her legacy.
Geppetti understands that the maritime warmth of Scansano can easily yield flabby, spoofed-up wines if left unchecked. Her genius lies in her vineyard management and precise picking decisions, capturing a fierce nervous energy that defies the Mediterranean sun. By keeping the winemaking entirely transparent and focusing on the grape’s natural, crunchy red fruit, she has maintained a benchmark that has remained unchanged in its intellectual focus for decades.
Geppetti has spent nearly forty years ensuring that even her most accessible wine possesses the same vertical spine, architectural grip, and marine-inflected saline snap as her top crus. It remains a foundational reference point for the region, proving that true territorial typicity doesn't require a massive price tag—just an uncompromising vision.
2022 Frank Cornelissen "Magma" Etna Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
This is the apex of the estate. Magma is only produced in exceptional vintages, sourced exclusively from ungrafted, pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines in the legendary Barbabecchi contrada. It is a wine of monumental concentration and profound spiritual depth. Expect a kaleidoscope of dark cherry, dried herbs, iron, and visceral volcanic smoke. It is seamless, infinite on the finish, and stands comfortably among the greatest wines produced in Italy today.
2022 Frank Cornelissen "Munjebel VA" Terre Siciliane Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2022 "Munjebel VA" (Vigne Alte) is the high-altitude master blend of his highest parcels, offering a laser-focused, high-acid, and wildly elegant expression of the mountain's upper limits.
Price:
$99.99
2022 Frank Cornelissen "Munjebel CS" Terre Siciliane Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2022 "Munjebel CS" (Chiusa Spagnolo) is sourced from ungrafted vines rooted in a solid amphitheater of lava rock, producing a dense, brooding, and radically concentrated red.
2022 Frank Cornelissen "Munjebel CR" Terre Siciliane Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2022 "Munjebel CR" (Campo Re) sits at a high elevation, delivering an ethereal, floral, and wildly aromatic profile that feels almost weightless.
Price:
$99.99
2022 Frank Cornelissen "Munjebel CD" Terre Siciliane Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2022 "Munjebel CD" (Calderara Sottana) is grown on purely rocky, stony soils, resulting in a wine of searing tension, sharp tannins, and profound mineral depth.
Price:
$99.99
2022 Frank Cornelissen "Munjebel MC" Terre Siciliane Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2022 "Munjebel MC" (Monte Colla) comes from a steep, terraced vineyard on sandy clay, yielding the most broad-shouldered and powerful wine in the lineup.
2024 Frank Cornelissen "Munjebel" Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
This is the benchmark "Classico" of the estate. It is a master blend of several high-altitude contrade in the Northern Valley. The 2024 is soaring and aromatic, offering a crystalline expression of sour cherry, blood orange, and that unmistakable smoky, pumice-stone minerality. It is the perfect introduction to the serious, structured side of Cornelissen's cellar.
Price:
$44.99
2025 Frank Cornelissen "Susucaru" Rosso
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The Rosso, predominantly Nerello Mascalese, is the quintessential "glou-glou" volcanic red—bright, peppery, and intensely juicy. Both are meant to be served with a slight chill and practically evaporate from the glass.
Price:
$29.99
2025 Frank Cornelissen "Susucaru" Etna Rosato
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The Rosato is a co-fermented field blend of white and red grapes, offering a salty, watermelon-rind, and volcanic ash crunch that makes it impossibly drinkable.
Price:
$29.99
2006 Malvirà "Trinità" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo (Winery Direct)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2006 Malvirà "Trinità" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo is a rare, mature treasure. At nearly two decades old, it showcases the absolute magic of perfectly aged Nebbiolo with mesmerizing notes of worn leather, sweet tobacco, dried orange peel, and forest floor. It is a profound meditation wine that proves exactly why Roero deserves a prominent place in any serious collector's cellar.
Price:
$49.99
2010 Malvirà "Trinità" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo (Winery Direct)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2010 Malvirà "Trinità" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo is a masterclass in finesse. It offers a crystalline expression of wild strawberry, crushed mint, and white pepper draped over a delicate, lacy tannic frame that floats across the palate.
Price:
$49.99
2010 Malvirà "Renesio" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo (Winery Direct)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2010 Malvirà "Renesio" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo is an absolute standout from a monumental Piedmontese vintage. It retains an electric tension, driven by profound earthy minerality, crushed dried flowers, and a chiseled, architectural structure that shows it still has years of graceful evolution ahead.
Price:
$49.99
2011 Malvira "Renesio" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo (Winery Direct)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2011 Malvirà "Renesio" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo perfectly reflects the warmth of the vintage. It possesses a generous, opulent profile of sweet dried cherry, baking spice, and licorice, all wrapped in a plush, silky texture that makes it incredibly hedonistic today.
Price:
$49.99
2013 Malvira "Mombeltramo" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo (Winery Direct)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2013 Malvira "Mombeltramo" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo comes from a classic, highly structured year, delivering profound tertiary layers of dried rose petal, tar, and leather, with perfectly resolved tannins that frame a long, haunting finish.
Price:
$49.99
2014 Malvira "Mombeltramo" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo (Winery Direct)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2014 Malvira "Mombeltramo" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo is a testament to the Damonte family's vineyard work, defying the cooler vintage with striking aromatic lift. It offers high-toned floral notes, tobacco, and a lithe, energetic palate that is peaking beautifully right now.
Price:
$49.99
2016 Malvira "Mombeltramo" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo (Winery Direct)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/17/2026 | Send Email
The 2016 Malvira "Mombeltramo" Roero Riserva Nebbiolo is a masterpiece from a legendary vintage. It shows massive structural integrity and power, loaded with dark cherry fruit, iron, and a deep, truffley, savory core that is just beginning to unfold.
Price:
$49.99
2023 La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
The Zannoni family at Tenuta La Fortuna has been one of the quiet, ultra-consistent anchors of our direct import Montalcino portfolio for years. While their classically styled Brunellos are absolute staples for the cellar, their Rosso di Montalcino is always our secret weapon for immediate, high-quality weeknight drinking.
The 2023 vintage perfectly plays into exactly what makes a great Rosso so appealing: it is marked by incredible energy, bright aromatics, and a wonderfully fresh fruit profile. This pours a brilliant, translucent ruby and immediately offers up gorgeous, inviting aromas of crushed red cherry, wild strawberry, baked earth, and a touch of sweet Tuscan spice. On the palate, it is vibrant and remarkably pure, with supple, easy-going tannins and that mouth-watering Sangiovese acidity that makes it so insanely versatile at the dinner table.
This is classic, unpretentious Sangiovese with serious estate pedigree. It perfectly captures the charm of the 2023 vintage and delivers unbelievable value for anyone looking to drink fantastic Montalcino fruit without having to wait a decade.
2022 San Lorenzo "Campo delle Oche" Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
Natalino Crognaletti is an absolute legend in Le Marche, and his biodynamic estate, Fattoria San Lorenzo, produces what are undeniably some of the most profound, age-worthy expressions of Verdicchio in all of Italy. "Campo delle Oche" (The Field of Geese) is his masterpiece. If you are under the impression that Italian white wine is strictly light, simple, and meant for the patio, this bottle is going to completely rearrange your perspective.
Thanks to Natalino's meticulous organic farming, old vines, and absolute mastery of extended lees aging, the 2024 Campo delle Oche is a massive, highly textured white wine—what we often call a "red wine drinker's white." It pours a deep, glowing golden-yellow and bursts from the glass with intoxicating, wild aromas of baked yellow apple, dried chamomile, raw honey, toasted hazelnut, and bruised peach.
On the palate, it is incredibly dense, waxy, and expansive, coating the mouth with rich orchard fruit. Yet, for all its sheer weight, it is perfectly propelled by a brilliant, saline acidity that cuts right through the richness. The finish is savory and lasts for minutes, leaving a classic Verdicchio note of bitter almond and crushed sea salt. While it is mind-bendingly complex right now alongside roasted poultry or rich seafood, this has the architectural structure to evolve in the cellar for another ten to fifteen years easily. It is an absolute must-have for any serious collector of Italian wine.
Price:
$29.99
2024 San Lorenzo "Vigna di Gino" Marche Rosso (Montepulciano - Sangiovese)
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
The red counterpart to the Gino Verdicchio, this is a rustic and soulful blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese. It’s full of savory dark cherry, wild herbs, and earthy notes, all framed by honest, grainy tannins. This is the kind of authentic, delicious red wine you want on your table every night.
Price:
$14.99
2024 San Lorenzo "Le Oche" Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
A benchmark for the entire region. "Le Oche" is a single-vineyard bottling known for its incredible depth and complexity. Richer and more powerful than the Gino, it offers layers of ripe stone fruit, hazelnut, and an intense, stony minerality. This is a profound white wine that will age effortlessly for a decade or more.
Price:
$19.99
2019 Casanova di Neri "Cerretalto" Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
When we talk about the absolute summit of Italian wine—bottlings that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest First Growths and Grand Crus of the world—Casanova di Neri’s "Cerretalto" is firmly in the conversation. Produced only in the most exceptional years from a single, mineral-rich amphitheater vineyard tucked away in Montalcino’s eastern sector, this is Giacomo Neri's undisputed crown jewel. In a legendary, powerhouse vintage like 2019, the Cerretalto is nothing short of a masterpiece. The 2019 vintage in Montalcino is universally acclaimed for producing wines of mind-bending structure, precision, and longevity, and this bottling captures that perfection. It pours a dense, almost impenetrable ruby, immediately exploding from the glass with a profound bouquet of black cherry liqueur, wild blackberry, crushed graphite, espresso bean, and exotic spices. On the palate, it is massive yet incredibly graceful. The sheer concentration of dark, luxurious fruit is seamlessly interwoven with cashmere-like tannins and a brilliant, driving acidity that gives the wine staggering tension and lift. The finish is epic, lasting for minutes. While it is a towering achievement that demands space in the cellar—easily capable of evolving for the next three to four decades—it is a true collector's item and one of the most thrilling expressions of Sangiovese ever put into bottle.
2021 Casanova di Neri "Giovanni Neri" Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
This is the newest jewel in the crown, a tribute to the founder of the estate. Sourced from a unique vineyard in the Sesta zone with vines that are over 50 years old, the "Giovanni Neri" offers a completely different expression than the Tenuta Nuova. If Tenuta Nuova is the power of the south, Giovanni Neri is the soul and history of the estate. It feels more "classic" in its profile, focusing on high-toned aromatics and finesse. The nose is soaring and complex, with notes of wild strawberry, blood orange, rose petal, and white pepper. On the palate, it is incredibly tense and vibrant, with a distinct, stony minerality that speaks to the old vines. The tannins are fine-grained and chalky, providing a vertical structure that drives the finish on and on. It is a profound, intellectual Brunello that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the region's absolute best. A rare and special wine.
2021 Casanova di Neri "White Label" Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
The 2021 is sleek, defined, and incredibly pure. The nose offers a precise beam of dark cherry, black raspberry, and the estate’s signature balsamic note—a mix of wild mint and savory herbs. On the palate, it is medium-to-full-bodied with a texture that is pure silk. The tannins are polished to a high sheen, supporting a core of vibrant fruit that lingers on the finish. It’s a Brunello of immediate pleasure that will also age effortlessly for a decade. A smart, sophisticated buy.
2023 Casanova di Neri Rosso di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
Giacomo Neri has built Casanova di Neri into one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed estates in all of Montalcino, famous for producing incredibly polished, high-scoring flagship Brunellos. While those top-tier bottlings command serious prices and demand decades in the cellar, their Rosso di Montalcino is the ultimate insider's play—a wine that delivers the estate's signature luxury and precision in a much more immediate, purely joyful package. The 2023 vintage in Montalcino is marked by fantastic energy, resulting in Sangioveses with incredibly vibrant aromatics and fresh, lifted fruit profiles. This Rosso pours a brilliant ruby-red and bursts from the glass with immediate aromas of crushed wild raspberry, bright red cherry, fresh violet, and just a hint of sweet baking spice. On the palate, it is beautifully textured and sleek, with Casanova di Neri's hallmark silky tannins perfectly balanced by a mouth-watering, energetic acidity. This is exactly what "Baby Brunello" should be. It offers the aristocratic pedigree and meticulous winemaking of a blue-chip estate, but it is wonderfully open, expressive, and ready to drink tonight. It is an absolute steal for this level of Montalcino royalty and a must-buy for weeknight drinking.
Price:
$29.99
2021 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
The 2021 CastelGiocondo is a masterclass in power and elegance. It pours a brilliant, deep garnet and leaps from the glass with complex, commanding aromatics—crushed black cherry, ripe plum, Mediterranean scrub, sweet tobacco, and a beautifully savory streak of leather and crushed stone. On the palate, it is expansive and muscular, driven by dense, finely-knit tannins and a vibrant, mineral-laced acidity that keeps the sheer weight of the fruit perfectly in check.
This is a serious, aristocratic expression of Sangiovese Grosso. While its impeccable balance makes it tempting to open right now with a long decant and a rich cut of meat, this has the architectural framework to evolve beautifully in the cellar for the next fifteen to twenty years. It is an absolute benchmark for the vintage and a towering achievement from one of Tuscany’s most legendary families.
2021 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
Castello Banfi is a name that needs no introduction—they are the visionary pioneers who fundamentally helped put Brunello di Montalcino on the global map. But what sometimes gets lost in their fame is the sheer, relentless quality and precision they manage to achieve year after year. Their classic Brunello is a masterclass in consistency, and in a powerhouse, deeply structured vintage like 2021, it absolutely over-delivers.
The 2021 vintage in Montalcino is already being hailed as legendary, marked by ideal conditions that produced wines of incredible depth, tension, and aromatic complexity. Banfi’s 2021 captures that magic perfectly. It pours a deep ruby and opens with generous, inviting aromas of ripe dark cherry, wild plum, baked earth, and a signature hit of savory Tuscan herbs and sweet spice. On the palate, it is full-bodied and beautifully textured, with dense, polished tannins that provide serious architecture without being aggressive.
This is classic, benchmark Brunello. It offers immediate, undeniable pleasure with a good decant, but has the serious stuffing to age effortlessly for another decade. For anyone looking for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that still delivers true Montalcino typicity and pedigree, Banfi has knocked it out of the park once again.
2021 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
Altesino is without question one of the benchmark, historic estates of Montalcino, and their classic Brunello is a wine we look forward to every single year. Located in the cooler, northern sector of the appellation, Altesino's hallmark has always been sheer elegance, grace, and aristocratic balance—and in a blockbuster vintage like 2021, that style reaches absolute perfection.
The 2021 vintage in Montalcino is already being hailed as a modern classic, delivering wines with incredible structure, soaring aromatics, and pristine fruit purity. This is a stunning expression of Sangiovese that leaps from the glass with beautifully lifted aromas of wild red cherry, crushed raspberry, dried rose petal, sweet tobacco, and a touch of savory cedar. On the palate, it is remarkably polished and seamless, with fine-grained, silky tannins wrapped around a core of bright, energetic red fruit.
While it has the serious structure, tension, and pedigree to age beautifully in the cellar for the next decade or more, its impeccable balance makes it surprisingly approachable right now with a good decant. This is textbook, elegant Montalcino from one of the region's absolute masters, and an essential addition for any lover of great Tuscan wine.
2024 Fratelli Barale Langhe Nebbiolo
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 7/16/2026 | Send Email
If you want to experience the historic, old-school pedigree of Barale Fratelli without waiting years for their Barolo to soften in the cellar, this is your ticket. Sourced from the family's younger vines, their Langhe Nebbiolo is the ultimate "baby Barolo"—offering the traditional charm and aristocratic aromatics of the estate in a much more immediate, purely joyful package.
The 2024 vintage is all about vibrancy, freshness, and explosive aromatics. It pours a brilliant, translucent ruby and jumps out of the glass with classic Nebbiolo notes of crushed raspberry, wild cherry, fresh rose petals, and a hint of savory white pepper. Because it is built for approachability rather than decades of aging, the bright, primary fruit takes center stage. The palate is energetic and lifted, framed by fine, dusty tannins and a mouth-watering acidity that makes it dangerously easy to drink.
It is exactly what you want from a weeknight Nebbiolo: elegant, terroir-driven, and incredibly versatile at the dinner table. This is a phenomenal value and a beautiful, insider's look into one of Barolo's great old-guard families.
Price:
$22.99