K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 6/3/2026 | Send Email

A rare all-Pinot-Blanc Champagne and a genuine conversation piece. Apricot and orchard fruit lead on the nose, with a toasty edge and a slight floral note adding intrigue. The palate is fresh and lively with nice acidity holding everything in line, finishing dry with surprising length. Distinctive, food-friendly, and unlike anything else on the shelf—seek it out.

Price: $49.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Cuvée Gabin" Brut Zero Champagne

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 6/3/2026 | Send Email

Zero dosage done right—nothing to hide behind and nothing it needs to. The nose is toasty and nutty with a slight almond lift and a lovely round opening on the palate. Apple-skin notes and a beautiful, expansive mid-palate give it shape, while the bone-dry finish stays clean and focused. A transparent, characterful aperitif Champagne for drinkers who want purity over polish.

Price: $44.99

2017 Franck Bonville "Belles Voyes" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 6/3/2026 | Send Email

A single-vineyard statement wine and worth every penny of the splurge. Aromas of baked apple, candied citrus, almond, and a deep wet-stone minerality unfold slowly and keep coming. The palate is concentrated and chiseled, with a creamy texture wrapped around laser-cut acidity. This is grower Champagne at its most ambitious—structured for the cellar but already mesmerizing for anyone who pulls the cork early.

Price: $119.99

Wine Club

$104.99

RP: 93

Franck Bonville Unisson Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 6/3/2026 | Send Email

Built on a 2018 base from older vines, this is Avize chardonnay with real presence. Fine, persistent bubbles carry aromas of poached pear, hazelnut, and lemon oil. The mouthfeel is rounder and more generous than most Blanc de Blancs, but a firm chalky backbone keeps it honest. Vinous, layered, and serious—a Grand Cru that rewards a proper glass and a little patience in the bottle.

Price: $53.99

Maison 76 Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 6/3/2026 | Send Email

A Côte des Blancs overachiever at this price. Lemon curd, white flowers, and crushed chalk lead, with four years on the lees adding a layer of toasted brioche and roasted nuts. The palate is taut and saline, all bright orchard fruit pulled tight over that signature Grand Cru minerality. Precise, energetic, and genuinely elegant—a benchmark grower Blanc de Blancs that drinks well above its sticker.

Price: $44.99

2010 Bodegas Casa Juan "Señor de Lesmos" Gran Reserva Rioja

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

One of the most remarkable traditions of Rioja is the long cellaring many bodegas undertake on behalf of the wine drinker, without any premium added! This tradition makes no sense from a financial or logistical point of view, and yet many wineries, Casa Juan included, continue to hold onto their Gran Reserva wines for years beyond what the appellation dictates, only releasing them when they are perfectly mature and ready to drink. The 2010 “Señor de Lesmos” Gran Reserva is a great example of this – savory, earthy and herbal on the nose, this wine is bursting with complex aromatics that came together over the past 15 years. Tobacco, tea leaf, graphite, dried oregano… every minute in the glass seems to unveil a new aroma. This is a wine of contemplation, but it’s also very approachable. Medium-bodied, with a lingering finish, this wine would be perfect with chorizo or grilled steak, or even just a good conversation with friends.

Price: $29.99

Wilderness Trail 5 Year 10 Month K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #767560 Cask Strength High-Rye Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Wilderness Trail is one of those places that has always felt a little like Willy Wonka. On one of our first visits, we got the tour from Dr. Pat himself, and we have been smitten ever since. They have done some amazing things, and while I'm still not quite sure why Campari purchased the distillery, this whiskey was made by the original team back in 2020. These older single barrels have finally turned the corner and are showing so much depth and unique character. Let's have a look. A classic auburn hue (1.5). The nose explodes with dark berry fruit, blackberry and cherry, plus loads of graham cracker, honey, leather, medium-roast Colombian coffee, hints of earthy herbs, and bitter bark. The palate is almost like cherry cola and Dr Pepper mixed together, with dark dried plums, cherry, vanilla, and cola nut. This is one of the more balanced WT barrels we've tried, but it is still bold and spicy, with the big green herbal notes and baking spices coming in on the finish to clean it all up. An absolutely delicious barrel, seemingly determined to prove the thesis that was proposed in Danville one day many years ago.

Price: Hidden

2020 Bodegas Casa Juan "Señor de Lesmos" Crianza Rioja

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Now boasting more than five years of total aging, the 2020 Bodegas Casa Juan “Señor de Lesmos” Crianza Rioja remains impressively youthful, opening with notes of cranberry and tart cherry before revealing savory layers of mushroom, tea leaf, and dried oregano. A blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo (Carignan), the grapes are sourced entirely from organically farmed, bush vines averaging 45 years of age. The palate is unmistakably Old World in style, with firm yet well-integrated tannins and a vibrant backbone of acidity that provides structure and balance. Unlike many Reserva and Gran Reserva Riojas, where oak can take center stage, this Crianza emphasizes pure red fruit framed by the earthy, nuanced character of Rioja terroir. Versatile and food-friendly, it pairs effortlessly with everything from pizza and tomato-based pasta dishes to cheese and charcuterie. The value here is truly exceptional. Handmade, family-owned, organically farmed—this is Rioja at its most authentic and approachable.

Price: $14.99

Fallet-Dart "Heres" Brut Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Amazingly floral nose, really rich with white and yellow flowers, underneath that there's golden apple, fresh brioche, lemon zest, lemon curd, and this chalky note that pushes through everything. The palate is bright and crisp, green apple, red pear, more lemon curd, and lingering minerality with each sip, There's more than enough acidity to push through each time, but the floral notes really help accent the notes in the pear and bring out the more floral parts of the lemon, giving everything a really lovely harmony. The finish on this is this juicy apple that slowly turns more and more floral as the finish pushes on and lingers.

Price: $44.99

WE: 90

Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

There's this super pretty ripe raspberry note that just won't leave me alone when I smell this, and I'm here for it. There's some blood orange, red apple, lemon flower, and lemon zest accompanying that raspberry on its wild ride up into my nose. The palate has really excellent breadth, spreading deliciously everywhere very bright high toned reds, little flashes here and there, and then there's the more classic red apple and lemon that dominate the palate and more than enough acidity to push this along the palate, a very appley finish lingers and lasts most pleasantly. Very good, but I already knew that, Boulard Bauquaire is always good.

Price: $39.99

Wine Club

$34.99

Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Another one of my favorites, yes I have a lot of favorites in Champagne, this one is always an easy suggestion for a gift as well, it comes in a lovely fluted bottle and has a classy label, but what's inside is the real story. This is Old Vine, Premier Cru, Blanc de Blancs and it's just a nearly magical bottle. As Mick said during the tasting today this one is "hard to spit out" and such is the tragedy of tasting not drinking. The nose has this elegance, hyacinths, golden apple, and some soft lemon. The palate is really bright and has a load of fruit, apples, pears, and lemon candy with this ephemeral floral bouquet circling around everything. There's a punchiness and richness to the fruit on the palate that I really love. This is really fantastic and for this price it's hard to beat. Not impossible, just hard.

Price: $44.99

2018 Fallet-Dart Extra Brut Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Really lovely and pretty nose, there's always an elegance to Fallet-Dart Champagnes that shows even more in these vintage offerings. Lovely toasted baguette, green apple and pear, lemon flowers, and some roundness on the finish make so many promises for the palate. The palate is fantastic, ripe pear, red apple, lemon candy, lemon juice, and a lingering minerality round this whole thing out just perfectly. This is exactly the type of Champagne that I love to drink, and this is one of the first bottles we bought and tried as a staff after hours when they came in. This is fantastic and I look forward to seeing what else is coming out from Fallet-Dart in time.

Price: $49.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Les Amoureux" Pinot Blanc Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

This has long been a go-to bottle for when someone wants "something different" in the mystical land of Champagne, and often hits the right mark. It's a glorious nexus of price and intrigue, where most people are happy to put down this much at least for a new experience. The fruit has this white peach note at the very outset, then we get into some apples, some lemon, and a little bit of white flowers. The palate is a little juicy, but also incredibly dry with great acidity pushing through the whole palate, driving forward green apple, white peach, a myriad of lemons, candy, juice, and zest. I enjoy this a lot and get a couple bottles every year, and it never fails to deliver a slightly different Champagne experience.

Price: $49.99

Franck Bonville Unisson Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

This is just phenomenal stuff, it was one of the highlights of the whole tasting for me which says something since it was the second wine we tasted. The nose was great, pretty with baguette, bright apple, some pear, and that luscious lemon candy with a flower stuck in it. The depth on the palate is really what impressed me the most, it was just so deep that I kept sinking down further and further with each sip, finding myself in the dark depths with this glorious fruit and really lingering minerality. Absolutely one of my all time favorites.

Price: $53.99

Jean-Jacques Lamoureux "Cuvée Gabin" Brut Zero Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Really beautiful and floral nose with jasmine and honeysuckle that almost has a little bit of spice in there, especially when I let it sit and the aromas build up in the glass. Underneath that is some golden apple and lemon, with something slightly sweet at the very end. The palate is bright and crisp, really nice line of acidity pushing through and letting you know that it truly is Brut Zero. Green apple, lemon candy, chalk, and a little bit of that spice from before on the palate and the acidity ensures that it pushes through and cleans everything leaving your palate rejuvenated and enriched by the experience. Yummers.

Price: $44.99

Maison 76 Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

What an absolute treat, this inaugural selection for the Westby Collection by K&L brings you Maison 76, such a wonderful project with a wonderful result. Lots of beautiful fruit on the front of the bouquet, soft apple, ripe pear, lemon curd, and some very pretty jasmine and white flowers. The palate has a little touch of brioche, and then more apple and pear, lemon juice, and this beautiful minerality on the winding and lingering finish. I had this with some tortellini with broccoli and sausage in a cream sauce, and unsurprisingly to me, it worked beautifully. The beautiful line of acidity that pushes through the whole palate cut through any richness in the dish and left me with something that urged me both to take another bite and another sip. This is one of the best private label new releases we've had, and yet again Champagne Gary Westby has proved that spending more than $45 on a bottle of Champagne is a choice, not a necessity, I mean sure it's a choice I frequently make but that's not the point. This drinks just as well, if not better, than anything comparable even at two or more times its price point. This is easily one of the best decisions you can make this season, or next.

Price: $44.99

2017 Franck Bonville "Belles Voyes" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Through different vintages, the Bonville Belles Voyes is something we've carried longer than I've worked here and it was one of the first Champagnes that blew me away. The nose is almost a little touch savory, there's definitely some light red apple, lemon water, soy sauce, and white flowers. The palate is crazy good and crazy deep, there's been real evolution since this morning and all for the best, it's opened up amazingly and has this completeness. Green apple, golden apple, underripe pear, lemon candy, and lemon pith all work together, there's this really amazing savory mid-point in the palate where the fruit turns and then comes back at you, the pith on the finish give it this really lovely and entrancing touch of bitter that pulls everything together in the very best way and really makes you take that next sip or next bite of food, it's just fantastic and this is a Champagne that will pair with almost anything you want it to. Love this so much.

Price: $119.99

Wine Club

$104.99

RP: 93

2017 Boulard-Bauquaire "Les Fervins" Verzenay Grand Cru Brut Champagne

By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Always one of my favorite offerings that we carry, I really enjoy the style of this producer and also it comes with a "hand" tied bottle and a tiny pair of Champagne branded scissors to cut the thick rustic string holding down the cork. Who doesn't like little scissors? That said, what really matters is what's in the bottle, and that's top notch as well. There's a little yeastiness on the nose and underneath is this lovely jasmine that just jumps out and brings the fruit with it, bruised golden apple, lemon curd, more white flowers, and then chalk in the finish. The palate has a touch of richness to it, lots of breadth as the acid coats and a finish that just won't quit. There's more apple, lemon candy, lemon zest, and really lovely chalky notes that carry through. This is really just fantastic stuff, and honestly one of the better "gifty" bottles in the price range.

Price: $119.99

2021 Dominio de Atauta "La Celestina" Crianza Ribera del Duero

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

La Celestina is another label owned by Dominio de Atauta, crafted from sourced Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grapes from the nearby sandy soils of Soria and clay soils of Burgos, both located in the cool eastern area of Ribero del Duero. The vine age across both areas ranges from 20-60 years old, and the wine is aged for 14 months in 20% new French oak barrels – an impressive elevage for a wine under $20. Compared to the Dominio de Atauta estate wines, the Celestina is more fruit-forward and easy-going – definitely read to drink now – yet has the power and well-built structure to pair with foods like grilled burgers, pasta with ragu, or barbecued ribs. This is a very impressive Ribero del Duero for a very reasonable price that delivers classic red fruit notes, savory undertones and elegant, fine-grained tannins wrapping everything together.

Price: $19.99

JS: 91

WS: 91

2022 Dominio de Atauta Albillo Mayor Ribera del Duero

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

In 2010, a white wine joined the lineup at Atauta, made from Albillo Mayor vines that are interplanted with the old-vine Tinto Fino. While these were once used to conferment along with the red grapes, the winemaking team at Dominio de Atauta decided that they could stand on their own. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in large format neutral casks, the wine is bursting with ripe golden pear, apple, apricot and lemon oil notes, enhanced by a round, almost textural mouthfeel. Dry on the palate, this wine has the considerable weight, though, making it a great wine for soft cheeses or creamy sauces.

Price: $44.99

VN: 93

JS: 92

RP: 92

2022 Dominio de Atauta Ribera del Duero

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Dominio de Atauta’s flagship wine is crafted from ancient vineyards aged between 120 and 160 years old. These ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines are so low yielding, they produce less than one bottle per vine. In most winegrowing regions of the world, these vines would’ve been replaced decades ago in favor of younger, higher-yielding vines, but the preservation efforts at Dominio de Atauta have created something truly special for wine drinkers – the ability to step back into time and drink Tempranillo clones as they existed generations ago. The resulting wine is intensely concentrated, with a huge amount of density as you might expect, but the high elevation of the area and comparatively cool climate also give the wine an equal amount of elegance. Imagine a master ballerina, graceful and nimble, but powered by sheer muscle and grit. The wine is firmly structured, and would benefit from decanting, but is refreshingly bright on the palate, with juicy blackberry and red currant notes. With 14 months of aging in just 15% new French oak, the main characteristic of the wine is the brooding, dark fruit and fine-grained structure. Supremely sophisticated, this wine offers a compelling alternative viewpoint to a classic region.

Price: $42.99

RP: 93

TA: 93

JS: 92

2022 Dominio de Atauta "Parada de Atauta" Ribera del Duero

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Dominio de Atauta is careful not to label Parada de Atauta as a second wine, but rather an entirely separate wine made from specific parcels of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) at the estate. The vine age in these parcels is a bit younger than those that are destined for the flagship wine, though this feels like splitting hairs – a mere 90-120 years of age for the Parada de Atauta versus 120-160 years for the Dominio de Atauta. The soils are also slightly sandier, leading to more dominant red fruit notes of juicy red plum, red cherry and wild raspberry. The Parada ages for 14 months in 20% new French oak barrels, before being transferred to concrete vats for 5 months before bottling. The resulting wine is stunning, with supple, fine-grained tannins and an impressive amount of concentration of both fruit and more savory notes. So elegant and refined, this is a lovely example of the cooler side of Ribero del Duero, showcasing subtle power and a lot of finesse.

Price: $27.99

JS: 92

RP: 92

TA: 92

2025 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (1.5L)

By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 La Mission Haut Brion Rouge shows a sappy, lush core of dark red and black fruit, unfolding into layers of wild blueberries and ripe bramble fruits. A lifted smoky florality runs through the wine, giving it an aromatic, almost ethereal edge, while accents of sandalwood perfume and incense add warmth and complexity. Beneath the fruit and spice, notes of dark chocolate emerge, grounding the profile with a subtle, bittersweet depth. The texture is silky yet structured, carried by very fine, finely knit tannins that provide shape without weight. Overall, it’s a wine of contrast, presenting generously on the surface, but detailed and perfumed underneath, with a lingering finish that echoes fruit, smoke, and spice in equal measure.

Price: $449.99

2025 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 La Mission Haut Brion Rouge shows a sappy, lush core of dark red and black fruit, unfolding into layers of wild blueberries and ripe bramble fruits. A lifted smoky florality runs through the wine, giving it an aromatic, almost ethereal edge, while accents of sandalwood perfume and incense add warmth and complexity. Beneath the fruit and spice, notes of dark chocolate emerge, grounding the profile with a subtle, bittersweet depth. The texture is silky yet structured, carried by very fine, finely knit tannins that provide shape without weight. Overall, it’s a wine of contrast, presenting generously on the surface, but detailed and perfumed underneath, with a lingering finish that echoes fruit, smoke, and spice in equal measure.

Price: $224.99

2025 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac (1.5L)

By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

I found the 2025 Pichon Lalande to be excellent and beautifully composed, this wine shows remarkable balance between acidity and finely integrated tannins. The fruit profile is led by ripe cassis and blackberry, their purity and sweetness of ripeness in perfect harmony with the wine’s structured frame. On the nose, a distinct crushed rock minerality emerges, lending a cool, almost stony precision that carries seamlessly onto the palate. This mineral backbone adds lift and definition, preventing the richness of the fruit from becoming heavy. The overall impression is one of refinement and poise, an elegantly constructed wine where ripeness, structure, and terroir expression are all in sync. A beautifully made expression that speaks clearly of its pedigree and sense of place.

Price: $299.99

2025 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac

By: Scott Turnbull | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

I found the 2025 Pichon Lalande to be excellent and beautifully composed, this wine shows remarkable balance between acidity and finely integrated tannins. The fruit profile is led by ripe cassis and blackberry, their purity and sweetness of ripeness in perfect harmony with the wine’s structured frame. On the nose, a distinct crushed rock minerality emerges, lending a cool, almost stony precision that carries seamlessly onto the palate. This mineral backbone adds lift and definition, preventing the richness of the fruit from becoming heavy. The overall impression is one of refinement and poise, an elegantly constructed wine where ripeness, structure, and terroir expression are all in sync. A beautifully made expression that speaks clearly of its pedigree and sense of place.

Price: $149.99

2021 Domaine Jaume "Altitude 420" Vinsobres

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

One of the more recent Cru appellations in the Southern Rhone is Vinsobres. What distinguishes this region is its location further deep into the hills of the region. There is more altitude and a cooler influence here where grapes like Syrah show more of they Syrah-ness. But Grenache is still the main grape and it delivers a more elegant profile that matches well from Syrah grown here. Domaine Jaume is one of the stars of the region. I first encountered them years ago on a trip through the region and visited them when I was scouting new producers. I can remember driving up the steep hill to the winery and worrying that my manual transmission driving skills might not be up to the task of getting me the rest of the way there. I thought the wines were really well made, clean cooler climate Rhone wines that reminded me more of the classic perfumed and savory styles that were more prevalent in the 90s and 00s.

Price: $16.99

WE: 93

2008 Domaine De Charron 17 Year Old Single Barrel K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Domaine De Charron is really one of those secret gems that I know brandy bros are trying to keep for themselves. I have never been into a cellar more exquisitely taken care of than the gorgeous caves at this tiny Domaine. The commitment to quality and specifically a quality that the rest of the larger apparatus eschews is unparalleled. If there was ever a cross over whiskey drinkers brandy this is the one. Imagine getting a cask strength single barrel 17 year old bourbon for $110? You'd probably assume it was terrible considering the price, but you'd still buy it anyway. This ridiculous brandy is absolutely delicious - 17 years in new gascogne oak and bottled without manipulation of any kind. Let's give it a go. The color is a shimering auburn (1.5). The nose is bold and red fruited, with huge sweet oak notes and dense cherry compote. It's the sweet sticky red fruit that leads the mind toward bourbon on first nosing, it's the rich barrel spices that take you the rest of the way home. On the palate, it pops with huge juicy damson plums, butterscotch, tahitian vanilla and cinnamon spice. The texture isn't quite where a 17 year old bourbon might be, but it's dang close and the oily mouthfeel is a testiment to the quality of their spirit. The finish is long with candied cinnamon and red fruit dominating. A totally under appreciated product that the classical brandy people might find a bit overarching, but the bourbon guys will fall right in love here.

Price: $109.99

2025 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 at Haut‑Bailly reminds me a bit of their remarkably good 2023—which itself echoed the 2016. More simply put, this is clearly among the finest wines at this address, and very possibly among the best of the 2025 vintage. A core of red fruit drives the wine from the aromas through the palate, and while consistently refreshing, it remains complex, serious, and sneakily long. The concentration and balance are genuinely impressive. Layers of flavor unfold on the finish, making it a wine that rewards attention without ever demanding it. It’s remarkable to see the strides Haut‑Bailly has made in recent years, especially given the heights they had already achieved. Congratulations to Véronique Sanders and her team on a brilliant 2025.

Price: $99.99

2021 WeatherEye "Estate - Hillfighter" Red Mountain Proprietary Red

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

If there’s one vineyard in the country that I’m most excited about right now, it’s gotta be this one. WeatherEye is one of the most extreme, unique, and inspiring vineyard sites I’ve encountered in my 20 years in the wine business. In fact, in August I’m taking a detour from my trip to Walla Walla just to see this spectacular site with my own eyes! WeatherEye is planted on the very crest and upper ridgeline of Red Mountain. Despite Red Mountain’s long history of producing some of the most famous, critically acclaimed, and age-worthy wines in Washington, this upper portion of the hill was, until recently, deemed unplantable due to the almost solid bedrock, lack of soil, and constant exposure to wind. However, a decade ago, the idea for WeatherEye was born: a vineyard planted against all commercial convention. Looking to the Northern Rhône for inspiration, much of the site is planted to high-density, head-trained or single-stake, sur échalas, methods favored on the hills of Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie, where the famed Mistral wind wreaks havoc on the vines. The vineyard is a patchwork of dozens of small blocks draped across the rock-strewn hillside. The team at WeatherEye also made the very unconventional decision not to remove much of the native vegetation from among the vines. The rows are interspersed with mountain chaparral growing freely among the vineyard, and I’m convinced its influence can be seen in the complex, garrigue-like component in the wines. The Hillfighter Red Blend is the perfect introduction to the powerful wines of WeatherEye. It combines some atypical blending partners, such as Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller portions of Syrah and Tempranillo. But this wine really isn’t about varietal typicity. It’s about a sense of place: a bold expression of a rugged, rocky, windswept mountain. There’s rich, powerful dark fruit, but also wildflowers, dried herbs, cured meats, dusty spices, crushed rock minerality, and camphor. I went deep on this compelling wine to get the very best pricing we could, almost 50% off the typical cost. It’s right up there with some of the most intriguing and compelling wines on our shelves anywhere near this price point. If you haven’t experienced these wines yet, there’s no better time, or better wine, to take the leap.

Price: Hidden

2025 Brane-Cantenac, Margaux

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Brane‑Cantenac is building on an incredible run with this 2025, a stunning wine that once again marries true Margaux typicité with extraordinary elegance and depth. From the start, it’s aromatically Margaux to its core, offering lifted black fruits and violets. The palate delivers the château’s signature elegance—precise, pure, and effortlessly refined. The fruit profile wavers beautifully between red and black, the texture is seamless, and the tannins are remarkably well‑integrated. The core of this is 80% Cabernet. This is a superb expression of place, property, and vintage—and one of fine wine’s great collectible values. It’s absolutely a release I’d urge people not to miss.

Price: $64.99

2025 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

2025 is one of my favorite Mouton vintages I’ve tasted En Primeur. The estate’s signature luxurious character is here in spades, yet the wine is remarkably accessible for such a young Mouton. A brilliant ruby hue leads into floral notes and red bing cherry aromatics, but it’s on the palate where the wine truly takes hold. Bright acidity lifts a mélange of red fruits and cedar, finishing with mouthcoating texture and beautifully integrated tannins that bring everything into balance. Long, persistent, and impeccably composed—powerful but never heavy, endlessly layered. Mouton always brings joy to the world of fine wine, but this one doubles down on that, and I can’t wait to taste it again. It’s pure Cabernet goodness, made even more compelling by its near‑record 98% Cabernet in the blend. It’s also a lesson in oak élevage: despite 100% new oak, nothing sticks out, and the modest 13.1% alcohol carries the wine with grace.

Price: $459.99

2023 Ernest Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

As you probably noticed, the last few offerings we had from Ernest disappeared fast! Thankfully, I was able to go back to the winery and rustle up another phenomenal deal, this time on their 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Hailing from a single vineyard called Ocean View Vineyard on the western edge of Green Valley / West Sonoma Coast, the wine is made in part from Old Wente Clone fruit, combined with younger plantings of Clone 4 Chardonnay. The style is classic Ernest: fresh, vibrant, full of zesty mineral tones and lots of energy. Native yeast fermented and matured in largely neutral French oak, this is very much in a Chablis-esque style, with great focus and saline minerality. Coming in at just 12% ABV, this racy Chard has lifted white flowers, crunchy orchard fruit, quince, Golden Delicious apple, citrus oil, raw hazelnut, chalky minerals, and a subtle toasted grain / pie crust note on the finish. Really focused and refreshing, and a spectacular value at our deeply discounted price. We bought everything we could - don’t miss it!

Price: Hidden

JS: 95

DC: 94

2025 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

By: Andrew Shaheen | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

Precise, controlled, and elegant, the wine delivers everything this estate does best with an effortless sense of composure. The texture is silky, the tannins velvety, and a hint of minerality adds depth without dominating. Few wines in the campaign better illustrate the balance between concentration and refinement. An excellent La Mission Haut-Brion.

Price: $224.99

2025 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac

By: Andrew Shaheen | Review Date: 6/2/2026 | Send Email

A perennial K&L favorite, and the 2025 continues what has been a fantastic run from this property. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, the wine competes with the best of the vintage, delivering the kind of first growth quality that has made it one of the most compelling wines in Pauillac. The tannins are very fine, the wine concentrated but remarkably fresh and refined, and the overall impression is one of elegance and concentration working in perfect tandem. A very strong buy in 2025.

Price: $149.99

2025 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

My notes lead with “most impressive aromatics of the vintage,” and then continue that “most impressive” theme through to the very long finish. It is a wine you just want to spend time with: a brilliant array of deep black‑to‑red fruits, a slight herbal note, and one nuance after another tucked into every corner. Dense without being heavy, regal without being overbearing, and flawlessly textured, the 2025 Pichon Comtesse delivers a pure expression of the estate’s character. One of my favorites from Pauillac and from the 2025 vintage overall, it’s awesome to see one of our favorite properties operating at such a high level.

Price: $149.99

2022 G.D. Vajra "Bricco delle Viole" Barolo

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

The undisputed flagship. Situated at one of the highest elevations in the entire Barolo zone, it effortlessly defies the warmth of the vintage. It is a masterpiece of elegance, offering soaring violet aromatics, pristine red fruit, and supreme longevity.

Price: $99.99

2025 Lagrange, St-Julien

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 Lagrange has really beautiful and potent aromatics. The palate is juiced up and robust, with light spice character and easy tannins. This is super tasty right out of the gate today, and will be irresistible after some short-term cellaring.

Price: $49.99

2025 d'Issan, Margaux

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

This is a ripe style, but very nicely balanced as well. Very dense, chewy, and focused with dark fruit, cloves, mocha and well integrated tannins. Intense yet elegant with a core of real power.

Price: $59.99

2025 Brane-Cantenac, Margaux

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 Brand Cantenac rings in at 80% Cabernet, with 18% Merlot, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Carmenere around the edges. The aromatics are impressively pure, while the palate is full of black cherry, and fresh bouquets of violets. Delicious and well structured, with thrilling acidity. It's a wine full of small details that draw you in, and freshness that keeps you interested. A great value, and an even better wine! Well done to the Lurtons.

Price: $64.99

2025 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

Haut Bailly's 2025 is composed of 55% Cabernet, 36% Merlot, and remainders of Cabernet Franc and petit Verdot. Yields were quite low, clocking in at 26.6 hectoliters per hectare, compared to an average of around 35-40 in most years. Fortunately, the wine is as lovely as it is scares. Soaring, luscious aromatics with an undertone of warm spice. The palate is richly fruited with great density and breadth, and soft, integrated tannins. In my notes, I dubbed the 2025, "boldly elegant," and looking back, I can't help but concur!

Price: $99.99

2025 Mouton Rothschild "Aile d'Argent" Bordeaux Blanc

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

This has super ripe and generous aromatics, with boat-loads of exotic citrus fruits. The palate is full of has passionfruit curd, with a rich creaminess that rides fresh waves of acidity impressively. Yum!

Price: $169.99

2025 Le Petit Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

Always a vineyard selection, the 2025 Petit Mouton has a higher percentage of Merlot than in previous years. The supple Merlot-focused core is sweet-fruited fresh, and very silky. There’s ripeness and power aplenty, and the wine finishes with a refreshing note of acidity.

Price: $179.99

2025 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

In recent vintages, the Cabernet at Mouton has slowly been edging out Merlot in the wine, and in 2025 the estate saw its highest ever Cabernet as a percentage of the blend at 98%. The wine is quite direct and precise on the palate, with a suppler, persistent flow of fruits through the middle, surrounded by powerfully structured tannins. It's a fascinating Mouton, and one that I suspect will have a very long life in front of it.

Price: $459.99

2025 Réserve de la Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 Reserve de la Comtesse flatters with silky dark fruit, a plush mid palate, and impressive structure. The core is inky dark, full of black licorice, mocha, and ripe blackberries, with an impressively persistent finish. Well done!

Price: $49.99

2025 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

The 2025 Pichon Lalande is full of entrancing juxtaposition. Ripe, but classic, structured, but expansive. The aromatics are deep and dark, with a palate to match. A perfectly ripe, satiny dark fruit core, wrapped in supreme structure. This is already quite exuberant and expressive!

Price: $149.99

2025 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 6/1/2026 | Send Email

The aromatics on the 2025 La Mission demand your attention. They're so beautiful and pure, full of dark berries and spice tones. The palate is supple and creamy, with a showering of red and dark fruits, superbly integrated tannins, and a long, persistent finish. This is elegance incarnate in a bottle. I loved it!

Price: $224.99

2021 Boroli "Villero" Barolo

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 5/31/2026 | Send Email

This is a Barolo that already shows remarkable class, even in its youth. Aromas of rose petals, wild cherry, blood orange, and crushed herbs rise from the glass, followed by hints of tar, anise, and earthy complexity. The palate is beautifully structured, with firm but polished tannins framing layers of red fruit, savory spice, and mineral depth. What makes this wine so compelling is the tension between power and elegance—it feels tightly wound today, yet every sip hints at the complexity waiting to emerge with time. Long, perfumed, and endlessly nuanced, this is the kind of Barolo that reminds you why Villero is considered one of the great vineyards of the appellation.

Price: Hidden

JS: 94

2024 Lamothe-Bergeron Bordeaux Blanc

By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 5/31/2026 | Send Email

A really polished Bordeaux Blanc that leans into freshness without sacrificing texture. Bright aromas of grapefruit, lemon curd, white peach, and fresh-cut herbs jump from the glass, while the palate delivers vibrant citrus and orchard fruit wrapped around a sleek mineral core. There’s a lovely tension here—crisp and energetic up front, then broadening into subtle notes of honeysuckle and wet stone on the finish. The balance between richness and acidity is impressive, giving the wine both immediate appeal and surprising sophistication. A beautifully crafted white that overdelivers in both elegance and drinkability.

Price: $21.99

2019 Vinos del Atlantico "Calma" Crianza Rioja

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 5/30/2026 | Send Email

One of my very favorite Rioja's in the store has always been Vina Ardanza. I pretty much just automatically buy it. So, it was a pleasure to taste this new Atlantico Calma Crianza Rioja because it reminds me, to a certain extent, of the Vina Ardanza. They both have that wonderful cedar/dill/rye bread thing going on. The Calma also has bright and medium-dark red fruits with savory spice and bright minerals. It is beautifully balanced and fills my craving for Rioja that combine the old and new schools. It's just delicious!

Price: $21.99

WE: 94

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