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Staff Favorites - Michael Benoit
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Reviews
2024 Williams Selyem Sonoma County Pinot Noir
Review Date: 05-07-2026
A great entry-level introduction to the wines of Williams-Selyem, this 2024 Sonoma County bottling offers a taste of some of the outstanding vineyards around the Russian River Valley that go into the winery's higher end wines. On the nose, brambly red raspberry and ripe red cherry aromas are underpinned by whiffs of caramel and Darjeeling tea. The palate features ripe red cherry and raspberry compote flavors, with a bright line of acidity, fine-grained tannins, and a delicate but lingering finish that's both floral and citrusy. The winemaking here is unmistakably Williams-Selyem, but this bottle presents a lighter, more lifted version of their more full-throated Russian River AVA wines.
Price:
$59.95
2024 Samuel Louis Smith "Baytree Lane Vineyard" Sonoma Valley Gamay Noir
Review Date: 04-28-2026
This wine has a beautiful, intriguing nose of raspberry and cherry, with subtle aromas of wet stone. On the palate, it balances juicy red fruit flavors with bracing acidity. Overall, this is a wine of incredible freshness and precision that's a great call when it's too hot for heavier reds, and pairs well with chicken or pork hot off the grill!
Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #26 Brut Champagne
Review Date: 03-18-2026
The house of Laurent-Perrier shows their blending prowess yet again with this iteration of Grand Siecle. Based around the 2012 vintage with 25% of reserves from 2008 and 10% from 2007, this champagne is elegant and fresh, but with an underlying brooding complexity from 10 years of ageing. Ripe citrus, Marcona almonds, and rich brioche aromas burst from the glass and continue on the palate, where they are joined by crisp apple flavors with an undercurrent of brambly berries and toast. With a bright, fresh attack, and a clean dry finish, this champagne is easy drinking, but with so much vinous power and complexity at its core. Grab a couple bottles while you can - this is drinking great today and will have even more to offer after a few years in your cellar!
Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes
Review Date: 03-03-2026
Wow! The Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs is everything I want in a blanc de blancs. The nose is floral and faintly bready, and the slight sourdough toast on the palate is in perfect balance with the flavors of Meyer lemon, pear, and apricot. The wonderful fine bead gives this champagne a velvety texture that goes down easy, and the acidity is fairly delicate, but plenty to keep it refreshing and keep you coming back for more. A great champagne to enjoy on the first warm days of summer!
Price:
$44.99
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
Review Date: 08-14-2025
This 2019 Pauillac is the first bottling in our new Discovery series, and does it ever deliver! The nose is classic Pauillac, with powerful aromas of blackberry and graphite and hints of cracked black peppercorn. On the palate this wine is still youthful, with rich black plum fruit, and grippy but fine-grained tannins. Hints of tobacco leaf and smoked meat give a preview of what's to come with continued aging. This wine is a great introduction to Pauillac for drinkers just getting into Bordeaux, and at this price, a perfect bottle for burgers on the grill tonight or to cellar and pair with a special steak dinner a few years from now.
Price:
$29.99
2015 Billecart-Salmon Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 05-22-2025
Representing the best the 2015 vintage has to offer, this new bottling from Billecart-Salmon is only the second time they've produced a vintage edition of their standard rose champagne. Aromas of ripe cherries, marzipan, and a touch of honey make for a beautifully expressive, complex nose. On the palate, I was surprised to find a subtle layer of pain au levain toast, giving way to flavors of juicy Bing cherry, Satsuma orange, and underripe strawberry. This champagne is bright, mouthwatering, and complex, and has a finish that goes on for days, revealing flashes of different flavors as you savor each sip. An absolute treat, and shockingly well-priced for what's in the bottle!
Price:
$119.99
Fallet-Dart "Clos du Mont" Brut Champagne (2006)
Review Date: 11-14-2024
An absolute stunner, the 2006 Clos du Mont from Fallet-Dart has all the deep, toasty brioche that a person could ask for. This barrel-fermented beauty spends an astounding 12 years on the lees, yielding a champagne with a complex, alluring nose full of toasted almonds, candied lemon peel, and brioche. On the palate, I love its extraordinarily velvety texture coupled with flavors of ripe citrus. The finish, rich with toast, is nearly endless. Champagne this good will have you searching for any reason to celebrate!
Price:
$79.99
Petiau "Cuvée Prestige" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-09-2024
Stunning at twice the price, the Petiau Cuvee Prestige combines the quality of old vine fruit from the Perle Blanche de la Montagne de Reims with the wonderful influence of over 6 years of aging on the lees. A blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, this champagne has deep flavors of golden apple, lemon and sourdough, and an amazingly creamy texture. The gentle acid profile makes this bottle a surefire crowd-pleaser, and I think this works perfectly as an aperitif or for a toast.
Price:
$49.99
Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne
Review Date: 07-27-2023
Refreshing and deep in equal measure, the Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" entices with its nose of cherries, strawberries, and almonds. Flavors of black cherry and fresh herbs mingle together to create a deep, complex impression. The robust carbonation of this champagne gives a lifted feeling to the long finish. This is a full-bodied, rich, tasty bottle, and such an interesting counterpoint to their blanc de blancs.
Damien Hugot "Hommage 1921" Extra Brut Champagne
Review Date: 11-29-2022
Damien Hugot's "Hommage 1921" is a beautiful champagne that balances a creamy texture with plenty of fresh citrus. The first sip is full of ripe mandarin and zippy lemon flavors on a background of fresh cream. The finish is delicately chalky with touches of vanilla, and goes on and on. This makes a great aperitif or toasting champagne, and a fantastic pairing with shellfish.
Price:
$49.99
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