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Staff Favorites - Kerry Kennell
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Reviews
2021 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja
Review Date: 07-16-2026
The 2021 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja is composed of 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo, and 2% Garnacha that aged 26 months in 225-liter American oak. Pure elegance and balance. Ripe plum dances with dry red earth, comforting baking spice, black pepper, dried violets, and tobacco. Round, spicy, and sumptuously approachable. Gorgeous and ready to drink now.
2024 Anonymous Wine Collective "Heritage Block" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 07-15-2026
Hard to believe that the fruit in this block was once used by Opus One and Robert Mondavi in the late ‘70s and ‘80s to support fledgling To Kalon fruit, because this is lead material through and through. Those who enjoy classic Napa Cabernet will appreciate this one. Dark plum and blackberry mingle with licorice, saddle leather, violets and sandalwood. Fantastic value!
Price:
Hidden
2023 Domaine Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "En Virondot"
Review Date: 07-02-2026
The 2023 Domaine Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "En Virondot" is an exquisite snapshot of Chassagne-Montrachet. The first sip immediately took me back to the good old days of sipping Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet with my father-in-law. He was particular and discerning when it came to Chardonnay. The nose is sensational, following the palate note for note. There's remarkable intensity without sacrificing finesse. Gorgeous apricot and baked apple notes are interwoven with a fine nectar-like thread, lifted by creamy lemon acidity and unfolding into a long finish of baking spices and the lacy caramel top of a crème brûlée.
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes
Review Date: 07-02-2026
The 2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes is sourced from the domaine’s oldest vines that are rooted in clay-limestone soils. Some vines are 85 years old! The wine fermented naturally with ambient yeasts and aged in barrel on its lees for a year. The wine vividly radiates peach, ripe pear, a hint of fresh ginger, crushed stones, and soft spice notes. Refreshing touches of peach and lemon linger on the palate. Lovely!
2024 Château Vitallis Mâcon-Fuissé
Review Date: 07-02-2026
The 2024 Château Vitallis Mâcon-Fuissé comes from vines averaging approximately 35 years of age. Fermented in stainless steel vats and aged on its fine lees for six months, it made an immediate impression. First sip: yum. Second sip: oh, yum! Third sip...HEY! Pay attention, you’re on the clock! On the palate, ripe green apple leads into pleasurable notions of honeydew melon, lively lemon, chamomile blossoms, and soft whispers of baking spice. There’s tremendous freshness, charm, and generosity in this wine. It's a *fantastic* value. Wow. Hat tip to K&L Burgundy Buyer Alex Pross for scoring this one for all of us to enjoy.
Price:
$19.99
2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château"
Review Date: 07-01-2026
Sourced from vines averaging of 35 years of age and planted on clay-limestone Jurassic soils, the 2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château" takes on a rounder and more subtle guise. Notes of fresh pear, honey, white blossoms, and sunny lemon in the finish. I can see this being dangerously easy to drink. Be sure to have plans to share with a friend or two. Ideally paired with seafood, a lightly dressed salad, or your favorite evening snacks.
2024 Château Vitallis St-Véran "A La Côte"
Review Date: 07-01-2026
The 2024 Château Vitallis St-Véran "A La Côte" turns the complexity up a notch in the Vitallis lineup with delicious notes of baked apple, fresh-from-the-hive honeycomb, and soft touches of brioche and holiday baking spices. A crisp, juicy apple and lemon finish refreshes the palate for the next sip, and the next.
Price:
$24.99
2023 Anthill Farms "Campbell Ranch" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Review Date: 06-26-2026
The 2023 Anthill Farms "Campbell Ranch" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay comes from 20-year-old vines planted on Sonoma’s northwest coast in low-vigor Goldridge soils, yielding just two tons per acre. That’s the focus here: quality, not quantity, with only 280 cases produced. The quality is so striking that I want to call the grower out by name, so hat tip to Steve Campbell.
This wine stopped me in my tracks because there is so much to unpack. I adore wines like this, ethereal shapeshifters where one sensation morphs into another. Just as your palate reaches to grasp the fringe of its cloak, it has already moved on. To me, that signals a wine at the top of its craft, guided by the skilled and thoughtful winemakers at Anthill Farms.
What’s it like? Medium-bodied, with golden apple, leesy notes of laminated pastry, diaphanous layers of vanilla, and a tisane-like impression of fresh lemon balm, followed by finely grated Meyer lemon zest. A briny hint of crushed seashells flitters across the tip of the tongue and lingers into the finish. Serve cool rather than cold and allow it to reveal its exquisite and unmistakable northwest Sonoma Coast character.
2023 Anthill Farms "Jack Hill Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Review Date: 06-26-2026
The 2023 Anthill Farms "Jack Hill Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir isn’t light Burgundian nor bold California in style. It’s unmistakably Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir: beautiful fruit that's brilliantly rendered with a thoughtful touch. The layers unfold with clarity and precision: ripe raspberry, blood orange, hibiscus, and violet, framed by soft suggestions of baking spice and a whisper of cordovan leather subtle enough for polite and discerning palates. It underwent 30% whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts and aged in 30% new French oak barrels. The winemaking at Anthill Farms supports rather than directs, allowing the character of Jack Hill Vineyard to be the star of the show. Bravo!
2024 Anne de Joyeuse "VERY" Chardonnay Haute Valle de l'Aude
Review Date: 06-25-2026
A Decanter World Wine Award winner for well under $20—move over! I want to try this! I wasn't only one in the store who felt this way. When our buyer mentioned the 2024 Anne de Joyeuse "VERY" Chardonnay was going to be tasted, I paid $8.50 in bridge toll to drive over to give it a spin. The verdict: it deserves all the buzz, the toll, and your attention—if you like Chardonnay. "VERY" delivers the varietal goods—white peach-pear notions followed by apple tarte Tatin with golden, flaky pastry notes. You could drink this on its own but oddly enough, it paired beautifully with a tomato, beef sauce with mushrooms and zucchini (my lunch). Yes! You could pair this with beef. Go bold! Give it a try.
2021 Quinta de Saes Tinto Dão
Review Date: 06-25-2026
2021 Quinta de Saes Tinto Dão is a blend of native grapes, approximately 25% Touriga Naçional, 25% Alfrocheiro, 25% Jaen, and 25% Tinta Pinheira. It underwent wild yeast fermentation in stainless steel vats, then aged for 18 months in second- and third-use large format French oak barriques. It’s super easy to love—notes of pomegranate, hibiscus, plum, and rose with a whisper of baking spices and a fine ribbon of flint in the finish. Reminds me of a young red Burgundy. It needs a little bit of air, so give it a few spins and some time in your glass before diving in. The price on this speaks to the talent of our Western Hemisphere wine buyer, not only for selecting it but negotiating a fantastic price. I know I'll be taking home a few bottles for weeknight sipping.
2023 Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Review Date: 06-22-2026
The 2023 Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough is sourced primarily from Wairau Valley and the cooler Awatere Valley, where lower temperatures preserve the wine's freshness and aromatic intensity. After fermentation, the wine rested on its lees with regular stirring, building texture and mouthfeel while retaining vibrant notes of Makrut lime, green apple, passion fruit, lemon zest, and wet stone. Bright passionfruit and Makrut lime linger on the finish. Pair with Thai food, fried chicken, lightly dressed summer salads, or simply savor a glass on the patio. Great value!
2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 05-25-2026
A fine perlage provides a beautiful lacy texture. Crisp apple is highlighted by rich notes of frangipane, caramel-coated hazelnuts, and buttery pastry. Caramel apple and toasted almonds linger in the ether for what seems like ages. The empty glass smells heavenly, making me yearn for another pour. Let this one sleep in the cellar a while and it will dazzle all the more!
Price:
$79.99
2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret
Review Date: 05-14-2026
The 2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret is more than half Syrah with Grenache in the balance, all destemmed for pure fruit expression. It's plush and fruity with notes of ripe plum, black cherry, and soft hints cocoa with a touch bouquet garni. It would go great with burgers, BBQ, or your favorite savory snacks. Pretty bottle too!
2023 Charles Père et Fille Volnay Clos de la Cave"
Review Date: 05-13-2026
The 2023 Charles Père et Fille Volnay "La Cave" is sourced from 40-year-old vines perched on a hill above 1er Cru vineyards. Neatly structured, deeply expressive, and light on its feet — it's utterly charming. Red cherry, waves of alpine strawberry, dewy violets, and fresh hints of forest floor after a rain. Hello, gorgeous!
Price:
$49.99
2025 La Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé
Review Date: 04-28-2026
Composed of certified organic Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah, the 2025 La Bargemone Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé is no porch pounder. For goodness’ sake, please give it some space and time to be admired for its vivid flavors and impossibly juicy splendor. It generously offers up a cornucopia of ripe red berries, red-fleshed plum, white nectarine, rose petals, and a hint of Meyer lemon zest. I’m sad my tasting glass is empty right now, and I’m daydreaming about when and where I’ll drink it again, and with whom.
2023 Antech "Cuvée Eugenie" Extra Brut Crémant de Limoux
Review Date: 04-28-2026
Composed of 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, and 10% Mauzac, the 2023 Antech "Cuvée Eugénie" Extra Brut Crémant de Limoux aged 18 months on its lees and was finished with a 5 g/L dosage. It’s another fine example from Antech, offering delightful bubbles for times when you don't want to feel like you're on a tight budget. You can suspend your disbelief with this one, thinking that you paid much more for it than you actually did. Notes of crunchy pear, ripe green apple, and sourdough toast carry a touch of honeyed flavor without the sweetness. Dry, crisp, thirst-quenching and civilized, it would be equally at home at a garden party, a family gathering, or a relaxed Wednesday night with a cat or two and a good movie.
Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 04-09-2026
Launois Veuve Clémence Grand Cru Champagne exemplifies incredible quality that easily outshines Champagnes at more than double the price point. Textures from an impossibly fine perlage and seductively silky mousse caress the plate upon entry. It presents on the dry side of Brut with crisp green apple, lightly toasted hazelnuts, and chalky minerals that delight and set the mind ticking away trying to parse out the how and why this wine is so fantastic. The lingering honeyed finish inspires a yearning thirst for more. Like all top-tier bubbly, don't drink this too cold. It will come off as steely and the richly rewarding mid-palate will be muted. This is an exquisite example of why the Champagne category shares a chamber in my heart with my most treasured epicurean delights. Whenever we get a shipment from Launois, a family-owned and -operated, grower-producer Champagne house that was established in 1872, I buy a bottle of everything they make without question. I would’ve bought an entire case of Veuve Clémence but I didn't want to be greedy as we get such limited quantities.
Price:
$44.99
2018 Hewitt "Estate" Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 04-07-2026
The 2018 Hewitt “Estate” Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a vineyard on the Western Rutherford Bench, with vines planted in alluvial soils between 1996 and 2002. Clones 4, 7, and 8 of Cabernet Sauvignon deliver classic Mayacamas fruit, with blackberries, vanilla, summer bramble, and a whisper of violets unfolding across the palate. Plush and luxuriant in texture, the wine gains extra richness from bâtonnage (lees stirring) during malolactic fermentation. At $50 off, it’s a terrific value.
2022 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
Review Date: 03-14-2026
The 2022 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi is composed of 100% Piedirosso that grows on the mineral-rich volcanic soils on the dramatic slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Adding to the drama, local legend says that vines sprang from the tears Christ shed after Lucifer, cast out of heaven, tore away a piece of paradise and dropped it to Earth, forming the Gulf of Naples. I’m happy to go along with this legend because this Rosso is delizioso. It offers bright and lively notes of fresh cherry, Earl Grey tea, violet pastilles, and damp autumn leaves. With food-friendly acidity and a breezy 12.5% ABV, it’s a great match for pizza Napoletana, Mozzarella di Bufala, and light bites like taralli and Marcona almonds.
Price:
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2019 Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan
Review Date: 03-03-2026
The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan is one of those wines that makes you feel like you should be better dressed. When a colleague at work said, "here, try this," I made the mistake of not saving it for last because the wines that followed paled in comparison, making it nearly impossible to be objective. As soon as I raised the glass to my nose, I knew I was about to sip pure sophistication. Aromas of freshly turned soil, blackberries, and beef consommé made me stand a little straighter. The palate is confident and richly layered with soft waves of blackberry, cassis, an alluring umami note, tobacco, black tea, fresh soil after a rain, and a lick of graphite. Time stopped and I felt momentarily embraced. In a word: exquisite.
Pierre Mineral Mesnil "Vieillie En Fût" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Magnum 1.5L
Review Date: 03-03-2026
I’m not naming names, but there’s a Champagne out there strikingly similar to this one that’s currently fetching $260. Need I say more? Probably not. But as a shameless bubble head, I can’t help but sing this wine’s praises. Think ripe pear layered with delicately toasted almond, vanilla crème anglaise, green apple, and a whisper of fresh sourdough toast that fans out across the palate. The texture is plush, the perlage exquisitely pinpoint. This is luxury, full stop. I tasted it on a day when I was a little down, and it felt like a shining mercy: a reminder that we need Champagne this fine in both victory and defeat. Just as time heals all wounds, so does great Champagne.
Price:
$119.99
2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Contra Costa County Rosé of Mourvedre
Review Date: 03-03-2026
Aged in stainless steel and neutral oak, the 2024 Anonymous Contra Costa County Rosé of Mourvèdre is rumored to be composed of 83% Mourvèdre, 9% Zinfandel, 7% Carignane, and 1% Grenache = 100% deliciousness in total. I'm not ashamed to admit that my third sip of this at K&L in San Francisco prompted a combo of jazz hands and a little happy dance. I didn't care who saw me, because I am so ready for spring! I am ready for fun! I am ready for THIS WINE! Refreshing bright red raspberry, fragrant wild strawberries, blood orange zest, and tulsi rose tea put the joy in enjoyment. This is a case-buy proposition — drink young, drink often.
Price:
$14.95
2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Review Date: 03-03-2026
Massively overdelivering for its price point, the 2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir walks that perfect line where California fruitiness meets Burgundian clarity and restraint. At the moment it is youthful and primary, but who cares when the fruit is this delicious. A kaleidoscope of black raspberry, red cherry, violets, and a hint of bay laurel evolves on the palate. The finish hums with bright cherry and delicately whispered black tea sweet nothings. This is the kind of Pinot to sip slowly and revisit because the aromatherapy coming off the glass is half the experience. As a California girl with French ancestry, this is exactly what I want in domestic Pinot Noir. SOLD, to the woman in the flat cap!
Price:
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2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Review Date: 03-03-2026
The 2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with Golden Delicious apple and ripe pear, layered with hints of white blossoms and vanilla-kissed butterscotch. The finish lingers on bright orchard fruit, leaving a fresh, sunlit impression that makes me look forward to warmer days ahead. It’s definitely a mood-lifting Chardonnay with lots of charm.
Price:
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2020 Celler Pardas "Hermós" Brut Nature Corpinnat (Cava)
Review Date: 02-25-2026
I love honest sparkling wines that don’t try to be anything but themselves. While most others posture and preen, the 2020 Celler Pardas “Hermós” Brut Nature Corpinnat shows up to the dinner party in sexy black jeans, black boots, a tuxedo shirt, and a black leather jacket—looking like a million bucks. Soft, luxe, and creamy on the palate, it offers notes of quince, pear, lemon verbena, and amber honey—dry without being austere. It’s gorgeous and unusual in the most satisfying ways. ¡Viva la diferencia!
2023 Berta Valgañón "Selección Maturana Tinta" Rioja
Review Date: 02-18-2026
My goth past has come back to haunt me. This is winsome nostalgia in a glass. The 2023 Berta Valgañón “Selección Maturana Tinta” Rioja is dark, inky, and hypnotic, with intriguing notes of cassis, smoldering clove cigarette, glossy black lipstick, Choward’s violet candies, incense, and leather, all wrapped in a plush, velvety mouthfeel. It’s lights-out lovely and highly recommended. Made from Maturana Tinta with a splash of Garnacha by a one-woman winery with an annual output of a mere 1,500 cases. Pay attention as Berta Valgañón is one to watch!
CVNE Brut Cava Penedès
Review Date: 02-18-2026
CVNE Brut Cava Penedès is composed of 40% Xarel-lo, 30% Macabeo, and 30% Parellada, aged 9–12 months on its lees before disgorgement and finished with a 9 g/L dosage. It’s a sound choice for midweek bubbles, a quality base for sparkling cocktails, or as a festive aperitif for gatherings. In classic Brut style, it offers notes of poached pear, light honey, and flint, carried through by an easy-breezy touch of lemon squeezy finish.
Price:
$11.99
2023 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Bairrada
Review Date: 02-18-2026
The 2023 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Bairrada hails from 100% estate-grown Baga planted on clay and limestone soils. Fermented in stainless steel and aged 18 months in neutral oak, it offers baskets of ripe blackberry, briny olive, dried violets, and zesty blood orange, with a subtle touch of vanilla riding waves of muscular tannins. Decant if opening young, and serve alongside roasted meats and vegetables or a charcuterie board of aged cheeses and cured meats.
2024 Filipa Pato "Post Quercus" Baga Bairrada
Review Date: 02-18-2026
Composed of amphora-aged Baga from 80+-year-old vines, the 2024 Filipa Pato “Post Quercus” Baga Bairrada is feral and earthy in a way that quickens the pulse. Notes of dark plum, clean saddle leather, dried herbs, and sun-baked soil evoke a wine shaped more by land than by human hand. Powerful yet composed, it carries a deep sense of place, finishing with hints of black raspberry and leather. Its vibrant acidity makes it an easy partner at the dinner table. For prime deliciousness, pair with hard or smoky cheeses, BBQ, or grilled meat.
Rhys "Perpetual Reserve" California Sparkling Wine
Review Date: 02-13-2026
Rhys “Perpetual Reserve” California Sparkling Wine is composed of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir, with 79% fermented in neutral oak and 21% in tank. Drawn from the 2016–2023 vintages, it spent three years en tirage and was finished with a 5 g/L dosage. My first impression: it’s Grand Cru–esque, sure to delight fans of crisp, dry Champagne, showing a fresh, steely profile of lemon curd, finely grated tangerine zest, wet stone, and a subtle pithy bitterness that adds an exciting layer of tension. Its lingering, stony lemon finish suggests it will cruise in the cellar for quite some time—well worth buying a few bottles to follow its evolution.
2024 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé ".26" Gigondas Rosé
Review Date: 02-13-2026
The 2024 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Rosé is structured for the table, with the precise architecture not only to carry a meal but to enchant, offering vibrant notes of ume plum paste, cherry, and strawberry, finished with a whisper of fresh fennel. Certified organic.
2019 Fallet-Dart "Pur Meunier" Champagne
Review Date: 02-10-2026
As the name suggests, this Blanc de Noirs is composed entirely of Pinot Meunier, elegantly embellished with a 5g/L dosage. Disgorged in May 2023, the 2019 Fallet-Dart “Pur Meunier” offers an impossibly fine perlage. It’s a thrilling kiss on the lips—orange blossom honey-tinged pear, Marcona almond, and lime marmalade elevated by a discreet touch of pithy bitterness. Silky wisps of smoke hint at old vines deeply rooted into limestone soils. Charming as an apértif wine to greet guests or to crack open to celebrate a milestone with someone you love.
Price:
$69.99
Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne
Review Date: 02-04-2026
Considered Extra Brut, Billecart-Salmon’s “Le Rosé” Champagne is composed of 45% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 20% Meunier. It luxuriated on its lees for 36 months. Its pale ballet-slipper pink makes my heart skip a beat. Drifting on bright notes of raspberry and fresh rose petals, lifted by finely grated lemon zest and fresh ginger, this is romance in a glass. Like an exquisite Mozart symphony, every note lands exactly where it should—as usual. You can never go wrong with Billecart-Salmon “Le Rosé.” For me, the answer is always oui.
2024 Casa d'Ambra "Frassitelli" Ischia Biancolella
Review Date: 01-24-2026
Biancolella! The first time I tasted it, I couldn’t get the ’80s song “Barbarella” by The Bongos out of my head—only it morphed into “Biancolellaa-ah.” What variety is that? Never heard of it. Who cares. It's amazing. Oooh-oh-oh, Biancolellaa-ah. Think if Pinot Grigio, Grüner Veltliner, and Riesling had a baby; Biancolella would inherit all the best traits, plus high cheekbones and wavy blond hair. The 2024 Casa d’Ambra “Frassitelli” Ischia Biancolella is dry and racy yet generous, bursting with juicy white peach, a pinch of white pepper, sun-dried straw, white blossoms, makrut lime zest, and briny sea mist. It impressed me so much I marched it straight over to our wine buyer’s desk just to say, dude—wow. Bring this to a dinner or gathering and you’ll be the hero: it pairs with everything and everyone, and best of all, no one will argue about it—because no one will know what it is.
Price:
$29.99
2021 Raineri "Castelletto" Barolo
Review Date: 01-23-2026
The 2021 Raineri “Castelletto” Barolo is graceful, lithe, and muscular—think male ballet dancer. Black plum and boysenberry lead, followed by blood orange zest, soft floral notes, exotic spices, and a streak of slate. Velvety tannins fill the mouth, while a lively acidity keeps everything fresh and buoyant. Fantastic structure, and an absolute steal right now. Clearly, our wine buyer has some impressive dance moves of his own to be able to offer it at this price.
2024 Raineri (Ca Dei Folli) Piemonte Barbera
Review Date: 01-23-2026
We’ve all been there—trying to decide what to eat for dinner only to be gripped by option paralysis. Deciding what to drink with pizza, pasta, burgers, or a good movie and snacks also presents its challenges. This 2024 Raineri (Ca Dei Folli) Piemonte Barbera would fit the bill most nights. It’s a delicious red wine—full stop. Fresh, lively, and juicy with bright cherry, pomegranate, finely ground black pepper with a playful red cherry and violet finish. It’s a great bottle to keep on hand for midweek sipping or when friends show up unannounced. Serve with a light chill. Now if only I could not spend an hour deciding what to stream on YouTube.
Price:
$14.99
2023 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 01-03-2026
When I think of the best examples of California-styled Chardonnay, Ramey immediately comes to mind—they’re simply that reliable. Measured and structured, the 2023 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay is redolent with caramel apple, golden flaky pastry, and baking spices, finishing with a subtle touch of jasmine blossom. It’s a lush and satisfying mouthful of deliciousness. I adore it, and that’s all there is to it.
2023 Anonymous Wine Collective Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Review Date: 01-03-2026
Given its evocative complexity, it makes total sense that this wine is built by a fabled "Anonymous" producer from estate-grown Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay. Sunny and feminine, it’s effortlessly drinkable, radiating golden hour in late summer—crisp, juicy Gravenstein apple, candied Meyer lemon, and soft wisps of orange blossom. Dry and flavorful, yet light on its feet, it feels carefree—a smile from an enchanting stranger on the beach at sundown—windswept and charming.
Price:
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2023 Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Review Date: 12-09-2025
The 2023 Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir shines in the glass with a glistening garnet hue. Juicy cherry, pomegranate, and zesty orange peel lead on the palate, with rose and lavender adding aromatic lift and a subtle hint of rooibos tea lingering on the finish—classic Monterey typicité through and through. It’s unmistakably Californian in style: glossy, fruit-driven, and delightfully modern. When it comes to Central Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Bernardus remains a reliably consistent choice; after 12 years of tasting their wines, I can say they never fail to deliver the goods.
2020 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino
Review Date: 12-06-2025
Graceful and elegant yet tightly corseted, the 2020 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino is a study in Tuscan finesse. Cherries, plum compote, nutmeg, sandalwood, and black tea lead into a brown sugar-tinged finish--not sweet but beautifully layered, heartwarming, and utterly satisfying.
2019 Malgiacca 'Malgiacca' Super Tuscan
Review Date: 12-06-2025
The 2019 Malgiacca “Malgiacca” Super Tuscan is a fun, jump-in-and-let’s-go kind of wine—dare I say, downright gulpable. It’s inviting and approachable, offering ripe plum, black raspberry, Earl Grey tea with its signature bergamot, with hints of dried leaves and rose petals. The finish lingers beautifully, carrying notes of plum and gently steeped black tea.
2018 San Lorenzo "Solleone" Marche Rosso (Montepulciano)
Review Date: 12-06-2025
The 2018 San Lorenzo “Solleone” Marche Rosso is alluringly inky. It flows across the palate with an undertow of deep dark fruit--black currant, blackberry, licorice, leather, and a faint hint of game--lifted by delicate notes of lilac. This is a Bordeaux-lover’s Montepulciano: rich in flavor and mouthfeel, yet balanced enough to pair beautifully with roasted pork or lamb, beef brisket, or a juicy burger.
Price:
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2020 Anonymous Wine Collective "Manchester Ridge Vineyard" Mendocino Ridge Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine
Review Date: 12-04-2025
Composed of single-vineyard Old Wente Clone Chardonnay, the 2020 Anonymous Wine Collective “Manchester Ridge Vineyard” Blanc de Blancs was fermented in once-used French oak barrels and aged on its lees with bâtonnage for a year, during which it also went through full malolactic fermentation. This sleeping beauty then slumbered for another four years en triage before being hand-riddled and hand-disgorged. To think this sensational bottle was conceived without gyropalettes or mechanized disgorgement—and still lands under $30—is mind-boggling. But what does it taste like? Structure and butterscotch budino are the first impressions. It's also generously proportioned for zero dosage—rich in texture and flavor, yet balanced and dry. Baked pear, sumptuous butterscotch, crisp golden apple and fresh baked bread are nestled in a complex scaffolding of refreshing lemony acidity and flinty minerality. This isn’t something to mindlessly knock back, as I sometimes do with bubbles; it’s a wine to pair with food or to contemplate with friends who appreciate fine fizz. With its structure, acidity, and minerality, it also has the bones to age. In short: a case-buy proposition.
Price:
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Ca' Del Bosco "Cuvée Prestige" Franciacorta
Review Date: 11-21-2025
Ca' Del Bosco "Cuvée Prestige" Franciacorta blends 75% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Bianco, and 15% Pinot Nero, all made with remarkable attention to detail. This sleeping beauty rested 25 months on its lees. The final assemblage includes 20–30% reserve wines from top vintages, adding depth and complexity. Subtle notes of pear, quince, and zesty Meyer lemon curd mingle with hints of lightly toasted bread, while a smoky, flinty minerality brings elegance and a serious personality. This is unmistakably not Champagne—and that’s precisely what makes it so intriguing. Consider me a fan!
2024 Bodega Chacra "Barda" Pinot Noir Rio Negro Patagonia
Review Date: 11-13-2025
The 2024 Bodega Chacra “Barda” Pinot Noir is an approachable, food-friendly expression of Patagonian Pinot. Bright notes of cranberry, wild strawberry, and hibiscus weave together with subtle undertones of baking spices and a freshly rolled cigar. The palate is supple yet energetic, carrying its fruit with effortless grace and a whisper of savoriness. It’s a versatile Pinot that would elevate a quiet dinner at home with a roast chicken or serve alongside a more refined meal. It's unpretentious, elegant, and simply delicious.
Jansz "Premium Rosé" Brut Tasmania
Review Date: 11-13-2025
At first taste, the Jansz “Premium Rosé” Brut elicits an instant WHAT?! It’s a delightful surprise how good it is for the price! This sparkling overachiever hits that sweet spot for value-driven bubble enthusiasts (like myself) who still crave finesse in their glass. The color is a charming blush, like your cheeks after a complement from your crush, while a fine bead of soft bubbles delivers clean and delicate notes of fresh raspberry, rose Turkish delight, and white nectarine, all laced with a whisper of white-chocolate creaminess. These confectionary impressions are neither sweet nor cloying, but effortlessly balanced and deeply satisfying. This is something I definitely want around for entertaining or sipping as a refreshing reward after a long day of tasting other wines.
2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert "L'Enracinée" Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
Review Date: 10-28-2025
Produced with a light touch from organically grown Syrah selected from the finest lots of the vintage, the 2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert “L’Enracinée” Crozes-Hermitage Rouge comes from 60-year-old, massal-selection vines, the best of the best. Medium-bodied, dark, and lushly layered, it reveals notes of black cherry, freshly picked raspberries, cola, and vanilla, with a subtle touch of crushed gravel that hints to old, deeply rooted vines. Sip now or cellar and savor later.
Ariston Aspasie "Brut de Fût" Champagne
Review Date: 10-08-2025
This is not a flashy Champagne dandy—more one to sip and contemplate. Firmly planting your feet where the wine was made, it tastes like an old Champagne cellar, but an exceedingly good way. This wine shows rather than tells—apple tarte tatin, lemon verbena, and a faint hit of smoke with a flinty minerality and a racy acidity that cuts a marvelous swath of masculine class and finesse. There’s a difficult to describe sense of the dark shadows in a cold, dusty cellar. These wistful qualities can never be produced on a large commercial scale — one for true lovers of the complex side of micro-lot grower Champagne.
Price:
$69.99
Buelan "Cap and Bells" Las Canciones No. 2 Oloroso Jerez (375 ml)
Review Date: 10-08-2025
What a festive little Oloroso—all dressed up and ready to impress, adorned with an eye-catching abstract art label and red wax capsule. A rich amber liquid spills into the glass. Salty, nutty, and caramelly—like sinking your teeth into a delicious mixed nut brittle. Great food-friendly acidity. The overall impression is dry and borders on a soy sauce-like umami. Our talented Southern Hemisphere buyer suggested pairing this with butternut squash risotto. Add some fried crispy sage and you'll have a truly heavenly pairing! Enjoy this during that blessed time of year known as Sweater Weather.
Price:
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