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Staff Favorites - Philip Roufail
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Reviews
Fallet-Dart "Heres" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 05-20-2026
The Fallet family has been growing grapes in the far west of the Valle de la Marne since 1610 and everything in the vineyard and cellar are done in the most traditional way - by hand! The Fallet-Dart "Heres" Brut Champagne is 70% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier. Vinified in stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels, you will see "Tirage 2019" on the front label, which means it was bottled in 2019 and the base vintage is 2018, which is an EXCELLENT VINTAGE! It was hot, so the fruit is ripe but lush and balanced. Aged for 5 years on the lees, dosed at 6g/l, and was disgorged in November 2024 (which means it's ready to drink - if you know, you know!). Straw colored with a fine steady bead, this medium-bodied sparkler has aromas of ripe yellow fruits, grapefruit, peach, olive oil, lemon-lime, and brioche. On the palate, there are notes of pear, fig, Mirabelle plum, and ripe green apple with a subtle backbone of toast and vanilla.
2021 Far Mountain "Amotus - Alta Vista Vineyard" Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 05-03-2026
If you like mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, you must discover Far Mountain Winery, run by husband and wife winemaking team Mai Errazuriz and Rodrigo Soto. Their specialty is "dramatic wines from dramatic sites." All single vineyard wines from Sonoma Valley and the Moon Mountain District (on the border between Napa and Sonoma) you get beautiful concentration balanced by high elevation acidity. From the Alta Vista Vineyard on Moon Mountain, the Amotus is, in Rodrigo's words, their "Grand Cru" and it tastes like it! 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak for a year, 40%-50% new, followed by 10–12 months in 1,000–2,000 liter foudres "for integration". A seemingly endless reservoir of plush red and black fruit, tobacco, pine needles, new leather, graphite, and mint. This is a big tannic mountain wine that delivers on its unique terroir! Exceptional, and still a baby! Only 1440 bottles produced so grab this artisanal gem while you can!
2021 Far Mountain "Fission" Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 05-03-2026
If you like mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, you must discover Far Mountain Winery, run by husband and wife winemaking team Mai Errazuriz and Rodrigo Soto. Their specialty is "dramatic wines from dramatic sites." All single vineyard wines from Sonoma Valley and the Moon Mountain District (on the border between Napa and Sonoma) you get beautiful concentration balanced by high elevation acidity. One of their flagship Cabernets is "Fission" sourced from the Alta Vista Vineyard on Moon Mountain. We have two releases right now - the 2021 and the 2019. The 2021 spent 12 months in French oak, 35% of it new. True to the Far Mountain style, it's savory and bursting with dark brambly fruit. Still a little more fruit forward than the 2019, it also has notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, fresh herbs, minerality from the vineyard's volcanic soils, and a long stony finish.
2019 Far Mountain "Fission" Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 05-03-2026
If you like mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, you must discover Far Mountain Winery, run by husband and wife winemaking team Mai Errazuriz and Rodrigo Soto. Their specialty is "dramatic wines from dramatic sites." All single vineyard wines from Sonoma Valley and the Moon Mountain District (on the border between Napa and Sonoma) you get beautiful concentration balanced by high elevation acidity. One of their flagship Cabernets is "Fission" sourced from the Alta Vista Vineyard on Moon Mountain. We have two releases right now - the 2021 and the 2019. The 2019 is their inaugural vintage and is already showing layers of complexity that were surprising to me since it's not that old. Full bodied, silky, with loads of savory dark fruit, blackberry, spice, eucalyptus, dried herbs, violets, leather, and a vein of minerality from Alta Vista's volcanic soils!
2022 North Valley "Compass" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Review Date: 04-25-2026
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir for only $19.95? Well, yes and no. Yes, it's $19.95 at K&L, but it's higher everywhere else - if you can find it. The 2022 North Valley Compass is a blend from five biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Willamette Valley and is pure organic Oregon Pinot Noir that punches way above its price point. Aged for ten months if French oak, 25% new, the Compass has notes of black tea, blackberry, dark strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate, rose petals, and baking spices
Price:
$19.95
2024 Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel
Review Date: 04-25-2026
$18.95 for this California classic? Are you kidding me!? Seghesio Family Vineyards has been in Healdsburg since 1895 and is the oldest continuous family owned and operated winery in California. That's 125 vintages over 5 generations! Seghesio is only 1 of 100 California wineries that operated during the tragic scourge that was Prohibition. And you can't get more California classic than Zinfandel! USA! USA! USA! The Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel is an institution and the 2024 delivers in spades. On the nose and palate, blueberry, dark chocolate, espresso, spice, fennel, blackberry, soy sauce, and fresh herbs. An excellent new chapter in the storied history of Seghesio. Love it!
Price:
$18.95
2021 Red Car Sonoma Coast Syrah
Review Date: 04-22-2026
Sourced from Red Car's Estate and Romondo vineyards, the 2021 Red Car Sonoma Coast is classic cool climate Syrah - savory with bright acidity and polished tannins. It is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 18% new. Savory aromas of black olive, lavender, dark plum, mint, black pepper, with bright, vibrant acidity, and a weightlessness on the palate common to Sonoma Coast wines.
2024 Anonymous Wine Collective "Envy Block" Ballard Canyon Syrah
Review Date: 04-22-2026
Hot off the wine press, the brand-new-and-already-going-fast Anonymous Envy Block Ballard Canyon Syrah! This is such a savory Rhone style Syrah I don't think I would believe it's from Ballard Canyon unless somebody told me. Northern Rhone Syrah is "the benchmark by which all global Syrah wines are measured" (Wine Folly), which is why California winemakers dedicated to the variety named themselves "The Rhone Rangers" in the 1980s (an official non-profit since 1998). The Anonymous Syrah has flavors of black olive, blackberry jam, violets, dried herbs, charcuterie, spice, and rotundone (think black pepper).
Price:
Hidden
2023 Monte Rio "Old Vines" Lodi Zinfandel
Review Date: 04-22-2026
What a great yummy old vine Zin! I can't believe it's only $15 because it sells for $25 on the Monte Rio website! A blend from four organically farmed Lodi vineyards with 95-year-old Zinfandel vines, the 2023 Old Vine Lodi is pressed and fermented whole cluster in stainless steel followed by 10 months is neutral barrels. Low intervention in the cellar and no sulfur added. Bottled unfiltered. This is the opposite of a big jammy high alcohol Zin, which is say it's better. Medium bodied with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, red and black cherry, black pepper, tobacco leaf, and dried herbs.
2018 Anonymous Wine Collective "Extended Tirage" Sonoma Coast Brut Sparkling Wine
Review Date: 04-12-2026
"En tirage" is a French term to describe how long a champagne ages on its lees (the dead yeast cells that remain after the second fermentation in the bottle). In Champagne, the minimum requirement for vintage champagne is 3 years by law. In America, we do whatever we want. There are no rules, yet this Anonymous sparkling wine spends a full 7 years on the lees before disgorgement and release. 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, it is medium bodied, rich mid palate, with notes of vanilla and lemon cream, orchard fruit, pie crust, nectarine, ginger, and peaches in syrup.
Price:
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2021 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine
Review Date: 04-12-2026
Another vintage sparkling gem from our domestic Anonymous series. From 2021, this delicate, light-bodied fruit forward Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) is all elegance. Subtle notes of lemon-lime, fresh dough, green apple, orange blossom, white flowers, with a crisp saline finish!
Price:
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2021 Doren "Reserve" Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 04-09-2026
Another great deal from domestic buyer Ryan Woodhouse! Everything about the limited production (only 85 cases!) Doren Reserve Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is dark - dark cherry, dark plum, dark chocolate, dark roast espresso, and black pepper. Notes of cedar, garrigue, and black raspberry. Velvety on the palate. Bottled unfined and unfiltered after barrel aging for over 3 years. Great steak wine!
Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 04-09-2026
Launois continues to be one of our most popular grower-producers. Based in the Cote des Blancs Grand Cru village of Mesnil, arguably the gold standard for Chardonnay in Champagne, their portfolio boasts a range of exceptional Blanc de Blancs and Chardonnay dominant blends, mostly all Grand Cru. The "Veuve Clemence" is a customer favorite for those who like leesy, brioche-y champagne. Vintage champagne must age on the lees for at least three years. Veuve Clemence is a Brut Non-Vintage, yet has four years on the lees to its credit. On the nose lemon-lime, saline, caramel, butterscotch, and candied fruit. On the palate, medium bodied, baked pastry crust, sourdough, lees, citrus, with a long creamy finish. If you're a fan of the Cuvee Reserve, you should definitely try the Clemence!
Price:
$49.99
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 03-25-2026
Laurent-Perrier's Cuvee Rose Brut Rose Champagne is one of the top rose champagnes in the world, both with critics and consumers, and is made using the saignee method where the juice is macerated on the skins for 48-72 hours (depending on the vintage) and bled off. Most rose champagne is made by adding a small percentage of still red wine. LP first released their Cuvee Rose Brut Rose in 1968, helping create the rose champagne category with Grand Marque rival Billecart-Salmon, which is one of the top rose champagnes that uses still red wine. Made with 100% Grand Cru Pinot Noir grapes from 10 different villages, LP's current release is showing brilliantly. Layers of creamy velvety wild strawberry, raspberry, dark cherry, orange zest, roses, and little hints of flint. It's sooooooooooo gooooooooooood! This is one of those iconic wines that lives up to every bit of its hype!
Michel Arnould "Observation" Grand Cru Verzenay Brut Champagne
Review Date: 03-25-2026
Michel Arnould, based in the Grand Cru village of Verzenay, is some of my favorite grower-producer champagne. Arnould's sub-$40 champagnes, the Observation & Acuite, are easily two of the best champagne deals in the store. The elegance and finesse of the Arnould champagnes rivals those of the big houses. The Observation Grand Cru Verzenay Brut Champagne, 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, is all from Verzenay, which sits at the top of the horseshoe that is the Montage de Reims where the vineyards face north - away from the sun. This produces crisp cool climate sparklers that are lean, mean, and beautiful. On the nose, it can only be champagne -- minerality, citrus, fresh bread, saline, smoke, and light red fruit. On the palate, precise, structured, with notes of hazelnut, lemon-lime, baked green apple, nectarine, fresh sourdough, and vanilla (barrel) with a surprisingly rich, creamy custard-like finish. Another fantastic expression from the 13th generation (starting in the 17th century) of Arnould growers, Michel and his son Patrick, along with son-in-law Thierry, and producers (bottling since the early 1900s, established as Champagne Michel Arnould & Fils in the 1960s).
2025 Anonymous Wine Collective Oakville Sauvignon Blanc
Review Date: 03-18-2026
Our new Anonymous Sauvignon Blanc is a warm climate tropical masterpiece! On the nose and palate, melon, papaya, guava, pineapple, green apple, and peach, framed by flowers and spice. This is a beautiful wine, just everything you want from a white wine on a hot day or on the dinner table.
Price:
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Laurent-Perrier "Grand Siècle" Iteration #26 Brut Champagne
Review Date: 03-18-2026
The goal of every Grand Siècle release is to create the "perfect year," and Iteration #26 is as near perfect as you can get. The 100-point Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Iteration #26 is a blend from three exceptional years - 2007, 2008, and 2012. The 2008 and 2012 vintages are two of the highest rated Champagne vintages of the 21st century! The cepages is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir from 8 Grand Crus from 2012 (65%), 2008 (25%), and 2007 (10%) - all traditional cold weather vintages - and is aged for 10 years on the lees in LP's seven miles of caves dug out the Champagne's famous chalk soils. I've been very fortunate to taste man Grand Siècles and this is the best one I'ver had. It definitely lives up the hype of 100-point sore. A must have for your cellar or special event!
2019 Fallet-Dart "Pur Meunier" Champagne
Review Date: 03-11-2026
More and more 100% Meunier champagnes are hitting the market. The 2019 Fallet Dart Pur Meunier comes from Meunier growers in the far western Marne Valley where Meunier is the star grape. 2019 is considered one of the top champagne vintages of the last quarter century characterized by its ripe balanced fruit and outstanding acidity. On the nose and palate, full-bodied, fruit-forward, tarte tatin, orchard (apple) and stone fruit (peach and pear), fresh sourdough, citrus, raw almonds, ginger, baking spices, white cherry, with a stony minerality indicative of the two plots in Charly-sur-Marne from which the grapes are sourced.
Price:
$69.99
Fallet-Dart "Clos du Mont" Brut Champagne (2006)
Review Date: 03-11-2026
The 2006 Fallet Dart Clos du Mont Brut Champagne is big in every way. It is barrel fermented in French oak, from a single vintage (2006), a single vineyard ("Les Hauts des Clos du Mont"), and has spent a mind boggling 15 years on the lees. That's more than most prestige cuvees from the greatest and oldest houses in champagne. This is a beast in all the best possible ways! Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, ripe and developed with vanilla cream, toasted baguette, gingerbread, peach, pear, hazelnut, almonds, Meyer lemon, lime, dried fruit, apple, and aged barrel notes like butter, honey, and caramel.
Price:
$79.99
Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 03-11-2026
Fallet-Dart has crafted champagne since 1610 so they must be doing something right! The latest release of their "Grand Selection" is the best one I've tasted since I started working at K&L in 2022. 70% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier, and 15% Chardonnay, let's start with the extended lees aging - 6 years - giving the champagne beautiful leesy character that gives champagne-o-philes (now a word) who love autolytic character a real treat. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels. Powerful, elegant, and round, with aromas and flavors of brioche, ripe orchard and stone fruit, candied red fruit, nuts, fig, pepper, baking spices, hints of chalky minerality, and a long popping finish. A complex and distinctive champagne for under $40!
Price:
$37.99
Fallet-Dart Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 03-11-2026
The Fallet family has been growing grapes since 1610 and winning awards for their wines since 1903. In 1953, Gaston Fallet married Genevieve Dart, and they created the Fallet-Dart brand in 1970. Located in the far western part of the Marne Valley, their historic terroir, old vines, and family traditions continue to produce fine champagnes of character and distinction. The Fallet Dart Brut Rose is a Blanc de Noir with an assemblage of 70% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier, and 15% still red wine. Fermented in stainless steel and French oak barrels with full malolactic conversion, this rose has creamy red fruit character, grapefruit, orange peel, peach, and subtle oak notes. * Gold Medal - Wine International Competition * * Gold Medal - International Challenge"
Price:
$39.99
2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Review Date: 03-11-2026
This has such a beautiful nose for a Chardonnay! Citrus, saline, green apple, vanilla, pie crust, and a zippy dose of minerality are just a few of the delectable aromas wafting out of the glass of this 2014 Anonymous Chardonnay Sonoma Coast. On the palate, a bouquet of flowers, orchard fruit, graham cracker, lemon-lime, with a long tart finish. There is concentration from the old vines, but still restrained and balanced. The new French oak gives it some extra structure and focus. This s an outstanding expression that's going to continue to evolve to greater heights.
Price:
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2024 Anonymous Wine Collective Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Review Date: 03-11-2026
The Anonymous series continues with two great selections from the Sonoma Coast. This Pinot Noir meets the high expectations attached to any juice sourced from the Russian River Valley - dee-licious, without the RRV price! On the nose, dark cherry, red berries, cola, vanilla, dried herbs, fennel, and spice. On the palate, light bodied, seamless and soft, with loads of dark red fruit depth and character, cherry cola, espresso, with hints of oak. A must try!
Price:
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2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol
Review Date: 02-26-2026
The Discovery series continues in the world renown Right Bank (of the Gironde River) village of Pomerol, known for its rich, plush, Merlot based blends grown in gravel, iron rich clay, and sand. The 2019 K&L Discovery Series Pomerol is a traditional blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc from an epic vintage whose hot dry summer produced consistently excellent wines that are aging into classic old school Bordeaux that are round and luscious. On the nose, cigar box, olive tapenade, crushed stone, fennel, dark red berries. On the palate, coffee bean, sweet vanilla, red plum, chocolate, with subtle notes of bell pepper and herbs. This Pomerol continued to open up throughout the day, slowly revealing its historic pedigree and terroir. For a wine that is ready to drink, or can be cellared for another two decades, all for $29.99 this new K&L offering is a no-brainer!
Price:
$29.99
Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne
Review Date: 02-18-2026
Billecart's "Le Rose" is not only one of the best-selling and highly rated rose champagnes in the world, but its release in 1970 was an announcement that rose champagne was now a thing - a luxurious, premium sparkling category that had never existed in Champagne's long and storied history. Made in the "assemblage method" -- adding still red wine to the blend -- Le Rose is 43% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 24% Meunier. The dosage was dropped from 9g/l to 5.1g/l, resulting in a much drier and more refined style of champagne. This is the reason for the name change from Brut Rose to Le Rose. The current release is Extra Brut. Next year, it may be brut again. Billecart will make that decision once each harvest is complete. Wines were fermented in stainless steel tanks and went through partial malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness. When Billecart-Salmon decided to make a rose champagne, they approached it with the idea that if tasted blind, you wouldn't know it was a rose because its elegance and finesse would match that of regular champagne. It's a historical fact that their approach worked like gangbusters, and Billecart's Le Rose has become THE iconic offering from this old Grand Marque. Just one of those champagnes that always lives up to its hype.
2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 02-18-2026
The 2022 Napa Valley vintage was "legit tough" because of a terroir-turning heat wave that divided the wines into those made with grapes picked before the heat wave and those that were picked during and after. Before, resulted in bright, fresh, and crunchy reds that are easy on the palate, but lack some of the complexity that more time on the vine may have developed. After, are big, plush, wines pressed from grapes bursting with sugar. The 2002 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon falls into the first category, and the result is a beautifully complex, classic, old-school, Napa Cab coming in at a delectable 13% ABV. Layered with dusty black fruit, bell pepper, eucalyptus, baking spices, herbs, and subtle notes of vanilla, clove, and cedar. Ready to drink and will evolve for years to come!
2023 Bishop's Peak (Talley) San Luis Obispo Coast Pinot Noir
Review Date: 02-18-2026
If you're looking for a sub-$15 Pinot Noir that will blow your mind, this is it. It has a Burgundian profile (20% new French oak, forest floor, garrigue, mushroom) with a California twist (crunchy ripe red fruit, dark cherry, herbs, and spice). A crowd-pleasing domestic Pinot that punches way above its price point. Load up now. This one will go fast.
Rhys "Perpetual Reserve" California Sparkling Wine
Review Date: 02-18-2026
The question I have when I see a domestic sparkling wine for $60, is, "What champagne can I get for $60 and is this as good?" The answer is almost always, "Plenty and 'no'." There are a few exceptions, and this Rhys Perpetual Reserve is one of them. The first thing to know about Rhys is that they have 9 estate vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Anderson Valley. The grapes (i.e. clones and rootstocks) Rhy's uses in their sparkling wine is planted specifically for that purpose, so they're coming from plots that will maximize acidity levels. The perpetual reserve is a solera style blend from 2016-2023, comprised of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from Bearhollow in Anderson Valley and Mt. Pajaro in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The seven-vintages-old-perpetual-blend is 30% of the cuvee, 70% is the harvest year, and it is then aged for 3 years on the lees with a dosage of 5.g/L after disgorgement. The result is a complex creamy sparkling wine with lemon custard, orchard fruit, zippy acidity, brioche, and zesty mineral laden finish. Add some chalk and it could be champagne!
Damien Hugot Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
Review Date: 02-11-2026
Damian Hugot's Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is 70% harvest year fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the acidity, and 30% perpetual reserve that is aged in a foudre (very large barrel!). Viscous, creamy mouthfeel with notes of fresh sourdough, citrus, ginger, green apple, and stone fruit in syrup. Rich, tropical, with great balance, freshness, and complexity.
Price:
$49.99
Damien Hugot "Hommage 1921" Extra Brut Champagne
Review Date: 02-11-2026
The latest iteration of Damien Hugot's "Hommage" (to his grandfather, who planted their Meunier vines in 1921) is a great window into this grower-producer's style: 75% Chardonnay from the harvest year sourced from Monthelon, a cold micro-climate in the Sud d'Epernay, and barrel fermented, and 25% is a combination of Pinot Noir and Meunier, sourced from Chavot (also in Sud d'Epernay) from a perpetual blend aged in barriques. That's a lot of barrels! The slow oxygenation gives the champagne a depth and complexity that can only be drawn out through the judicious use of wood - not to mention the old vines! On the palate, lemon-lime, sourdough, baking spices, peach in syrup, saline, almond, and chalky minerality!
Price:
$49.99
2023 Method Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 02-11-2026
Method is a négociant project from Master Sommelier Ian Cauble (featured in the documentary "Somm") and Precision Wine Company's vintner Trevor Sheehan. Their jam is to source high quality grapes from small plots across California and turn them into premium wines at Tuesday night wine prices. A classic Napa red, full bodied, silky and hot, the 2023 Method Napa Valley is majority Cabernet Sauvignon and includes small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. On the nose, violets, blueberry, mocha, eucalyptus, and black fruit. Since most Napa Valley Cabs start at $50, the price on this is mind-boggling.
2022 Gemstone "Facets" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 02-01-2026
Yummy, yummy, yummy! A seamless full-bodied fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose oozes with herbal notes (mint, cinnamon, thyme, and sweet vanilla), chocolate, fennel, dusted black cherries, and violets. On the palate, plushy and soft fruit, super fine tannins, and popping dark fruit that lingers on the tongue. When California gets it right, it's easy to remember why Napa Valley is considered one of the great premium wine regions in the world. This baby is ready to crack open tonight and add a dash of luxury and sophistication to your evening.
Maison 76 Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 12-05-2025
Maison 76 could only happen at K&L and it's over 20 years in the making. Gary Westby, K&L's champagne buyer for decades (and now of "Westby Collection" fame) waved his magic sparkling wand and out came this incredible new champagne from fourth generation grower-producer superstar Olivier Bonville of Champagne Franck Bonville. The pedigree of this juice puts it so far above its price point it's almost stealing. By the numbers, Maison 76 (so named for K&L's founding year -- 1976) is 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from the renown Cote des Blancs village of Avize, where Bonville has been operating since 1936 (first bottling under the Franck Bonville name was in 1959), aged for 3 years on the lees, 40% base vintage with 60% reserve wines, and dosage is 5.8g/L. This champagne is everything you want from a Cote des Blancs champagne -- elegant, refined, beautifully balanced, ripe fruit, creamy texture, spring flowers, chalky minerality, orchard fruit, and those reserve wines add honeysuckle and nutty flavors like hazelnut and almonds. This is a must try!
Price:
$44.99
2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 11-30-2025
I just revisited this delectable delight during our most recent Blanc de Blancs customer tasting and was reminded of what a spectacular creation it is. If you like creamy, toasty champagne with beautifully balanced autolytic character, this prestige cuvee from Launois is for you! "Helia" is the feminine version of the Greek Sun God "Helios," and is described as having an "irrepressible aura," "radiant purity," and "is known for bringing beauty and joy." The Launois 2017 "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs is aptly named! On the nose, biscuit, lemon, lime, orange, and notes of dark toast. Medium-bodied, ripe orchard fruit, sweet vanilla, peach, pair, hints of white pepper, and zippy acidity up front but soft on the finish. An outstanding champagne of power, depth, and complexity that will continue to evolve and become more delicious!
Price:
$79.99
2022 Moulin de la Gardette "Cuvée Ventabren" Gigondas
Review Date: 10-09-2025
If you're looking for great southern Rhone Valley blends, the Gardette wines from Gigondas are wonderful (not to mention Jean-Baptiste) a really great guy!). Moulin de la Gardette's 2022s have landed and they have incredible depth and purity. Please see my review for the Cuvee Tradition! The Ventabren is Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, and like its counterpart, come from hillside vineyards, old vines, and is fermented with wild yeasts. The result is a complex and savory wine with great structure and depth. Juicy, savory, with notes of pepper, black licorice, garrigue, herbs, and dark red fruit. This wine hits in all the right places. A real deal if you're looking for a benchmark producer that rivals its neighbor, Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
2022 Moulin de la Gardette "Tradition" Gigondas
Review Date: 10-09-2025
The Gardette wines are so freaking delicious and the new 2022s, now in stock, blew my socks off. The Cuvee Tradition is my favorite, but that's not a qualitative statement. The Cuvee Ventabren, a different blend, is also fantastic. It's just a personal preference. I find the Tradition, a classic combination of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, to have deep and alluring aromatics and a burst of fruit on the finish that pleases me greatly. Gigondas is such spectacular terroir, rivaling Chateauneuf-du-Pape, according to my taste buds. Hillside vineyards, old vines, wild yeast, and 1 year in a cask produce floral, jammy, concentrated wine bursting with violets, red licorice, dusted red berries, and herbs that is rich and soft of the palate. I paired this with some yummerz pasta, but the wine was the main event!
2016 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Estephe
Review Date: 10-02-2025
Wow, wow, wow! This is my favorite one yet! Ryan really scored an outstanding St-Estèphe from the benchmark 2016 vintage! The whole point of the Discovery series is to discover a new region that perhaps you don't know a lot about or discover a new wine from a region you love. Either way, this St-Estèphe is indicative of its terroir -- 1,300 hectares of gravel, clay, and limestone along the banks of Gironde River in the upper Medoc that produce rich, well-structured wines, mainly from Bordeaux's twin towers - Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The K&L Discovery Series 2016 Estèphe is a Cab-Merlot blend with notes of blackcurrant, violet, mocha, vanilla, spices, and licorice. Beautiful ripe fruit that is soft and seamless on the palate. Thankfully nobody tracked how long it took me to finish this bottle after I opened it (paired with penne beef ragu).
Price:
$24.99
2012 Le Brun de Neuville "Grand Vintage" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 10-01-2025
I can't believe we were able to get our hands on more of this delectable 2012 from champagne collective Le Brun de Neuville! 2012 is one of the top champagne vintages of the 21st century and they are becoming more difficult to find. If you're searching for a superlative aged vintage Champagne, the 2012 "Grand Vintage" Brut Champagne may be for you. The moment you pop the cork on the 2012 Le Brun "Grand Vintage" Brut you can see and smell its age and pedigree. It has a golden amber color with a perlage so fine and racy the bubbles explode out of the glass. You must wait until the mousse settles before you can go in for a whiff, and when you do, sweet, nutty, tart fruit aromas tickle your nose. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich, mature sparkling wine of roasted chestnuts, honey, baked apple, dried fig, and toast. Yet, there is an enduring acidity that makes drinking the "Grand Vintage" a smooth and effortless experience. Suddenly it was gone (who, me?)! This is a great example of what a collective like Le Brun de Neuville can achieve in a benchmark year.
Price:
$69.99
Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 10-01-2025
The Launois "Cuvée Réserve" Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne is the all-time undisputed champion of K&L's Direct Import Champagne portfolio and our largest grower-producer. Founded in 1872, Launois is headquartered in a remarkable chateau in the village of Villers-aux-Bois and is currently helmed by eighth generation vignerons Severine and Caroline Launois. The estate’s Grand Cru vineyards are in Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant in the heart of the Cote de Blancs. The Launois Cuvée Réserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is the flagship NV champagne and their other Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) are variations of this unbelievably affordable sparkling masterpiece. The “Quartz” is bottled under 5 atmospheres of pressure instead of six and is secretly a single vineyard -- "Les Chetillons" in the Grand Cru village of Mesnil. The “Clemence” has an extra year of aging on the lees, 4 years total, which gives it a leesy profile; and the “Maxime” is a vintage Grand Cru bottling, currently 2018 (a great "solar" vintage with balance ripe fruit). The NV “Dorine” is sourced from a chalky patch in the Cote de Sezanne and is barrel fermented. The NV “Vinum Dei” (“Wine of God”) is the only blend - 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir; and the “Valentine” is a 100% Pinot Noir Brut Rosé, also sourced from Sézanne. At the top of the Launois pyramid are the prestige "Helia" bottlings - both vintage - the 2017 "Helia" Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs and the 2018 "Helia" Grand Cru Rosé. The base for the Helia rosé is entirely grand cru Chardonnay from Mesnil and Cramant with just under 10% of red wine added from the family's Sézanne Pinot Noir plots.
Price:
$39.99
2005 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
Review Date: 08-24-2025
2005 was "undoubtably Bordeaux's year," and the wines from St-Emilion shined especially bright. For fans of the Right Bank's Merlot based blends, 2005 is THE year. Like it's 2009 counterpart, the K&L Discovery Series St-Emilion is a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. At 20 years old, the '05 is a mature wine, a classic old school Bordeaux showing the depth, precision, and character of the vintage and St-Emilion. This was so easy to drink I forgot how old it was! Powerful, structured, and savory, the 2005 hits all the marks.
Price:
$19.99
2009 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion
Review Date: 08-24-2025
K&L's Discovery series continues with two offerings from Bordeaux's St-Emilion, a Right Bank area known for its lush, rich full-bodied Merlot based blends. The 2009 is 90% Merlot, with 5% dollops of Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon to add depth and structure. 2009 was a "legendary" vintage in Bordeaux, producing consistently excellent wines throughout the region. "Big, bold, and lavish," the 2009s are just now hitting their prime drinking window. The 2009 Discovery Series St-Emilion has all the hallmarks of the vintage, and its ripe sweet fruit, spice, and tertiary notes have reached a delectable old school equilibrium - black licorice, dark plums, mocha, chocolate, earth, dark berries, and crushed rocks. If you want to discover St-Emilion wines, 2009 is a great place to start.
Price:
$14.99
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac
Review Date: 08-14-2025
Our first Discovery Series wine! We're starting with this Bordeaux, then, in the coming months, a Barolo, Cote-du-Rhone, and Champagne! This Bordeaux hails from the world renown left-bank Bordeaux subregion of Pauillac, known for its full-bodied, rich, mineral driven Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blends (this one is 51% Cab, 49% Merlot) , and is from the universally lauded 2019 vintage. The 2019s are cellar worthy and characterized by their power, elegance, and balance. This is a classified Chateau (we don't know which one!) and the pedigree of the vintage screams BIG TIME DEAL for a wine that will age and evolve for the next 20 + years. Old school Bordeaux notes of sweet tobacco, wet stone minerality (from Pauillac's famous gravel soils!), mint, graphite, cassis, dark plum, chocolate, dark cherry, vanilla, earth, and chewy tannins that will round out with a little more age!
Price:
$29.99
Laurent-Perrier "Héritage" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 07-18-2025
Move over, there is a BRAND NEW CHAMPAGNE in town and it's made by Grand Marque Laurent-Perrier (established in 1812)! Laurent-Perrier has not produced a new champagne since its inaugural release of their Blanc de Blanc Brut Nature in 2019. The Laurent-Perrier Héritage Brut Champagne continues Laurent-Perrier's history of innovation. Unique, distinctive, and groundbreaking, the Héritage is a masterful blend of four reserve wines and reserve wines ONLY. There are no new harvest grapes in the blend. The first Héritage release is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir from 2019 (great ripe vintage with zippy acidity), 2018 (also a great ripe vintage), 2016 (vintage has aged beautifully), and 2014 (the last of the "classic cool" years before the onset of the now normal "solar" vintages) and will be available in all of our stores on September 1st, 2025. For those who are familiar with Laurent-Perrier's prestige cuvee, Grand Siècle, may notice a similarity in winemaking methodology. The Grand Siècle is also a multi-vintage blend, but of three vintages that includes the current harvest year. Building on that success (the last release #26 was given 100 points by James Suckling), the Heritage combines Laurent-Perrier's focus on Chardonnay and the art of blending. By the numbers, 40 crus are in the blend, half of which are Grand Cru, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and is aged on the lees for a minimum of 4 years. This new cuvee is already making a splash, racking up 90 + point scores from Janice Robinson, Wine Advocate, and Decanter. Since this is new release, I'm posting LP's official winemaker notes: "A white gold colour with a fine and persistent effervescence. A nose offering notes of lemon, white peach and fruits in syrup followed by aromas of toasted bread and toasted almonds. Fresh at first which gives way to a lively, elegant and complex palate with aromas of white fruits and citrus zest. Héritage offers a perfect balance between freshness, elegance and maturity with notes of floral honey."
2015 Billecart-Salmon Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 06-04-2025
Billecart-Salmon is back with a vintage dated Rose champagne, this time 2015! In keeping with their tradition of releasing their prestige cuvees later than anyone else, this 2015 is hitting the shelves long after most 2015s have come and gone. Everybody knows Billecart's "Le Rose" ($84.99 - new name to reflect changing dosage levels) and their prestige rose "Cuvee Elisabeth-Salmon" ($219.99), but this is only the second time they've released a rose in-between, the 2015 Billecart-Salmon Extra Brur Rose Champagne ($119.99). More complex than the flagship rose but without the extra long aging potential of the Elisabeth-Salmon, the 2015 offers an amazing layered champagne that is a cut above most sparkling roses at $100 off the normal "prestige price." On the nose, white flowers, orange peel, ripe cherry, marzipan, honey, strawberries, and blood orange. On the palate, elegant, creamy and tropical, full-bodied with notes of black cherry, watermelon, toast, red berries, with zippy acidity. Grab some of this special release while it lasts!
Price:
$119.99
2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 11-16-2024
If it's possible for Champagne's prestige cuvees to be more prestige-y than normal, than the 2012 vintage is for you. If you’re a fan of ethereal Blanc de Blancs champagne your ship from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ has just come in! If every champagne tasted like this, nobody would drink anything else. Created in 2018 (vintage 2006) to honor Billecart’s first cellar master and brother of co-founder Elisabeth Salmon, Louis Salmon, the 2012 Billecart-Salmon “Cuvée Louis Salmon” Blanc de Blancs is racy, sexy, clean, pure, mineral-driven, mind-blowing, and, most importantly, absolutely delicious! Former Chef du Cave Francois Domi and his team, including current Chef du Cave Florent Nys, crafted a masterfully balanced cuvée from the now mythic 2012 vintage. An assemblage of 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay - “Cramant (23%) for minerality, Chouilly (11%), and Oiry (6%)for finesse, and Mesnil-sur-Oger (60%) for the structure and longevity” - a quarter of the vin clairs were vinified in oak casks, aged for 9 ½ year on the lees, and was dosed at a low 3.9g/l. A sophisticated, delicate, and aromatic Blanc de Blancs, the “Cuvée Louis Salmon” has popping acidity, finesse, complexity, and a noble splendor that can only be found in a sparkling prestige cuvée. Almond, hazelnut, fresh bread, peach, pear, tart green apple, chalky minerality, citrus, and a whole meadow of white flowers. The barrel fermentation adds richness, length, and notes of vanilla and sweet spice. Drinking beautifully right now and age-worthy in the cellar. The “Cuvée Louis Salmon” is tasting luxury. I cannot recommend it enough.
Launois "Severine" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 06-07-2024
Launois is one of our most sought after Grower-Producer champagnes. Everything about the "Severine" (named for proprietor Severine Launois!) sets it apart from other Launois offerings. It's a "mono-cru" (single village) with 100% of the grapes sourced from the Grand Cru village Le Mensil-sur-Oger, renowned for producing chiseled Chardonnay with racy acidity and chalky minerality. Though it is not indicated on the bottle, it's all from 2010, so it's a vintage champagne that's 14 years old. Lastly, it's barrel fermented and goes through malolactic fermentation, both of which add body and weight. Full bodied, rich, dark toast, lees, with notes of orange, grapefruit, dried apricot, pear, and lemon-lime.
Price:
$59.99
Franck Bonville Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Review Date: 05-08-2024
Every year this is one of our most popular Blanc de Blancs Champagnes -- and for good reason! Hailing from the chalky soils of the world-famous Cotes de Blancs, known for its Grand Cru Chardonnay, Olivier Bonville delivers a sumptuous, medium bodied, rich style bursting with peach, pear, cream, vanilla, pineapple, golden apple, lemon-lime, and saline. Based on the ripe 2020 vintage, but with a full 50% of the blend from 2019, characterized by its elevated acidity, the result is a champagne with balance and finesse. Fermented in stainless steel tanks, 100% malolactic conversion, aged for a full 3 years on the lees like a vintage champagne, and a dosage of 8.3g/l round out its pedigree. Disgorged: March 2023. Verdict: outstanding!
2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon" Extra Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 04-05-2024
If you were one of K&L’s lucky customers to taste Billecart-Salmon's 2010 Brut Rosé Champagne and were appropriately blown away by its unique depth and complexity, then I am thrilled to announce the release of their 2012 “Cuvée Elizabeth Salmon” Brut Rosé Champagne. The 2010 Rosé was intended to be “Cuvée Elizabeth”, but the house believed it didn’t have the aging potential they wanted. To be clear – the 2010 Brut Rosé is NOT “Cuvée Elizabeth!” It’s a different champagne, but a magnificent tease of what is possible at rosé champagne’s highest level, which has now been achieved with the electrifying 2012 “Cuvée Elizabeth.” First, the pedigree. In 1988, this cuvée was created to honor the 206-year-old Grand Maison’s elegant co-founder Elisabeth Salmon. The cool 2012 Champagne vintage was declared epic at harvest and age has only added to its legendary reputation. The “Cuvée Elizabeth” is an assemblage of 55% Grand Cru Chardonnay (Chouilly, Avize, Mesnil, Cramant) and 45% Grand and 1er Cru Pinot Noir (Aÿ, Ambonnay, Mareuil-sur- Aÿ), with a little less than 10% of the Pinot Noir sourced from old vines in Billecart’s home of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ’s Valofroy vineyard to give the rosé its color and special character. Just under 3% of the wine was vinified in oak casks to add richness and aromatics, it was aged on the lees for 9 ½ years, and finally, after disgorgement in early 2023, was dosed at a low 3.8g/l. Second, the achievement. A royal golden salmon color, tight brisk bead, and layered aromatics are a premonition of the champagne’s artistry. Racy acidity delivers flavors that are simultaneously rich and bold but light, soft, and plush on the palate. It has an enormous depth of ripe but subtle red fruit, hazelnut, almond biscotti, saline, stone fruit, flowers, spice, green apple, sea air, and an undertow of chalky minerality that you would expect from Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. A long, refined, and dry finish lingers on the palate. There’s no question about the aging potential of this “Cuvée Elizabeth.” It's exquisite and opulent today but will continue to evolve in the cellar for many years. This is a monumental rosé champagne from a remarkable vintage that should not be missed!
Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne
Review Date: 03-03-2024
When you make internationally renowned champagne for 206 years you don't have to rock the boat, but that's exactly what Grand Marque (Great Brand) Billecart-Salmon has done with the new releases of their flagship non-vintage champagnes. The Brut Reserve NV, soon to be called "Le Brut," remains a blend of 40% Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 30% Pinot Noir, but now incorporates a perpetual blend (62%, 2006-2018) for the first time, adding depth and complexity, and the dosage has dropped from 8g/l to 3g/l, resulting in a much drier and refined style of champagne. In addition, the base vintage (38%) is from the fantastic 2019 "solar" harvest, which produced ripe grapes with high levels of acidity. The majority of wines (92%) were fermented in stainless steel tanks and a small but consequential amount (8%) were fermented in oak casks. Finally, the Brut Reserve only went through partial malolactic fermentation to preserve the freshness of the 2019 vintage. Disgorged in the spring of 2023. If you're already a fan of Billecart-Salmon prepare to love them even more. If you haven't tried Billecart-Salmon before, it's time to discover this legendary Grand Maison.
2016 Fallet-Dart Brut Champagne
Review Date: 12-16-2023
Winemaker's Notes: Pale yellow gold tinted robe, with fine bubbles forming a delicate and regular ribbon. The initial nose evokes fresh notes of white flowers, hawthorn, linden. It’s aniseed and iodized mineral fragrance turns towards peach, hazelnut and grapefruit notes.On the palate, the attack is fresh with a delightful salinity. The wine develops itself on the palate with acidulous grapefruit and white fruit flavours.
Price:
$49.99