By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 10/17/2026 | Send Email

Well, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, Gary Westby has done it again! This Maison 76 release is just absolutely fabulous. We can't say here who makes it but rest assured it's another one of our staff and customer favorite producers, and yet again there's that extra time on the lees that really helps depth and development. This is a really beautiful balance between freshness and that toasty brioche-y depth that you want in a bit more elegant and sophisticated style of Champagne. Delicious fruit, perfect balance, it reminds me of other bottles that drink at over a hundred dollars and this for basically half that. This is fantastic and it something absolutely worthy of casing up on.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Wow! What an incredible trio of wines we have to offer today from Peake Ranch in the Sta. Rita Hills! Over the past decade, this property has firmly established itself as one of the premier producers in the region, releasing a steady stream of exceptional, critically acclaimed wines. Most of their production is sold directly to mailing list customers and top restaurants across the country. However, we've been steadily building a direct relationship with the winery, allowing us to bring some of these outstanding wines to our customers at exceptionally sharp pricing. Today, we're offering a fantastic trio, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a stunning cool-climate Syrah. The Chardonnay comes from the home block at Peake Ranch Estate in the southeastern corner of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. The vineyard is a patchwork of diverse blocks planted across undulating hillsides, with just about every possible orientation and aspect represented. This site provides the perfect artist's palette from which to craft layered, complex wines that draw on the remarkable diversity of the estate. Personally, I love how this wine combines wonderful texture and depth with such impressive freshness and energy. Bold, mouth-filling baked orchard fruits mingle with golden grains, delicate floral notes, and beautifully integrated oak toast. The palate is rich and expansive, yet everything is drawn out on a tense, juicy, mouthwatering finish with remarkable verve and vibrancy. There's so much freshness and drive here for such a rich, concentrated wine. Folks looking for a powerful, opulent California Chardonnay, but one that still delivers great energy, precision, and lift on the finish, look no further! At 50% off the original SRP, this beauty is guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Growing alongside the Chardonnay, this stunning Pinot Noir also showcases the exceptional quality and complexity of this site. Taking inspiration from the OG vineyards of the neighborhood - Sanford & Benedict, Lafond, and Fiddlestix - Peake Ranch's Estate Pinot Noir is blended from three heritage selections of Pinot Noir: Calera, Swan, and Hyde. The powerful, brooding character of these old massal selections works in perfect harmony with this site, combining exceptional purity of fruit and effusive aromatics with rich mid-palate texture and savory, brambly complexity. The wine gets élevage in top-notch French oak cooperage, adding yet another layer of depth and polish. Being a slightly warmer site than most in the Sta. Rita Hills, much of the estate had already been picked before the big heat spike of 2022, and this wine shows excellent freshness and vibrancy as a result. A 20% whole-cluster inclusion adds further spice, aromatic lift, and nuance to the finish. This is seriously lovely Pinot Noir from a top-notch vineyard at a remarkably affordable price point!

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Founded in Haro in 1879, CVNE is arguably the most recognizable name in Rioja, with a portfolio that includes dependable everyday favorites under the “Cune” label all the way to their benchmark Imperial Gran Reserva. The 2020 “Cune” Reserva Rioja is a perfect illustration of why this historic estate remains such a trusted name: it delivers authentic Rioja character, traditional barrel aging and impressive complexity at am incredibly accessible price. Made primarily from Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo rounding out the blend, the wine spends 24 months in a combination of French and American oak before receiving at least another year of bottle aging. The result is classic and immediately appealing, with aromas of ripe cherry, red berries and plum layered with licorice, vanilla, baking spice and subtle toasted notes. The palate is supple and beautifully balanced, with polished tannins, juicy fruit and a fresh, savory finish. This is the kind of versatile Rioja that belongs on every dinner table, equally at home alongside roast chicken, grilled lamb, charcuterie or a plate of aged Manchego. For anyone looking for the benchmark flavors of traditional Rioja without spending a fortune, Cune Reserva is a no-brainer—and a terrific reminder that some of the best values in Spanish wine come from its most established names. The price to quality ratio here is simply unbeatable!

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Peake Ranch's Syrah from John Sebastiano Vineyard might just be the sleeper wine in the lineup! Although, with this wine consistently scoring over 95 points from top critics, it's hardly flying under the radar anymore. John Sebastiano is a spectacular vineyard in a near-perfect location. A steep, dramatic, west-facing hillside site, John Sebastiano sits toward the center of the Sta. Rita Hills, feeling the full brunt of the relentless onshore winds funneling down the valley. The vines here are aggressively buffeted and cooled by ocean breezes, producing deeply concentrated, flavorful grapes. These persistent winds, not unlike the famed Mistral that whips through the Northern Rhône Valley, also make this a late-ripening site, where fruit is often harvested in November, yet still at very moderate alcohol levels. The result is a powerful mélange of deep, smoky red and black fruits, cured meat, dried dark roses, cracked black pepper, and forest berry compote. Even with a warmer-than-typical finish to the growing season, this wine proudly flaunts its true cool-climate Syrah character and clocks in at just 13.5% ABV. It's a wine that loves a good 45-minute decant and ideally a hearty plate of braised meat or winter pot roast. Exceptional Syrah from one of the crown jewel vineyards of the Sta. Rita Hills!

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Rioja is unlike any other wine region in the world, famous for cellaring wines far longer than nearly any other region in the world. And the best part is that these perfectly matured wines are released without the premium you might expect. Another great example of this tradition is the the 2014 “El Puntido” Gran Reserva Rioja. This gorgeous wine is made by the acclaimed Eguren family, whose vineyard-driven wines have helped define modern Rioja – some of their other well-known wineries include Sierra Cantabria and Señorio de San Vicente. The “El Puntido” comes from a single vineyard of the same name, planted in 1975 at approximately 600 meters in elevation. This 100% Tempranillo balances the concentrated fruit you’d expect from a high density, old vine vineyard with the freshness and mineral-driven character of Rioja Alavesa. A somewhat challenging vintage makes this bottling all the more impressive: the Egurens’ rigorous selection and meticulous sorting have produced a wine of impressive elegance. Aged for 28 months in new French oak and nearly a decade in bottle, it offers an enticing mix of ripe plum, wild cherry and blackberry, layered with cedar, tobacco, coffee beans and dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied but graceful, with supple, well-integrated tannins, lively acidity and a long, polished finish. This is Rioja for those who appreciate the rewards of maturity, combining the richness of modern Tempranillo with the savory complexity that arises over years of aging. With fantastic scores from the critics, including 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck, and a price of just $89.99, this is a fantastic opportunity to put a serious, cellar-worthy Rioja from one of Spain’s great wine families on your table.

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Albariño from Rías Baixas is, without a doubt, some of the most reliably delicious white wine being produced in Spain today. These wines are so fresh and clean, truly evocative of the cool Atlantic breezes that sweep across the region. The 2025 Bodegas La Val Albariño is another great example in a long line of crisp, coastal Albariños I’ve had the pleasure of tasting recently. Founded in 1985, La Val helped establish the Rías Baixas appellation and has built its reputation on estate-grown Albariño from the region’s distinctive vineyards. A blend of fruit from high-elevation, granite-rich vineyards and lower-lying, clay-and-pebble soils, this bottling balances bright, mouthwatering freshness with generous orchard and stone fruit. It’s saline and delicately fruit-forward on the nose, with notes of nectarine, lemon blossom and grapefruit zest, followed by that classic crunchy oyster shell minerality on the palate. Bone-dry and framed by racy acidity, it’s perfect for pairing with shellfish and seafood, but just as delicious for casual sipping. If you’re a fan of steely Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc, I’d highly recommend giving this wine a try. It’s classic Rías Baixas: snappy, mouthwatering and refreshing, and an absolute bargain at the price.

By: Marc Etienne | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Seek and you shall find another great bottle of pearls at a steal. Introducing Maison 76 Verzy Grand Cru. It is a vin d' assemblage of 64% Pinot Noir and 36 Chardonnay. There is an unmistakable aroma of brioche... The chalky mineral finishing sensation is something to look forward to. Cheers (ME)

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

What a fantastic deal! This fabulous 2016 St. Emilion is so elegant, your dinner guests will think you took out a second mortgage to serve this. I love the generous plum and coffee nose, the refined texture of the mid-palatte and the very long finish. What a star!

By: Marc Etienne | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

This is a splendid blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. It is really scrip and fresh with flavors reminiscent of apple tartre, bright medium plus acidity, hint of hazelnut finish. the creamy and delicate bubbles last a while. it's a greal deal for the upcoming holidays. Cheers! (ME)

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

Maybe the biggest sleeper of the great 2019 vintage, this dark, cassis laden St. Estèphe has a generous nose, silky mouthfeel and a fresh back end. I love the clean earth that shows of the village of St. Estèphe in this, as well as the concentrated but never heavy mid palate. While this is really tempting to drink now, it will continue to age beautifully for decades. This would be a huge ringer in any tasting of high end bordeaux- it is good enough to stand on the table with just about anything.

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 10/16/2026 | Send Email

What a knockout! With subtle brioche, incredible freshness and a dry, chalky finish that goes on for days, this wine gets its texture from around seven years of ageing on the lees, it's incredible finale from massal selected vines planted to the pure chalk of Bouzy and dry snap from very low (around 2g/l) dosage. If you want a real terroir experience, it is in this bottle, but if you just want generous, rich champagne that still finishes definitively dry, that is here too! Maison 76 is our private label here at K&L, but we wanted it to be about true value, not just the lowest price. I think this is one of the best wines on the shelf in any category at this price, and a true marvel of champagne. Don't miss this one!

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/15/2026 | Send Email

Only made in exceptional vintages, Prado Enea is the flagship wine of iconic winery Muga, and more importantly, one of the great wines of Rioja. This is the first vintage released since 2016, and it proves that it was well worth the wait! The 2019 vintage was warm and dry, with nearly perfect growing conditions and slightly lower yields than average. The resulting wine is classic Prado Enea through and through, balancing typical Muga power and intensity with an incredible amount of finesse on the palate. Aged in both American and French oak barrels, the wine is framed by toasty hazelnut and saddle leather notes, as well as well-integrated tannins. This is a style of rich and savory Gran Reserva Rioja that just seems to get more complex with every swirl in the glass. Dried thyme and oregano are followed by tea leaves and portobello mushroom, which are followed by graphite and dried red plum. It’s hard to put the glass down! Slowly savor this Rioja along with a great meal and conversation. Personally, I’d suggest picking up a few bottles – one to enjoy now and the others to open down the road, because it will be fascinating to see how this develops and gains even more complexity as the years pass.

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/14/2026 | Send Email

The greatest thing about grower-producer champagne is the variation you experience each year. Unlike the big champagne houses that strive to make champagne that tastes the same every time you pull it off the rack, grower champagne is more adventurous. The latest release of Elisabeth's Extra Brut (75% Grand Cru Pinot Noir from Ay and 25% 1er Cru Chardonnay from Mutigny) has lush ripe fruit, bitter almond, strawberry, peach, pear, orange blossom, and laser focused electric acidity. The low dosage balance out the ripe fruit, giving it a nice balance. Did I mention it's 16 years old? All from 2010, which I call "Champagne Classic" because champagne made before 2015 is the result of cold weather. Everything since is "solar," or the result of hot weather. If you want champagne the way "it use to be" this is an excellent expression!

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/14/2026 | Send Email

The Grand Cru village of Ay has the chalkiest, steepest, and most south-facing vineyards of the Montagne de Reims. That's where you will find Champagne Egrot crafting crisp, dry, Pinot Noir dominant champagnes that are crowd pleasers year after year. 80% Grand Cru Pinot Noir from Ay and 20% 1er Cru Chardonnay from Louvois, this cuvee spends 6 years aging on the lees and has dosage of 8g/l. Wild strawberry, black cherry, chalky minerality, pear, peach, grapefruit, and slightly salty finish round out this excellent champagne!

By: Walden Pemantle | Review Date: 10/14/2026 | Send Email

A delightfully rich Cab from the hill above Yountville that still maintains all the herbal intrigue of the grape. Cocktail cherries, creme de cassis, and candied plums quickly give way to mint, sage, and eucalyptus notes. Cedar and vanilla hang in the background letting the expressive primary notes shine. The tannins jump out on the finish, lending some backbone to an otherwise fully hedonistic experience. At this price point, this is a seriously convincing wine that will hold its own with many higher-priced addresses. Fans of Joseph Phelps, Harlan, and Schrader should absolutely check this out.

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/14/2026 | Send Email

The latest round of champagnes from Damien Hugot and wife Miwa Hirase are big, bold, barrel fermented beasts that somehow retain all the elegance and purity that only top notch champagne can deliver. 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from Chouilly and Cramant (designated Grand Cru in 1910 -- over 25 years before France created its A.O.C. system), its born in a large oak barrel (foudre) and part of the blend is a perpetual reserve that is also aging in foudre. The result is a depth and complexity that most brut non-vintage champagnes don't reach until they've aged for a long time. If you're a Bollinger, Philiponnant, Charles Heidsieck, or Vilmart fan, Damien Hugot is the grower-producer you've been looking for. Rich, creamy, with notes of hazelnut, honey, pear, and orchard fruit all wrapped up in a toasty package!

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/14/2026 | Send Email

The 2016 Bordeaux vintage lives up to its hype and it only 10 years old! Just now entering its proper drinking window, I haven't any 2016 Bordeaux that isn't showing well and the Barde-Haute Saint-Emillion is another winner from this excellent property. Barde-Haute is always Merlot and Cabernet Franc in varying amounts. Like the outstanding 2015, this blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet France with juicy aromas of dark plum, blackberry, cherry, graphite, and violets. Already beautiful in it's youth, this wine is going to continue to evolve for years to come.

By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/14/2026 | Send Email

I believe I've tasted 10 Barde Haute vintages (Who am I kidding? I didn't taste them. I drank the whole bottle). Right now, we have three of the best! 2009 (epic vintage), 2015 (epic for Saint-Emillion), and 2016 (legendary vintage). The great news is that Barde-Haute is a producer at the top of its game and regardless of the year you're going to end up with some seriously silky and crushable Merlot-Cabernet Franc blends (check out the amazing critic scores). The 2015 comes in at 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and is just delicious from the bouquet to the mid-palate to the sumptuous velvety finish. Full of depth and character, it's bursting with fruit and all the tertiary notes that make Bordeaux Bordeaux!

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

A richly textured, fruit-forward style of Albariño, the 2023 Eidos de Padriñan opens with lush notes of orange oil, ripe nectarine, lemon blossom and subtle jasmine. On the palate, the classic Rias Baixas zippy acidity kicks in, however, freshening up the more floral aromatics. The palate has a slight grip to it – this is an Albariño with surprising weight and texture for its coastal origins. Albariño is a bit of a chameleon to me, sometimes lean and steely, and sometimes unctuous and perfumed. This wine is definitely in the style of the latter, and would be fantastic with meaty fish like sardines or mackerel, or even a Thai curry or anything flavored with lemongrass or curry leaf.

By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

A recent Corpinnat standout for me has been the 2021 Huguet de Can Feixes Brut Nature, which is a steal at just $19.99. The primary grape here is Parellada, which is the most fruit-forward of the local Penedès varieties and represents 55% of the total blend, balanced by 35% Macabeo (a.k.a. Viura in Rioja) and 10% Pinot Noir. On the palate, classic yeasty notes of sourdough come through, and the Brut Nature style results in a lean, crisp and racy style of Corpinnat. There’s just such a nice balance between the fresh acidity and the dense fruit notes – this would be a great wine to have on hand for the festive season.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

This is one of the most exciting buys of the 2022 Bordeaux campaign. Malartic-Lagravière has long been a favorite of ours, but a recent 99-point score now places it alongside Bordeaux royalty in 2022. At our current retail pricing, it’s one of the most accomplished Cabernet-based wines you’ll find of this caliber from anywhere. And with only 8,000 cases produced—a fraction of some of its Bordeaux peers—it’s one you’ll want to grab early. Points aside, it's worth noting what we've always known: when Malartic-Lagravière is great, it can be transcendent—offering a level of expression well above its modest price point. It’s also a wine that wine lovers love to love: a genuine reflection of place, expressed with clarity and grace. The 2022 vintage borrows the generosity of the year, yet still achieves a precision and elegance that exude class. A mix of pure black fruits, subtle but persistent minerality, wonderful texture, and a long finish—this wine shows both polish and typicité. This is one to load up on now, and like many 2022s, it will be a pleasure to enjoy anytime over the next 20+ years. It’s nothing new to see a great wine from this estate, but congratulations to the Bonnie family on a new reference-point vintage for Malartic-Lagravière.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

Laroque is one of the most exciting properties in Bordeaux, and still the first place I look when considering top‑tier value in the region. Since David Suire took over in 2015—bringing the same precision and terroir‑first philosophy he now applies at Larcis Ducasse—the estate has been on a remarkable ascent, crafting wines with striking texture, depth, and an elegance and freshness that feel almost improbable at this price point. The critical acclaim may be enthusiastic, but it’s entirely earned. Ultimately, though, what matters is what’s in the glass, and this 2020—one of the great modern Right Bank vintages—shows exactly why Laroque has shifted from an insider’s secret to a must‑have reference point for value‑driven collectors. Bright, pure fruit, seamless texture, incredibly fine tannins, and that unmistakable limestone signature all come together in a wine that feels both complete and effortless. It’s already a pleasure to drink, yet it has the balance and precision to reward patience for many years to come.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

The name Brunello was all but born on this hill. In 1870, Count Tito Costanti took an 1865 wine from Colle al Matrichese to the provincial exhibition in Siena and called it Brunello, one of the first to do so, and the family has made wine here since at least 1555. Andrea Costanti, a geology student when his great-uncle handed him the estate in 1982, has run it ever since with a geologist’s attention to soil and a declared distaste for too much oak. The vineyards sit a mile east of the town at 400 to 450 metres on galestro, and the 2021 was fermented in steel, then given twelve months in Allier tonneaux and twenty-four in Slavonian oak casks. Nothing about it is loud. In the glass, it pours a lustrous mid ruby. The nose is all noble restraint at first, then opens to purple flowers, eucalyptus and sweet mint, Mediterranean brush, perfumed wild raspberry and a cool thread of tobacco and cedar. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and tense, with crushed Marasca cherry, spiced orange zest and star anise set against chalky, fine-grained tannins and tangy acidity, and a long, mineral finish still folded in on itself. O’Keefe gave it 99 and called Andrea’s wines among the very best in Montalcino year after year; Larner, Vinous and Spectator all sit at 95. At $99.99 against $130 elsewhere, from one of the two estates that gave Brunello its name, this is the bottle of the 2021 campaign to put six of in the cellar. Drink 2027 to 2043.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

The name Brunello was all but born on this hill. In 1870, Count Tito Costanti took an 1865 wine from Colle al Matrichese to the provincial exhibition in Siena and called it Brunello, one of the first to do so, and the family has made wine here since at least 1555. Andrea Costanti, a geology student when his great-uncle handed him the estate in 1982, has run it ever since with a geologist’s attention to soil and a declared distaste for too much oak. The vineyards sit a mile east of the town at 400 to 450 metres on galestro, and the 2021 was fermented in steel, then given twelve months in Allier tonneaux and twenty-four in Slavonian oak casks. Nothing about it is loud. In the glass, it pours a lustrous mid ruby. The nose is all noble restraint at first, then opens to purple flowers, eucalyptus and sweet mint, Mediterranean brush, perfumed wild raspberry and a cool thread of tobacco and cedar. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and tense, with crushed Marasca cherry, spiced orange zest and star anise set against chalky, fine-grained tannins and tangy acidity, and a long, mineral finish still folded in on itself. O’Keefe gave it 99 and called Andrea’s wines among the very best in Montalcino year after year; Larner, Vinous and Spectator all sit at 95. At $99.99 against $130 elsewhere, from one of the two estates that gave Brunello its name, this is the bottle of the 2021 campaign to put six of in the cellar.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

Fattoria di Scannano is the Calì family’s farm at Rapolano Terme, on the eastern edge of the Crete Senesi, where Chianti drops the word Classico along with a good deal of its price. 90% Sangiovese with 10% Ciliegiolo, the old Tuscan companion grape that softens Sangiovese and adds the cherry, grown organically, fermented in steel, a few months in oak, lightly filtered, bottled fresh. In the glass, it pours a bright ruby with violet edges. The nose is open and frank: black plum, sour cherry, wild myrtle, a touch of violet and dried herb. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and juicy, with round tannins, lively acidity and a clean, savoury finish that asks for food rather than attention.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

Gaiole is the high, cold, stony side of Chianti Classico, and Stielle is one of its oldest names: deeds from 1153 record vines on this hill, and the Calì family, owners of the fortress of Castagnoli since 1981, treat it as their grand cru. Nine hectares between 460 and 500 metres on alberese and limestone, old native clones of Sangiovese cropped at a kilo per plant and picked in the second half of October, native-yeast fermentation, 18 months in tonneaux and large casks, four more months in the big barrels and a year in bottle. 100% Sangiovese, as a Gran Selezione from Gaiole should be. In the glass, it pours a deep ruby. The nose is dark-toned and lifted: black cherry and plum, violet and lavender, licorice, clove, a thread of mocha and smoke that stays in its place. On the palate, it is full-bodied and potent yet fresh, with crunchy, enveloping tannins, the acidity of altitude and a long, savory finish. The best value in Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, no doubt about that.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

The Bianchini family’s Rosso comes from 7.5 hectares of Sangiovese Grosso in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, between 180 and 360 metres on mineral-rich marl, fermented in steel and cement and raised twelve months in big Slavonian oak casks before a December release. Forty thousand bottles a year, no tricks, and a track record that makes it one of the safest buys in Montalcino. The 2024 is the sleekest version in years. In the glass, it pours a vibrant ruby. The nose is cool rather than sunny: crushed blackberry and tart raspberry, rosemary and black olive, rose petal, crushed stone. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and silky, with a web of fine tannins, a crunchy mineral grip and a long, classically dry finish.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

Then there’s Pianrosso. This is the big gun. It comes from a sun-drenched amphitheater of red, iron-rich galestro soil, and man, does it show. If the regular bottling is a wake-up call, the Pianrosso is a heavyweight bout. It’s dark, it’s brooding, and it literally smells like crushed iron, wet stone, and wild mint. But here is the magic of the 2021 vintage: for all of its sheer mass and serious dry extract, this wine absolutely refuses to be fat. The acidity acts like a whip, keeping all that dense, macerated dark fruit perfectly in line. The tannins are monumental—chalky, demanding, and uncompromising—clamping down hard on a bone-dry finish that seems to last for five minutes. Do not open this just to casually sip on the couch. This is a massive, highly intellectual Brunello built for the darkest corner of your cellar.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

Look, Ciacci Piccolomini is absolute royalty in Castelnuovo dell'Abate. But let's be brutally honest for a second: the southern sector of Montalcino can sometimes get a little too baked. You often end up with wines that trade tension for pure, syrupy weight. Not here. Not in 2021. This annata bottling is a total wake-up call. It completely ditches any of that heavy, jammy baggage. Instead, it comes flying out of the glass with this wild, untamed aromatic profile—roasted Mediterranean scrub, cracked earth, and a brilliant, sharp hit of blood orange and sour cherry. When it hits your palate, it doesn't just sit there like a lazy fruit bomb. It snaps. It has that nervous, electric energy that I am constantly begging for in Sangiovese. The tannins are sandy and traditional, offering a mouthwatering, saline grip.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

San Polino is our direct import and my favorite Brunello producer in the program, and this is the wine the estate makes only when a vintage earns it. 2019 earned it. Luigi Fabbro and Katia Nussbaum have farmed their isolated hill southeast of Montalcino organically since 1991, among the first in the appellation to do so, and have gone further than almost anyone into the life of their soils, down to the microbes. The cellar is non-interventionist in the way that actually works: spontaneous fermentation in 35-hectolitre truncated-cone oak vats, three days of cold soak and 42 days on the skins, six months of bâtonnage in French barriques and four years in large Slavonian and French oak. The fruit is from the south-facing vineyard at 450 metres above the house, sandy loam and volcanic soil threaded with marl. Just 3,800 bottles were made. In the glass, it pours a lustrous mid-to-deep ruby. The nose is exuberant and exotic: raspberry sliding into cranberry and wild strawberry, dog rose and violet, orange peel, juniper, a cool thread of eucalyptus and pipe tobacco, clove and ginger. On the palate, it is medium-to-full-bodied and dramatically long, silky on entry and then gravelly, the tannins fine-grained and firm, with blood orange, star anise and a flinty mineral resonance that keeps building after the fruit has gone. Suckling gave it 98 and a place in his Top Wines of Italy, Jancis Robinson 18 and called it stunning, O’Keefe 96. Riservas of this pedigree from this vintage sit at $150 and up on our shelf; this one is $99.99 because we bring it in ourselves. Three hours in a decanter tonight with lamb and rosemary, or cellar it until 2028 and drink it for twenty years.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

The story first. In 1991, Luigi Fabbro, a Friulian, and his English wife Katia Nussbaum bought an abandoned hill southeast of Montalcino: no water, no electricity, six-hundred-year-old olive trees and soil that had not seen a chemical in decades. They farm organically, ferment spontaneously with native yeasts in 35-hectolitre truncated-cone oak vats, and have spent three decades obsessing over the microbial life of their soils, long before it was fashionable. The estate makes two Brunelli: Helichrysum, from the high vineyards around the house, and this classic bottling, from a five-hectare plot on the northern side of Montalcino at about 300 metres on deep clay and marl. Three days of cold soak, a month on the skins, three years in large Slavonian oak with a share in seasoned French barriques. 2021 gave Montalcino a cool winter, a dry warm summer without heat spikes and a calm September, and the result is a vintage of precision rather than mass. In the glass, it pours a mid ruby with a translucent rim. The nose is extremely perfumed: Morello cherry and wild raspberry, white rose and lavender, Mediterranean scrub, cedar and sandalwood. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and vibrant, with fine-grained, chalky tannins, blood orange and star anise on the finish and acidity that keeps it vertical.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/13/2026 | Send Email

I'm a huge fan of the Clos du Val wines for many reasons. First and foremost, in a world where so many Napa Valley wines have become ludicrously expensive, the value delivered by this estate is nothing short of incredible. Clos du Val has a long and storied history in Napa Valley, dating back to its founding by Bernard Portet in the early 1970s. Portet, who grew up at Château Lafite in Bordeaux, was sent on a scouting mission around the globe to find a truly special place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. Landing right next door to Warren Winiarski's Stag's Leap Vineyard and Nathan Fay's eponymous property, Portet immediately recognized that this was somewhere extraordinary. He fell in love with this remarkable slice of Napa Valley, and what began as a reconnaissance trip turned into four decades of leading Clos du Val as its winemaker and figurehead. Today, Clos du Val is owned by the third generation of the Goelet family, who first sent Portet on his search some 54 years ago. The estate has become a leader in progressive farming, meticulous winemaking, and genuinely warm and welcoming hospitality. More recently, in 2021, winemaker Carmel Greenberg joined the team to help usher in Clos du Val's next chapter. Having spent the previous five years as Assistant Winemaker at Dominus Estate, along with earlier stints at Buccella and Cakebread, Greenberg has brought yet another level of refinement and precision to the wines. Fruit for the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is predominantly grown at the Riverbend Estate Vineyard, just across the Napa River in the Yountville AVA. This site sits on deep river gravels, much like the great vineyards of Bordeaux, and enjoys a cooler, southern Napa Valley climate that allows the fruit to retain wonderful balance, freshness, and varietal typicity. Smaller portions of Stags Leap District fruit are blended in from the Hirondelle Estate, which surrounds the winery, adding power, depth, and density from its volcanic soils. The wine is a true Bordeaux-style blend, incorporating small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot alongside the Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is an exceptionally complete wine with layer upon layer of deliciousness. The nose is redolent with dark cherry, mulberry, leather, cigar box, and pencil shavings. Medium-plus bodied, the palate is beautifully refined and pure, with notes of cassis, wild blackberry, graphite, and subtle oak spices. There's a lovely interplay between the plush, generous fruit and the savory, mineral-driven elements that give the wine such complexity and sophistication. It's remarkably approachable in its youth thanks to pristine tannin management and measured extraction. However, I also think the wine possesses the natural balance, structure, and freshness to enjoy a long life in the cellar...if you can keep your hands off it! This wine is an absolute showcase of what can still be achieved with estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley at a very reasonable everyday price of $60. The pedigree, meticulous farming, world-class winemaking, and sheer quality in the glass make it compelling even at full retail. But at our special Insider's Advantage price of 40% off, this wine is truly in a league of its own!

By: Marc Etienne | Review Date: 10/12/2026 | Send Email

Tis the 2026-27 English Premiere League Season! Whichever Team you root for (Arsenal FC) Wiston Estate Brut is the ideal British bubbly to pop on any given weekend. This is the most crisped, green fruit, citrus fruit bubbly I have had in a while. This lingering acidity keeps you focus throughout the game in agony of defeat or blissful victory. Then you reach out for another bottle. Cheers! (ME)

By: Marc Etienne | Review Date: 10/12/2026 | Send Email

Chateau de Sancerre 2025 releases a gorgeous aroma of fruits (quince, lycee, passion fruit)... The acidity is well-balanced and the mineral sensation lasts an eternity. This is the type of Sancerre that one can drink effortlessly while contemplating the sunset or the autumn leaves falling. Cheers! (ME)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/12/2026 | Send Email

Hooten Young’s Jack Carr Warrior Proof hits all the right targets for the bourbon bros out there, and to be honest, there was a time when this whiskey was nearly impossible to get. It’s got the age, high proof, dark color, and plenty of that cultural appeal that’s become synonymous with the category. The owners bring serious military credentials to the table, and in a whiskey business where relationships still count for an awful lot, they’ve certainly found some interesting lots to bottle. We were happy to offer this limited release to those who found value in its age and identity, but as availability improved, the compelling store wasn't enough to keep in on the shelf. Not because it’s bad whiskey, but because at around $160, there’s a lot of competition. Put this bad boy out there at $60, however, and you’ve got one of the best buys in American whiskey today. This isn’t an official price reset. We’re taking advantage of a local distributor’s inventory reduction and passing those savings on to you. What that means is sixteen-year-old American whiskey, made from 99% corn and 1% barley, bottled at 125 proof, for a remarkably reasonable price. Let’s see how it fares. The color is a surprisingly dark russet (1.4), particularly striking for a whiskey in a category that doesn’t require maturation in new charred oak. The nose is packed with sweet character: brown sugar, marzipan, maple syrup, vanilla extract, candied pecans, hints of caramel candy, and old leather. The palate adds a buttery biscuits, cooked apples, baking spice, and a full bodied texture. The proof is evident but not obtrusive, and a bit of water actually adds weight and spice to the whole thing. All in all, for $60, this is an awesome buy and a fun change of pace from the classic bourbon profile. Whether you like to read Jack Carr and chill or you’re simply looking to expand your understanding of American whiskey, this is an easy win. Just don’t count on finding it here at this price again once this parcel is gone!

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 10/12/2026 | Send Email

Cantemerle has been one of K&L's most beloved Bordeaux estates for decades, a perennial best seller that has earned an enormous following for delivering remarkable quality and value year after year. Few properties have been as consistently successful with our customers, and it's an absolute joy to have the legendary 2005 vintage available in magnum for the holiday season. 2005 is one of the truly great modern vintages in Bordeaux, and Cantemerle captured its character beautifully. Now with two decades of age, this wine is drinking wonderfully, showing the depth, refinement, and complexity that make mature Bordeaux such a pleasure. Aromas of cassis, black cherry, cedar, and tobacco lead to a beautifully composed palate, with supple, fully integrated tannins, lovely freshness, and a long, savory finish. It hits all the right notes, with the richness of a great vintage and the elegance that has always defined Cantemerle. And in magnum, there's even more to celebrate. Whether destined for the holiday table, a special gathering, or a collector's cellar, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of our all-time favorite Bordeaux estates in one of its finest vintages, with the added appeal of large format and two decades of graceful evolution. A tremendous find and a wine I'm delighted to have back at K&L.

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 10/12/2026 | Send Email

The 2024 Ferran Blanc is another terrific example of why I believe Bordeaux remains one of the most exciting places to look for exceptional white wine values. Pessac-Léognan is home to some of the world's finest dry whites, but you don't have to spend a fortune to experience the character and complexity that make these wines so compelling. Ferran is a historic property, once owned by the philosopher Montesquieu, with a relatively small production of white wine built around Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The 2024 vintage is particularly well suited to this style, delivering the freshness, precision, and aromatic intensity that make the best dry whites of Bordeaux so appealing. The wine opens with citrus zest, grapefruit, and white flowers, with subtle hints of herbs and mineral character. On the palate, there's a lovely combination of texture and energy, with the richness of the fruit balanced by bright acidity and a fine, almost saline quality that carries through the finish. There's enough substance to give this wine real presence, but it's the freshness, balance, and length that I find most impressive. This is exactly the kind of under-the-radar Bordeaux discovery I love sharing, a beautifully composed Pessac-Léognan Blanc that delivers far more sophistication than its modest price might suggest.

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/12/2026 | Send Email

An exceptionally rare proposition today...a 99-point, estate-grown and produced Pinot Noir for under $50! I searched our entire inventory of more than 6,000 SKUs, and this is the only wine we have in stock that can boast those unicorn-like credentials! What's more, right now we're the only retailer in the country with this wine available to customers! We have a longstanding relationship with Maggy Hawk Estate, and I jumped on this wine early. I can also confirm that this beauty absolutely lives up to the hype! Coming from 20+ year-old vines planted just 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the cool, foggy "Deep End" of Anderson Valley, this is a wildly aromatic and seductive Pinot Noir. Planted largely to Dijon clones 115 and 777, the vineyard produces wines of remarkable purity, complexity, and elegance. The wine opens with lifted aromas of rose petal, baking spice, ripe black raspberry, clove, spiced cherry, and subtle hints of redwood grove. The palate is both lush and vibrant, with a plush, generous mid-palate showing wonderful purity of fruit, balanced by fresh acidity, woodsy spices, and intriguing notes of dried citrus peel. Silky and polished through the finish, with lingering impressions of ripe bramble fruit and Christmas cake spices. This wine delivers on every level. It's a wonderfully expressive, beautifully composed Pinot Noir that will delight just about anyone who appreciates pure, silky, sophisticated expressions of the variety. I can absolutely see why this wine earned such massive critical praise. Get it while we have it! A 99-point, estate-grown Pinot Noir for under $50 is the kind of opportunity that almost never comes around!

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

Don't you just love to say the word "Bouzy"? I know that I do. It's just fun! Plus, this village is charming and some of the best Pinot Noir fruit in all of Champagne is here. The rich and clean nose gives it away. You immediately smell the rich apples and tart cherry fruits. The heady caramelized apple scents do not give away the very low dosage. This takes place with the starting flavors of tart cinnamon citrus. The mid-palate expands quickly and the tart apple flavors segue way into brioche, cream, and candied ginger. The finish shows off the Chardonnay with lemon cream and a hint of key lime. The bead is quite fine and it goes on and on in the glass.

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

As is the case with the 2008 Toubart, this is another vintage bubble with a great price. The nose starts out very cleanly with scents of apple skin, white pear fruit, toasted almonds and cookie dough scents. On the palate, a nice dose of tartness, followed by roasted pears, tart apple, a little nutmeg and some whipping cream. There is a nice long and dry finish with very nice acidity. Fresh and clean. This one is for you, Phil!

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

Such a surprise to have both a new estate in our portfolio and a bubble from such a great vintage! The nose started out with a nice saline scent followed closely by scents of caramel, shortbread and gingersnaps. In the mouth, quite rich with round orchard fruits, clean shaved ginger and a long finish of citrus and light chalkiness. This is a pretty crazy deal for this quality and vintage!

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

Today we have an extremely rare offer from a winery whose wines you almost never see discounted below full retail pricing. Thanks to our close relationship with the producer, we were offered a parcel of this extraordinary Chardonnay at a fantastic price, and we're passing those savings directly on to our Insider's Advantage mailing list members! If I were forced to declare a favorite winery in Napa Valley, I think it would have to be Mayacamas. This incredible, historic property, perched high on the slopes of Mount Veeder, has long produced some of the most distinctive, age-worthy, and utterly compelling wines in the world. Originally founded in 1889, the stunning stone winery building is carved into the mountainside some 2,200 feet above the valley floor. With a long tradition of crafting classically styled, elegant yet structured wines, the current winemaking team of Andy Erickson, Braiden Albrecht, and Chris Rush continues to produce truly singular wines that beautifully encapsulate this magical terroir. While Mayacamas is probably best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, to this day, my most memorable bottle from the estate was a 1979 Chardonnay, poured from magnum back in 2016. It was an absolutely unforgettable wine! Since the 1960s, Mayacamas Chardonnay has been made in a focused, linear style that ages incredibly well while offering a wonderfully broad drinking window. The low-yielding vines, growing in extremely rocky volcanic soils, produce concentrated, intensely flavorful fruit. From there, the winemaking focuses on preserving freshness, purity, and vibrancy. The wine is aged predominantly in large-format, neutral oak vessels, including 500L and 1,000L foudres. A portion is matured in traditional French oak barriques, but only around 5% new wood is used. The wine also does not undergo malolactic fermentation, allowing it to retain that laser-like focus, tension, and energy that have become hallmarks of Mayacamas Chardonnay. The aromatics are absolutely captivating, with layers of orchard blossom, lemon oil, crushed quince, freshly zested citrus, lemon verbena, wet granite, barley water, and subtle almond paste. The palate is so vibrant and energetic, with beautifully concentrated fruit, crystalline acidity, and minerality in spades. There's a wonderful interplay between the wine's depth and richness and its remarkable precision and freshness. It's drinking beautifully right now, but there's clearly still a long and fascinating journey ahead for this extraordinary Chardonnay. Truly world-class Chardonnay from one of California's most iconic estates, offered at a remarkably reasonable price. Opportunities like this don't come along very often!

By: Ben Niedelman | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

This wine is the newest in Gilbert-Jacquesson’s stable, created as a nod to many Champagne producers’ “house style.” It’s 40% base vintage 2020, with the remaining 60% reserve wines going back as far as 10 years, so the edges of the vintage are smoothed in favor of a consistent, ultra-pleasurable drinking experience. The blend is 40% Pinot Meunier and 30% each of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, giving the Cuvee a fine, light bead backed by full-bodied, savory fruit notes. The long, lip-smacking finish leaves your taste buds begging for more.

By: Ben Niedelman | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

The Prestige has earned its place as Jean-Baptiste’s top cuvee; using reserves of a very special Pinot Meunier aged in a solera started in the 2000’s and spending years on the lees gives this wine a unique expressiveness and that indescribable “iron fist in a velvet glove” quality I can never resist. The current cuvee is built on the 2019 vintage and is a 40/30/30 blend of Pinot Meunier/Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. It has all the beautiful, toasted hazelnut and honey notes that make it oh-so-irresistible now, but with the structure and acidity to reward cellaring. This is a “wow” champagne!

By: Ben Niedelman | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

This lively rose is the perfect bottle to bring some extra sparkle to a gathering! The clear glass bottle ensures the vibrant color is eye-catching from across the room and the crisp finish keeps you coming back for more. The lovely pale pink color comes from a small percentage of still red wine made from old-vine Pinot Meunier and blended into the cuvee. Like all of Gilbert-Jacquesson wines, this 100% Meunier has vivid, spicy aromatics, and crisp fruit. A perfect pairing for a warm evening or Thanksgiving dinner!

By: Ben Niedelman | Review Date: 10/9/2026 | Send Email

Every part of this champagne has been crafted to showcase Jean-Baptiste’s mastery of the Meunier grape. From the moment you first smell the exuberance of the baking spice-and-fruit driven nose, you know you’ve found a winner. The rich, toasty mid-palate reveals hints of warm caramel that can only be found in high-quality champagnes made from 100% Pinot Meunier grapes. With an astounding 50% of the blend coming from reserve wines and aged 3 years on the lees, no other champagne on the market offers this much quality for the price. Don’t let the price-tag fool you, though: this is an extremely delicious bottle of bubbly masquerading as weeknight dinner companion.

By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 10/8/2026 | Send Email

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! You won't be disappointed.

By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 10/8/2026 | Send Email

Famoso is the Ravenna plain's own aromatic grape, a historic variety that had all but vanished before a group of growers around Bagnacavallo recovered it, had it entered in the national register in 2009 and gave it back its dialect name, Rambëla. Randi has made wine in Fusignano since the early 1950s, and under Massimo Randi it has become the variety's standard-bearer: four organically farmed hectares planted in 2007 on the sandy clay of the Bassa Romagna, cordon-trained at a modest three thousand vines per hectare, with the Bianca vinified in steel alone so that the perfume arrives unedited. In the glass, it pours a pale straw with green glints. The nose is elderflower, sage, white peach and orange blossom, with a cool, chalky note beneath the fruit: a Traminer-like perfume without Traminer's weight. On the palate it is dry and light-bodied, with fresh acidity, a soft saline undertow and a faint bitter-almond grip that gives the finish its shape.

By: Thomas Zacharia | Review Date: 10/8/2026 | Send Email

This is irresistible champagne. What else do you need to know? Based on the 2018 vintage, entirely barrel fermented. and having spent 8 full years on the lees, it seems impossible that this bottle of bubbly liquid gold is only $54.99. Rich, powerful, and with stellar depth, this bottling is broad shouldered and thrilling from start to finish.