Staff Favorites

1983 Maucaillou, Moulis

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

A very interesting bottling with almost sweet red fruits, cherry, red plum, cedar spice and candied orange. A good match for game bird or savory pork.

Price: $89.99

2006 Capbern-Gasqueton, St-Estèphe

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

Surprisingly dark with flavors of blackberry, red cherry, light minerals and herbs, earth and pipe tobacco. Finishes clean with a light chalkiness.

Price: $39.99

2010 Balestard La Tonnelle, St-Emilion

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

A dry start point with light herbs and a dash of orange peel. Fleshes out quickly with bigger dark red fruits and finishes on the bright side. Lovely.

Price: $49.99

JS: 94

WS: 90

2020 Catena Malbec Lunlunta Mendoza

By: Alexandre Tweedie | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

First and foremost, Catena's Lunlunta department Malbec is one of the friendliest Uco Valley Malbec's I've had in quite a while, but don't confuse it's friendliness for a lack of seriousness! While being definitively fruit driven, with incredibly pure plums and deep purple fruits and soft baking spices on the palate, there is enough minerality shining through in this wine to prevent all of the fruit from falling into the "jammy" category. Being right off the Mendoza river, the alluvial riverbed soils provide a caliche (calcium carbonate) core of limestone to the wine, providing ample structure to hang the soft fruits of this wine off of. Perfectly accessible to people new to Argentinian wine, or a welcome break from some of the more "aggressive" wines from the region, Lunlunta is a soft, yet present bottle of lovely Malbec.

Price: $19.99

Rittenhouse "K&L Liquors Exclusive - 8063978" Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Kentucky Rye Whiskey (750ml)

By: Alexandre Tweedie | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

Ahh Rittenhouse, the absolute swiss-army-rye of my many years spent tending bar - comfortable and at home in just about any whisky cocktail, and confident enough to stand on its own neat, this Single Barrel K&L exclusive takes everything I love and respect about Rittenhouse, and carries it even further with more precision and care. A nose of crushed Honey Grahams & fruited caramels leads to a nod of cigar humidor and sticky summer air. On the palate, the "precision" that I mentioned is in full effect: standard Rittenhouse's note of dried cherries is now in the spotlight, revealing now not just dried fruits, but fresher and brighter red fruits all across the spectrum. If Rittenhouse is your at-home bartender's staple as it is mine, this Single Barrel is everything you've come to love, but just in much bigger handfuls.

Price: $34.99

Limit of 3 per customer

Wild Common "Still Strength" Blanco Tequila (750ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

There are a small number of distilleries in Mexico that dominate the world of quality Tequila production - while the vast majority of Tequila distilleries produce spirits that are heavily laden with additives which sweeten and thicken the spirit, a small number achieve excellent natural results through hard work and traditional methods. Cascahuin is one such distillery. The few brands that have their Tequila made there all have their own tweaks in production, but across the board the quality is excellent. Wild Common is produced under the watchful eyes of master distiller Salvador Rosales Trejo and the agaves are roasted for 72 hours in small 12-16 ton brick ovens. Extractions is via a combination of stone tahona and roller mill before being naturally fermented with wild yeast on the agave fibers. Double distilled to proof on copper and stainless steel pot stills and you've got a beautiful classic Tequila at 50% ABV. The nose is a lovely combination of sweet roasted agave, citrus fruits, aguamiel, wet stone, and a little extra kick from the ABV. On the palate, a dazzling array of flavors ranging from a reprise of the aromatic components to a quite unexpected herbal and spice profile offering up cinnamon bark, mugwort, and lavender. The high ABV helps this carefully crafted Tequila stand out in a cocktail and deliver the flavors crisply in a neat pour.

Price: $59.99

2021 Stolo "Estate" SLO Coast Pinot Noir

By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

Another fantastic example of quality SLO Pinot Noir that is red fruit forward with bright acidity, no oak character, chalky tannins, and a light herbaceous finish. Those that enjoy a lighter style of Pinot Noir will enjoy this.

Price: Hidden

RP: 95

WE: 93

2019 Ballade de La Pointe, Pomerol

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

A very solid bottling with dark red fruits, earthy spice, light herbs, soft tannin and a hint of chalk. Very solid!

Price: Hidden

2018 Lamouroux Rouge, Graves

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/14/2023 | Send Email

A very nicely medium to full-bodied effort has black cherries, soft earth and light tobacco and spice. Very forward red and black fruits with supple tannin. Very nice and a great bargain!

Price: $16.99

2021 Morandé "Grand Reserve" Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley

By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 11/13/2023 | Send Email

The aromatics are classic Sauvignon Blanc, lots of citrus, some gooseberries, a hint of tropical fruits with that classic pyrazine element. With this wine it has a hint of jalapeno but there are layers of herbs too, it has a savory element that balances the fruit. The aromatics are charming, complex and speak to not only the quality of fruit but also the winemaking, with the concrete and large neutral oak both of which add subtle layers. There is a lot happening on the nose, but the palate takes this wine to another level. It is like the transition from black to color in “The Wizard of Oz.” The flavor pops! Holy moly is what I wrote in my notes, except this note was giving a PG edit. The flavors here are very intense, yet the wine is 12.5 alcohol and calling it medium bodied is being generous. The flavors range from citrus to tropical, but not juicy over-ripe tropical, it is that just-about ripe, where there is still a little green note to it. It is crisp and dry but not tart and it has an exceptionally long, persistent finish that has a minerality to it. Not that limestone, silex that comes to mind with Loire Valley Sauvignons, the granitic clay soils give this wine a different minerality, it reads more like volcanic, island minerality than what I think of as granitic. This wine makes you pay attention to it, and then it leaves you craving for more. Or in my case craving Mediterranean food. Pick your favorite country's dish, as long as it has lots of herbs a citrus, I am thinking about Persian kebabs! This is unlike any other Sauvignon Blanc that we have in the store. Cool, mineral, complex, and low alcohol with intensity and persistence. This is a wine that if it came from another country, you would be happy paying twice the price for it and would still think it a deal.

Price: $14.99

2017 ¿Como No? Stag's Leap District Petite Sirah

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/13/2023 | Send Email

If you want the short version, this is just an absolutely delicious Petite Sirah from an incredible vineyard high in the hills of Stag's Leap. We're selling it for a ludicrously low price given the critical acclaim and fantastic quality. That should be more than enough info to pique your interest…But the full story is much more interesting. Como No is the culmination of a long and storied career for iconic restaurateur / vigneron Carl Doumani. Now 90-years of age, Doumani is well known in Napa Valley. In 1971 while looking for a home with 5-10 acres of land in the valley he ended up buying 400-acres in Stags Leap! The following year he founded Stags' Leap Winery and ran it for over 25 years. One of his first ever clients to buy fruit from him in his very first year was a young Robert Mondavi! After Doumani sold Stags' Leap Winery to Beringer Vineyards (now Treasury Wine Estates) in 1997, he kept some adjacent land and started Quixote winery with 27-acres of hillside vines. After building up a cult following for the Quixote wines, he again sold his business in 2014 keeping just a few acres on a high, rocky, steep slope directly beneath the Stags Leap Palisades (the towering cliffs from which the region takes its name). So, it is from this tiny 2-acres of Petite Sirah that Como No is produced. A guy who had his pick of 400 hundred acres of prime Stags Leap vineyards, over the course of 50-years growing grapes, narrowed it down to this radical mountain side parcel and his lifelong favorite grape variety, Petite Sirah. It is this true dedication and passion that led Robert Parker to write that Carl's Como No wines are "as terrific as Petite Sirah can be." This tiny estate is farmed by legendary viticulturist Mike Wolf. The wine is made by cult winemaker Aaron Pott. That’s some unbelievable pedigree and excellence for a wine that we're offering at such a low price! Alright, enough storytelling, what about the wine itself - well, it's a wonderfully powerful yet focused and refined version of this varietal. Petite Sirah can sometimes be overly brawny and unwieldy, but this is sheer class. As soon as you pour the wine you notice the deep inky black / purple color in the glass. Aromas of wild berries, mulberry compote, dark chocolate coated cherry, dried mountain chaparral, crushed rock, thyme, and brambles burst forth. It's rich, powerful and palate coating, but also has a wonderful core of crushed rock mineral and savory dried herb components that compliment the bold fruit. A nice tannic grip gives definition to the fruit but without feeling aggressive. It's drinking beautifully right now, you can pop and pour, but I'm certain it will continue to slowly develop for another 8-10 years, maybe more. The wine reminds me a lot of some of the great Ridge Petite Sirahs from York Creek Vineyard on Spring Mountain and those wines aged for decades! Such a fascinating and extraordinary wine that over delivers and then some at our rock bottom price!

Top Value!

Price: Hidden

RP: 93 - 95

VN: 92 - 94

2017 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino (1.5L)

By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 11/13/2023 | Send Email

When I first tasted this wine, I was stunned by the nose, the fruit aromatics were so complete and tantalizing I couldn’t wait to taste it. On the palate it was just as exciting, supple, smooth, luscious fruit yet balanced with classic Sangiovese acidity making it fresh and enticing. The wine has a verve and brightness to it that really adds to the length and lift to the wine, this wine caught me by surprise, one of my favorites of the vintage.

Price: $79.99

JS: 91

VN: 91

2017 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino

By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 11/13/2023 | Send Email

When I first tasted this wine, I was stunned by the nose, the fruit aromatics were so complete and tantalizing I couldn’t wait to taste it. On the palate it was just as exciting, supple, smooth, luscious fruit yet balanced with classic Sangiovese acidity making it fresh and enticing. The wine has a verve and brightness to it that really adds to the length and lift to the wine, this wine caught me by surprise, one of my favorites of the vintage.

Price: $34.99

JS: 91

VN: 91

2015 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 11/13/2023 | Send Email

Certainly one of the best priced Riserva on the market and in this vintage a superbly drinking wine. The 2015 vintage is really inviting and drinkable and Ferrero's Riserva is no exception, the nose is full of wild cherry and spiced plum. The palate is supple, still structured but it gives a smoother feel as the plum and wild cherry begin to show bits of earth, leather and cedar box. The finish is long and inviting, wonderful to drink now but will last another decade.

Price: $74.99

VN: 94

2016 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

By: Greg St. Clair | Review Date: 11/13/2023 | Send Email

Ferrero’s normal richness in this vintage is back seat to the balance, structure and complexity. While still showing their hallmark character of chocolaty, supple opulence and smooth finish it is the layers of spice, wild herbs and structural length that really make this vintage stand out. The wine shows great balance and linearity weaving a luxuriant, tactile fabric of the wild cherry aromatics, black fruits and hints of leather, cinnamon and sage. The tannic structure is certainly there but it is a background stage that allows the flavors to play out without dominating the scene.

Price: $79.99

VN: 93

Rancho Tepua Reserva Del Vinatero Palmilla Blanco Sotol (750ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 11/10/2023 | Send Email

The pricing here is crazy, but so too is the quality. This sotol is super pure and clean, crystalline even. The nose is beautiful and feels like polished chrome. It is gently smoky, saline, herbaceous, and is reminiscent of a cedar humidor. It also offers hints of carrots caramelized in brown sugar. The palate is slick, maybe just a touch oily. It has a wonderful texture and more sweetness than you might expect from the more herbal and salty nose. At 30 bucks, this is an easy no brainer if you're a fan of interesting Mexican spirits. Feel free to do anything from thoughtful sipping to casual Margaritas and Palomas with this one.

Price: $29.99

2019 Poggio Il Castellare Rosso di Montalcino

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/10/2023 | Send Email

A slightly more traditional style with tart cherry fruit, orange peel, light tobacco and seamless tannins. The oak is mild and well integrated for impeccable balance. An excellent wine to have with both light and heavier meat dishes as well as hearty vegetarian dishes.

Price: $21.99

2022 Laberinto "Arcillas de Laberinto" Riesling Maule Valley

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/10/2023 | Send Email

Kirk (our South American Wine Buyer) recently asked me to taste this wine...OK I thought, Chilean Riesling, sounds intriguing...swirl, sniff, sip....wow, this is killer...sip...no really, like profoundly good...it must be expensive...consult my phone / our website...$19.99!!! What!? Alright, I'm buying some! This is just astoundingly great wine. For Riesling nerds (myself included) it totally checks all the boxes, but perhaps more importantly, this is just a fascinating, engaging, complex, and beautifully crafted white wine that anyone can enjoy. Meadow wild flowers, crystalline citrus notes, white peach, hints of lime leaf, crushed quartz, a mineral purity like a spring water. Racy, dynamic, textured - this has it all. Just an arrestingly stunning wine that was a revaluation for me. Exceptional value. Buy some.

Top Value!

Price: $19.99

TA: 98

2019 Poggerino "Bugialla" Chianti Classico Riserva

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/10/2023 | Send Email

A drier offering than the other Poggerino Chianti's, this Riserva still retains black cherry fruit with a hint of milk chocolate. Spice and earth, along with some minerals and light chalk, make this a slightly more traditional effort while retaining the overall user friendly goodness of this entire line of wines.

Price: $44.99

VN: 92

New Riff "K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #14585" Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)

By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 11/10/2023 | Send Email

This was the first time we've been offered a single barrel of Rye from New Riff, and I could not be more excited. Uniquely smoky, savory and woodsy on the nose, this boasts a tremendously complex array of herbs and spices backed up by rich caramel, oaky vanilla and a touch of cola. There's a note of maple-coated bacon here that has me hooked, but there's a wealth of incredible flavor on display. Sassafras, allspice, clove, cinnamon, coriander and nutmeg all play off each other beautifully, with a hint of sage on the back end. I don't notice any menthol on the palate, but I feel that unmistakable cooling sensation in my chest, like getting a lungful of crisp, alpine air on a cool, clear morning. The finish retains a fair amount of that spice, but settles easily on a sweet note that makes each sip a delight. Though many will be drawn to the straightforward appeal of the bourbon, I think the rye is the real MVP from this round of picks.

Price: $59.99

New Riff "K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #18611" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

By: Will Blakely | Review Date: 11/10/2023 | Send Email

These highly anticipated barrels from our trip to Kentucky in May have finally arrived, and they're even better than I remember. Jay and his team at New Riff always manage to overdeliver on flavor and character even after a scant 4-5 years of age. Here inviting aromas of vanilla, nougat and sweet toasted oak float effortlessly out of the glass. Orange oil, sticky toffee, baked apple and roasted chestnuts on the palate make this feel warm and immensely satisfying, with clove, nutmeg and just a dash of cinnamon adding nuance and length to the finish. What's truly impressive here is the seamless integration of wood and fruit flavors, creating a decadent, sumptuous texture that is so gratifying to drink. The key to New Riff's success, and the hallmark of all barrels we select, is that perfect balance; the wood is present but never bitter, and the proof makes this feel full and concentrated but not hot or boozy. Just a smashing success across the board, and a real testament to what craft whiskey has to offer.

Price: $54.99

2022 Nervi-Conterno "Il Rosato" Vino Rosato

By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 11/10/2023 | Send Email

The best Rose I have had this season! So happy we got it in stock just in time for Thanksgiving. It's definitely perfect match for it. This Rose is fresh and lively with broad texture, medium acidity, beautiful aromas of white peach and flavors of stone fruit, and mixed berries. It will make wonderful aperitif as well.

Price: $24.99

VN: 92

2018 Crescere "Ritchie Vineyard" Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 11/9/2023 | Send Email

What a brilliant Sauvignon Blanc. While I often hear comps to Bordeaux Blanc from top-tier renditions from California and Washington, I feel like they often don't deliver at that level. Crescere's Ritchie hits the nail on the head. I'm not sure it delivers the ethereal elegance of Haut Brion Blanc, but to me, it certainly could hold its own on a table with the likes of the top whites from DDC, SHL, or Pape-Clément. Aromatically there's a panoply of stone fruit, but it is the mix of bright acid and rich texture that makes this wine so stunning. Flavors of peach, pineapple, and white pepper linger on a wine that has undeniable depth and persistence. I was a huge fan of this when we first offered. At our current pricing, it is a must-try of the highest caliber.

Price: Hidden

JD: 98

2019 Martin Woods "Havlin Vineyard" Van Duzer Corridor Chardonnay

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/9/2023 | Send Email

This is likely to be the first of a few offers we have coming your way over the next couple weeks from this incredible winery that we have just started working with from Oregon. In the past few months every time I read an article or saw new scores in a tasting report for Oregon time and time again at the top of the list, with huge scores, was Martin Woods. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Decanter, International Wine Report...all with glowing things to say about these wines being some of the most exciting in the region...and yet I'd never tasted them! Well, something just had to be done about that. So, I sent a note to Evan Woods the winemaker / co-proprietor of the winery and was pleased to hear back from him even in the midst of harvest. Samples arrived a few days later and we scheduled a time to taste through the wines together "virtually" (very 2020) so I could get his personal reflections on the wines as I tasted. Wow! What a tasting, almost two hours and more than a dozen wines later I was simply flabbergasted by the level of quality, precision and complexity across the board. I could see right away what all the critics had recognized in these wines...they're simply some of the best wines being made in Oregon today, period. The first wine we're offering from Martin Woods is also an opportunity for you folks to try out these wines, to see what all the buzz is about, and do it for a super affordable price! The 2019 Havlin Vineyard Chardonnay is a wine that Evan made for a few vintages but is no longer getting the fruit from this cold and windy site in the Van Duzer Coridoor. Because this is the last release of this wine, he made us a great deal to go along side the other single vineyard wines we brought in. Havlin Vineyard sits on an exposed hillside at around 400ft from the valley floor. The soils are ancient marine sedimentary soils lending a powerful minerality to the wine. This is vibrant, focused Chardonnay with lots of crunchy orchard fruit, yellow stone fruit hints, slivered almond, freshly baked bread crust, oyster shell salinity with ripe citrus providing a nice zesty cut on the finish. Really well rounded, layered, complex Chardonnay that gives you a great feel for just how talented Evan is in the cellar! Watch out for his rising star winery that is about to blow up the Oregon wine scene!

Top Value!

Price: Hidden

RP: 94

2021 AXR Napa Valley Proprietary Red

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/9/2023 | Send Email

Here's a rare chance to get your hands on some seriously ultra-premium Napa Cab for under $30! Honestly, I taste thousands of Napa Cabs every year and this wine easily holds its own with dozens of $100+ bottles. Even at it's typical retail price of $40-$50 this wine is one of the best values you'll find today in Napa, and we have an even sharper price than that! Made by iconic winemaker Jean Hoefliger (Alpha Omega, The Debate, Harbison) who has many 100-point wines to his name. AXR winery sits at the base of Spring Mountain on the Madrone V Vineyard, but Jean has access to the very best fruit money can buy all across the valley from Beckstoffer To Kalon to Sacrashe, Sleeping Lady, Artalade, Stagecoach...the list of relationships from Jean's many decades in the region is endless! AXR's 21 Proprietary Red is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. It sees 12 months in 40% new French oak. The wine is just explosive! Huge aromas of creme de cassis, freshly picked blackberry, dark cherry, cedar notes, exotic oak spice, hints of mint and tobacco leaf. The palate is loaded with bold lush fruit, incredible purity, silky ripe tannins, perfectly integrated oak. There's a nice freshness and lift to keep all the richness and power dynamic and flowing. Just a beautifully satisfying bottle of deep, powerful Napa Cab for an exceptionally good price.

Top Value!

Price: Hidden

2015 l'Orme de Rauzan Gassies, Haut-Médoc

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

I was impressed with this value gem from Rauzan-Gassies. Pure red fruit, a silky texture, and a thread of acidity keep it balanced, and I can help but be struck by how perfectly drinkable and approachable it is at this stage. 2015 has become a bit of a sleeper vintage, and it is wines like this that will have folks looking back for more. Unfortunately, the quality and price here will make it not long for our shelves.

Price: $19.99

2020 de Sales, Pomerol (375ml)

By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Very floral, notes of sweet red fruits with herbal tones abound. Fresh and elegant! This is a lovely, easy drinking Pomerol in a perfect size to load up on for lunch, picnic's or that one more glass of red in the evening. From the De Lambert Family, who have owned the estate since the 16th century and also own the first growth estate of Sigalas-Rabaud in Sauternes.

Price: $15.99

2015 l'Orme de Rauzan Gassies, Haut-Médoc

By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Very nice Margaux wine; ready to drink and a great value! Attractive, silky round fruit with lovely balance, so Textbook Margaux! 9 years old and clearly show's the greatness of the 2015 vintage, one of the best vintages in the history of the commune. A no brainer! Ralph Sands

Price: $19.99

2020 Dalem, Fronsac

By: Ralph Sands | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

A serious young Fronsac ! Firm black fruits with a touch of middle roundness from this warm vintage. Could certainly cellar a few years, or decant for an hour to open up. Ralph Sands

Price: $24.99

2006 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

I just had a chance to revisit this after several years and it is in a perfect drinking window right now. The bottles we just received came directly from Beaucsastel and the wine is in a perfect spot right now. The nose opens with fresh fruit and layers of dried flowers, herbs and spices. It is complex and inviting. On the palate, the texture is seamless. The tannins are perfectly integrated and the acid provides the balance. This is stellar Chateauneuf that is beautiful now and should continue to evolve for many years to come. If you are looking for an impressive wine to drink for any occasion, this will not disappoint!

Price: $119.99

2022 Domaine Bégude "Etoile" Chardonnay Limoux

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

We have been big fans of Domaine Begude for nearly 20 years now. Their clean and precise monovarietal wines have always been one of our best value prospects from the southern French appellation of Limoux. Limoux still remains more famous for its sparkling wines but the region also makes outstanding Chardonnay. The rules of the appellation require that Chardonnay be barrel fermented and aged in wood for a minimum period of time but luckily they do not specify that it must be new and/or small barriques. Vigneron James Kinglake uses large format demi-muid, about 400-500L barrels and rotates them on a cycle of new, 1st and 2nd use for the Etoile. The fruit in the 2022 is sunny and filled with fresh flavors of nectarine and Pippin apples. A touch of creamy texture and light graham cracker spice is accented by a nice streak of minerality. This is fresh and focused Chardonnay for those who like a less oaky style but appreciate the roundess and richness that the grape brings to the table. Pure pleasure and a great bargain for sure!

Price: $19.99

DC: 92

2006 Capbern-Gasqueton, St-Estèphe

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Insider tip, 2006 is a vintage full of great values that are ready to open and enjoy today. This is a great example. Made by the excellent team at Calon Segur, this features beautiful fleshy cherry, redcurrant fruit with cigar box, earth and mint nuances and a lifted, fresh finish. Decant for half an hour to let all the flavors express themselves, then have with a juicy ribeye.

Price: $39.99

2009 Coufran, Haut-Médoc

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Chateau Coufran, oft called the "Pomerol of the Medoc" with its 85% Merlot content, is a perennial staff and customer favorite here at K&L and offers unbelievable value in the ready-to-drink claret category. 2009 was a beautifully warm, ripe vintage, and Coufran is full of concentrated dark bing cherry fruit, licorice, herbs and leathery nuances. The nose is so perfumed and pretty, and the wine is balanced and fresh with good acid lifting the rich fruit on the finish.

Price: $21.99

WE: 90 - 92

2011 de Viaud, Lalande-de-Pomerol

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

What a deal! This is perfectly aged, old school claret full of plenty of ripe, fresh cherry and plum fruit combined with leathery earthy goodness and nuances of cedar, smoke and toast. The tannins are resolved but still grippy, making this the quintessential food claret for a great price.

Price: $21.99

JS: 90

2018 Lamouroux Rouge, Graves

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

As a lover of the mineral-driven wines of Graves, it is hard to overstate what a great value this wine is. '18 was a generous, warm vintage so there's plenty of delicious dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit here, along with subtle gravelly earthiness, a touch of toast and baking spice. This is wonderfully balanced and extremely quaffable, and would go well with an expensive, rich meal or mid-week hamburgers alike. This is a great wine to keep a case around of, and will age nicely in the near-to-mid term.

Price: $16.99

2019 Grand Ormeau "Cuvee Chevalier" Lalande-de-Pomerol

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

This is the second label of Chateau Grand Ormeau, grown just a stones throw from Pomerol. The excellence of the vintage is evident here, lots of rich plum, blueberry and blackcurrant fruit with lovely violet and lavender floral elements. The fruit is mouthcoating and satisfying with ripe, silky tannin and good freshness. Remarkably enjoyable in its youth, I will throw a few in my cellar to revisit in about five years.

Price: $18.99

2019 Xavier Vignon "Cuvée Anonyme" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Our relationship with Xavier has been fortunate. Since we began working with him directly, we have been introduced to some of the coolest wines we have found from any of our producers. The straight-from-the-barrel 1972, 2000 and now, 1983 are all unicorns. With his Arcane series, he blends across terroir and sometimes vintages to create magnificent wines that are often sums better than their parts cuvees. But the wine that turned my head so many years ago, was the Cuvee Anonyme. Always from many of his same sources and from the oldest vine fruit, the Anonyme is an exquisite wine that shows the depth of fruit that Xavier loves but always has an undercurrent of finesse that keeps the wines balanced and cellar worthy. The 2019 is the newest release showing saturated flavors of blackberry, fig jam, toasted herbs and a panoply of spices. It is complex and inviting and shows all the hallmarks of the power of the 2019 vintage. But, there is that streak of finesse on the palate. The tannins are integrated, the acidity keeps the wine lifted and never heavy across the palate. Yet another triumph from one of our best vignerons!

Price: $49.99

JD: 95 - 97

2021 My Favorite Neighbor "Harvey & Harriet" San Luis Obispo County White Blend

By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

A delicious, refreshing blend of Albariño, Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Gris, aged for 10 months in French Oak (35% new). Inviting aromas and flavors of ripe peaches, quince, citrus, ripe yellow apple, lemongrass, fresh ginger, hint of chamomile, and a nice touch of butterscotch on the finish.

Price: $19.95

RP: 95

2019 Coal Pit "Tiwha" Pinot Noir Gibbston Central Otago

By: Thomas Smith | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

The 2019 Coal Pit Tiwha (Pronounced “Tee-Fa”) hits Central Otago, and more specifically the region of Gibbston right on the nose. The aroma has a rusty, irony edge with savory undertones below a classic Gibbston floral perfume. The body here is bold and full; there’s an abundance of black cherry and black berry with a restrained acidity that lets the fruit resonate on the palate. Produced entirely from a small, Maori owned single vineyard, every aspect of quality-driven craft Pinot Noir production is here: wild ferments, 35% whole cluster a just under ⅓ in well executed New French Oak. Most certainly a Central Otago producer to watch.

Price: $59.99

RC: 96

SK: 96

Paladar Estate Grown 12 Month Old "Overaged Reposado" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #46 Tequila (750ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

When my friend Pete announced that he'd started a new tequila brand with the Orendain family, I immediately asked for single barrels. The great tequilas from the old El Llano distillery are well known, but the only single barrel version has been the Arette Gran Clase Extra Anejo, which is not exactly affordable. Pete didn't take a second before responding, "Samples coming!" This is the first spirit distilled entirely by the younger Eduardo Orendain, known as Lalo. The style at El Llano is very intricate and delicate but offers great expressiveness and balance. I was excited to try the repo casks at full strength. They go into barrel low, like at Fortaleza, and Lalo doesn't cut it at all before bottling. After one taste, we jumped on this excellent barrel, but it took another several months to get it bottled. So, when Pete came to me asking if I wanted it bottled as Anejo, I insisted that we keep the Repo label, mostly because I prefer the red to the blue (and I knew the price would be better!). So thanks to some slightly slower logistics than anticipated our Reposado was aged a full 12.5 months before bottling. I'm so happy with how this barrel turned out, even though it's not at all the same as when we original selected. I contend that even up against the famous Fortaleza single barrel, you'd have trouble distinguishing a distinctive quality difference. This barrel should have sold out the moment it arrived, but we've got a lot of skeptics in the tequila community and a lot of junk that's not worth your time, but slowly people will open their bottles and start to see what I love about this barrel. Considering the age and quality it's truly an exceptional value. Let's taste! Please note my sample was aerated for nearly 30 minutes before tasting. These cask strength tequilas love air! The nose is a gorgeous mixture of exotic fruit - pineapple, coconut, and tangerine peel- with rich earthy oak tones - vanilla, espresso roast, sweet cream, and caramel candies. With further aeration, a deep roasted agave base note (something like cooked pumpkin) ties the sweet and savory sides together. On the palate, the first comment is the rich silky texture, offering a mouth coating oily-ness that is the hallmark of high-quality uncut agave. We start on the big vanillas, offering sweet oak and chocolate ganache, before adding a warming spice and roasted cinnamon note. One or two sneaky drops of water truly opens this spirit up, building gorgeous stone fruit aromas and sending the wood way back on the nose. The water somehow makes it even weightier on the palate now and highlights more fruit and agave, but a beautiful oak spice remains on the finish. It's just super delicious in a way that even the most novice tequila lover will appreciate yet has the depth and unique character enough to entice the old guard. Paladar is a brand to watch in the future.

Price: $59.99

2021 Coal Pit "Proprietor's Reserve" Sauvignon Blanc Gibbston Central Otago

By: Thomas Smith | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc isn’t necessarily “a thing”. Most winemakers in the region have put all their eggs in the Pinot Noir basket, which is the signature grape variety of Central Otago. But there are a handful of producers crafting excellent examples of the variety–and doing so in a way that is totally different from their Northerly neighbors in Marlborough. Barrel aged, lees contact, and longer elevage are the common line through these wines, unlike Marlborough where most producers use massive stainless steel tanks and work speedily to rush their wines to market as quickly as possible. With that said, the Coal Pit Sauvignon Blanc is easily the best Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc I have ever tasted. Incredibly distinctive, and still absolutely delicious this wine was an absolute stunner. From a single vineyard in Gibbston planted in 1994, this Sauvignon blanc displays a unique honeyed nose with supporting notes of spice and white pepper. Its weight and substantiveness makes it feel almost like a Chardonnay in terms of its body, and the palate follows up with green melon and citrus before a Marzipan laden finish. A hint of RS curbs its powerful acidity, bringing the entire glass together. This was an absolute “wow” bottle of wine for me.

Price: $49.99

RC: 94

VN: 92

2021 Villa Creek "Rocks & Flowers" Paso Robles Rhône Blend

By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

A delicious blend of Grenache , Syrah , Carignan, Mourvedre, and Petite Sirah. Native fermented with 40% stem inclusion, then aged in a mix of 500 liter and 225 liter barrels (40% new). Organic and Biodynamic certified. Pretty nose of red berries, blackberries, kirsch, bramble, hibiscus, violets, dried thyme, black tea, sandalwood. The palate matches the aroma, with additional flavors of black pepper, and spicy dried herbs, and a touch of toasty oak on the finish.

Price: $39.95

VN: 93

2021 AXR Napa Valley Proprietary Red

By: Thomas Smith | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Over the past two years, things have been changing significantly in Napa. It used to be that there were numerous options for the savvy consumer looking for great wines under $40. Unfortunately for us all, that time has passed. There are fewer and fewer wines at this price that have the quality we expect from Napa. Enter the AXR Bordeaux Blend. Over the years this has been a consistent, excellent value. But with the state of Napa pricing today, I think this wine is on a whole different level. Despite this being listed as a Bordeaux blend, AXR would be within their rights to simply designated it as a Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up 75% of the blend. And it feels more like a well-balanced Cabernet than the typical Napa Bordeaux Blend or Meritage. I love the note of crushed stone and subtle bell pepper edge of aromas here. But the palate is fully shrouded in black cassis and blackberry with subtle notes of nutmeg and baking spice. Easily full bodied, but not overwhelming in weight, the tannin and acid are in lock step with one another–leading to a dry, zesty finish. One of the best deals coming out of Napa this year.

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2019 Martin Woods "Havlin Vineyard" Van Duzer Corridor Chardonnay

By: Thomas Smith | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

After tasting the 2019 Martin Woods Chardonnay for the first time–I am extremely impressed. Its aromatic start with a honeyed citrus note, expressing a resonance of purity and depth. The medium weight on the palate is graced by a subtle hint of fresh cut herbs, which, far from imparting a green note, amplifies the wine's freshness. A creamy mid-palate note exhibits a deft touch with lees contact, adding a unique weight for this style of Chardonnay. While not imitating Chablis, it leans decisively towards a leaner style of Chardonnay, brimming with refinement and elegance. At the back palate, a swing of acidity sweeps across the palate, leading into a prolonged finish. Since my introduction to Walter Scott wines a few years ago, this is easily the best Oregon Chardonnay I've tasted. Any comparison to the reigning master of Oregon Chardonnay is no light praise and a sign that you need to put Martin Woods on your radar.

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RP: 94

Laurent-Perrier "La Cuvée" Brut Champagne

By: Gary Westby | Review Date: 11/8/2023 | Send Email

Several years ago, Laurent Perrier was fortunate enough to acquire a small Champagne group that owned vineyards and had some very good contracts in the Côtes de Blancs. It took more than five years for the first batch that includes fruit from these marvelous sites to be released, and the wines are a revelation- truly one of the best non-vintages on the market from a grande marque. They have increased the proportion of chardonnay in the blend to 55% (the balance is 30% pinot noir and 15% meunier), and now only use the first and most delicate portion of the grape pressing, while increasing the aging minimum to over four years on the lees. The result is a Champagne with a near blanc de blancs character, singing with Puligny Montrachet-like lime and vibrant chalk. If you like your champagne fresh, clean and light but still with interest and depth, this is one not to miss!

Price: $49.99

WE: 91

WS: 91

2021 AXR Napa Valley Proprietary Red

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 11/7/2023 | Send Email

The AXR Proprietary Red is always a no-brainer for delicious, reasonably priced Napa wine, and the 2021 vintage is no exception. Lushly fruited with well integrated oak, the wine is loaded with red and black plum, ripe blackberry, blueberry, graphite, and vanilla. Medium-bodied and juicy with silky tannins and fresh acidity, the AXR Red is almost too easy to drink, but underneath all that tempting fruit lies some real complexity. This wine is always a win.

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2019 Martin Woods "Havlin Vineyard" Van Duzer Corridor Chardonnay

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 11/7/2023 | Send Email

The 2019 Martin Woods "Havlin Vineyard" Chardonnay is another shining example of the astounding quality to be found in Oregon Chardonnay. Hailing from the cool, windy Van Duzer Corridor-a gap in the coastal range that funnels cold ocean air into the valley-the wine rolls savory, minerally, and fruity all into one. White peach, pear, and candied lemon peel mingle with flavors of vanilla bean and creme brulee while chalky, struck match minerality reverberates around the edges. This isn't your ultra-lean, ultra-high acid Chard; there's enough weight to the body to balances the nervy acidity through a savory finish. There's a lot of stuffing here for sub-$30.

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RP: 94

2021 AXR Napa Valley Proprietary Red

By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 11/7/2023 | Send Email

The AXR Napa Valley Proprietary Red is an outstanding value in Napa Cabernet. The wine is full and rich, with juicy flavors of blackberries, blueberries and red plums. The dusty tannins give just the right amount of texture, and hints of cocoa and barrel spice keep things interesting. This is a dense, juicy wine that still has enough lift to keep me coming back for another sip. A nice powerful red to pair with rich foods or enjoy by itself on a cool evening.

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