K&L Wine Merchants - Staff Favorites

2020 Château de L'Ou "Secret de Schistes" Côtes Catalanes

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 11/2/2023 | Send Email

We work with several producers in the Roussillon. They each bring something special to the table but one of our stars in that side of our direct import portfolio remains the spirited and talented Severine Bourrier of Chateau de L'Ou. It was here 2015 Secret de Schistes that first turned my head and blew out the door when it landed. It didn't hurt that her style of winemaking and the quality of old vine fruit coming from a craggly brown schist vineyard evoked memories of the wines of Manfred Krankl. And for a fraction of the price. Though Severine's wines are bold, they always have a finesse and elegance that balance the rich and expressive flavors. As always, this is 100% Syrah showing a nose of blackberry, licorice, baking spices, sassafras and roasted meats. As they age, they feel like top-tier Hermitage. Again at a fraction of the price. Yet another release from Severing that continues to prove how important a core producer that she and her L'Ou wines have become to us. Not to be missed!

Price: $34.99

JD: 94

2019 Domaine de la Réserve d'O "La Réserve d'O" Terrasses du Larzac

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 11/2/2023 | Send Email

It's hard to believe that it has been well over a year since our last shipment of la Reserve d'O. This wine was an immediate sensation when we first started with vignerons Marie and Frederic Chauffrey. I met with Marie in February at a wine fair but sometimes it takes time for the wine to flow our direction. After revisiting the wine now that it has landed on our shelves, I am very pleased by the progress that the 2019 has made. The Chauffrey's handling of the wines has only gotten more deft and refined as they have added vintage after vintage under their collective belts. All biodynamic and low intervention winemaking leads to a fresh and lifted Rhone styled red. In the vein of great bio producers like Foillard, Lapierre and Leflaive of Beaujolais and Burgundy respectively, these are wines that use minimal intervention to express what is true about the terroir and the grapes themselves. The Grenache brings loads of bold fruit and leafy tobacco, the Syrah adds spice, texture and weight and the dab of Cinsault gives lift and floral tones. The mouthfeel has weight but it is elegant in the mouth and the tannins are refined. The still remains one of the benchmarks in our Southern French portfolio.

Price: $24.99

WS: 91

2021 Alessandro di Camporeale Monreale "Vigna di Mandranova" Grillo

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Soft citrus flavors of key lime, pink grapefruit and fresh oranges. Bright and dry but, not overly bracing acidity. A great pick for those of you who love Sauvignon Blanc, Gruner Veltliner or Albarino.

Price: $39.99

2021 La Scolca "Black Label" Gavi di Gavi

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Probably the best Gavi that I have ever tasted. Clean, with bright citrus, mid-palate stone fruits, lemon cream, white peach and minerals. So tasty!

Price: $46.99

DC: 90

WS: 90

2020 Ca' del Baio "Autinbej" Barbaresco

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This is what Barbaresco is all about. Very dry with chalky cherry fruit, dry and savory herbs, orange rind. It softens as it sits in the glass to expand out with somewhat darker red fruits, clean earth and black licorice. Although drinking well now, this can also be a cellar candidate. This is all very nice for such an affordable price!

Price: $39.99

JS: 94

VN: 92

2016 Silla Il Piaggione Chianti Classico Riserva

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This lightly plush red cherry fruited Chianti Classico also has dried herb notes and ripe red cherries on the finish. A nice melding of the old and new world styles.

Price: $19.99

2022 Tedeschi "Capitel Tenda" Soave Classico

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Forget what you think that you know about Soave! This gem is clean, crisp, bright and simply delicious. Tip of the tongue citrus with a background of fresh green and yellow fruits. Should be a great crowd pleaser.

Price: $16.99

2022 Ercole Monferrato Bianco 1L

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Bright and fun with clean and crisp citrus, floral notes, lemon and stone fruits. The liter bottle also makes it even more attractive! A wonderful value.

Price: $16.99

2020 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils "Le Péché - Originel Sans Soufre Ajouté" Cinsault Vin de France

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Usseglio is a top tier producer of Chateauneuf du Pape so it may seem a bold choice to make 100% Cinsault, which is an oft-maligned grape for its lightness and lack of extraction. But when you have old vine fruit, like you do here - planted in the early 1960s, you get naturally lower yields and more depth of flavor. And the "Peche" has just that, flavor, in abundance. Even good old vine Cinsault tends to be light on the palate but this is denser, richer and more savory. This is beautifully complex and show harmonious structure on the palate. Though all natural (no sulfites are added during the winemaking process), this is a sultry wine that shows the typicity of old vine Cinsault but with the earthier side of a classic Chateauneuf. I like to think of this as the wine Marcel Lapierre from the Beaujolais appellation of Morgon would've made if he had ventured down to the Southern Rhone. Quite special stuff!

Price: $29.99

JS: 94

RP: 93

2020 Moulin de la Gardette "Cuvée Ventabren" Gigondas

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

The 2020 Ventabren is another gem in a long string of successes we have had from Moulin de la Gardette. Jean-Baptiste Meunier continues to make strides forward in his winemaking creating some of the most distinctive and complex wines from Gigondas in the market. The fact that we have had a direct relationship with him has kept the prices tight on these wines over the years even following all the critical success he has been receiving. This new Ventabren in the glass evokes memories of walking through the forests in the mountains around the village to get to the heart of his old vine vineyards. Evocative is easily the best description. Aromas of incense, spice and garrigue emerge from the glass, flavors of blackberry, tobacco and wild thyme envelop the palate. The sweet fruit is perfectly balanced by the savory notes of this wine. This is another wine for the ages and should evolve beautifully for many more years to come. But what a pleasure to enjoy a bottle now!

Price: $44.99

2010 Octomore (Bruichladdich) 12 Year Old "Dramfool's Jim McEwan Journey's End 3" First Fill Bourbon Barrel Cask#4525 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This bottling is big and peaty without going over the top. There is a hint of sweetness and full, rich viscosity. Honeyed and smoky and elegant.

Price: $499.99

2004 Port Charlotte 18 Year Old "Dramfool" Sherry Cask Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This is a very treat! Super dark! The colour of coffee. Dark and nutty with spice, sherry sweetness and nuttiness. Very long spice driven finish Lightly smoky to add additional nuance. An extremely special bottling.

Price: $429.99

2009 Aultmore 14 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) Single First Fill Red Wine Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Quite dark in colour with a nose of chocolate, red fruits and oak. Nice oak, not overdone oak. On the palate, nice spicy with cinnamon Red Hots spice, light char, malt and maple sweetness in the background. So super solid. Don't miss it. The price is also great!

Price: $69.99

1986 Domaine de Baraillon 37 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Another release from Baraillon that is very underpriced. This is the best Armagnac that I have tasted in many months! Richer on the palate than the 1984 with caramel, cocoa, ripe pear, orange and milk chocolate flavors. The 1986 and the 1984 versions are like Yin and Yang and are just superb!

Price: $129.99

1984 Domaine de Baraillon 39 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This amazingly priced Armagnac has an oaky nose with scents of orange marmalade and vanilla. Flavors of oranges, baking spices, oak, earth, and light stone fruits. Beautifully balanced and delicious!

Price: $139.99

Redacted (Thompson) Bros "Mediterranean" Organic Scottish Gin (700ml)

By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This awesomely citrus dominated gin has lemon peel, orange rind, and very subtle juniper elements. It is very smooth and extremely refreshing. Delicious!

Price: $44.99

2019 Podere il Carnasciale "Carnasciale"

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Admittedly, this is my first taste of Caberlot (a cross between Cabernet Franc and Merlot), and I love it. It is incredibly aromatically robust with dark currants, plums, black pepper and violets, toast and a touch of baking spice. It has a rich texture, supple, silky tannins and enough acidity on the finish to keep the rich wine in balance and fresh. Enjoy with a hearty cassoulet or even filet mignon.

Price: $69.99

WS: 95

2020 Ca' del Baio "Autinbej" Barbaresco

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This is a fantastic Barbaresco made from selected vineyards sites in Ca'Del Baio's estate holdings. The 2020 vintage, with its warm days and cool nights, was kind to the late-ripening Nebbiolo, and this will continue to age nicely for some time. It has beautiful pure red fruit with classic rose petal and licorice aromas, great balance, freshness and brightness, and enough stuffing to pair well with classic Piedmontese osso buco.

Price: $39.99

JS: 94

VN: 92

2018 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This is such a knockout Tuscan Sangiovese for its price. The few years of bottle age have been very nice to this wine, with a nice easy texture provided by a silky smooth tannin profile, nice savory fruit -- dark cherry, red currants and plums -- an intriguing savory edge and soft acid on the finish.

Price: $21.99

WS: 91

2020 Cantina Terlano "Vorberg" Pinot Bianco Riserva Alto Adige

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This is an incredible Pinot Bianco, offering more concentration and intensity than its French and Austrian counterparts. It has beautifully powerful citrus, pear and apple fruit with white flowers, layers of oyster shell and marine saline savoriness and impressive acidity that nicely balances out the rich fruit and broad texture.

Price: $56.99

VN: 95

RP: 94

Wiston Estate Brut West Sussex England

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This non-vintage brut is the perfect representation of what English bubbles offer for a relatively great price. It is made of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay in equal portions and features a symphony of beautiful flavors like lemon and tangerine citrus, fresh gala apples, jasmine, honeysuckle, sourdough toast and pronounced chalky minerality. While satisfying and expressive, it is still crisp and refreshing, really threading the needle of balance.

Price: $29.95

WE: 95

VN: 92

DC: 91

Wiston Estate Brut Rosé West Sussex England

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

This is such a fun bottle of rose bubbles, with a uniquely savory sour cherry element that I love, buoyed by creamy toast from three years resting on the lees and beautiful floral notes that slowly wind out of the glass as it opens up. Considering the pedigree of the winery and the painstaking methods of production (they use an old-school Coquard basket press) the price on this is unbelievably reasonable.

Price: $29.95

WE: 94

DC: 91

Wiston Estate Brut Blanc de Blancs West Sussex England

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

The wines of Wiston are a prime example of how good British bubbles can be. The chalky soils of the south of England are a continuation of the same Kimmeridgian strip that runs underneath Champagne, which, with the warmer weather climate change provides, makes it a prime site for bubbly production. This is a decadent blanc de blancs with bright Meyer lemon citrus, wild honey and sourdough toast, flinty smoke and chalky minerals. It has a rich texture, ample fruit balanced by great acidity and an impressively long finish. Enjoy with crab cakes or a nice shrimp cocktail.

Price: $34.95

2020 Cherry House (Villa Creek) Paso Robles Red

By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

'Cherry House' by Villa Creek is a Certified Organic blend of destemmed Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvedre from Paso Robles. The nose showcases notes of raspberry, blackberry, cherries, dried savory herbs, and hint of cinnamon. Lighter on the palate, with flavors of juicy black and red berries, along with a savory/spicy finish. A fun red. Serve slightly chilled!

Price: $24.95

WE: 91

2017 Copain "Les Voisin" Anderson Valley Chardonnay

By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Pretty notes of apricot, yellow pear, lime, saline, chalk, and macadamia nuts. Well balanced, with ample acidity, and a long refreshing finish. The flavors have developed through bottle age, and this Chardonnay is right at the beginning of it's prime drinking window. What a delicious wine, and a phenomenal value!

Top Value!

Price: Hidden

WE: 92

WS: 90

2021 DuMol "Isobel - Charles Heintz Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 11/1/2023 | Send Email

Back in mid-September I was lucky enough to spend the best part of a day with the team at DuMOL out in the Russian River. We walked a number of vineyards, kicked the dirt, sampled fruit, and I even jumped on the sorting table to help process the first few tons of Estate Pinot Noir that was rolling into the winery that morning. I was also treated to the full lineup of spectacular 2021 single vineyard releases. The entire range is phenomenal. DuMOL are hands down making some of the greatest wines anywhere in California, and their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays rival the finest Burgundies I've ever tasted. The 2021 Isobel from Charles Heintz Vineyard was a big standout in the lineup. Of course I assumed that with the monster scores (98WA / 98TWI / 97JS / 95-97VN) and historically low yields of fruit, that we would only get a handful of bottles. However, when our allocation arrived last week I was excited that my hours of fruit sorting and grape sampling had been rewarded with enough wine we could actually offer out to a small portion of our mailing list! It's still not very much wine is the grand scheme of things, but to even be able to get your hands on a wine with this level of critical acclaim and pedigree is increasing difficult! The wine truly captures the magic of this cold, heavily fog influenced site. Sitting just east of the town of Occidental, surrounded by coastal forest, the Chardonnay fruit here captures the crystaline nature of the cool sunshine, and salty ocean air. Tiny yields from the old vines, "moondust" Goldridge soils and meticulous farming give Heintz a unique flavor profile of golden exotic fruit with piquant acidity and incredible persistence on the palate. After decades of working with the site, no one captures its essence more brilliantly than winemaker Andy Smith. Get some of this in your cellar and enjoy over the next 15 years.

Price: $74.99

2019 Eric Kent "Atoosa's Vineyard" Russian River Valley Syrah

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/31/2023 | Send Email

The 2019 Eric Kent "Atoosa's" Syrah from Russian River Valley is an example of California Syrah with pinpoint accuracy. The wine is well fruited with ample body, yet beautifully layered with earthy, herbal complexity. Creamy cassis, black plum, blackberry, and huckleberry flood the palate, closely followed by savory earthiness. Asian spice, dried sage and thyme, white smoke, and black pepper unfold in an expansive display of complexity. Then, just when you think the experience is complete, the whole thing is wrapped up with a pretty bow of floral lift. This is a whole lot of wine for the price.

Price: Hidden

2020 Eric Kent "1KM West" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/31/2023 | Send Email

The 2020 Eric Kent "1Km West" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a fresh, punchy counterpoint to its "Luke's Grove" brethren. Broadly textured and well layered, there's a crisp center of green apple and lemon curd to balance its expansive corona of quince, clove, and nutmeg. Oak tones are displayed, but beautifully interwoven with the wine's creamy texture and they never overwhelm its tart green apple core. This is a wine of immense balance and precision at $50 and a no brainer at sub-$20.

Price: Hidden

2010 Domaine de Baraillon 13 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 10/28/2023 | Send Email

I often say that vintage Armagnac doesn't really start to sing until it's about 15 years old, but this 2010 Baraillon is going to be a vintage to watch in the coming decades, because it is so damn good even at a mere 13 years of age. A precocious teenager, it is already jumping out of the glass with mature notes of honey, pine sap, saw dust, and of course thanks to its youth - tons of fruit! Golden peaches in syrup, green grapes, citrus preserves all answer the roll call. Cinnamon bark and flashes of tobacco leaf hint at the complexity yet to emerge in the coming decades. On the palate its easily enjoyable flavors range across the aforementioned fruit preserves and honey and whatever the precursor to varnish is - the characteristic flavor of many mature Armagnacs isn't quite there yet, but it seems like it wants to be. The finish pings back and forth between dry tannin and sweet fruit. At 47.4%, it seems to have been reduced from some earlier bottling that made it to market which were at 49+ degrees, but it is hard to imagine it has given up any power. Presumably it will be left to rest for many more years to come and savvy drinkers will line up bottlings from this stupendous vintage over the years.

Price: $54.99

2019 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/28/2023 | Send Email

I consider myself very fortunate to have tasted dozens of vintages of Dunn's iconic Howell Mountain bottling over the years. I've had them young and old; bottles made by Randy Dunn, and bottles from more recent years as his son Mike took the reins. These powerful, distinctive, long-lived Cabernets never disappoint. I believe more than any other producer the flavors and characters captured at Dunn have become inseparable from Howell Mountain itself; they are truly the quintessential expression of this special place captured in wine. Back in August a few of us from K&L were lucky enough to spend a several hours at Dunn walking the vineyards, barrel tasting in the cellar, and running through numerous vintages of both the Napa and Howell Mountain Cabs. Out of all the wines we tasted that day, the 2019 Howell was truly exceptional. It felt and tasted like a Dunn Cab, and yet it was so open, expressive, and downright delicious even as a young wine! I remember some young editions of this wine that had your lips stuck to your teeth and your tongue coated in dense, thick tannins. My typical advice to people when they're buying Dunn Cabs is to forget about them for at least a decade...maybe two! But this 2019...wow, it's just stunning even upon release. Now, don't get me wrong, this is still most certainly a wine with 30+ years of ageing potential. However, the structure is beautifully refined, the fruit lush and polished, the balance of fruit and structure is immaculate, the oak integration totally seamless. The dark brooding core of volcanic minerality and briary mountain chapparal is still present, there's no doubt this is Howell Cab...it's just got another level of refinement and precision that is truly magical. I can't wait to follow how this wine evolves over the next few decades. Potentially one of the best ever bottlings of this legendary wine.

Drink from 2024 to 2024

Price: $199.00

IWR: 98

VN: 98

WS: 96

2020 Hatzidakis Mavrotragano Santorini Greece

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/27/2023 | Send Email

Mavrotragano has only recently gotten the dry wine treatment (most was for reserved for sweet wines) and its shame that we have had to wait so long to see just how much we've been missing. This succulent red has that beautiful volcanic quality (Santorini is all pumice and lava) that leans toward memories of the Sicilian wines of Mt. Etna but with its supple almost Burgundian mouthfeel, it stands alone on its own. This is a beautifully textured red that will delight drinkers of Italian reds, bolder Burgundies and of course anyone interested in top-tier Greek reds.

Price: $69.99

2021 Koutsogiannopoulos "Ksera Homata Old Vines" Santorini Greece

By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/27/2023 | Send Email

From old vines sitting closer to the sea, this Assyrtiko has that transparency that leans more towards Cru Chablis than the richer riper styles that come from higher up the hills. Dry brined apple notes are complemented by white flowers, lemon grass and that intriguing volcanic minerality which is what makes the wines from Santorini so special. Also coming from a single vineyard parcel which makes it even that more special.

Price: $57.99

2006 Ardbeg 17 Year Old "Dramfool - Red Bag" Bourbon Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Neal Fischer | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

Looking at the name on the bottle might make the distillery of this bottling obvious, but the nose is a different story! Sure, there's peat and richness, but if someone had made me taste this blind I don't think I'd guess correctly. On the nose, there's smoke, but nowhere near expected levels. The smoke turns to spent ashes flowing into soft caramel chews (think: those caramel cubes that seem to be at everybody's grandma's house that melt so fast you've eaten ten before you know what happened) and salted toffee nuts. Then it's almost a touch floral before wading into peaches and cream. The palate is assertive on first sip, but it softens quickly and I found each subsequent drink to be dangerously easier to enjoy. The mingling Holiday spices settle into a creamy deep vanilla richness from the Bourbon barrel. The palate is a head-scratcher in the way that the peat almost isn't smoky. Instead, it's earthy, vegetal, damp, and woody - you get a sense of the bog. Everything ties together excellently, with a balance in vanillas, pecan praline nuttiness, and soft fruit notes. This single cask bottling is a beautifully curious expression from this distillery.

Price: $399.99

2019 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

During a Napa visit where we visited some of the royalty of the region, Dunn's 2019 Howell Mountain stuck out as one of the most complete, delicious, and rewarding wines we tasted. The aromas bring forward a dusty and rocky minerality that leads to pure cassis/Cabernet aromas. The palate is explosive, with layered red fruits that show a great purity and juciness, but backed by plenty of structure. A long extract-lined finish shows impressive textrue and depth. That mid-palate depth of Howell Mountain speaks loudly here as well. This is a wine that's already showing a ton and will be a joy to drink anytime over the coming years. Fans of the estate won't want to miss this, and it still stands tall as one of the best collectible values in Napa. Brilliant.

Price: $199.00

IWR: 98

VN: 98

WS: 96

Real McCoy 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary of Prohibition Tradition Single Blended Barbados Rum (750ml)

By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

I am a big fan of this limited release from Foursquare! I really enjoy the flagship Real McCoy 12 year when I can get my hands on it, but this higher proof version (100 proof instead of the usual 80 proof) has much more complexity and weight that I wish the 12 year always had. Notes of molasses, honey, baking spices, cacao nibs, and tobacco on the nose and palate. Smooth, aromatic, and heavy on the palate with a long finish. This is a must grab for any fans of Foursquare and a great purchase for any bourbon fans that are interested in exploring rum.

Price: $49.99

2006 Ardbeg 17 Year Old "Dramfool - Red Bag" Bourbon Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

Nobody needs me to sit here and tell them this is absolutely delicious. We know it's going to be excellent. There's almost no bad Ardbeg, but the big question is whether it's worth the money and I'm here to say unequivocally yes. Sure it has no official name attached, but I don't think they could make it any more clear what the source is. And to be honest the distillery doesn't release single casks to the public, so there's not a lot of comparison for modern bottlings, but if you search around you'll find the occasional OB or IB distilled around this period and they're inevitably 3-4 times the price Dramfool is asking. The distilleries own 19 year, which is not to be trifled with, does not boast the high proof or single cask credentials. Other independents that might have bottled similar vintages 4-5 years ago are trading well above this price point. So we know its going to be good and that it's well under market for something of similar specifications, but how good could it possible be? Well freakin' fantastic. Firstly you notice the exceptional color, a gorgeous deep copper color, a true rarity for even a fresh hogshead that's not VERY old. At first nosing, it's not overtly in your peat monster range. Instead the nose has a powerful fresh almond character, with exotic citrus, rich earthy bark, smoldering incense, Bactine, dried golden raisins and salted caramel. It definitely starts on the prettier side of the BAG without any really salty fish or too much soot. But when it hits the palate, it's a different story. The first note is the oily texture. It's thick and sits on the lips slicking them before the entry. Then is rich sooty smoke right up front which relinquishes into exotic incenses and oils, lanolin, dried yellow plums and fancy black tea. With water it adds a deep tropical quality to the nose. Still not teasing out huge amounts of peat aromatically, but the active wood I think has interacted in a lovely way to offer a sort of different take on the old South Shore stalwart. Now with air you're getting some really nicely mature peat after all, still with the oily and nutty more prominent than the salty. The palate is still forward on the peat up front and now adding pepper and sweet dried fruit on the finish. This one loves air and a bit of water. It will only disappoint those hoping for a stinky fish bomb of some kind. Most other lovers of Ardbeg will appreciate the juxtaposition of power and nuance that it offers, albeit in the context of a solidly active hogshead.

Price: $399.99

Ayinger Altbairish Dunkel (500ml bottle)

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

It must be hard to achieve dark maltiness in an ale without a finish that is cloying and sticky because that what most of them out there do. This has awesome, dark roasted goodness while still being super refreshing and clean on the finish. While American beer makers can certainly shock you with the interesting and experimental flavor profiles they are cooking up, the Germans are still making super delicious classic beers that are hard to beat.

Price: $4.29

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale, England (14.9oz can)

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

I had this last night as part of my grand "Revisit-the-Classics" effort to contextualize the ever expanding and confusing beer scene, and whoa, what a doozy! My favorite beers represent their styles well while avoiding straying from a balanced experience (looking at you American IPA scene). Sam Smith has been doing this since 1758, and is still around, so there must be something there. It has plenty of satisfying roasted malt flavors but also excellent fruit undertones, almond nuttiness and a crisp, clean finish. If you want a delicious, balanced and satisfying brown ale that doesn't cost as much as a bottle of wine, throw a few of these in your cart.

Price: $3.69

2010 Balestard La Tonnelle, St-Emilion

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

What a fun bottle of St. Emilion! Get your French dictionary out, it features a super classic label with ancient French poetry on it, and inside is incredible wine from a knockout vintage. Ripe and silky dark cherry, strawberry and plum, with a bit of dark chocolate and espresso. It has beautifully balanced acid and tannins that are nearly totally resolved. It's just now entering its drinking window, so this makes a great gift for drinkers and collectors alike. Winter is coming, and this is what I want to drink with the season's first beef stew!

Price: $49.99

JS: 94

WS: 90

2022 Robert Goulley Bourgogne Blanc

By: Alex Schroeder | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

I just found my new house white! During our last staff tasting, I had to do a double-take at the price, this is VERY good wine for the money. It has bright citrus, orchard fruit flavors with nice mineral and floral undertones. It has a great medium-weighted texture without any oaky influence and a lovely, easy finish. I'm glad we're stocked up on this, I have a feeling I'll be going back to the Goulley well many times.

Price: $17.99

2019 Brittan "Gestalt" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

The 2019 Brittan "Gestalt" Pinot Noir, is a bit of a counterpoint to the winery's "Cygnus" bottling. Compared to the Cygnus' partially-shielded east facing block, the Gestalt bottling hails from wind-exposed, shallow fractured basalt soils of a west facing block. The nose opens with dark, brooding berries and crushed gravel that, with air, lead way to ripe black cherry, black plum and boysenberry. This lush, concentrated fruit supports the wine's more mineral, herbal core of clove, graphite, lavender, and iron. There's still a pleasant plushness to the wine, but with a more firm structure and more linear acidity. Given time, either in bottle or decanter, this wine becomes utterly spectacular.

Price: $59.95

RP: 98

IWR: 95

JD: 95

2019 Brittan "Cygnus" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

The 2019 Brittan "Cygnus" Pinot Noir comes from an east facing block on the estate that is partly sheltered from the frigid, howling Van Duzer Corridor wind, leading to a wine with a touch more softness than the other offerings. This Pinot is bursting with juicy red cherry and mixed berry fruits that transition into a more lifted cranberry tone as it's herbal side unfolds on the palate. Lavender, sage, and violets enter in the midpalate and intermingle with the wine's silky, plush texture. This notable softness is perfectly counterpointed by the wine's vibrant, mouthwatering acidity and fine-grained tannin structure. The whole journey leads to a long, pleasantly fresh finish.

Price: $59.95

RP: 97

JD: 94

2006 Ardbeg 17 Year Old "Dramfool - Red Bag" Bourbon Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 10/26/2023 | Send Email

This might be the prettiest Ardbeg I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. It is one of the most integrated sets of flavors, all matched well in intensity, leading to a big, but profoundly balanced whisky that I've seen from the South Shore. In a classic ex-bourbon hogshead for 17 years and at 57.2% ABV it defies expectations from the first nosing. I admittedly thought I'd be smacked by a huge waft of smoke and meat was stunned when instead I was met with a dark honeyed richness and earthy forest floor and freshly cut peat blended with a sweeter burnt oats and freshly made caramel candies. A perfect balanced saline note ties those cereal flavors to the peat in perfect harmony. Vanilla threads throughout. The ABV which feels hardly noticeable in the aromatics jumps out at first sip, but quickly dissipates into a more spicy mouthfeel and assertive conveyer of flavors ranging from a smoldering peat bog and pork cracklings to a salt water taffy factory, cigar box, and even dipping into the floral realm. It is all framed by sweeter spices like cinnamon, clove, and candied ginger. A light oily sheen hovers over it all. It feels crazy to try and make a comprehensive list of tasting notes for this dram; I'm positive that with each revisit to this bottle over the next several months and with varying water additions I will unlock 5-10 new impressions for every pour. Such is the nature of harmonious yet intense whisky - it has more to offer than can be given in one sitting. While Ardbeg is so often lauded for it's over the topness, it is the perfect execution and balance (as well as of course it's rarity) that makes this 17 year old expression so worthwhile.

Price: $399.99

2019 Brittan "Gestalt" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/25/2023 | Send Email

Brittian's Gestalt bottling come from the single most distinctive block on the estate. This small, west facing, hillside block bears the brunt of the cold winds that come through Van Duzer Gap from the frigid North Pacific Ocean. The vines here grow smaller canopies and set smaller clusters of grapes with thick skins. Further adversity for the vines comes from the soil (or lack thereof) in which they grow. This particular parcel has very shallow top soils over fractured basalt rock. I consistently found this wine to be the most mineral driven and tense of the Brittan bottlings. It has significant concentration and structure with powerful, brooding volcanic mineral notes. The block is planted largely to clone 115 that is known for producing wines of aromatic intensity. It works beautifully here as the lifted aromas of dried flowers, spiced citrus peel and sandalwood, provide a nice contrast to the more savory, soil driven flavors on the palate, and the wine's muscular structure. A powerful wine, but not one that takes it's power from ripeness of fruit, it's more how it conveys its unique and distinctive sense of place.

Drink from 2024 to 2024

Price: $59.95

RP: 98

IWR: 95

JD: 95

2019 Brittan "Basalt" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/25/2023 | Send Email

Brittan's stunning "Basalt Block" bottling comes from the very heart of the estate. A mid-slope, south facing bowl, with the most pure oceanic basalt soils on the vineyard. The "Estate" level bottling is also predominantly from this block, so the Basalt really is a micro-selection of the very best rows and barrels out of this block. Just 140 cases made. This wine shows off the complexity and depth this site brings to Pinot Noir. Mostly 777 Dijon clone with some 667 and Pommard, too. Dark fruit, forest berries, leaf litter, signature volcanic minerality underpinning everything. The structure is firm, but beautifully enveloped in the refined fruit and woodsy spices. A repeating dark rose petal note and black raspberry linger. Such a layered and complete wine, a wonderfully transparent wine to display the special qualities of this vineyard.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $59.95

RP: 98

JD: 93

2019 Brittan "Cygnus" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/25/2023 | Send Email

Despite coming in one point lower than the other two single block wines in Roberts Parker's Advocate ratings...I thought this was the star of the show in the 2019 lineup, at least for drinking young. The Cygnus comes from a small block of vines planted exclusively to the Swan clone (or selection) of Pinot Noir. This clone's origin is still a bit of a mystery, but it was reportedly brought to the USA from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy and propagated by the iconic Joseph Swan. At Brittan Estate, it is planted on an east facing hillside that is a little more sheltered from the Van Duzer winds than the rest of the blocks and I think expresses a little more generosity than the other bottlings right now. It has a wonderful brambly, wildness to the deep red fruits. A mixture of earthy spices and floral tones. Nice flesh on the palate, with a little more fruit than the Basalt or Gestalt bottlings, at least to my palate. This will no doubt aged beautifully as with all the exceptional Brittan wines, but this would be my selection if I was pulling a cork tonight.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: $59.95

RP: 97

JD: 94

2019 Brittan "Gestalt" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 10/25/2023 | Send Email

Renowned winemaker Robert Brittan (Stag's Leap Winery, Britt Hill) displays his mastery and expertise through this exceptional Pinot Noir bottling. All fruits are from a 2 acre property known as "The Gestalt Block", then aged for 15 months in French Oak (30% New). On the nose, constantly evolving with notes of crunchy red plums, fresh cranberries, rose petals, hibiscus, dried spices, nutmeg, a touch of sassafras. The palate shows explosive flavors of pomegranate, wild strawberries, tart red cherries, potting soil, and clove. A wine that is equally complex as it is delicious.

Price: $59.95

RP: 98

IWR: 95

JD: 95

2019 Planetary Estate "Polaris" Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/25/2023 | Send Email

Without doubt the showiest / most effusive of the vertical, the 2019 is just explosively aromatic with redolent creme de cassis, blackberry, boysenberry, lavender, dried flowers, cedary oak, and Asian spice. The palate, whilst retaining the freshness and vibrancy that Yountville Cab is renowned for, has lashings of ripe, expressive, exuberant fruit. The fine, ripe tannins give a lovely powdery grip and the natural acidity draws the wine out long on the finish. Inky concentration with plenty of forward fruit shows the vintage expression perfectly. There's so much to enjoy here right now, but I'm sure it has more than enough stuffing to go 10 years in the cellar...but why wait!

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

2018 Planetary Estate "Polaris" Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/25/2023 | Send Email

This wine is showing beautifully but also will age very well for at least 10 years, probably 20. A fragrant nose of cedar, lavender and pristine blue and purple fruit. The palate is very focused with fresh cassis, mulberry, blueberry compote, incense and alpine herbs. Very lifted and vibrant, framed with with classy French oak. Fine grain, long chain tannins give sneaky grip and persistence. The mid-palate has plenty of fruit but with remarkable poise and length. A very classy bottle of Cabernet showing the quality of the vintage and fantastic ageing capability.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

2017 Planetary Estate "Polaris" Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/25/2023 | Send Email

The 2017 Polaris Cab probably shows the most breadth and ripeness of the vertical. It has a slightly darker, red fruit profile with lovely concentration and plenty of loamy, earthy, dusty tones quite reminiscent of Rutherford Cab rather than Yountville. Ripe plum, redcurrant, dusty loam, cigar box, subtle leather, refined oak spices, fans out in the finish with fine tannins and plenty of soft fruit.

Drink from 2023 to 2023

Price: Hidden

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