Reviewers
- Aaron Hughes (10)
- Adam Winkel (97)
- Alex Leonardini (8)
- Alex Schroeder (149)
- Alex Pross (594)
- Alexandre Tweedie (7)
- Amy Monroe (1)
- Andrew Nunes (1)
- Andrew Kitz (1)
- Andrew Whiteley (125)
- Cindy Westby (60)
- Clyde Beffa Jr. (809)
- David Othenin-Girard (335)
- Dejah Overby (147)
- Diana Turk (125)
- Dulcinea Gonzalez (115)
- Gary Lai (56)
- Gary Westby (540)
- Greg St. Clair (389)
- Illya Haase (147)
- Jacques Moreira (704)
- Jason Marwedel (73)
- Jeffrey Jones (372)
- Joel Nicholas (29)
- John Flanigan (1)
- John Downing (80)
- John Majeski (296)
- Julio Santos (1)
- Kate Soto (11)
- Keith Mabry (432)
- Kirk Walker (276)
- Lilia McIntosh (44)
- Mandana Tourani (12)
- Michael Benoit (7)
- Michael Pires (14)
- Miles Philippe (7)
- Neal Fischer (33)
- Ralph Sands (222)
- Ryan Kewin (4)
- Ryan Moses (388)
- Ryan Woodhouse (891)
- Sal Rodriguez (34)
- Scott Beckerley (307)
- Shaun Green (82)
- Thomas Smith (357)
- Tom Martinez (1)
- Trey Beffa (183)
- Will Blakely (26)
- Zaitouna Kusto (3)
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Staff Favorites
| If you’re going to have Robert Parker or Stephen Tanzer over for dinner, selecting a wine they’ve rated highly will be a nice choice. However, when you’re buying wines for yourself, we’d love to see you find wines that match up your unique palate and pocketbook. We have a large staff of friendly and knowledgeable wine professionals that taste hundreds of wines each week. They can put you in touch with bottles that you are likely to love, often at a much lower cost than the highly-rated gems that often see a run-up in price and frequent availability issues. Like any great group of opinionated professionals, our staff has varied tastes themselves. Often our customers will find a particular staff member with a style that corresponds to their own. That concept works extremely well in our retail stores, and this section is our effort to bring you the same online. Don’t get us wrong, we love the highly rated wines from the press and will continue to offer them, but we think you’re missing out if you’re not augmenting those selections with picks from our excellent staff. Here are their favorites. (Click on a name to see their other selections - or to drop them a line.) Cheers! |
Reviews
2021 Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
The 2021 Gevrey-Chambertin from Faiveley is flat-out delicious! The nose is complex and enticing, with aromas of raspberry reduction, pink peppercorn, cola berry, and warm earth. The wine has a gentle, fine-grained tannin profile and flavors of berries and spice, with a perfect zing of acidity. The pretty red fruit combines perfectly with just enough spice and savor, making this a fantastic bottle to pair with your favorite fall dishes. Get it while you can!
2019 Brittan "Basalt" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
By: Michael Benoit | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
Savory, with a volcanic minerality, the Basalt block Pinot Noir is a delicious expression of Willamette Valley Pinot. The nose is richly perfumed with notes of violets and crushed red raspberry, while on the palate it offers more red raspberry as well as Bing cherry, framed out nicely with ripe tannins and a good pop of acidity. This is a serious, powerful Pinot that will continue to develop in your cellar for several years to come.
2000 Xavier Vignon "2000" Cornas
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
There seems to be limit to the amazing cellar "finds" that come from Xavier Vignon. Working with a multitude of producers up and down the Rhone, Xavier often discover caches of old wines that have been aging in tank for barrel for a extended periods of time. Such is this 2000 Cornas. Almost frozen in time, the wine has lived most of its life in barrel, slowly maturing and developing. The tannins are elegant, the fruit fresh and the complexity is sublime. Sweet raspberry, dusty leather, black licorice and sweet spices make for a compelling red that probably still has not reached its full level of maturity. This is great drinking now and should continue on for many more years to come.
Price:
$109.99
1986 Domaine de Baraillon 37 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
This is a fantastic Armagnac from a small producer. Armagnac offers a lot of gems and this is one of them. This vintage has everything that one could want. It is big, rich and round, rustic and complex. There is a long finish.
Price:
$129.99
2022 Domaine du Vieil Orme Touraine Blanc Sauvignon Blanc
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/24/2023 | Send Email
The new vintage of the Vieil Orme is yet another impressive release from one of our favorite stalwart producers in the Loire. As the prices of Sancerre soared, we began looking for small artisanal producers in the satellite appellations that make Sauvignon Blanc. Touraine is a natural fit for values since it is quite large and is still one of the best areas to venture for wines that overdeliver for their price. We met vigneron Laurent Benoist back in 2017 and his fresh and crunchy Sauvignon Blancs were immediately captivating. Located in the Chenonceaux sub-region of Touraine, the hills are beautifully chalky and make for classically tense Sauvignons. When I tasted those first wines, they immediately reminded me of those Sancerres of yesteryear with lots of crunchy citrus, gooseberry and fresh hay flavors. The 2022s come from a warmer riper vintage shows loads of citrus but with more tropical flavors of passion fruit and pineapple. It's what I like to call "crushable" because you can easily follow one glass with another. Once again, we find our friends at Vieil Orme overdelivering for their humble price points.
1984 Domaine de Baraillon 39 Year Old K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/22/2023 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/22/2023 | Send Email
This is a wonderful and classic Armagnac from a small producer that is always a special treat to have . While there are rustic aspects, is also has delicate notes and a wonderful mouth feel. I always look foreword to having products from Baraillon in stock.
Price:
$139.99
1998 Domaine de Baraillon 25 Year Old "Folle Blanche" K&L Exclusive Bas-Armagnac (750ml)
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/22/2023 | Send Email
By: Jeffrey Jones | Review Date: 10/22/2023 | Send Email
The 1998 Baraillon is rustic, old school and classic . It rich and round but also has an elegant element to it. There are layers of flavors including a touch of earth. This is an Armagnac that is terroir driven, speaks of the location it comes from, and is interesting and fun to drink.
Price:
$99.99
Caol Ila 14 Year Old "Dramfool's Middle Cut" Cask #313321 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/21/2023 | Send Email
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/21/2023 | Send Email
Richer, slightly more concentrated, and weightier than the 313329. Orchard fruit and sweet grain are persistent the entire time with iodine and smoke showing, but never dominating the palate. Adding a few drops of water really made this cask shine. This will be the go to choice for those looking to try a bolder Caol Ila release.
Price:
$139.99
Caol Ila 14 Year Old "Dramfool's Middle Cut" Cask #313329 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/21/2023 | Send Email
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/21/2023 | Send Email
Oily texture and good weight on the palate. Starts out with smooth, sweet barley and orchard fruit character along with smoke, iodine, and pepper notes that crescendo in intensity from mid-palate to finish. A unique expression of Caol Ila that fans should enjoy.
Price:
$139.99
2010 JMWP (Worthy Park) 12 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Jamaican Rum (700ml)
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/21/2023 | Send Email
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/21/2023 | Send Email
A fantastic release of limited (275 bottles) Worthy Park rum at a solid price. Persistent hogo funk from start to finish with tropical fruit notes dominating at the beginning that drop out and make way for the underlying earthy, peppery notes to shine on the back end. The body has an oily texture to start that shifts into a waxy finish. This Worthy Park goodness clocks in at 114 proof, giving the rum weight and a bit of a kick mid palate.
Price:
$60.00
2022 Franck Millet "Insolite" Sancerre
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
The Insolite has become one of our most sought after whites year-after-year. The iconic wood boxes it arrives in have a few souvenir limestone stones from the Millet's vineyards. These rocks are the first thing that informs the flavor profile - chalky minerality. That thread of mineral tone and the framing acidity give that true sense of place which continues to be one of the reasons we love these wines. Other flavors of grapefruit, thyme and crushed pineapple show off the exciting 2022 vintage - a new benchmark in the balance of ripeness and acidity. This is pure pleasure now and will drink well for many more years to come.
Price:
$29.99
2022 Domaine des Côtes Blanches (Francois Millet) Sancerre
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
Nicolas Millet has essentially taken over the day-to-day winemaking at the winery and continues to propel Domaine des Cotes Blanches forward in its viticultural and winemaking practices. The 2022 is classic for the vintage, showing aromas lime zest, lemon verbena with flavors of passion fruit and crushed stone. Loads of acidity frame the richer framework of the warmer vintage profile driving the minerality front and center. This is superb drinking now and should continue to drink for many more years. A new best in class from one of our favorite producers in Sancerre!
Price:
$22.99
2019 Brittan "Gestalt" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
As with the "Cygnus" line, the 'Gestalt" for 2019 is similar but, very different from the 2018. It retains the cherry fruit, minerals and chalk of the 2018 but, there is an added plushness to the palate. There are mid-palate rich dark cherries, blackberry, and a lighter chalkiness than the 2018. There is an herbal accent on the finish with baking spices and clean wood. If I had to choose only favorite from the whole line of Brittan Pinot Noir's, this would be it. That is extremely difficult because the entire line is ridiculously good.
2019 Brittan "Cygnus" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
A big welcome and thank you to Brittan Estate for this flavorful release. Like the 2018 bottling of this wine, it is dry and has chalky notes. However, the 2019 is definitely more plush and has such a fragrant nose of roses and violets. Brambly red fruits with Loudens cherry and boysenberry. It' reminds me of my favorite cherry pie that is done only with natural sugars. This one is going to appeal to a large cross section of customers because it has something for everyone.
2019 Brittan "Estate" McMinnville Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
Nicely tart with black and red cherry fruit, chalk, (full) minerals, savory spice and dry tannins. Bits of forest and earth give away its place of origin. Brittan Estate is a very welcome vineyard to our portfolio. All of their wines are outstanding!
Wiston Estate Brut Rosé West Sussex England
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
This unusual and delicious Brut Rose has a lot going on. Tart strawberries, a background of cranberry, rhubarb, cream and brioche. Very dry, with that Wiston Estate cleanliness. Top all of that off with a full bead and you have a very memorable (and delicious!) Brut Rose.
Wiston Estate Brut Blanc de Blancs West Sussex England
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
Like the NV Brut from Wiston, the Blanc de Blanc leans toward a clean style with green and golden apple flavors. It differs in that the B de B's style is a tad softer and creamier. Lemon cream, white peach, ample chalk and a nice bit of minerality followed by a whiff of creme caramel. Lovely.
Wiston Estate Brut West Sussex England
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/20/2023 | Send Email
I have put this bottling into a blind sparkling wine tasting and nearly two dozen people claimed this bottling to be Champagne. There is a reason for this. This Wiston Brut is very clean with soft lemon flavors, minerals, sea salt and a touch of Granny Smith apple and key lime. Bracing, without being overly acidic and a real pleasure of a bubbly.
2009 Bodegas Riojanas "Monte Real" Gran Reserva Rioja
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/19/2023 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 10/19/2023 | Send Email
A heady nose of fresh turned earth, orange rind, tobacco and roasted cherries. On the palate, very smooth with round and ripe red and black fruits. Cherries and plum, milk chocolate, a few notes of fresh minerals and earthy dust. Top of the palate abounds with clean oak and mellow spice. Please note that I did taste this a number of hours after it had been opened. It is a subtle and complex pleasure.
Pierre Gimonnet Cuis 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/19/2023 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/19/2023 | Send Email
Producer's Notes: "This delightful Blanc de Blancs marries excellent depth of character – all the citrus, crisp pear and floral aromas of chardonnay – with charm. Properly dry, but very harmonious, thanks to the excellent balance of citrusy freshness and creaminess. Long, clean finish, accentuated by the lively mousse. A cuvee of 2/3rds 2018 with a third of vintages between 2016 and 2011, disgorged in July, 2021. Drink now."
Price:
$49.99
2015 Moët & Chandon "Grand Vintage" Brut Champagne
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
Moet & Chandon! The House's tasting notes: "2015 was a harvest of exceptional red-skinned grapes. They showed remarkable maturity with a powerful, fruity nose and full-bodied finish. This blend is 44% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, and 24% Meunier. A tender and vegetal bouquet. Initial notes of breadcrumbs, fresh brioche and almond paste give way to elderflower and jasmine, then to fruit such as white peach and watermelon. Notes of garrigue at dawn complete the ensemble. Generous, ample and supple in structure, reminiscent of the cotton flower. Floral, aniseed and mentholated nuances bring lightness and freshness. The finish lingers on a delicate bitterness evoking fresh almonds."
Price:
$109.99
2017 Copain "Les Voisin" Anderson Valley Chardonnay
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
Alright, how do we follow up on that Copain Edmeades Vineyard Pinot Noir that sold out FAST!? Well, how about a stunning bottle Copain Chardonnay for a ridiculous price, more than 50% off it's original SRP and under $15 for K&L Insiders!? Once again a recent visit to Copain unearthed some absolute gems. This Les Voisin Chardonnay is from the highly regarded Ferrington Vineyard that has long been a favorite source of top quality fruit for iconic names such as Willams-Selyem, Arista, Failla, Breggo and others. Picked quite early when the flavors were bright and vivid, wild yeast fermented in neutral French oak, this stunning Chardonnay is vibrant and alive, it's super fresh - tasting like a 2021 vintage wine! Racy citrus notes, quince paste, baked apple, marcona almond, toasted grains, and an oyster shell, very Chablis-like quality in the resonating, mineral infused finish. Don't let the modest price fool you, this is profoundly complex, vibrant, mineral intensive Chardonnay that is a true joy to drink. We went all-in on this one and took the rest of the production to get the best possible price. It's absolutely exceptional at this price and a wine I personally plan to drink plenty of over the next several years.
Top Value!
2021 Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon "Côte du Py"
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
True to itself Foillard produces slightly funky, very mineral and earthy style of Morgon. It's light and savory on the palate with muddled plum and red cherry fruit profile with a hint of pink peppercorn on the nose. Acidity is not very high but definitely refreshing. This wine would benefit from some aging.
2020 Brovia "Vignavillej" Dolcetto d'Alba
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: Lilia McIntosh | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
Brovia makes serious, Nebbiolo-like Dolcetto. It's not light and fruity style. This wine is firm and structured with red cherry, red plum, lots of aromatic spices and hints of leather and tobacco. Bone dry with medium acidity, this Dolcetto begs for fatty rich meat dishes and can easily stand up to braised short ribs. Great wine for late autumn and winter drinking!
2010 JMWP (Worthy Park) 12 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Jamaican Rum (700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
Haven't you heard? Rum is the next big thing. That's what they've been telling me for the last two decades or so. But as the category finally starts to take hold driven by single casks and boutique bottlers, we are seeing very big price increases for the great rum that we used to sell for a song. We're happy to help turn back that the proverbial tide with this stupendous single cask from the Thompson Bros presumed to be distilled at Worthy Park. This is the famously enigmatic WPM which is hard to pin down style before tasting, but should be on the very HIGH end of the ester spectrum. Let's have a go! The color is a stupendous amontillado sherry tone, the gorgeous color owing to some significant time aging tropically. The nose is an absolute monster full of ultra dense tropical fruit, salted licorice, Kalamata olive brine, frankincense, lemon verbena and a scorched citrus oil. On the palate, despite the heady intense nose, we have a surprisingly open palate full of sweet tropical fruit candies, salty toffee, some licorice, exotic spices and a beautiful smoldering ashy finish. It's not as challenging as some young Hampdens, likely due to more time in the tropics, but it's full on esters here. After tasting barrels like this, it does kind of feel under valued for the quality of the experience, so it's hard to blame other bottlers for trying to get prices up, but few are achieving this quality level even at twice the price. Drink now or forever hold your peace.
Price:
$60.00
2010 Williamson (Laphroaig) 12 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Refill Sherry Butt Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
This badass barrel of Laphroaig has it all. I'm sort of grateful we can't sell it as single malt because at this price it likely would have all sold out on pre-arrival and I just love selling this bottle. The labels are fashioned on the old style Laphroaig labels and indeed this has so little to do with what is going with modern Laphroaig bottlings it's almost laughable. This is gorgeous rugged ocean-y Laphroaig of the highest order. Here we go!!! The color is deep copper. The first nosing is big SULFUR! Oh no!!! But wait, just a moment later that's not sulfur, no no, it's sizzling pancetta! It's mesquite bacon and salted fruit. It's big green fields of peat. Its engine oil, sticky and greasy. It's an old a shipyard -old brittle halyards and weather beaten wooden hauls. It's bitter barks and age black tea. It's frangipani and polished sandalwood. It's a freshly rolled Galois hanging from your lips, match struck, but yet to be ignited. It's burnt Seville orange peel being dipped into your Sazerac. It's utterly drinkable and yet wildly challenging. One of the most exciting malts of the year in my humble opinion. They don't make them like this at Laphroaig any longer. So I guess I like this a lot. Can you tell?
Price:
$109.99
2009 Aultmore 14 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) Single First Fill Red Wine Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
When Phil Thompson suggested this barrel of Aultmore I was skeptical. 1st fill ex red wine casks have been some of the most controversial and inconsistent malts we've ever bottled, but he assured me of the quality. When we finally tasted it, I was glad I'd trusted the man. There's almost nothing out there like this to be honest. I don't think this went thru the STR process, but it certainly reminds me most of something like Kavalan Vinho Barrique rather than the sour or funky flavors you typically get from fresh red wine cask. The color, first off, is absolutely nuts. It's a wild auburn color darker than 95% of the 1st fill sherry out there. On the nose it's got the big fresh oak character, almost bourbon like, pointed with sticky red fruit and cinnamon candies. The big woody character might scare away the more traditional loves looking for very malt driven style as air brings more big oak character, but on the palate it's ultra balanced and has tons of sweetness to balance the big oak spice. A powerful heady vanilla note, almost coconut-like in character, pervades the palate. With water, the powerful oak softens and sweetness comes forward, while avoiding any of the tartness that plagues other red wine casks. Now it's feeling very bourbon-y! This is definitely the best 1st fill red wine cask I've tasted in ages, maybe ever, mostly because it doesn't really taste like any of the other red wine casks I've ever had. If you like the big oaky malts of Kavalan and want to pay about 20% of the price, you'll probably love this weird wonderful little barrel.
Price:
$69.99
2009 Craigellachie 13 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
This lovely little barrel of Craigellachie is going to make the squeamish squirm. The outrageous label makes me so happy. Cute little earth worms playing in pineapple. While the scene might not be appealing to all, it certainly captures the character of this delicious cask perfectly. Craigellachie is conundrum offering a wide range of flavor profiles. Of the many things that it can be, one thing that it's not is BORING. This is a funky malt of the highest order. Not covered by big oak, but also not one of these sulfur bombs or neutral no character malts either. Let's try! The color is pale gold. My sample has been out for about 20 minutes. It's starts with big citrus (maybe a hint of pineapple even) and a deep almost industrial machine like character. It reminds me of sticking my head into the hood of my great-uncles almost undriven '65 Shelby Mustang. Clean fresh rubber, polished metal, petrol and camphor. ON the palate it's rather creamy and a bit nutty -maybe almond butter. With some lovely mid palate weight and dare I say almost pretty fruitiness. So a very different nose and palate which I love. With a bit of water we have more fruit and nuts and less of the industrial nose, but an absolutely nuts oily texture has appeared on the palate and now the savory industrial stuff is coming thru more there. It's a totally wild malt full of contrast and I'm totally into it. This is an easy yes for those looking for a bit of a challenge without wanting to scare their friends away.
Price:
$64.99
Redacted (Thompson) Bros 8 Year Old "SRV5" Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: David Othenin-Girard | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
You all probably know I'm a redacted/thompson/dornoch fan boy of the highest order. It's not just that Phil and Simon are doing some of the coolest stuff in the industry, but that they are genuinely great guys, working their asses off for something that they believe in. So I was stoked when Phil was so excited about his new blended malt project. Apparently, he got hooked up with a few large vats of some of the hardest to get stuff in the industry, which cannot be named here, but is without a doubt one of my favorite distillers. This is mingled in vat with small amounts of an excellent malt from the north coast of Islay. The result is a gorgeous product of that delivers a class and old school character that few in the point can match. Let's taste it! Starting very tight and malty, but with just a little bit of air this wild waxy fruit comes through - pear, persimmon, lemon oil and almond shells. On the palate a burst of savory salt character balanced perfectly with malty fruit. Now here is where it gets interesting. ADD a tiny splash of water. An absolute revelation!!! Gorgeous peach and nectarine now. Waxy Asian pear, lanolin, prosciutto, tobacco leaf, more lemon oil and mint. On the palate it's ocean-y still but the forward smoke has tempered and the salt remains. I find this to be ridiculously pleasurable and moreish. Very few, if any, more drinkable and overtly appealing malts out there anywhere close to this price point.
Price:
$54.99
2021 Ridge Vineyards "East Bench" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 10/18/2023 | Send Email
This single vineyard, single varietal bottling comes from East Bench, a vineyard planted solely with Zinfandel. Aged for fourteen months in a mixed of new and neutral American Oak. Delicious notes of raspberry, kirsch, red plums, figs, black pepper, dried thyme, bay leaf, sweet tobacco, and a touch of coconut. Well balanced between lively, yet tamed fruit, ample acidity, savory dried herbs, tempered oak, and a nice ash-like tannin on the finish.
2020 Sclavos "Monambeles" Mavrodaphne Slopes of Aenos Greece (Natural Wine)
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
The Sclavos Monambeles is a bold and hearty red made from Mavrodaphne on the island of Cephalonia (Kefalonia). It is filled with rich gamy meat flavors, surrounded by blackberry fruit and new saddle leather. This is hefty wine that demands richer braised meat dishes like lamb shoulder or short ribs. Still youthful, but with a hefty hourlong decant it will unfold beautifully to give you that old school European vibe.
2022 Skouras "Salto - Wild Ferment" Moscofilero Péloponnèse Greece
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
I have long been a fan of the wines of Skouras. One of my most iconic wine pairings was a bottle of Skouras Moscofilero and grilled fish plucked fresh from the Mediterranean. Of course it was on a sandy beach in Greece with a warm breeze coming in off the harbor and gentle waves splashing at the sand. That was almost a decade ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. Well, since then, Skouras has pushed the Salto forward which is also Moscofilero but this is all fermented with native yeasts and is from a darker more powerful clone of Mosco, called Mavrofilero. The beauty is definitely present with its notes of jasmine, makrut lime leaf, Meyer lemon and peach blossoms. The Salto is aromatically bold but is also racy and dry on the palate. You may not need a beach setting to enjoy what this wine has to offer but some grilled fish with a hearty squeeze of lemon and glug of olive oil will at least split the difference. This is still one of my most transportive wines!
2020 Eric Kent "Luke's Grove" Russian River Valley Chardonnay
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
The 2020 Eric Kent "Luke's Grove" Chardonnay, now entirely fruit from Stiling Vineyard, is a stunning example of classic Russian River Valley style. The wine is opulent and concentrated without sacrificing finesse. A densely packed core of baked apple, spiced pear, pineapple, toasted hazelnut, caramel, and clove is accented by lemon oil and delicate white flowers. Rich and opulent in nature, this is well-crafted Chardonnay that manages to find harmony, and at a very special price.
Price:
Hidden
2022 Domaine Nerantzi Assyrtiko Serres Greece
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
Assyrtiko from Santorini has become so popular that it is no surprise that more of it is being produced in Northern Greece. The new Nerantzi Assyrtiko has to be one of the best new versions I have yet tried. Vibrant acidity is accompanied by zested lemon notes, green apples and a saline finish. This has great length and the acid structure just zings across the palate. If we see more wines like this from Nerantzi, Santorini just may take a backseat to the wines of Serres!
Price:
$19.99
2022 Domaine Papagiannakos Savatiano Old Vines Markopoulo Greece
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
Savatiano may be widely planted in southern Greece but it has only recently begun to get the attention it deserves. It's a crisp white with a touch of spiciness that reminds me of Italian coastal whites like Verdicchio or Vermentino or even a little like lighter crunchier Gruner Veltliner. What's not to like about have a new crispy crunchy white to open with a lighter fare dinner? How about some creamy spiced hummus or some roasted bell peppers stuffed with feta cheese to go with this yummy new white?!
2017 Amapola Creek "Estate" Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Alex Leonardini | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
The 2017 Amapola Creek Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of fruit from four separate blocks of the Amapola Creek Ranch, which itself spans over 100 acres between 600 and 1000 feet elevation in the Mayacamas range. The resulting blend of fruit from both rhyolitic and basaltic volcanic soils is a wine of firm structure, dense texture, yet juicy, luscious fruit. Ripe blackberry, black currant, and black plum burst on the palate while dark chocolate, toasted vanilla, cedar, anise, and chocolate macaroon flavors bring complexity. The wine is full and rich with the density and structure to age gracefully, if you can resist the temptation to immediately crack open this delicious bottle.
Price:
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2021 Sigalas "Aa" Assyrtiko/Athiri Santorini Greece
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
Sigalas remains the benchmark producer for Santorini wines. Their Assyrtiko was the original gatekeeper to quality wines on the island and set the standard for many of the producers that followed in their footsteps. Due to rising world demand and crushingly low yields, most top Assyrtiko have transcended the $50 price mark. One answer to this problem is to go back to the traditional blends of Santorini combining Assyrtiko with other grapes like Athiri and Aidani. Sigalas' answer is the A/a bottling, a blend of Assyrtiko and Athiri. And at under $30 this hits the mark for Santorini giving you that rich undercurrent of lemon curd, brined apples, and fresh acidity. This is a vibrant and brighter styled that has loads of mineral intensity. This makes a wonderful aperitif and will work with a host of mezza on the table!
2009 Bodegas Riojanas "Monte Real" Gran Reserva Rioja
By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Kirk Walker | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
There are not a lot of wine regions where you can get old school wines. We talk about old-school Bordeaux, Burgundy, Napa Cab’s and even German Rieslings, but there are very few examples of those wines on the shelves anywhere, let alone here at K&L. Things change, the depth of modern knowledge in both winemaking and viticulture has vastly improved, the demand for certain styles has changed and frankly climate change. There are so many reasons for old school wines not to exist that it seems crazy that it is a significant portion of Rioja’s market. This is a perfect point of entry into this 2009 Gran Reserva. This is a classic, old-school Rioja. Bodegas Riojanas is one of the producers who “modernized” Rioja back in the late 19th century. They helped to create the style of wine that is now considered the old-school. The same family has been shaping these wines ever since. What is old school? With Rioja it is very easy to define, it is long aging with at least three years spent in oak, and that oak must be American. It is on that last piece where this wine has a nod to modernity, it is also aged in French oak. But as soon as you crack open a bottle, you know that this is old school. It is spicy, earthy, savory in a way that it could only be traditional Rioja. Before we get into that I think it is important to quickly point out that this is a single vineyard wine. The “El Monte” vineyard is an estate vineyard that is located outside of the village of Cenicero. While it might not be as famous as Haro, Labastida or San Vicente it has some of the best terroir in the region. Located south of the Ebro River, the soils here are stony with calcareous clay. The vines are planted in the traditional goblet style and only Tempranillo is used for this wine. This wine is in a sweet spot right now, it has just settled into itself, everything is harmonized and the fruit is vibrant and fresh. It does need a little time to open up, only about 15-30 minutes. I imagine the wine a little like someone when they wake up in the morning, it is all there, but a little wild and out of control and needing a few minutes to compose itself. With a little time, the aromatics are focused, the savory edge that the American oak gives the wine has been subdued and the spicy French oak plays a more prominent role. Framed within that bouquet of oak is a soft earthy tone and deep, mellow cherry fruit. On the palate this wine is composed and elegant. It is full bodied and has plenty of tannins, but they are very fine and polished, they are ripe and long and work with the wine's fresh acidity pulling this wine through to a long finish. The core of this wine is the fruit, that mellow cherry note shines, is softened with a dusty earthiness and plays against its limestone minerality. The spice starts to build towards the finish but it is always composed. This is an incredibly composed wine, not the most powerful Gran Reserva on the shelf but what it lacks in obvious power it more than makes up for in finesse. Gran Reservas have traditionally been the ultimate wine that a producer will make, their special occasion wine, this definitely fits that bill. What is most striking with this is how good it is now but how its structure speaks to the future of this wine. I have been fortunate to try wines from this vineyard from the 60’s, and I am not saying that this wine will live for another 50 years, I am tempted to put this away and see what it will be like in 20 and I will not be surprised if it does go for a lot longer than that.
Kweichow Moutai Feitian Baijiu (375ml)
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
By: Andrew Whiteley | Review Date: 10/17/2023 | Send Email
It's hard to dance around the fact that many American palates find Biajiu (pronounced bye-joe) impossible to drink. And yet - it is the world's most popular liquor. As someone who is personally and professionally dedicated to exploring the great spirits of the world, I cannot ignore a category that is beloved by hundred of millions of people. I also cannot clam to be an expert in this particular category. In truth, the first time I tasted baijiu, I was surely in the same boat as most Americans - I found it strange and wild, overwhelming, and nearly impossible to shoot down (the customary way to serve it). However, thanks in large part to the dedicated importer of, among many other Baijius, Moutai, I found myself with a broader and more regular exposure to the category than the average American. It has grown on me tremendously. I have come to find it buguiling and complex. It offers much of what I love about the other great spirit traditions of the world - immense flavor, generations of history and cultural customs, quirks of individual production, beauty and design, and companionship and connection over a glass of liquor. While I feel I must offer a 'caveat emptor' disclaimer on the intensity and wholly different flavor profile of this spirit to the portion of K&Ls customer base that is uninitiated in the flavors of Baijiu, I also couldn't resist the opportunity to bring to our customers one of the world's most important spirits at nearly half off its regular price for the past few years. If you know, you'll know this opportunity was too good to pass up. Now, as to how it drinks: the aromatics are insane - a combination of sweet and savory unlike really anything else in the spirit world. Moutai is famous as an example of 'sauce aroma' Baijiu, and indeed there is a lot of soy sauce like flavors in the nose. A complex and nutty fermentation to be sure. But its really so much more than that. It is sweet, like incredbily overripe tropical fruit reminiscent of some clay pot agave distillations. It's funky, like the screeching of a car tire. Toasted sesame seeds and garden fresh snap peas come to mind, not unlike some of the craziest Jamaican rums. Some gnarly kombuchas comes close to mimicking the wilder aspects of the aromas. Indeed, production involves a very much alive ferment with a mix of yeasts and fungi like koji all in operation together. Instead of a mash or wort like whisky production, fermentaton and distillation take place on wet yet solid grains (sorghum and wheat). Direct steam injection into the fermented mass lifts the alcohols and they are run to a condenser. The spirit is then aged ranging from just a year or two on up to decades, mostly in sealed pottery. The process refines and blends all these flavors together. When you get around to tasting it: holy smokes. Texturally it feels almost like two different liquids. It is at once very soft and mouth coating (again clay pot agave distillation comparisons are hard to ignore), and yet the alcohol (53% ABV) gives it pinpoint focus and bite at the same time. The flavors range from sweet citrus, peel, pith and juice on down the line to complex compost/forest floor and overripe bananas. While Moutai has the undeniable reputation of being the very best, I don't feel I personally have enough breadth and depth in the category to make that claim for myself. What I can say with certainty is that it is the most "complete" spirit I've tasted in the category. By that I mean it is compelling at every stage of tasting and exudes hallmarks of quality - complexity, texture, weight, heady aromatics, clean but lengthy finish, and it leaves an impression. If you are a fan of Baijiu, you should not miss the chance to grab this bottle at the best price we've seen in years. If you regularly give it as a gift, time to case up. If you are interested in exploring the wide world of spirits but have never had Baijiu before - this is starting at the top of the pyramid.
Price:
$278.88
Gosset "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
$50 for a Grande Marque? Incredible! While I typically choose grower-producer Champagnes (especially since K&L's Direct Import program is so strong), this Gosset Grande Réserve Brut is always welcome, and even feels like a bargain, considering the quality of grapes and the house's history (which dates back to 1584!). A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (from Grand Cru village Aÿ), with a touch of Meunier, this nonvintage release includes about 20% reserve wines, solera-style blended, and spends six years on the lees. If you're after a big name that delivers, make sure Gosset is on your list.
2022 Holus Bolus Santa Barbara County Syrah
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
Cool climate Syrah from Santa Barbara County, with olive and black pepper notes and a rush of deep berry fruit, Holus Bolus is always a favorite of staff and customers alike, and this 2022 release is just as sophisticated - yet crowd-pleasing - as ever. Meticulous and limited production make this stunner tricky to keep in stock, so get it while you can!
Price:
$37.99
2020 Domaine Tatsis Limnio Macedonia Greece
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
I can't get enough of this chillable red! Deep berry fruit and savory, peppery notes are perfectly balanced by graceful acidity and a nimble quality that makes Domaine Tatsis' Limnio (that's the grape, farmed biodynamically and certified organic!) both a winner with food and enjoyable anytime.
Price:
$17.99
2021 Sigalas "Aa" Assyrtiko/Athiri Santorini Greece
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
Hailing from one of the most famous producers in Santorini, Sigalas' "Aa" (Assyrtiko and Athiri blend, get it?) is a classic. Fragrant right out of the glass, the 2021 release has everything you want in a crisp Greek wine: incredible minerality, lifted citrus notes, a snap of salinity, plus enough weight on the palate to feel like a serious wine. This balanced beauty is begging for food, thanks to an herbaceous nose, lively acidity, and super dry finish, but is still light and fruity enough to enjoy on its own. Don't miss out!
2022 Akra Chryssos Santorini Greece
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
If there was such a thing as "Grand Cru" in Santorini, this concentrated Akra Chryssos Assyrtiko blend should be it. Citrus fruit and laser-focused acidity shine throughout, balanced by an easygoing finish. The island's volcanic soil adds minerality, and while there's plenty of lift, it also shows texture on the palate, and herbaceous notes that reminded our staff of the best Grüner Veltliners. Stunning.
Price:
$39.99
2022 Domaine Nerantzi Assyrtiko Serres Greece
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
Greek wines are having a moment right now, and Domaine Nerantzi's lively Assyrtiko proves why. This fresh white showcases both juicy fruit and the region's calcareous soil, and feels much more expensive than it is. Complex fruit, good tension, with a weighty mouthfeel and dry, almost earthy finish, this 2022 is a minerally dream; a great way to dip your toe into Grecian waters.
Price:
$19.99
2022 Domaine Papagiannakos Savatiano Old Vines Markopoulo Greece
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
By: Diana Turk | Review Date: 10/16/2023 | Send Email
We went big on Papa G's delicious Savatiano and it was worth it. Domaine Papagiannakos' Old Vines release is a refreshing, lightly floral white wine that has all the hallmarks of your favorite Muscadet: super dry and value-priced. Try this new K&L darling while it's still under the radar.
Lighthouse Gin Yen Ben Lemon New Zealand Gin (750ml)
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/15/2023 | Send Email
By: Michael Pires | Review Date: 10/15/2023 | Send Email
A fun, modern-style gin for those that enjoy citrus forward gins with very little juniper character. Great on its own, but will shine in cocktails like Martini or Saturn.
Price:
$49.99
2021 Realm "The Bard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/14/2023 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 10/14/2023 | Send Email
After choosing to not make any red wines in 2020, we’re thrilled to have some Realm wines back in stock. The wines at Realm are the epitome of no expense spared, fanatical attention to detail, micro-lot winemaking. The Realm team is absolutely focused on perfection and will settle for nothing less. Fruit for the 2021 Bard comes from their own exceptional estate holdings in Stag’s Leap (Moonracrer) and Houyi Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, plus a list of the most highly regarded growers in the valley: Blair, Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Bourn, Larkmead, Farella and Bettinelli Upper Range. At a recent visit to Realm, the 21 Bard was showing beautifully! In fact it was perhaps even more expressive than some of their other higher-end wines designed for extended aging. If you're looking to see what all the fuss is about with Realm, The Bard is the perfect peek behind the curtain. A nose that dances between power and delicacy - there are lifted floral and dried herb notes, but also deeply saturated ripe fruits and base earth tones. Incredibly pure fruit on the palate with creme de cassis, ripe red currant, mulberry, baking spice, volcanic rick tinges, exotic oak spice and subtle pencil shavings. The texture is sublime, very fine, silky but tactile tannins are engulfed in luxurious ripe fruit. Full-bodied, but not cumbersome, rich but refined. The 2021 Bard showed very well even in the context of the seriously the stacked line up we tasted with Scott and Benoit that included upcoming releases of 2021 Hartwell XX, To Kalon, Houyi, and Absurd. By their own admission, a lot of thought, and time goes into making The Bard the strongest wine possible from their incredibly impressive range of fruit sources. Don't miss this one.
Drink from 2023 to 2023
2007 Haut Bergey, Pessac-Léognan
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 10/12/2023 | Send Email
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 10/12/2023 | Send Email
I am stunned. This wine took my breath away and I was in love at the cork pop.
Hello gorgeous you with dark opulent blackberries, voluptuous tannins and unforgettable personality.
It has the power and the body of 2010 that you expect but is so elegantly harmonious. Harmony in fruit, body, balance and the finish.
Go ahead, try it and be in love!
2018 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 10/12/2023 | Send Email
By: Mandana Tourani | Review Date: 10/12/2023 | Send Email
Hello Liquid silk!
Ata Rangi 2018 Pinot Noir has beautiful aromas of wild lavender bouquet and freshly picked blackberries. Medium gentle body which is full of flavors, combined with acidity on the back palate, makes this wine a perfect pair with almost anything. I paired it with saffron roasted chicken breast and it was simply heavenly.