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Staff Favorites - Tim Telli
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Reviews
2018 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough
Review Date: 05-11-2022
As a fan of New Zealand Pinot Noir, it is always a pleasure to try a new vintage of the Ata Rangi. While Central Otago gets most of the recognition for producing the country's best Pinots, Martinborough, an hour's drive from Wellington, is also a source for some outstanding wines. Ata Rangi is known as being one of the pioneers in the region, with the first vineyard plantings in 1979. This wine delivers everything you desire in a Pinot Noir. It opens with a very pretty nose that is dark and rich, loads of spices such as cloves and nutmeg, and a subtle touch of wood in the background. Flavors of cranberries, strawberries, and wild roses are lifted by the freshness and ample acidity that makes Pinot Noir such a fantastic grape. This all leads to a finish that is long with some fine dusty tannins. Definitely something that could age effortlessly for several years and provide plenty of drinking pleasure now or later. The 2018 Ata Rangi is yet another classic from this producer that shows just what New Zealand can do, rivaling the best Pinot Noir grown anywhere in the world.
Arran 10 Year Old (New Label) Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)
Review Date: 04-27-2022
Anyone looking for an easy drinking whiskey that is light and bright should take a look at the Arran 10 year old. Arran is a relatively new distillery, opened some 30 years ago off the coast of south-west Scotland on the picturesque island of Arran. The whisky has a very clean fruity profile that has some vanilla and citrus notes followed by a little spice and apple on the finish. This is a great whisky for someone who doesn't want a peaty or smoky style or is just starting to look at single malts. A very fine dram indeed.
Price:
$59.99
2015 La Rioja Alta "Viña Ardanza" Reserva Rioja
Review Date: 02-23-2022
La Rioja Alta is a very special winery and their wines are very popular for a reason. Of all their wines in the lineup, the Ardanza is the most popular, because it is just flat out delicious on release, age worthy and very fairly priced. The balance of fruit and acidity is harmonious and texturally the wine delivers the goods, being silky smooth and light on its feet. This really is only possible with the extended barrel time that they use for their vinification which produces amazing integration of the various components of the wine. This is the perfect wine for a case purchase to drink and enjoy over the years to come. You will never tire of drinking it.
Tempus Fugit Crème de Banane Liqueur (750ml)
Review Date: 02-16-2022
Prepare for a sensory overload of pure decadence. This has so much banana flavor and is so rich and sweet that its almost too much to drink on its own, yet it is insanely delicious.
Price:
$39.99
Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml)
Review Date: 11-02-2021
K&L's very own blended Scotch. A great everyday dram that is value priced yet has enough complexity to keep everyone happy and going back for a refill. Hints of banana and sweet fruit, spices and Christmas pudding with a punch of peat on the finish.
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 10-01-2021
This is a staff and customer favorite for very good reasons. It's just delicious Champagne that is very easy to drink. I find it really well balanced. It is rich yet has good acid and is very rounded overall. It's basically the house Champagne at K&L that we frequently drink for our celebrations. One key part of the cepage here is that the Ariston's include 30% Pinot Meunier, an unusally high amount and I think it comes through when you drink the wine. Buy a bottle, you won't be disappointed.
Price:
$34.99
Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 10-01-2021
Champagne for $25? Come on now, it's a no-brainer. The long list of reviews below mine tell you all you need to know about this wine. It's just a terrific deal for a Champagne of this quality. A crowd-pleasing style that hits all the right spots. It's a best seller for a reason and not just because of the price.
Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 09-29-2021
The 'Sous Bois' is a barrel-fermented offering from Billecart-Salmon that uses fruit from Premier and Grand Cru sites in the Cote des Blancs. The three main Champagne grapes are used in equal proportions and all fermentation and ageing is done under wood (sous bois), with 6-7 years on the lees to add complexity. The aroma is very captivating in the way that only barrel fermentation can produce. There is definitely some comparison here to Krug and for those that would like to see what oak does to Champagne then this is a wine that you should try. There is some rich toast and brioche notes yet the wine is well balanced with some good acid lift that keeps it from being heavy or ponderous. I think this is a very fine Champagne that could be versatile for any occasion.
Lustau "East India Solera" Sherry
Review Date: 09-22-2021
Lustau is an incredible producer of sherry. The East India Solera harkens back to the day when trading ships would sail around the world with casks of wine and sherry onboard, whose flavors would be influenced by the warm tropical weather on trips to places like the East Indies. Each wine (Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez) is matured separately in its own solera for 12 years. Once blended together, the resulting sherry is returned to barrel for another 3 years ageing. The resulting blend of sherries is just hugely complex. You get the sweetness of the px and the nuttiness and rancio of the oloroso that has so many flavors going on that every time you smell it you pick up different notes. I think this would appeal to lovers of Madeira as well as sherry lovers. The wine is perfect with nuts and aged cheese or just drinking on its own after a meal or an evening nightcap. I also find that it actually improves and gains more funky complexity after being open a few weeks. An excellent wine!
Gonzalez Byass "Viña AB" Amontillado (375ml)
Review Date: 09-22-2021
González Byass is one of the most well-known sherry bodegas in Spain, dating back to 1835. This Vina AB amontillado is quite light on the palate and tastes super fresh with the perfect balance of saltiness and acidity on the palate. The sherry spends 4 years under flor before being moved to the AB solera for a further 8 years where the wine will slowly oxidise as the flor dies off, resulting in a total of 12 years in barrel. This is an excellent sherry at a very reasonable price and would be the perfect introduction for someone wanting to explore the diverse world of sherry.
2013 Launois "Special Club" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (Ships as a 1.5L Due to Bottle Size/Shape)
Review Date: 07-28-2021
A new vintage of the Launois Special Club! Super fresh nose with slight hints of almonds and marzipan. Lots of fruit and lemon zest. This wine just screams freshness. There is plenty of ripe fruit and the wine has excellent balance with great acid on the finish. There are hints of richness and it is very vinous finishing with meyer lemon. This drinks extremely well now but has the legs to age gracefully for many many years.
Price:
$64.99
Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 12-30-2020
A lovely Rose. Bright and yeasty with some toasted brioche. There are a good amount of bubbles with a nice sweetly fruited chalky finish. This wine is very well balanced and drinks extremely well. It is a classy refined Rose that I really enjoy. Perfect for any occasion.
Canard-Duchêne Brut Champagne
Review Date: 05-19-2020
This wine starts off with a fruity nose and hints of stones. The acid balance on the finish makes it the perfect aperitif and hors d'oeuvres champagne and lingers in the mouth with flavors of orchard fruits. Definitely a crowd-pleaser of a wine due to its easy drinking personality yet with enough complexity and interest to mull over whilst enjoying it. Real champagne for $30! What a deal!
Baron-Fuenté "Esprit" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 02-18-2020
I really like the complexity that 7 years on the lees gives this wine, which really is an uncommon length of time at this price. Zippy acid and classic brioche flavors are in this elegant champagne that really over-delivers on the price to quality ratio and is the perfect pick for any party.