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The 2020 Campaccio is packed with dark-toned fruit, leather, spice, licorice and mocha. Ample and resonant on the palate, this heady blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot offers tons of textural intensity and power to burn. Even so, all the elements are impeccably balanced. (AG)

I write up "the hard stuff" very rarely but, this bourbon is soooo good that it is not be be missed. Not too sweet, with balanced flavors of vanilla, caramel, spice and nectarine. Very smooth without being cloying or flat. A really good value! Get it while we have it...the times that we are sold out of this seem to be increasing.

Nobody in Champagne works harder on making a great rose than Paul-Vincent Ariston, owner of Champagne Aspasie, and no bottle that we carry is as outstanding of a bargain. Most producers either make a red wine to blend into their white or do a maceration of all the skins for a short time to make rose. Paul does both, as he likes the complexity that the maceration method brings to the wine, and the control that the addition of red wine offers. This isn't just a good deal, it is a Champagne of spectacular depth and character, that is also super easy to drink.

Made by Françoise Peschon, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon VHR is a perfect wine based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard in the southern part of Oakville and was raised 22 months in 65% new French oak. Cassis, graphite, smoky tobacco, and spicy wood define the bouquet, and it is medium to full-bodied with ultra-pure fruit, a seamless profile, fine tannins, and flawless balance. There are no hard edges, and this has a remarkable sense of class and depth from start to finish. It deserves 5-7 years of bottle age and will be incredibly long-lived.

The 2021 Syrah Originals was 50% destemmed and raised in neutral French oak. Medium-bodied and balanced, with a focused, layered style, it has terrific red and black fruits, some iron and bloody, meaty, peppery nuances, ripe and nicely integrated tannins, and a great finish. This classic, incredibly compelling, and impeccably made Syrah will evolve for a solid 10-15 years. It's brilliant and in the same ballpark as the 2016.

Made by Françoise Peschon, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon VHR is a perfect wine based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard in the southern part of Oakville and was raised 22 months in 65% new French oak. Cassis, graphite, smoky tobacco, and spicy wood define the bouquet, and it is medium to full-bodied with ultra-pure fruit, a seamless profile, fine tannins, and flawless balance. There are no hard edges, and this has a remarkable sense of class and depth from start to finish. It deserves 5-7 years of bottle age and will be incredibly long-lived.

Very complex aromas of crushed berries, yet the fresh herbs, dried berries, sandalwood and Spanish cedar add complexity and brightness. Full-bodied with tannins that melt into the wine. Savory.

While compositionally similar to the straight Bourgogne, there is more elegance as well as an attractive essence of pear nuance. There is again excellent verve to the chiseled and strikingly textured medium-bodied flavors that flash focused power on the firm, complex, balanced and impressively long finish for a villages-level wine. While this could use better depth, everything is in place for that to occur in time. One to buy. *Outstanding*

Referred to as ‘Baby Grange’ as components of the wine are always matured in the same American oak hogsheads that held the previous vintage of Grange, Bin 389 (first made in 1960) is always a Cabernet-dominant Cab-Shiraz – the great Australian blend. This year it just makes it, with 51%, the fruit for both varieties coming from McLaren Vale (45%), Padthaway and Barossa Valley. The 12 months in oak (33% new) adds a creamy coconut sheen to the generous mouthful of summer pudding berries, fleshy blue plums and more savoury tones of fennel salami, mocha and cigar box spice. Fine tannins, bright acidity and a firm structure deliver power and polish, already approachable but with a long life, and more complexity, ahead. A standout this vintage. (TG)

Glorious aromas of roses, whole white truffles, earth and raspberry. Dusty. Subtle rosemary and lemon grass too. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Yet it opens and caresses every inch of your palate. So gorgeous now to drink. No Monfortino in this year; so absolutely amazing because it all went in here. Wow. Drink or hold.

Opened in 2014 by independent bottler Adelphi, Ardnamurchan Distillery takes its name from the peninsula on Scotland’s west coast where it stands. This Highland single malt’s Tokaji cask designation references the wines of Hungary’s historic Tokaj region, connecting its Scottish distilling roots with a distinctive Central European winemaking tradition.

Broad and welcoming with an ambrosial tropical richness and an engulfing oak-infused texture which is rewarded by the lemon zest acidity and long, nurturing finish. (DWWA 2025)

This is Champagne with a quiet kind of allure—the color of rose gold at sunset and a perfume that feels almost nostalgic. Notes of wild strawberry, blood orange, and toasted almond drift from the glass, joined by whispers of chalk and cream. On the palate, it moves gracefully between richness and restraint: bright, delicate bubbles carrying flavors of red fruit, pastry, and a touch of spice. It’s the sort of bottle that invites you to slow down and savor. Elegant but never showy, deeply charming without effort—Launois reminds us that beauty in Champagne doesn’t always need to shout.

A “wheated” bourbon, meaning that it doesn’t have the spicy rye notes found in a more traditional “ryed” bourbon. A pleasantly sweet, easy-going, well-balanced experience. Creamy vanilla, caramel, candied corn, and ripe berried fruit, along with more subtle notes of glazed orange, cocoa powder, and wood shavings. If I were going to ease a new bourbon drinker into the category, I might pick this one.

The 2004 Quinta do Noval Nacional has a show-stopping bouquet that is cut from a completely different cloth than the 2004 Vintage. This is far more extravagant and decadent, with kirsch, camphor, incense and crushed violets exploding from the glass. You might think it was some super Barossa Syrah if you nosed it blind. The palate is intense with penetrating, citrus-fresh black currant and dark-plum fruit. It is has lovely caressing, slightly grainy textured, well-judged acidity and a composed, elegant finish. This is pure class, a hedonistic Nacional surfeit with swagger and style. Drink 2020-2050. (NM)

Sourced from the 5.3-hectare Arkenstone Estate on Howell Mountain, this white blend consists of 94% Sauvignon Blanc and 6% Semillon. The wine is aged 11 months sur lie in a combination of concrete egg, new French oak, and used oak, followed by 18 months of bottle ageing. Set to release in the spring of 2025, nearly three years post-harvest, this is a meticulously crafted and ageworthy wine. The wine opens with a firm foundation of acid tension and a dynamic thread of minerality that is both salty and chalky. This complex structure frames a bright fruit profile, starting with citrus zest and evolving into orchard and stone fruit, beautifully accented by hibiscus tea notes. The chalky minerality adds depth, while the tension-filled finish leaves a lasting impression. This is unquestionably an ageworthy white, enjoyable in its youth for its ripe fruit, zesty character, and mineral richness, but it also has the capacity for long-term cellaring. It is a stellar example of precision and elegance in a mountain-grown white blend. (JC)

Amazing aromas of sweet uncooked pie crust with almonds. Then you smell dried apples, apricots and pineapple. Grilled fruits, too. Full-bodied. So tangy and energetic with sizzling acidity and creamy tannins. Flavorful and lightly oxidized at the finish. Smacking my lips. Agile. Ginger and spices. A touch of bitter complexity with some salinity. Extreme character that grabs your attention. 13 years and six months aging on the lees with cork. 3 grams dosage. 71% pinot noir and 29% chardonnay. Don’t serve too cold.

The stunning 2002 Bishop (100% Shiraz from 40- to 80-year-old vines) was aged for 16 months in primarily old American hogsheads (300-500 liter barrels). This is a superb example of Barossa Shiraz, combining power and concentration with a sense of balance and symmetry. Dense purple-colored with a gorgeous nose of sweet cassis intertwined with new saddle leather, spice box and licorice, this full-bodied, unctuously-textured effort boasts tremendous intensity, good tannic structure, decent acidity, and a long, heady finish. The 14% alcohol content is relatively retrained by Barossa standards. It should drink well for 7-8 years.

A very alluringly floral nose here with dried roses, leaves, bergamot and plenty of red cherries on offer, leading to a very fresh and succulent palate that delivers such intense and focused fruit flavor. Accurate.

The Hyperion is the inaugural release in Redwood Empire’s new annual series devoted to exploring what is possible in American whiskey. Named for the world’s tallest known living tree, each edition will be entirely distinct and never repeated. Master Distiller Jeff Duckhorn and Master Blender Lauren Patz began with Redwood Empire’s deep library of house-distilled and carefully sourced whiskey, ultimately selecting approximately 79 barrels representing more than ten mash bills from California, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The remarkably intricate final blend is composed of 32% bourbon, 30% rye whiskey, 25% wheat whiskey, and 13% American single malt, with components ranging from seven to fourteen years old. The result reaches well beyond any single category, combining bourbon’s caramel richness, rye’s spice and structure, wheat whiskey’s generous texture, and the roasted depth of mature malt. Bottled unfiltered at a commanding 110 proof, Hyperion opens with California walnut and roasted apricot before moving through pomegranate molasses, ripe stone fruit, cream, and warm baking spice. Toffee and toasted malt carry through the long, beautifully integrated finish. Bold, mature, and genuinely original, this is an extraordinary statement from one of America’s most thoughtful blending teams and a compelling beginning to a series that promises to become increasingly collectible.

Notes of creme de cassis, licorice, cedar, and charcoal slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to hints of chocolate mint and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is vivacious and intense, with mint-laced black fruit layers and a fine-grained texture, finishing long and lifted.

It's a rocking Cabernet that should be snatched up by readers looking for a terrific value in Napa Cabernet at the 50 dollar price point. Blue fruits, sappy herbs, some damp earth, and a touch of mint all emerge from this charming, medium to full-bodied, fruit-loaded effort that delivers the goods.

Beautiful nose with impressive concentration and clarity, offering red berries, mulberries, exotic spices, crushed hazelnuts and hints of iodine, wet undergrowth and chocolate. Compact, focused and balanced, with a medium to full body and refined, well-integrated tannins that run the length of the wine, leading to a seamless, fine-textured finish. Well crafted, broad and long but not overwhelming. Drink or hold. (AS)

The Vinum Dei is from the Launois family holdings in the village of Vindey and is composed of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. — Gary Westby, K&L Champagne buyer

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has held DOC status since 1968 and is built around Montepulciano, Abruzzo’s principal red grape—not to be confused with the Tuscan town of the same name. Amorotti’s 2021 bottling places this historic regional variety squarely at the center of its identity.

Founded in 1997 by Guy and Judy Davis, Davis Family Vineyards is a boutique, family-run estate rooted in the heart of Russian River Valley. Guy’s passion for wine began in a French restaurant kitchen, evolving into a lifelong pursuit of terroir-driven winemaking. Sons Cooper and Cole now join Guy in the cellar and vineyard, continuing the legacy. The wines are handcrafted in small lots, emphasizing balance, texture, and site specificity.

This is an excellent special-occasion single malt from Suntory. Look for a bold, luscious butterscotch, note, enlivened by touches of stone fruit, lychee, and a faint hint of smoke. The buttery-soft texture and amber color with bright orange-gold highlights add to the luxe experience.

The 2021 Hair of the Bear is an unusual blend of 75% Petite Syrah and 25% Roussanne. It’s a combination that works so well. Inky dark fruit, licorice, cloves, chocolate and sweet spice all meld together effortlessly, while perfumed floral notes lift the finish. (AG)

A beautiful, luscious, easy-sipping red that goes deep in red and black fruit on a silky texture. Dark plums, black cherries, dark chocolate, cocoa and hints of red flowers, iron and graphite. Soft, resolved tannins and a lingering finish. Drink now or hold.

The 2023 Watervale Riesling is supple and spicy and very fine, with an aspirin-like acid line that underpins the fleshy citrus fruit. The wine is utterly pristine in its construction and populated by fruit that is crystal clear and perfectly eloquent of its Clare Valley roots. 12% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

This experimental blend of seven- to 20-year-old Grande Champagne is finished for 12 to 18 months in Banyuls casks. Light copper in color, it’s bright and fruity, with flavors and aromas of fresh citrus and stone fruit, but there’s significant rancio throughout. Banyuls is all about rancio, so that it makes sense, but the palate is very unique, almost the opposite of what’s expected: the spice and rancio come up front, followed by a finish of raisins and dates. A fascinating and tasty experiment. (42.3% abv) (JW)

Incredibly floral on the nose, with citrus peel, sliced apple, burning incense, sandalwood, peach pit, aged oak, and spices so fine you could count them by the grain. It’s weighty and honeyed, driven forward by the mizunara oak character, with waxiness and smoke progressing to lime zest, green apple, kumquat, cocoa, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, with a creamy elegance to the finish.” (JM)

Spice- and earth-driven with a lovely restrained edge, giving aromas of cherries, bark, blood oranges, charcuterie, dried rose petals and graphite. The palate is chewy and tactile, with firmly framed tannins and focused acidity, finishing with a mineral undertone. There is a lot of complexity and character to come with more time in the bottle. Drink or hold.

Calle 23’s original Criollo Blanco became a cult favorite, and Sophie Decobecq’s follow-up takes this distinctive agave in an entirely new direction. Created after the 2018 release honoring her first son, Abel, Criollo El Dos celebrates her second son, Eliès, with a limited-edition blend built around añejo tequila, complemented by smaller contributions of extra añejo and reposado. The foundation remains blue agave criollo, the unusually small plants prized for their high sugar content that inspired the original bottling. Rather than repeat that blanco, Sophie chose to explore how barrel maturation could develop the character of this special raw material. Bottled at 46.7% ABV and made without additives, El Dos brings together three categories of aged tequila in a single composition. The presentation is equally thoughtful: a hand-blown bottle made from recycled glass, decorated with hand-drawn artwork by Rose Guerrero. For those who followed the original Criollo, this is a particularly exciting next chapter, pairing Sophie’s fascination with these exceptional agaves with a distinctly different approach to aging and blending.

Felipe Camarena calls this the finest Reposado G4 has ever produced, and it's easy to see why. Crafted from the iconic G4 Blanco, this limited edition showcases everything that sets the brand apart—stone oven cooking, open-air fermentation, copper pot distillation, and the signature 50/50 blend of spring and rainwater from El Pandillo in the Highlands of Jalisco. What makes this Reposado truly stand out is its unique maturation. Aged for three months, the spirit is split between single-use American oak whiskey barrels and single-use sherry casks. The result is a beautifully balanced expression where roasted agave and cracked black pepper meet layers of vanilla, dried fruit, and gentle oak sweetness. The sherry influence adds a lift of complexity without overshadowing the agave core, leading to a long, elegant finish. The packaging features a revival of G4’s original 2012 label, paying homage to the brand’s roots and its fourth-generation lineage. With only 2,016 cases produced, this is a must-have for collectors and serious agave lovers. Whether enjoyed neat or in a carefully crafted cocktail, the Throwback Reposado is a testament to Camarena’s mastery and vision.

Forest floor, new leather, lavender and camphor are just some of the aromas you’ll find on the gorgeous Roagna 2020 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Viti. Combing finesse and structure, the ethereally elegant, delicious palate delivers succulent red cherry, wild raspberry, blood orange and licorice before closing on crushed mint. Bright acidity lends racy tension while taut, ultra-refined tannins offer seamless support. (KO)

A fantastic balance of very zesty acidity and juicy fruit. I love the interplay of citrusy freshness and apples on the light-bodied palate. Elegant finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Napa Valley became California’s first American Viticultural Area in 1981, establishing a legally recognized origin for its wines. Rubus’s 2007 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon bears that Napa Valley designation. The “Old Vine” wording reflects a wine-labeling tradition rather than a regulated age category: U.S. law sets no minimum vine age for the term.

Orange rind and spices, such as cardamom on the nose, together with sourdough and fresh fig . Some salted butter, too. It's creamy, supple and silky, with a salty freshness. Soft bubbles. Long and chalky finish. 100% chardonnay from 90-year-old vines. Base wine fermented in stainless steel. Only made in exceptional vintages. Disgorged after 15 years on lees with 5g/L dosage. Drink or hold. (CN)

Dense, with black cherry and blackberry flavors accented by spice hints, imparting a chalky, minerally sensation. This is firm now, but the finish extends with a mix of fruit, spice and stone notes. Best from 2017 through 2028. (BS)

Very cool and lemony, with plenty of garden herb aromas, this is a very sleek and focused dry riesling that’s barely medium-bodied. Very crisp finish with some herbal and green apple flavors. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Bright and buoyant aromas of raspberries, cocoa powder, rose petals and cinnamon waft from the glass on the nose of this Pinot. The palate shows electric acidity, powder fine tannin and explosive flavors of Bing cherry, orange peel, Darjeeling and flowers that move and shake across the long finish.

The 2022 Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches Au Bouge is 100% Chardonnay that was aged 18 months in 100% new French oak. Slightly more perfumed and exotic, it offers notes of lemon curd, honeyed flowers, and orange blossom. Medium-bodied on the palate, with a pure, focused, and racy mouthfeel, it delivers nicely integrated oak and outstanding length. This is another impressive Chardonnay from this team. Drink 2025-2035.

Such a deep and complex gran reserva with richness and depth. Genuinely intense and harmonious, with cigar box, pine cones, black mushrooms and high-grade wood and vanilla. Juicy, flavorful and really long. Goes on for a minute, if not more. Such a hedonistic Rioja that delivers sheer pleasure. 90% tempranillo and 10% graciano. (ZS)

Founded in Rutherford in 1972 by Chuck Wagner and his parents, Charlie and Lorna, Caymus Vineyards grew from a Napa Valley farming family’s roots. This 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is presented in a generous one-liter format, offering 250 milliliters more than a standard wine bottle.

Just a little more colour here, and a brisker nose with some tangy plum fruit. Excellent weight on the palate. Not too soft nor too heavy, the acidity works well here. A long finish with a crisper touch. Overall, I prefer the balance here to the Chaumées, and there is a little more complexity in the fruit. Drink from 2027-2034. Tasted Oct 2023.

Quelle surprise! Penfolds impresses with a multi-regional blend. It's something they do so well; a combination of vineyard resources and masterful blending with such quality and consistency across their 'Bin' range of wines. Deep set satsuma plum, blackberry and blueberry fruits with hints of baking spices, charcuterie, violets, fennel tops, dried herbs, nicely-judged American oak and a gentle earthen hue. There's a lovely, bright fruit presence here; long, flavourful and delicious now with the promise of excellent cellaring potential. (DB)

This awesome vodka is locally made in El Dorado Hills from 100% apples and cut with Sierra Nevada mountain water. It's naturally gluten-free, has no sugar added, and is double carbon filtered for an exceptionally round taste. Winner of Best in Class vodka from the SIP awards and California Craft Spirits Competition.