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This wine is absolute magic in a bottle - a simply stunning, perfectly aged, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon that can stand toe-to-toe with any challenger. Its local competition would be neighboring Ridge Monte Bello or Mount Eden, and I would happily put this wine side-by-side with an aged Monte Bello without hesitation. It would have no problem rising to the challenge. Run it against the most famous names from Napa Valley, too. Trust me, this is as good as aged California Cabernet gets, period. This is a truly unprecedented opportunity to offer a 20-year-old library release with incredible historical pedigree from one of the most unique and singular vineyards in the country. The price we’re offering is almost too good to be true - $150 less per bottle than the wine is currently selling for elsewhere. I recently drank a bottle of this wine with my family and was floored by the quality, and by the absolutely perfect stage of development it has reached. After 20 years in bottle, the wine still has beautifully rich, pure Cabernet fruit, but it also shows the suave and sophisticated complexity that can only come from graceful aging. The once-formidable mountain tannins are now silky, elegant, and perfectly resolved. Since the 1970s, Kathryn Kennedy’s postage-stamp vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains has been renowned for powerful, age-worthy, Bordeaux-inspired Cabernet Sauvignon. Since 1981, Kathryn’s son Marty has been crafting the wines, and after Kathryn’s passing in 2009, he continued the legacy of producing exceptional wines from this small but mighty terroir. K&L has long carried these wines. A quick check of our database shows SKUs going all the way back to the 1970s and 1980s. I have known Marty personally since 2010 and have always admired the way he continues to honor his mother’s legacy, producing wines of integrity and quality above all else. Recently, Marty and I struck a deal to sell some parcels of library wine at extra-sharp pricing. I asked him which vintages he thought were particularly compelling right now, and he immediately suggested 2006 as one of the favorite wines of his long career. The bottle he sent me confirmed what I already knew would be a heartfelt recommendation, and here we are with today’s offer. If you enjoy beautifully aged Cabernet, be it from Napa, Bordeaux, or anywhere else, you have to try this wine. If you already know the wines of Kathryn Kennedy and saw the price, you’ve likely already filled your cart. Do not miss this opportunity: perfect provenance, a 20-year library release, and once-in-a-lifetime pricing. Enjoy!

The 2021 Peak Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, with 5% Merlot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a swirl or two to coax out notes of blackcurrant jelly, black cherries, and mulberries leading to hints of licorice, tar, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is taut with dense, muscular black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy.

For over a decade now, I have received more emails about the Petroni rosé than any other wine in the category. "When does the new vintage arrive?" Well, it's finally here, and once again, it does not disappoint. The 2025 release is generous and expressive, showcasing notes of nectarine, passion fruit, and wild strawberry. A kiss of salinity and vibrant acidity provide balance and freshness. While unmistakably character-driven, it remains effortlessly approachable, always inviting another return to the glass. The only time I've visited Corsica, a stop at Petroni's vineyards was high on my list. Perched above the nearby lagoon, the vineyards overlooked the water on a damp, cool day just after harvest. Everything was still green and lush, and the beauty of the site left a lasting impression. That trip remains one of my favorite sourcing experiences, and Petroni continues to stand among my most rewarding discoveries. Year after year, this rosé reminds me exactly why.

Aromas of blood plums, violets, licorice, spices and dried herbs. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with a generous mouthfeel framed by finely extracted tannins and bright acidity. There’s tension to the wine and persistent purity of fruit in the finish. California's nod to the northern Rhone at the highest level. 100% whole-cluster fermentation. Drink or hold.

Rosé season never quite feels official until La Colombe hits our shelves. Bright, expressive, and endlessly drinkable, the 2025 delivers everything we've come to expect from one of our most popular Direct Imports. Juicy white peach, ripe strawberry, and fresh watermelon lead the way, while a burst of citrus keeps everything lively and refreshing. There's a beautiful balance between generous fruit and crisp acidity that makes often makes this the first bottle to disappear from the table a little too quickly. Whether you're headed to the beach, firing up the grill, or simply looking for the perfect porch wine, La Colombe continues to set the standard for everyday Provence rosé.

We began the Discovery Series as a way to introduce our clients to outstanding producers from well-defined regions, pairing great wines with the history and backstory that bring them to life. We were truly astounded by the success and reception of these wines, and deeply encouraged by the trust you placed in us to deliver what we consider best-in-class wines at best-in-class prices under a label we will continue to develop. During the search for Discovery wines, however, I encountered a number of bottles that didn’t quite fit that specific mold, yet still offered incredible quality and value. That realization led to the creation of the Rendez-Vous label — a place to showcase wines we believe will become staples in your weeknight rotation. This project was born during a visit with our friends at Dauvergne et Ranvier in the Southern Rhône. Together, we conducted a series of blind tasting trials, working through dozens of samples and experimenting with different lots to build what I hoped would become the perfect Rhône-style blend. I began by tasting individual parcels — some already blended, others single varietal expressions. Several Côtes du Rhône lots produced charming and approachable wines, but once we moved into the Côtes du Rhône Villages selections, the depth of fruit and overall expansiveness increased dramatically. After settling on my preferred blend, we presented it to our winery partners. Watching everyone’s reactions as we arrived at the final composition was incredibly rewarding — we were unanimous in our enthusiasm. Just like that, our first Côtes du Rhône Villages blend was born. The final wine leans toward Syrah (approximately 70%), supported by a generous 30% Grenache. It shows a beautiful core of raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, backed by impressive concentration and layered notes of tobacco, black pepper, and savory spice. Now that the wine has rested in bottle after its journey from France to our warehouse, it has fully settled into its character. At recent staff trainings, I shared this wine with our teams and felt that same sense of satisfaction seeing their reactions. It has quickly become a staff favorite. There is tremendous personality here and, as I like to say, it truly overdelivers for the price. Join us for a little Rendez-Vous with this exciting new release — I think you’ll find as much pleasure in drinking it as we did creating it.

We are very fortunate to be the importer for this great cult producer of blanc de blancs in the famous village of Mesnil. Launois is the only Champagne that I have sold to someone from Champagne to bring back to Champagne with them! It is that sought after. All grand cru, estate grown Champagne doesn't get better than this, but it is almost always more expensive. This is a wine of depth, finesse and intrigue and yet is about as easy as it gets to drink without engaging the grey matter at all. When we get it, it is always snapped up in a hurry... Don't wait and get disappointed!

I can't think of a single bottle of Champagne at K&L that has brought me such consistent pleasure as the Ariston Aspasie "Réserve." The Ariston family has worked very hard to deliver this great bottle to the Champagne lovers of the world. Most producers age their Champagne for less than three years in the bottle before shipping, but the "Réserve" gets five years. It is entirely estate-grown by one of the most careful growers in the business. On top of all that, it is made in one of the most modern facilities of any small producer that I have visited. The pressing is done in a €250,000 Coquard Diagonal press, and the fermentation is all done in computer-regulated, temperature-controlled tanks. The result is one of the best apéritif bottles that we sell, toasty and full, yet refreshing and crisp, a perfect balance between aged complexity and youthful vigor. And then there is the price; so fair that Cinnamon and I have had the opportunity to impact the world supply with our consumption! Don't miss it!

There are few things more pleasurable than the robust, oily, salty malt of Bunnahabhain paired with sultry oloroso-soaked European oak sherry casks for nearly a decade and a half. It's a style we rarely see in modern Scotch, harkening back to an older era that once seemed to define the far-flung distillery on the northeast coast of Islay. The simple fact that these casks once sold for much more does not negate their incredible quality. You'll still find previous releases of similar age from just a few years ago selling for legitimately twice our price. But that's ultimately beside the point, because these newer stocks are now coming of age and we are exploring their quality for the first time. I'm happy to report that the quality, at least of this particular butt, is simply stupendous. On we go. The color is a beautiful, robust burnt umber (1.7). The nose is universally appealing with huge notes of roasted sugar, sweet dried plums, poached pears, and sweetened whipped espresso, recalling the wafting aromas of Sant'Eustachio il Caffè in Rome's Centro Storico. Beneath all that dense sherry lies a sweet saltiness that reminds us the ocean is lapping at the foot of these warehouses. The palate is bold and rich with more herbs and sweet bark than the nose, but plenty of dense, ultra-mature rancio fruit as well. This whisky absolutely loves to swim, broadening and opening beautifully with water, adding both weight and complexity. I wish the distillery would offer more whisky like this; we'd have lots more interest in the brand. But alas, we're relegated to the occasional cask here or there showing this absurdly delicious character. I'll be praying each year that Signatory keeps the prices low on these very special stocks.

This is a rather wondrous bottling, starting with juicy aromas of cherry that are expertly masked by dewy sagebrush notes that arise with persistence and poise. The snappy palate ranges from raspberry and cranberry to rose petal and hibiscus, and then that slow-rising wave of green sage and peppercorn makes for both delicious and intriguing complexity. (MK)

Welcome to the newest addition to our Rendez-Vous collection: Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. Why did we choose Touraine? Simply put, it offers one of the greatest values for Sauvignon Blanc anywhere in the world. The region's clay-limestone and calcareous soils share many similarities with those of its far more famous neighbor a couple of hours to the east—Sancerre. As prices in Sancerre have continued to climb, many of its top producers have turned to Touraine to craft their value-focused wines. We realized we could do the same. So we reached out to one of our longtime partners with a simple proposition: let's take one of our favorite everyday Touraine bottlings and create the next Rendez-Vous. If you've been a fan of Roches Touraine over the years, here's a little secret—you've found it. This wine is the foundation for the project. I've been buying and tasting these wines for well over a decade, and they've never disappointed. The 2024 is everything I look for in Touraine: sleek, vibrant, and mineral-driven, with notes of lemon oil, fresh verbena, and a lightly chalky finish. There's also a subtle tropical lift that I always love in Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. It gives the wine an open, inviting personality that's equally at home on a Tuesday night or at a weekend gathering. That's exactly what Rendez-Vous is meant to be: exceptional quality at an everyday price. One of our goals with this label is to redefine what a daily-drinking wine can be by leveraging the long-standing relationships we've built with outstanding growers to deliver remarkable value without compromise. We hope this new Rendez-Vous earns a permanent place at your table. Santé—we have a feeling we'll be seeing you again soon.

This special Compass Box tasting pack brings together two of the house’s most celebrated expressions, offering a brilliant masterclass in the art of wood management, at an unbelievable price. While both whiskies showcase the blending house's signature richness and complexity, they approach flavor from entirely different geographic traditions, creating a beautiful study in contrasts.Together, this duo offers a phenomenal look at how the same high-quality malt distillate can be steered in wildly divergent directions by the hand of a master blender. Whether you are looking to explore the fiery depth of high-toast oak or the plush sweetness of European wine casks, this combo pack covers all the bases at a price lower than each individual bottle. And with the discontinuation of The Spice Tree expression, this may be your last chance to grab this classic at an unbeatable price.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Rodnick Farm Vineyard is a radiant and translucent expression of this singular vineyard, leading with a perfumed yet savory nose that rapidly takes on further citrusy and saline complexity. Silky and ethereal on the palate, it explodes into a finish that elegantly melds weightlessly saturated fruits with persistent mineral intensity. This is a high point of a beautifully well-crafted roster. (ML)

A blend of 36% Grenache, 24% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cinsault, 8% Rolle, 5% Caladoc, and 4% Counoise, the 2025 Coteaux D'Aix En Provence Rosé is a clean, classy rosé with light red fruits, white flowers, and chalky minerality on the nose. It's medium-bodied on the palate, with a fresh, focused mouthfeel, clean acidity, and just perfect overall balance. It's a serious, delicious rosé that's up with some of the crème de la crème of the region.

This is a seriously classy bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that combines purity of fruit and sheer quaffability with next-level complexity and depth. The source of this wine is a parcel of old-vine Sauvignon Blanc in the heart of Oakville, a subregion of Napa where precious little Sauvignon Blanc is grown anymore, simply because folks can replant the land to Cabernet and get two to four times the price for the fruit or wine. However, some growers realize it’s better to keep world-class Sauvignon Blanc in the ground than plant a few more acres of average Cabernet if the soils aren’t right. We partnered with one such estate to make this wine. That old-vine fruit was then fermented and aged in a variety of different vessels to build texture and tension in the wine. Some was aged in 500L seasoned French oak. Some rested in concrete tank. Another portion aged in a handmade Italian terracotta amphora. I worked with the winemaker to combine these fascinating individual components into one cohesive blend, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. As a young wine, the vivacious tropical and ripe citrus fruits are at the forefront, but there’s also a wonderful mineral tension and crystalline quality to the wine. The portion that spent time in relatively neutral oak boosts the texture just a touch, giving the wine wonderful length and presence on the palate. Despite its relatively inexpensive price point, this is not your typical, simple, stainless-steel, straightforward Sauvignon Blanc. There’s real sophistication and nuance here. I can’t wait to see how this wine settles in; I think it will continue to improve over the coming weeks, months, and probably years. Cheers!

A super lean, racy, mineral-driven wine, so fresh and linear and full of energy. Crisp green apples and lemon pith. Light-bodied and refreshing. At just 12% alcohol it's easy to sip and enjoy multiple glasses. Fermented in oak barrels with native yeast and native malolactic for a slightly smoother texture. Drink now. (JG)

Lovely transparency to this, with subtle honeysuckle, lemon rind and honey in the nose. It's medium-bodied with a refined texture and beautiful length. Real white Burgundy for the money. Drink now.

An absolute classic rendition of Zinfandel this legendary, historic site. There tons of rich, brambly fruit from the old vine Zin, but also real substance and complexity from the inclusion of Alicante Bouchet and a Primitivo clone brought here by Italian immigrants over a century ago. The wine shows a real sense of place with a crushed rock and ferrous mineral tone from red iron-rich loam and volcanic cobblestones that define the soils of the site. The picture perfect growing season in 2023 gave this wine lots of vibrancy and focus to balance all that old vine concentration and potency. The subtle use of both French and American oak is a well known signature when combined with this beautiful fruit. The value here, as with all the Anonymous wines is simply outstanding! Enjoy!

Price aside, this is one of the best bottles of Champagne at K&L. This wine comes from the same ancient massal selected vines that made their special club in the past, and is also made the same way- in enamel lined iron tanks in their cellar in Mesnil. 2017 is a fantastic vintage for Chardonnay, and this is a top notch example of the success that variety had in Champagne. Not only is the wine full of rich brioche and generous citrus, its fabulous texture and complexity is balanced by bright refreshment and definitive chalky minerality. Not only will it drink great tonight, it will improve for at least a couple of decades in good storage. Don't miss this one!

The secret history behind K&L Faultline Indiana Bourbon is one of my most prized memories as a buyer at K&L. Nearly two decades ago, when we first began to deploy a larger-scale strategy for K&L's spirits department, my colleague David Driscoll and I were determined to launch a store label. For years, K&L had sold wine under several private brands, but we had never done the same with spirits. We did not want to simply repackage other people's goods as our own. We would seek out the very best products we could find and bottle them under a label that exemplified our commitment to doing things better. We were drawing a line in the sand, making clear that nothing less would ever go into this special new label. If we couldn't get the quality and price we wanted from our suppliers, we'd create our own products that met the highest standards possible. And thus, Faultline was born. It was a seismic shift in how spirits retailers operated at the time. The name was a tip of the hat to the very real fault lines running beneath our California stores, connecting them in both geological and metaphysical terms. After the success of our first batches of Cognac, gin, single malt, and rum, we knew we had to put a bourbon together. It was not so easy to buy barrels in bulk in those days. While there are old stories of fine MGP rye stocks being offered at ridiculously low prices, the bourbons had already become dear. So when my friend John Little sent us a huge set of samples of great 10- and 7-year-old MGP for Smooth Ambler's single barrel program, I asked how many we could have. He said there were no real limits. After tasting through the set and liking several barrels, but loving none of them, I dumped my samples into a glass to see what would happen. A sort of magic spell was cast at that moment. The beauty of blending revealed itself to me right before my eyes, or more accurately, my nose. Together, the two whiskies simply sang, without any effort or real work. It was an epiphany. With a world of possibilities now open, we began tinkering and blending the lot, selecting certain 10- and 7-year-old barrels and carefully bringing them down to 100 proof. The resulting blend would become a staple on our shelves for the next half decade. But with the sale of Smooth Ambler to Pernod Ricard in 2017, our source dried up. That, in conjunction with the unprecedented bourbon explosion, tabled Faultline Bourbon for many years to come. Now, nearly 10 years later, the cycle begins again: amazing bourbon, available at incredible prices, blended to the flavor profile we have always loved. This rich and complex bourbon does what mature high-rye bourbon can do so well. It melds the sweetness of corn and oak sugars perfectly with the deep, satisfying spice of the barrel. The whole thing is tied up neatly with a bow of beautiful rye character, while the slow proofing we employ adds texture and depth throughout. You might argue about the nuances of this batch or that, but nothing can dethrone Faultline Bourbon as the king of K&L's bourbon shelves.

Few categories have been more muddled over the last decade than Japanese whisky, which makes the arrival of Sato Shiki feel especially compelling. This 35 Year Old Single Grain is presented as a fully grain-to-glass Japanese whisky, with grain sourced from local Japanese farms, water drawn from the Hourigawa River in Miyazaki Prefecture, and every step from fermentation to distillation and maturation taking place at the historic Sato Distillery, founded in 1905. The real intrigue here is the distillery's proprietary Sato Still, a unique beehive-shaped design developed by the fourth-generation master distiller to adapt centuries-old Japanese distillation traditions into a modern whisky context. After an extraordinary 35 years in a combination of American white oak, Spanish sherry oak, and Limousin Cognac oak, the whisky lands in a beautifully polished, layered style. Expect roasted malt, gentle vanilla, mature oak, dark chocolate, raisins, dried fruit, and toffee, all carried by the soft, round texture that only extended aging and careful cask management can provide. At 40% ABV, this is not about brute force, but elegance, rarity, and poise. A fascinating luxury bottling for collectors and Japanese whisky devotees looking beyond the usual names.

This is a really lovely and dynamic wine, starting with dense aromas of cola, root beer, mushroom, mint and black cherry that strike the nose in complex waves. The palate's oregano and marjoram notes give a savory balance to the raspberry and cherry core.

The 2025 Bandol Rosé is already showing beautifully, offering a medium-bodied palate with lovely drive and freshness, the latter especially impressive given the warmth of the vintage. There is a sense of poise here that sets it apart, combining Mediterranean sun with real structural discipline. This is precisely why great Bandol Rosé enjoys such a cult following - it is not merely refreshing, but serious and characterful with the depth to evolve in bottle. Few Rosés in the world occupy that space so convincingly, and this wine is a clear reminder of the category’s highest possibilities. (NG)

The 2021 Pinot Noir Ascona Vineyard is packed with dark cherry, plum, leather, licorice, incense and dried herbs. This imposing, dense Pinot packs a pretty serious punch. There is a wild, exotic quality here that is impossible to miss. (AG)

We've worked with brothers Jean-Marie and François Cherrier for more than 20 years, and their wines remain one of the benchmarks for value in Sancerre. For us, they've long served as a lodestar for what classic Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc should be. It was great to reconnect with the family at Wine Paris earlier this year and taste through the new releases. As the next generation becomes increasingly involved in the domaine, the Cherriers are finding exciting new ways to build upon a tradition that has made them one of our most trusted partners. The 2025 vintage was a challenging one, with reduced yields across much of the region. Fortunately, our long-standing relationship has helped preserve the majority of our allocation, even if quantities are a bit tighter than usual. The new Sancerre captures everything we love about the estate's style. Aromas of Meyer lemon and ruby red grapefruit lead the way, followed by hints of nectarine, wild thyme, and white flowers. The palate shows impressive ripeness and polish, delivering generous texture and concentration without sacrificing freshness or balance. Year after year, this remains one of the most re-ordered wines in the category. If you've yet to discover what makes Cherrier such a perennial favorite, the outstanding 2025 vintage is the perfect place to start.

Colombe and La Chapelle Saint Victor often arrive in tandem and Chapelle has always been the more terroir-driven sibling. Where La Colombe emphasizes fruit, Chapelle leans into precision and minerality. Crisp Red Delicious apple, citrus zest, and subtle wild herbs are framed by a streak of limestone-driven freshness that carries through the finish. There's an understated complexity here that makes it equally enjoyable on its own or alongside food. Pair it with grilled seafood, Niçoise salad, or simply a warm evening outdoors, and it's easy to understand why this has become one of the defining wines of our Provence program.

The wild success of the Sideburns 35 Year has rattled the cage of more than one large company in Scotland. If you haven’t seen my review of that product, I highly recommend taking a look: https://shop.klwines.com/products/details/1918829 . The short version is this: we may be on the precipice of a new golden age of Scotch, and K&L is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the market asymmetry. While our marketing of the previous batch was met with side eyes and raised eyebrows from the original owners of the stocks and trademarks, other suppliers with similar inventories saw it as a signal. This was an opportunity. It would seem our prayers have been answered. Another incredible value in old malt has landed in our lap, and this time the deal is even more impressive. There are, of course, differences in the stock. This distillate comes entirely from November 1989 and was matured in refill hogsheads, rather than the first-fill sherry hogsheads of Batch #1. The proof is slightly lower, but still a robust 47-48% for a whisky of such advanced age. Remember, Scotch typically loses up to 1% ABV per year and enters the cask around 63%. So yes, older, slightly lower in proof, and without the fashionable sherry influence, yet 25% cheaper. If you ask me, old malt like this absolutely thrives in refill hogsheads. While I often insist on first or second fill for younger whisky, at this age the nuance of second or third fill can be profoundly beneficial. In any case, if it’s not already clear, this malt is drawn almost entirely from one of Speyside’s most beloved distillers. Search “Burnside,” the Cadenhead/Springbank-owned blended malt, if you want clues to the source. We’re being intentionally careful about naming names, but suffice it to say this parcel comes from the cellars of one of the industry’s most powerful blending houses. Whether it was once destined as a top note for premium blends or simply forgotten stock, it now stands as perhaps the greatest value I’ve ever offered. Twice in six months. It really does feel like the start of something bigger.

I've been fortunate to know Gilles and Pascale Pons, the proprietors of Château les Valentines, for well over a decade. From the very beginning, I was drawn to the purity and restraint of their wines. Their estate lies in La Londe-les-Maures, on the Mediterranean side of the Côtes de Provence, where schist soils produce rosés with remarkable tension and minerality. Just a few miles from the sea, the vineyards benefit from cooling maritime breezes that impart a subtle saline edge, while the family's commitment to certified organic farming allows this exceptional terroir to speak with even greater clarity. The first wine they ever poured for me was Caprice des Clémentines. Named after their then-young daughter—now in her mid-twenties—it was conceived as an introduction to the estate's style, blending fruit from their own vineyards with carefully selected partner growers' parcels. It was an instant favorite with both our staff and customers. Over the past few vintages, however, the wine has become entirely estate grown, and the added precision and character are unmistakable. When Gilles and Pascale parted ways with their national importer, I asked if they would consider joining our Direct Import program. Fortunately, they said yes, and for the past several years Château les Valentines has become a new cornerstone of our Provence portfolio. They embody exactly what we look for: a family-owned estate farming responsibly, producing wines that clearly express their place, and delivering exceptional value vintage after vintage. The new Caprice is an even blend of Grenache and Cinsault, bursting with notes of wild strawberry, papaya, nectarine, and wet stone. The balance is what keeps me coming back. Bright acidity, a gentle mineral streak, and an effortless freshness make it a wine that shines at the table. During my recent visit to the estate, I enjoyed it with several meals, but my favorite moment came before dinner at Gilles and Pascale's home. A simple platter of crudités, a few friends gathered on the patio, and a chilled bottle of Caprice were all it took to remind me why this wine has remained one of my perennial Provence favorites.

This is a really fun wine for folks who appreciate both Old World and New World styles - or at least wines that strike a thoughtful balance between the two, as this one does. Daniel Baron is one of the most experienced winemakers you’re ever likely to meet. In 1974, he attended UC Davis, where he studied Viticulture and Enology under the legendary Dr. Harold Olmo. After graduating, he worked numerous harvests before eventually landing in Bordeaux at the iconic Château Pétrus during none other than the famed 1982 vintage. After 12 months at Pétrus, he had befriended owner Christian Moueix and returned to his native California to help launch the newly minted Dominus Estate. After working at Dominus for 13 years as General Manager, Dan went on to become the winemaker at Silver Oak, a tenure he held until 2016. Now that’s quite a résumé, huh? Francophone is a project Dan made with Naked Wines, combining fruit from both Napa’s Oakville district and Sonoma’s Moon Mountain. The 2021 Francophone - a playful nod to Dan’s inspirational journey to Bordeaux and back - has rich, ripe fruit, but also an elegant, refined structure more reminiscent of Bordeaux. Dusty red and black fruits meet leather, camphor, subtle hints of licorice, and graphite. The very modest use of oak frames the wine with just a faint sprinkle of spice. Very easy-drinking and silky on the palate, this is a remarkably compelling Cabernet. The fact that you can get a wine directly from the hands of a winemaker with this kind of pedigree is just mind-blowing. Check it out, Insiders!

White Burgundy Value Alert!!! This is easily one of the bets values we currently carry at K&L and easily one of my favorite White Burgundies under $20. Bright, zesty and fresh with brilliant orchard fruit and spice notes this easy drinking, impossible not enjoy white is the perfect daily drinker as well as a great value that brings endless versatility to your weekly drinking. All White Burgundy does not have to break the bank and the 2024 Chateau Vitallis Macon Fuisse drinks way above its price-point.

A longstanding K&L customer favorite, the 2015 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja is back in stock and tasting better than ever! Composed of the same blend as the Crianza Rioja (85% Tempranillo; 15% Mazuelo), this Reserva Rioja is a barrel selection by owner/winemaker Angel Escudero. He identifies barrels of the Crianza that he feels show more complexity and concentration and are able to withstand extended aging. These wines then spend a total of 27 months in barrel, before being racked to concrete tanks where they spend another year aging before being bottled and aged even further. Now with 10 years of age, the 2015 Reserva Rioja is shows a panoply of ripe, slightly desiccated red fruit (plum, strawberry) notes, backed up by wonderfully savory, earthy aromatics of mushroom, cedar, tobacco and subtle black licorice. This wine is so classically Rioja, herbaceous and woodsy on the palate, with a long and lingering finish. Considering this wine is almost a full decade old and still singing, this is an incredible value at under $20. Add in that the estate is family owned, and the vines are averaging forty-five years old, you’d be hard pressed to find many other comparable wines at this price point in Rioja.

The 2021 Puzzle is Newton's mountain Cabernet blend at its most generous, dense and dark. It pours rich and dark, chocolate and mocha lifting out of the glass, before turning soft and fabulously friendly on the palate. Chalky dark fruit abounds, with a generous, almost decadent finish. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon from Newton's high volcanic sites, filled out with the a supporting cast of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

Another incredibly concentrated, focused, insanely impressive wine in the lineup is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, which offers a powerful nose of darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, and savory herb aromas and flavors. This full-bodied, dense, concentrated, powerful, inward beauty needs 4-6 years in the cellar but will age forever.

Seven percent red wine added to the blend to make the NV Champagne Brut Rosé, which is based on the 2020 harvest and is 45% Chardonnay, 25% Meunier, and the rest Pinot Noir, with about 45% reserve wine. A classic pink salmon hue, the nose is classic and pretty with notes of fresh peaches, raspberries, roses, and chalky earth. Medium-bodied and rounded, it’s approachable and fresh in style, with lovely purity and a pretty feel throughout. It’s delicious now but has the ability to age with ease over the coming 10 years. Disgorged in the first quarter of 2023, 4.7 grams per liter dosage (although interestingly, they are now including the total grams per liter, in this case 5.3 grams per liter in the final wine). (AF)

Classically styled and expressed, the gorgeously aromatic bouquet shows green rockmelon, kiwifruit, fresh fig and lemon zest aromas, leading to a wonderfully flavoursome palate that's juicy and lively. Fresh and super tasty.

The 2021 Apollo is impossible to ignore, wafting up with a hauntingly dark mix of mentholated blackberries, rosemary and ashen stone. Juicy upon entry, it quickly gains saturating tension as tart wild berry fruits drench the palate in primary concentration. Tactile mineral tones linger with silky tannins as this finishes long, with a note of blackcurrant that fades slowly.

This shows aromas of red cherries, earthy nuances and mushrooms. Medium- to full-bodied, with great length and a chiselled, evenly distributed palate, displaying a fine balance between fruit, acidity and tannin. The label bears the distinction Selección Especial, a designation last used for this wine in 2001 and reserved for exceptional vintages. Sourced from vineyards in Rodezno, Labastida and Cenicero, it is aged for its first year in new American oak. Approachable now but with the structure and balance to evolve over time. (JGA)

Another addition to our array of top tier Pinot at yesteryear's prices. This carries all the beautiful characteristics of Chalone vineyard fruit, including vibrant acidity, breadth of fruit, and a refreshing mineral quality. Black cherry, preserved strawberry, and pomegranate mingle with dried herbs and a savory, mineral-laden finish. The sort of wine that has you coming back for more until you realize you need another bottle. Get a few now, because inventory is unlikely to last long.

As other staff and reviews have point out, this is an incredible deal and fantastic wine for the price - fruit coming from Chalone outside of its own estate label is bonkers in and of itself, but at this price a genuine steal. The wine itself is incredibly layered, pretty and elegant aromatics of ripe stone fruit skin, white flowers, and even chamomile tea - and on the palate it is just ripe peaches and nectarines, a little lemon/lime, and a great finish of salinity and riverstone. Acidity is nice and zingy, but integrated into the fruit ripeness as to not be overbearing. Get it before its gone!

Corsica still feels like one of France's last undiscovered destinations. While many travelers flock to Provence or the Riviera, the island remains refreshingly untouched by mass tourism. Towering mountains plunge into the Mediterranean, creating some of the most spectacular scenery in France—and an equally compelling place to enjoy the local wines and cuisine. Corsica's two signature red grapes are Sciaccarellu and Niellucciu, descendants of the Italian varieties Mammolo and Sangiovese, respectively. While both are capable of producing complex, age-worthy reds, they also make wonderfully distinctive rosés with a character that's unmistakably Corsican. Terra Santa has been one of our favorite value rosés since we first introduced it several years ago. A blend of 50% Sciaccarellu, 25% Niellucciu, and 25% Grenache, it is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel to preserve its freshness and purity. Bright aromas of wild strawberry mingle with hints of Mediterranean herbs and a gentle touch of sea spray. It's the kind of rosé that disappears effortlessly on a sunny afternoon, but it has more than enough character to accompany a steaming pot of fresh mussels and a side of crispy fries.

This is the second edition of Anonymous that we’ve produced with this incredible, world-renowned winery, and it takes the quality to an entirely new level. I’m proud to say I worked hand in hand with the winemaking team to craft this custom blend from the crème de la crème of single-vineyard components sourced from some of the region’s most sought-after sites. At the core of the wine are three Grand Cru–caliber vineyards, including old Wente clone vines planted in 1974. Most of the fruit comes from the far western edge of the Russian River Valley, where the AVA meets the West Sonoma Coast. The ultra–cool climate, Goldridge soils, and meticulous viticulture ensure that only the finest fruit makes it through the doors of this esteemed estate. The fruit was gently pressed, and the juice was racked to top-quality French oak (30% new), where it fermented with native yeasts and aged on its lees for 15 months. The final blend is composed of 12 carefully selected barrels, chosen not only for their exceptional individual character but also for their seamless integration as a whole. I couldn’t be more proud of this wine. Working with this team is a true joy. With decades of winemaking pedigree and multiple 100-point wines to their credit, this partnership embodies everything the Anonymous Wine Project is about. Under its original label, this wine typically retails for $75–$90. The value delivered through anonymity is simply sensational.

Great Chablis doesn’t have to break the bank, and the 2023 La Chablisienne Collaboration Estate Chablis Cuvée Centenaire is a stunning value! Pithy notes of orchard fruits, citrus accents, flint, and crushed seashells leap from the glass, while the palate unfolds with vibrant iodine, citrus, and orchard fruit flavors on a sleek, layered texture. This wine is smooth and vibrant, with excellent acidity and balance. It’s so good, it feels more like a 1er Cru than a village-level offering. Enjoyability here is off the charts—definitely a solid 10 out of 10.

A fabulous wine of focus and polish with very fine tannins that caress your palate and give great length to the finish. Medium to full body. The aromas of violets and currants are so beautiful. Dreamy. Best ever? A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot.

We can never get enough Launois Quartz at K&L. Unfortunately; the production is limited as Bernard Launois only has so many grapes each year in the great Mesnil plot of Les Chetillons. Having access to single vineyard, estate, grand cru Champagne from one of the best growers in the region at such a fair price makes me proud to be the Champagne guy at K&L. This wine has a fabulous white fruit quality that few Champagnes get at any price, and a chalky laser beam finish that is pure Mesnil. No Champagne we carry sells out faster!

The NV Champagne Special Cuvée (60% Pinot Noir and based on the 2021 harvest) pours a bright yellow/silver hue on opening and reveals a fresh and actually more mineral-driven profile on the nose than I was expecting, revealing layers of fresh raspberries, brioche, wet stone, and orange blossoms. The palate is medium to full-bodied and classically rounded, as you would come to expect from this house, but it retains good tension and a silky, chalky texture, with an ultra-fine mousse, salinity in its notes of grapefruit zest and almond, and a creamy texture through the finish. It’s very well-styled and is going to drink well over the next 10 years. They always try to have 8-10 vintages the blend, the oldest being 18 years (15 years when it goes into the bottle). 8 grams per liter dosage. (AF)

The outstanding 2023 Acumen ‘Atlas Peak’ Sauvignon Blanc offers serious texture and verve on the palate, loaded with minerals, melon fruits and shades of starfruit with kumquat rind. Rich and fat on the tongue, this is seriously good stuff that will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033.

A plush and lush nose, it's really expressive right now with really pillowy kind of aromas, just really comforting for some reason. There's a little bit of blue fruit somewhere in the back, but mostly there's darker fruits with blackberry cobbler, black cherry, raspberry flower and ripe raspberry, some plum flesh, and a fair amount of barrel in the back. The fruit is dusty and has a couple turns of black pepper passed over it, there's more leather, some black olive, and then more barrel before fruit comes back in and twines and twists with the barrel notes. This is really nice and classy Cabernet Sauvignon but with a little more structure and food friendliness than some of the bigger and fatter Napa offerings. Really really good.

This absolutely stunning value from our friends in Dornoch represents a truly unique opportunity. You might remember the last batch, which included a remarkable 27 year old Glenburgie that many overlooked until it was far too late. This is that cask but for 2026. A beautiful old barrel matured in refill ex-Wild Turkey wood from one of Scotland’s most underappreciated distilleries. It is only on the rarest occasions that we’re able to offer whisky of this age and quality at such a low price. What’s even more striking is just how delicious it is. You’ll recall we had to raise prices on the old Glenburgie and unpeated Ledaig last year, so don’t be surprised if this one climbs as well, assuming any is left on arrival. Not a warning, just the reality of how spoiled we’ve become. Three exceptional old casks from top distillers under $200 from Thompson Bros this year, and this may well be the best of the lot. From a distillery undergoing one of the most exciting revivals in Scotland, now with new floor maltings and direct fire, Glen Garioch is firmly one to watch. The color is a gorgeous, enticing deep copper (0.9). The nose is an absolute explosion of fruit: yellow plum, cantaloupe, Pink Lady apple, and apricot, layered with deeper tones of nougat, toffee, vanilla, old cellar floor, tobacco leaf, and citrus oil. It is immensely complex and deeply satisfying. On the palate, the texture is powerful, with ripe fruit leading the charge. The higher proof brings a bold midpalate spice before settling into a softer, composed finish with no harsh tannin. With a touch of water, it opens beautifully, softening slightly while retaining that incredible fruit intensity. For those chasing that old school fruit basket style that has become increasingly rare in modern Scotch, this sits right at the top.