K&L Top 10 Picks—March

Featuring: A 98-Point Baricci, Varner, Olema, and more... Monday Mar 11th, 2019 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( Each month we dig through our inventory of several thousand hand-picked wines and spirits, and come up with a list of our Top 10 selections on KLWines.com Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2016 Substance "Sunset Vineyard" Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 93 $17.95 [View]( 2015 Hilliard Bruce "Estate" Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay (Elsewhere $35) 92 Price: Hidden [View]( 2015 Varner "El Camino Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 93 $19.95 [View]( 2016 Nor'Wester (Omihi) by Greystone Pinot Noir North Canterbury 94 $19.99 [View]( 2016 Olema Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $27) 92 $19.99 [View]( 2010 Los Autores "El Brujo" Gran Reserva Rioja $29.99 [View]( 2014 St. Jean du Barroux "La Pierre Noire" Côtes du Ventoux 96 $39.99 [View]( 1996 Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac $69.99 [View]( 2012 Baricci "Nello" Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 98 $129.99 [View]( 1982 L'Encantada 35 Year Old "Del Cassou #187" Bas-Armagnac (750ml) $139.99 [View]( [2016 Substance "Sunset Vineyard" Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc]( [2016 Substance "Sunset Vineyard" Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc]( ($17.95) 93 points James Suckling: "A beautiful and linear white with dried apples, peaches and white pepper. Oyster shell to boot. Full-bodied, dense and layered with beautiful fruit and a long finish. Love the fruit and density. Serious white. Drink or hold." (06/2018) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Sunset Vineyard reveals notes of lemon oil and delicate botanicals framed by light reduction that would be very much at home in the eastern Loire Valley. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and racy, with a textural attack underpinned by loads of cut and chalky tension. This is a world away from the insipid, ester-laden concoctions that commonly pass for Sauvignon Blanc, and it's refreshing in every sense. The price is outrageously low for the quality. (WK) 93+" (06/2018) 92 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Sunset Vineyard is a racy, vibrant, serious Sauvignon Blanc that compete with the top wines out there. Buttered lemons, lime, and leafy green herbs all emerge from this salty, juicy, beautifully balanced effort that has real class." (06/2018) [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 15, 2018 A bright, crunchy, mineral infused wine with lots of juicy citrus and white peach. Fresh cut herbs add a very Sancerre inspired green tinge. Lots of drive and vivacity on the palate with lingering oyster shell salinity. Not a fruity tropical style but one much more about restraint, minerality and mouth watering acidity. Great value. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Hilliard Bruce "Estate" Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay (Elsewhere $35)]( [2015 Hilliard Bruce "Estate" Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay (Elsewhere $35)]( Price: Hidden 92 points Vinous: "The 2015 Chardonnay Estate sizzles with energy and tension. Citrus and floral notes abound in a finely sculpted Chardonnay that impresses with its balance and poise. This is an especially bright style. And it works beautifully here. (AG)" (09/2018) 91 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Starting with the 2015 Chardonnay Estate, it comes from the Estate vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills (this is on the northern portion of the region) and is a mix of clones 76 and 96 that was barrel fermented and aged. This light gold colored effort offers a powerful, masculine bouquet of ripe melon and lemon fruits intermixed with lots of salty Seabreeze, spice, and obvious minerality. With rock solid concentration, good acidity, and a great finish, its a serious white that will evolve gracefully for 8-10 years." (10/2018) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Varner "El Camino Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Chardonnay]( [2015 Varner "El Camino Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Chardonnay]( ($19.95) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2015 Chardonnay El Camino Vineyard from the Varner brothers is lovely, wafting from the glass with an expressive bouquet of honeycomb, ripe peaches and fresh apricot. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, pure and textural - displaying a touch more mid-palate ripeness than the 2014 rendition - and concludes with a long, saline finish. This is a characterful Chardonnay that represents terrific value. (WK)" (04/2018) 92 points Vinous: "The 2015 Chardonnay El Camino Vineyard is striking. Lemon confit, orange peel and tropically leaning flavors make a strong opening statement. Broad and ample on the palate, with plenty of supporting acids, the El Camino is a wonderfully complete wine, not to mention a terrific value. Drink it over the next handful of years. (AG)" (11/2017) [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 28, 2019 A delicious and very intriguing wine with a complex interplay of richness and minerality. To use a Burgundian lens, this wine talks to me like Corton-Charlemagne because of it's broader palate presence and density. The wine is quite rich and weighty on the palate with a soft mouthfeel. Flavors are ripe stone fruit, peach pit, brioche, almond paste and some honeycomb nuances. The wine has just started to take on some lovely nutty, bottle age character adding to the complexity. But it's not over yet...the finish of the wine brings saline minerals, flinty elements and fine crystalline acidity to beautifully balance the wines more forward components. There's so much going on here for such an inexpensive wine...especially at this special feature price! --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Nor'Wester (Omihi) by Greystone Pinot Noir North Canterbury]( [2016 Nor'Wester (Omihi) by Greystone Pinot Noir North Canterbury]( ($19.99) 94 points Sam Kim: "The wine combines fabulous fruit purity with seductive complexity, displaying fragrant aromas of dark cherry, plum, smoked game, dark mushroom and black olive on the nose, leading to a beautifully weighted palate that is silky and flowing. The wine offers refinement and poise, while delivering loads of delectable flavours with a powerful finish. At its best: now to 2022." (02/2018) 93 points Bob Campbell: "Elegant, precise, poised Pinot Noir with bright cherry, red rose and subtle spice flavours. The wine has an appealing purity and balance. It's not a blockbuster but it does have good power and intensity." (09/2018) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "There's an almost rose-like dusty floral note on the nose of Greystone's 2016 Omihi Pinot Noir. On the palate, multitonal cherry fruit takes charge, delivering a pristine beam of flavor focused by crisp acids and silky tannins. Although raised in 30% new oak, it's barely noticeable, save for some attractive wisps of vanilla on the lingering finish. (JC)" (05/2018) [Stefanie-Juelsgaard.jpg]( Juelsgaard]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 20, 2019 From acclaimed Greystone winemaker Dom Maxwell comes this pure and precise take on Pinot Noir, equal to any Old World site in terms of quality. This wine is made from small batches of Pinot all fermented using wild yeasts, aged in French oak barrique for ten months, and bottled unfined and unfiltered to maintain complexity and texture. Greystone winery takes great care to gently handle the fruit and to ensure only the highest quality is released. Recently named "Winemaker of the Year" in Gourmet Traveller, Dom Maxwell is pioneering new techniques and gaining fast recognition. With the help of viticulturalist Nick Gill (of Tongue in Groove pedigree), Nor'Wester is displaying itself to be one of the most interesting and friendly wines on the shelf. Dusky tannin, delicate earth notes, dark cherry, with a medium-body and a great line of acidity are the markers of this wine from one of the most under-rated areas in New Zealand. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Olema Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $27)]( [2016 Olema Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $27)]( ($19.99) 92 points James Suckling: "Lots of black currant and blackberry aromas with hints of wet earth and spice cake. Medium body with a solid center palate of ripe fruit and fine tannins. Soft and silky. Delicious finish." (11/2018) K&L Notes: The 2016 Olema Cabernet Sauvignon, made by Amici Cellars, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes hand selected off premier vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek and Rockpile in Sonoma County. This wine opens with deep aromas of fresh cassis, ripe plum, black cherry, blackberry and a hint of vanilla. The body is medium-full while the mouthfeel is dense with juicy dark fruit and grilled plum. The finish lengthens with dark chocolate, cranberry, and herbal notes of thyme and mint. 2016 was one of the greatest vintages of the past decade. Generous winter rains brought much-needed rainfall to saturate the root zones and replenish reservoirs. Moderate temperatures and bright sunshine enabled the vines to thrive throughout the spring and summer, creating a balanced, optimal growing pace. Warm days and cool nights during harvest season allowed ripening to progress at an even pace, creating exceptionally deep color on late-ripening varietals such as Cabernet. The resulting wines show vivid, complex flavors, balanced acidity and tannins, and excellent freshness." [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 15, 2019 Crafted by the same winemaker (Anthony Biagi), in the same winery as Amici's $200 Cabernets from Spring Mountain, Beckstoffer To Kalon, Missouri Hopper and Morisoli vineyards. Amici have been racking up huge scores recently (98 points from Jeb Dunnuck for their 2015 Spring Mountain Cab) and to be honest I can't think of any other winery that has the prestige and pedigree they do...where you can still buy some of their offerings for such reasonable price points! Here's a rocking bottle of Cab, from the same stable, that you can afford to drink any night of the week. It's very easy to see why The Wine Advocate pegged them as one of the very best value producers in California...and right now we have an even hotter price than usual! --------------------------------------------------------------- [2010 Los Autores "El Brujo" Gran Reserva Rioja]( [2010 Los Autores "El Brujo" Gran Reserva Rioja]( ($29.99) Los Autores is a new, specialty negociant label charged with finding some of the most exclusive, compelling, unusual and traditional bottlings of Rioja on the market. We are excited to bring these wines into the United States, with the help of our friend, partner, and long-time Rioja resident María Alvarez. Future editions of Los Autores will always be available in tiny quantities. For this 2nd edition bottling, made by Rioja legend Ezequiel "El Brujo" García, we have a timeless, traditionally styled, Gran Reserva wine: primarily Rioja Alta fruit from long-time contracted mature vineyards in top sites, fermented in tank, racked into seasoned barrels generally 8-10 years of age, where the wine stays for 36 months prior to blending, a long rest in tank and then ageing in bottle. 82% Tempranillo, 8% Mazuelo, 8% Garnacha, 2% Viura. Think somewhere between La Rioja Alta "Viña Arana" and Lopez de Heredia "Viña Tondonia" in aromatic and palate profile, though released just a little bit younger. [elsa-baez.jpg]( Baez]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 12, 2019 Senor Ezequiel Garcia, known for his talents at Cvne, aka El Brujo, did his magic again with this blend of 82% Tempranillo, 8% Mazuelo, 8% Garnacha, 2% Viura. With aging in seasoned barrels (8-10 years old) along with top quality grapes, you get a well-structured and a truly traditional style of Rioja. As with the 1st bottling, the late El Brujo had a hand in this 2nd bottling and it truly speaks to the winemakers well-known wine. Aromatic, dark fruited with hints of leather , cedar, cranberries - the wine itself is a magical potion. I could easily pair this with a nice grilled steak. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2014 St. Jean du Barroux "La Pierre Noire" Côtes du Ventoux]( [2014 St. Jean du Barroux "La Pierre Noire" Côtes du Ventoux]( ($39.99) 96 points Decanter: "Lifted loganberry, leaf tea and tarragon. Beautifully mouthcoating, elegant and harmonious, long and svelte, with a tapered finish. Gently perfumed, beautifully balanced. Its concentrated without over-extraction, combining the elegance of the northern Rhône with the generosity of the south. A beautiful wine. Drinking Window 2018 - 2026. (MW)" (10/2018) 95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "A total gem in the vintage, the 2014 La Pierre Noire is an insanely good wine made from 80/20 Grenache and Syrah that spent three years in concrete tanks. Black raspberries, kirsch, pepper, garrigue and liquid flowers notes all soar from the glass of this incredibly elegant, seamless, silky red that does everything right. With medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges and a seamless texture, its at the top of the heap in 2014. Dont miss a chance to try this beauty!" (02/2018) [alexp.gif]( Pross]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 19, 2019 A more serious offering the 2014 La Pierre Noir is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah with a nose of lead, pepper and black fruits. The palate bursts with spices and an array of berry fruits that run the spectrum from boysenberry all the way to black currant. The finish here is stupendous, with a soft echo of spice and black fruits that lingers on the palate for 45+ seconds before slowly disappearing from the back of the tongue. Bravo! This is a wonderful homage to the heights that can be achieved in Ventoux. --------------------------------------------------------------- [1996 Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac]( [1996 Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac]( ($69.99) Jancis Robinson: "Quite dark crimson. Savoury, evolved, rather toasty nose. Round and mild and easy to like. (JR)" (02/2011) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A very good example of this estate, the 1996's saturated dark ruby/plum color is accompanied by textbook aromas of black currants, smoky new oak, minerals, and tobacco. Well-made, with moderate tannin, excellent purity, and a medium-bodied, ripe, melted asphalt-flavored finish, this [is a] seductive Lynch-Moussas. (RP)" (04/1999) K&L Notes: In February 1998, Robert Parker wrote: "Lynch-Moussas is clearly on the comeback trail, as evidenced by the 1995 and 1996 efforts, which are two of the finest wines I have tasted from this Pauillac estate." Just tasted in 2015, the wine sings. Old school, Bordeaux-pure cassis and red fruits. Wonderful balance and length. Superb value. (Clyde Beffa, K&L Bordeaux Buyer) [clydebeffa.gif]( Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 04, 2019 Ralph and I love this wine-to me it is better than their 2000! We have been following the property for the last five years and we think it is on a great track with their new releases, but try this 20+ yr old beauty. It is elegant and has a long, lingering finish. Smokey, toasty aromas, tons of cassis fruit on the palate. In a blind tasting at K&L (January 2019), one of our top Bordeaux staff thought it was a first growth Pauillac from the 80s. A steal at this price. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2012 Baricci "Nello" Brunello di Montalcino Riserva]( [2012 Baricci "Nello" Brunello di Montalcino Riserva]( ($129.99) 98 points Wine Enthusiast: "Cellar Selection:" (02/2019) 95 points Wine Spectator: "Offers aromas of macerated cherry and plum, with iron, sanguine, leather, wild herb, spice and earth notes. Intense, long and chewy on the minerally finish. Traditional style. Best from 2022 through 2035. 200 cases made. (BS)" (06/2018) 94 points Vinous: "Dark red with a hint of a pale rim. The deep, closed nose hints at red cherry, sage, licorice and tea leaf. Then also dense and brooding in the mouth, where big, deep, tightly packed flavors of flinty red and blue fruit are complicated by aromatic herbs and sandalwood. Currently a monolith, this needs plenty of time in the cellar to showcase all of its noteworthy potential. I would not be surprised if this scored at least two points higher in the future, hence the plus sign on my score. (ID) 94+" (04/2018) Jancis Robinson: "Maturing mid ruby with bricky rim. Dark spice and cherry fruit on the nose that is a little Maturing mid ruby with bricky rim. Dark spice and cherry fruit on the nose that is a little earthy and minerally. Great concentration of fruit with an elegant palate weight. Finely tuned and balanced and with gorgeous, chewy tannins. Traditional style. 17.5/20 points (WS) " (01/2018) [johndowning.gif]( Downing]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 05, 2018 This is only the second time Baricci has released a Riserva and we are priviledged to have a very limited amount available. It's named for the patriarch of the winery who, unfortunately, passed a couple of years ago at 94. "Nello" is both powerful and refined and in need of considerable cellaring to ultimately express its complexity and depth. It's a very traditional style Brunello and a rare gem. [rachelvogel.jpg]( Alcarraz]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 30, 2018 All Baricci wines come from the famed Montosoli Vineyard and a small selection of grapes is separated for the Nello Riserva bottling. It has a beautiful plum nose that rises off the glass. While it is still showing the brut strength of a young wine, it has a subtle gentleness in the glass associated with pretty Asian plum and leather. --------------------------------------------------------------- [1982 L'Encantada 35 Year Old "Del Cassou #187" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)]( [1982 L'Encantada 35 Year Old "Del Cassou #187" Bas-Armagnac (750ml)]( ($139.99) Independent bottler L'Encantada understands what Armagnac lovers want because that's exactly what they are. This group of Armagnac loving friends realized that some of the region's small estates were throwing away legendary eau-de-vie to blends made by the big negociants. They offered those estates a premium to retain the stocks for bottling as single casks at full strength. Many of these estates had neither bottled Armagnac nor had any interest in marketing their precious eau-de-vie. But, our friends at Encantada realized that the soul of Armagnac exists in its terroir, history and culture. By blending these exceptional brandies into large blends you strip them of the very soul that makes this drink so special. They've committed to supporting small estates producing traditional Armagnac and bottling single casks at full strength. The results are some of the most special spirits we've ever come across. The Del Cassou estate is located in Arthez D'Armagnac and is planted entirely to Baco. This original baco vines are nearly 100 years old and were some of the first of the hybrid grape to be plented in the region after the phylloxera crisis. Traditional aging (successive casking) is employed to soften the tannin, but all their brandies see signficicant time in new oak before being transitioned into used barrels. [andrewwhiteley.gif]( Whiteley]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 06, 2018 Glorious. This Armagnac has a little bit of everything to offer. It is sweet and savory, spicy and dry and highlighted by bursts of freshness. I believe it's nearly impossible to not like this brandy because it has something for everyone. There are no pointy edges or harsh tannins. It's perfectly mellow yet doesn't lack for a robust flavor and texture. If you collect fine spirits, this bottling is not to be missed. It's the kind of bottle you savor and hoard. Just make sure you have enough space because you'll probably never drink the last 2oz since once it's gone, it's gone. [David-otheningirard.jpg]( Othenin-Girard]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 06, 2018 The Del Cassou estate is considered by the Encantada crew to be one of their greatest finds, on par maybe even with the exquisite Lous Pibous. Of course, it's style is in a whole different realm, but that's what makes brandy SO special - it's a product of terroir. In this particular case their using 100 year old Baco vines outside of the extremely well regarded town of Arthez d'Armagnac. There's absolutely no way to make a commercially viable Armagnac with vines this old. Production per acre is absolutely tiny and even with the very productive Baco grape the concentration of the wines is not ideal for actually turning a profit. But the old farmers here think the vines work pretty well and their old school aesthetic extends to the chai as well. This bold masculine style Baco exemplifies the grape perfectly. Here we're covered in blackberry fruit compote sprinkled with pepper. The sweet savory balances continues with roasted pecan and maple pointed by freshly moistened forest floor. The woodsy almost green quality on the nose isn't quite minty, but we're close. On the palate, medium bodied and surprisingly lifted for the age. Caramelize sugar drizzled over a basket of spices and underbrush. No harsh tannins, but a big warming spice that builds to a long sweet crescendo at the back of the palate. This one is scary good and WAY to easy to put back. It's a stay at home for the night type of drink. --------------------------------------------------------------- There are now several K&L email lists, where wine enthusiasts like yourself can sign up for categories that interest you. Visit [Email Preferences]( to find out more. Automate the effort to find your favorite wines! Our waiting list "keyword matching" program sends you an email when a wine matching your individual keywords comes into our inventory. Find more information or get started with your [waiting list for keywords]( in the My Account section of our site. From the home page of our site you can view a listing of all New Arrivals as well as items that are Coming Soon. In addition right there in the middle of the home page there is a link to our Best Sellers. We offer five excellent wine clubs and a new exclusive Personal Sommelier Service, that allow you to sample outstanding wines from all over the world. Due to our bulk purchase power and longstanding relationships, the quality and value offered by these clubs are tremendous. Unlike winery clubs where you typically taste the same wines year after year, our clubs offer a phenomenal variety that is strictly selected by our panel of buyers. 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