K&L Top 10 Picks

Our top picks and bestsellers... Monday Jul 27th, 2020 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2015 Varner "Los Alamos Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir (Previously $25) 91 Price: Hidden [View]( 2017 Raymond "Reserve Selection" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 97 $29.95 [View]( 2016 Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Previously $45) 94 Price: Hidden [View]( 2014 Spring Mountain Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $100) 94 Price: Hidden [View]( 2015 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 97 $59.99 [View]( 2016 Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru (Previously $80) 93 $59.99 [View]( Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne 96 $64.99 [View]( 2011 Bodegas Muga "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva Rioja 99 $79.99 [View]( 2008 Highland Park 10 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" Cask #7774 Refill Sherry Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $139.99 [View]( 2016 Valandraud, St-Émilion 98 $199.99 [View]( [2015 Varner "Los Alamos Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir (Previously $25)]( [2015 Varner "Los Alamos Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir (Previously $25)]( Price: Hidden 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2015 Pinot Noir Los Alamos Vineyard has a pale garnet color and a classic nose of woodsmoke, cranberries, Bing cherries, tree bark, dried citrus peel, pipe tobacco and dusty earth. In the mouth, its light-bodied and delicate with finely grained tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long and amaro-tinged. (EB)" (09/2019) K&L Notes: Winemaker's Notes: "100% Pinot Noir from Los Alamos Vineyard ( 33% Clone 777 and 67% Pommard Clone). Selected rom a gentle slope, and older vines, 540-620 ft elevation . 100% de-stemmed ferment. Aged in a combination of tank and barrel. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2017 Raymond "Reserve Selection" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon]( [2017 Raymond "Reserve Selection" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon]( ($29.95) 97 points James Suckling: "A really pretty red with blackberries and spice, hazelnuts and dark chocolate. Full to medium body and medium, fine and velvety tannins. Juicy and flavorful finish. Direct and focused. Racy is the world to describe this." (02/2020) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve is made up of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah and 1% Merlot. It was aged in 37% new French oak and bottled unfiltered. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with quite a serious, savory nose of roasted nuts, espresso and charcuterie with a core of cassis, warm blackberries and black forest cake plus a waft of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling, expressive black fruit flavors, framed by chewy tannins, finishing savory. (LPB)" (10/2019) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Previously $45)]( [2016 Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Previously $45)]( Price: Hidden 94 points Wine Enthusiast: "While crisp black-cherry and strawberry flavors are fresh and pristine on the nose, this is an opulent, powerful red. Dried-strawberry and plum flavors are concentrated, accented by hints of earth and firm, taut tannins. It's luscious red-fruit flavors are approachable already but firm structure and fresh acidity should allow integration and improvement through 2030 and hold further still. (AI)" (12/2019) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Gorgeous, with a lush core of raspberry, blueberry and boysenberry puree flavors gliding through, flecked with anise, violet and incense notes. Carried by fresh, well-embedded acidity, this is lush and beguiling through the lengthy finish. (JM)" (08/2018) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Even Vadieu's 'regular CdP is excellent. The 2016 Châteauneuf du Pape, an 80-20 blend of Grenache and Syrah mostly aged in concrete, offers ripe red raspberry and apricot notes alongside delicate hints of spice and garrigue. Full-bodied and lush, it shows off wonderfully ripe Grenache fruit without much in the way of other adornment or artifice, finishing long and silky. (JC)" (08/2018) 91-93 points Vinous: "Bright ruby. Lively mineral- and spice-tinged red berry aromas are complemented by hints of lavender and candied licorice. Smooth and well-delineated on the palate, offering concentrated raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and an exotic floral pastille quality. Shows a sweeter quality on the persistent finish, which is framed by smooth tannins that fade into the juicy fruit. (JR)" (07/2018) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2014 Spring Mountain Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $100)]( [2014 Spring Mountain Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $100)]( Price: Hidden 94 points Wine Enthusiast: "From the producers high-elevation, 225-acre site on Spring Mountain, this is mineral in crushed rock and sanguine characteristics, with a hit of graphite and black licorice. The fruit is subtle, a mix of black currant and plum wrapped in contrasting notes of cedar and mocha. Medium-bodied, it shows structure and elegance. *Editor's Choice* (VB)" (12/2018) 92 points Wine & Spirits: "With its gracious power, this wine delivers finesse directly through the clarity of its earthy fruit, a melding of juiciness with precise grape-skin tannins. Its a firm and austere mountain cabernet, the kind that warrants at least ten years of age before enjoying with rack of lamb." (10/2018) [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 24, 2020 Here's another incredible opportunity to get your hands on a phenomenal, elegant, classically styled Mountain Cabernet for well under the usual going rate. Once again we have worked with our friends at Spring Mountain Vineyard to bring you a winery direct deal on this library vintage wine $45 off the original retail price! Spring Mountain Vineyard is a historic icon of world-class mountain grown Cabernet. I have drunk wines from this property dating back to the mid-1970s that are still tasting great 40 years on. The winery has a robust library program that we are thrilled to have access to. The 2014 was a standout for me at a recent tasting. The wine is just perfectly balanced and proportioned. No one element dominates the wine. It is finessed and graceful yet has a focused core of filigreed tannin and vibrant acidity. The flavor profile is classic Spring Mountain with plenty of black and blue fruits, cassis, blackberry, plum, but also shaved cedar, cigar box, leather, pencil shavings and gravelly, mineral undertones. Another thing I love about the 2014 release is that I believe it will have a long and forgiving drinking window. The wine is already very approachable and expressive for drinking now, however I have no doubt it will continue to develop complexity for 10-15 years and probably drink well for 20+. This deserves a spot in the cellar of any serious Napa Cabernet enthusiast. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino]( [2015 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino]( ($59.99) 97 points James Suckling: "This is a pure and beautiful Brunello with super fine and abundant tannins that are comprehensive and expansive. Builds on the palate. Full body. Round and firm with beautiful fruit and length. Lively and vivid. From organically grown grapes. Needs a year or two to soften, but already gorgeous." (10/2019) 96 points Wine Enthusiast: "Aromas of ripe dark-skinned berry, violet, underbrush and warm spice emerge in the glass, along with a whiff of camphor. Full bodied and enveloping, the structured palate delivers raspberry jam, dried black cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside firm fine-grained tannins. It closes on an espresso note. *Editors Choice* (KO)" (05/2020) [mike-parres.gif]( Parres]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 07, 2020 Shows a complex nose of blackberry, tanned leather, sandalwood and cedar. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Concentrated yet balanced. Beautiful and complete. Needs some aging or lots of breathing time. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru (Previously $80)]( [2016 Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru (Previously $80)]( ($59.99) 93 points Wine Enthusiast: "This rich, oak-aged wine is impressive and concentrated. With a spicy wood character and ripe apple, green plum and citrus fruit tones, it is intense and dense. The mineral texture, tight and tangy, and fresh finish marks the wine as one ready to age. (RV)" (02/2018) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru is more steely and reserved, offering up notes of crisp green apple, melon oil, chamomile and light reduction. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, chalky and tensile with nice concentration and a tangier, more acid-driven profile. This is built to reward bottle age. (WK)" (01/2019) --------------------------------------------------------------- [Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne]( [Laurent-Perrier "Cuvée Rosé" Brut Rosé Champagne]( ($64.99) 96 points Connoisseurs Guide: "Elegant and fruity at the same time with a quick invitation from bright, pure cherryish notes and then filled out handsomely by whiffs of chalky soils and well-integrated, rich and uplifting yeast-driven scents, this wine manages to be both vigorous and layered at one and the same time. Its bubbles are insistent, finely carved and add to the early sensations of lightness and energy yet also carry the wine long into a balanced, refined finish. And its latter palate grip is exactly what one should expect from the genre. While service with light foods would be our first choice, this one has the beauty to stand alone. *Three Stars*" (12/2013) 93 points Wine Spectator: "A rich rosé Champagne, offering seamlessly woven flavors of baked black cherry, candied pink grapefruit peel, brioche and pastry cream. Vibrant acidity and a finely detailed mousse send this dancing across the palate. Drink now through 2024. (AN)" (12/2019) [gary.gif]( Westby]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 21, 2020 If you haven't tasted the LP Rose lately, you should! This all Pinot Noir Champagne is entirely made from Grand Cru fruit and lighter than most that are made in this style- it is macerated with all of the skins in contact with all of the juice. The cellar master always judges the length of the maceration on the aromatics, and the result is a rose with character that is still completely elegant. The LP Rose has set the standard for rose Champagne for many years, and for good reason! [scottbeckerley.gif]( Beckerley]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 25, 2020 This Brut Rose has consistently been the darling of both staff and customers. It is composed of 100% Pinot Noir and retains a classic, clean, fresh raspberry and dark strawberry character. Dark raspberry and candied orange on the nose. These days, there are also more mineral notes and hints of orange marmalade and black raspberries. A somewhat richer style, at the forefront, but, balanced with tangy acidity on the finish. The primary fermentation is done with sugarcane while secondary fermentation is done with beet sugar. As is usual with this producer, quality has increased even more over the past few years without significant price increases.(Updated, 22 July, 2020). [diana-turk.jpg]( Turk]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 22, 2020 It can be tricky to define pricey Rosé Champagne as a "bargain," but when one considers just how much care goes into each bottle of Laurent-Perrier, it suddenly seems underpriced. Made with extended maceration and using the more difficult saignée method, their Cuvée Rosé is special. Deep red berry fruit shines through the lifted palate, with both richness and minerality coming through to the clean finish. This is a substantial rosé great with food yet elegant with tiny bubbles and a citrusy freshness. The fact that the bottle is gorgeous and the house pedigree dates back to 1812 only adds to the glamour of this lovely, high quality Pinot Noir Champagne. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2011 Bodegas Muga "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva Rioja]( [2011 Bodegas Muga "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva Rioja]( ($79.99) 99 points James Suckling: "The most structured Prado Enea ever. A reduced center palate that is so compact with dark fruit, dark mushrooms and cedary spice. Full body. Wonderfully polished tannins and a long, long finish. Electric acidity. Muscular and well toned. The is a new classic that reminds me of great Spanish wines from the 1940s and 1950s. Better after 2021, but already so impressive." (07/2019) 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The most classical of the wines from Muga, the 2011 Prado Enea Gran Reserva comes from a warm year that here was cooler than 2012, when they did not produce it. There won't be a 2013 either. So after this 2011, the following vintage will be 2014 but with fewer bottles and then 2015 and 2016. The wine has a developed nose with some tertiary notes, combined with some notes of ripe black fruit and sweet spices. It fees like an open, expressive and hedonistic year for Prado Enea. The palate reveals polished tannins and some balsamic and developed flavors, truffle, forest floor and hints of cigar ash and incense. Stylistically, this could be close to the 2006, which was also surprisingly fresh for the average ripeness found in Rioja in general. 92,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in early 2015 after almost 40 months in barrel. Time in bottle has polished the wine, and it's ready to drink on release, but it's a wine that is going to develop in bottle for a long time. (LG)" (06/2019) 96 points Wine Enthusiast: "6 Muga 2011 Prado Enea Gran Reserva (Rioja). Earthy plum and berry aromas set up a palate with plush tannins and multiple layers of depth. Befitting a hot year like 2011, dark berry and plum flavors are a bit gritty, while this exhibits fine shape on the finish and only gets better the longer it sits. Doubtless this is a delicious Rioja, maybe not the most complex Prado Enea of all time, but still a special wine from one of Spains best wineries. Decant if drinking now. Enjoy through 2035. Jorge Ordóñez Selections. *Cellar Selection* (MS)" (07/2020) 95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2011 Prado Enea checks in as a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, Mazuelo that spent a full three years in oak, followed by three years in bottle before being released in May of 2019. It reveals a deep ruby/plum color as well as a closed, tight nose of blackcurrants, smoked earth, graphite, and Asian spices. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has a layered, balanced texture, integrated tannins, and a great finish. It's holding things a little close to its vest at the moment, so I suspect 2-4 years of bottle age are warranted. 95+" (09/2019) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Aromatic and alluring, this generous red offers forest floor, tobacco and floral notes that frame a core of black cherry, plum, licorice and orange peel flavors. Well-integrated tannins support the broad texture, and juicy acidity keeps this fresh through the spicy finish. (TM)" (08/2019) K&L Notes: Prado Enea is the flagship wine at Muga, a steadfastly traditional Gran Reserva that is typically only produced 4 or so years per decade. A few key data points make it unique. Let's begin with the vines themselves, which are located in Sajazarra, a village amongst the coldest growing regions of Rioja Alta, further west from Haro and with harvest dates that typically extend well into October, even into November! In addition to Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and approximately 10% Mazuelo and Graciano are blended in. This creates freshness as the latter two are higher acid grapes, which tends to result in low pH wines that are able to age for long periods of time. Finally, in the cellar, there are various types and formats of wood vessels, from huge "tinas" to smaller new barrels, which are employed through experienced, time tested elevage to provide the wine ample opportunity to develop its stability and complexity. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2008 Highland Park 10 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" Cask #7774 Refill Sherry Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)]( [2008 Highland Park 10 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" Cask #7774 Refill Sherry Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)]( ($139.99) Another gorgeous cask of Highland Park that was bottled exclusively for K&L Wine Merchants. This one is equally special to the European oak hogshead that we also received this year, but completely different in character. The excellent malt coming out of Kirkwall is renowned worldwide for its quality, but many don't realize that Highland Park is one of a handful of Scottish distillers that continue to utilize the wildly inefficient floor maltings. The tradeoff for losing capacity to floor maltings is a malt of great character and complexity. In addition, the extremely unique Orkney peat is used to dry that barley, which one of the main reasons for Highland Park's distinctive flavor profile. Between 20% to 30% of the hand-malted barley goes into every batch of Highland Park, resulting in a lightly peated whisky that, when coupled with the high quantity of active sherry casks, means the whisky isn't perceived as particularly peaty to most palates. And while Highland Park does produce small amounts of whisky that are 100% hand malted, mostly as blending components for special releases, it's rare to find a single cask that exhibits the qualities of that special Orkney peat more clearly, despite it being blended with at least 70% of unmalted barley. This refill hogshead almost certainly held malt in it for a very long time before being refilled in 2008. Very dark for a refill, and the resulting spirit is the closest we've come to the "old" style Highland Park that we love so well. [andrewwhiteley.gif]( Whiteley]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 14, 2020 This is the sexiest example of Highland Park we've ever seen. Power and grace abound. While the word's "First Fill Sherry" adorning the title of our other HP cask gets a lot of blood pumping - it's the elegance of this refill cask that stands out. It's certainly not lacking in power - it's a beastly dram at 61.6% ABV - but it's supple and balanced beyond belief. The rich mahogany meets burnt amber color looks like it should be a first fill sherry cask, but "refill hogshead" is printed right on the label. The nose is a cornucopia of orange peel, cocoa nibs, fresh cut heather, crisp apple slices, fig marmalade, and a hint of smoky bacon. The palate has what you get when elegance and balance meet power: tension. It's alive and kicking ass, but holding it on your mouth is a serene experience. The finish last for minutes. At first the smoke fills your senses and that gives way to much more floral and candied notes. After a good long while it resolves into the finest of dark chocolate and fresh citrus zest with a touch of coffee. A beautiful performance that you can repeat every night. At least until it's gone. The cask yielded just 299 bottles. [David-otheningirard.jpg]( Othenin-Girard]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 09, 2020 It's extremely infrequent that we find a cask at this age that shows so much complexity. While the 12 year old cask that we also bottled this year had density and power unlike any we've seen previously, this cask has a depth and nuance that isn't at all available in the 12 year. This cask is much more in line with the way I remember Highland Park once was, rather than the more bold and forward offerings we regularly see today. With that in mind, this is by no means a subtle whisky. It's got character to burn and it's DEFINITELY on the smokey side of HP. Let's taste! Color: Tawny. Nose: The nose isn't at all peaty per say, but it's definitely smoke-y. A perfect example of the distinction of those two flavors. Leather, mesquite, bacon, hints of diesel engine, old cigar box and roasted cloves. Behind a touch of black fruit and pepper. Palate: Here is that AWESOME Orkney peat! Right up front and travelling straight through the palate. It's not the iodine peat but the flaming heather and earthy peat, framed perfectly with nutty sherry, dark fruit and woodsy spice. With water the nose transforms and offers a big burnt orange peel and candied citrus. Subtle mossy notes allude to the smoke coming on the palate. Now we're talking! It's very sweet and smokey now. Softening on the spice and bringing more dried fruits. This one is awesome right out of the bottle, but comes together perfectly with a splash of water. WOW, I'm so in love with this style. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Valandraud, St-Émilion]( [2016 Valandraud, St-Émilion]( ($199.99) 98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Including 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Merlot-dominated 2016 Château Valandraud is a brilliant example of this cuvée that should match or exceed the incredible 2015 at maturity. Brought up all in new oak, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, smoked earth, and hints of earth. Possessing full-bodied richness, thrilling purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and just about perfect balance, it's another tour de force from the incredibly talented Jean-Luc Thunevin. It's slightly more elegant than the L'Interdit de Valandraud cuvée and will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for two decades or more. 98+" (02/2019) 98 points James Suckling: "Incredible perfumes and beauty with ripe plum and berry character, as well as an array of spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Full-bodied, firm and silky with beautifully polished tannins. Rendered and defined. A wine with lovely, classy nature and personality. One of the best Valandrauds I have tasted at this stage. Try from 2026." (02/2019) 97 points Vinous: "The 2016 Valandraud is exceptionally beautiful. Powerful and explosive in the glass, the 2016 is superb today. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, espresso, leather and smoke add layers of nuance. One of the things I like most about Valandraud in 2016 is the combination of fruit richness and vibrancy. Those elements make for a stunning, punchy Saint-Émilion that hits all the right notes. This is a fabulous showing from Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud. (AG)" (01/2019) 97 points Wine Enthusiast: "Juicy, spicy and with wonderful fruit, this is developing splendidly. With black-currant flavors and tannins that give structure while allowing plenty of room for the fruit and balanced acidity, it is certain to age well. Drink from 2025. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (02/2019) 96 points Wine Spectator: "This is a full display of fruit, with raspberry preserve, plum reduction and creamed boysenberry notes streaming through in lockstep, while light bramble and singed vanilla accents happily take a back seat throughout. An echo of chalky minerality at the very end adds refinement and length. (JM)" (03/2019) 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Valandraud packs a wallop on the nose with bombastic scents of baked black plums, cherry compote, coffee beans and licorice plus hints of hoisin, cedar chest and sautéed herbs. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and a fantastically long finish. (LPB) 96+" (11/2018) 96 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "The 2016 Valandraud offers an exquisite bouquet of pure dark cherry and crushed strawberry scents mixed with pressed flowers and hints of spice. The medium-bodied palate is harmonious and silky-smooth, with supple tannin and just a touch of black pepper and cedar toward the persistent finish. Jean-Luc Thunevin has crafted a supremely gifted Saint-Émilion. (NM)" (01/2019) --------------------------------------------------------------- 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. [See for yourself](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [New Feed]( [Auction]( [Local]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [BORDEAUX]( | [NAPA]( | [BURGUNDY]( | [CHAMPAGNE]( | [ITALY]( | [RHÔNE]( | [SPIRITS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [My Account]( | [Wine Clubs]( | [Events]( |[Gift Cards]( | [Accessories]( | [Delivery]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Missed an offer? 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