K&L Top 10 Picks

Our bestsellers and top picks... Monday Sep 7th, 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 2017 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $28) 93 Price: Hidden [View]( 2019 Château la Coste Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé (Elsewhere $27) 95 $19.99 [View]( 2017 Walt Wines "La Brisa" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $40) 93 Price: Hidden [View]( 2018 John Duval "Entity" Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia 97 $29.99 [View]( 2015 Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $75) 95 Price: Hidden [View]( 2015 Fattoria dei Barbi "Vigna del Fiore" Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere 100) 95 $66.99 [View]( 2016 Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Chalumeaux" (Previously $100) 92 $69.99 [View]( Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml) 91 $119.99 [View]( Dudognon "Tres Rare" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Montils Cask Strength Grand Champagne Cognac (750ml) $149.99 [View]( 2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien 97 $179.99 [View]( [2017 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $28)]( [2017 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $28)]( Price: Hidden 93 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2017 Pinot Noir Central Coast comes from multiple vineyards throughout the Central Coast and has a touch of the elegance and purity found in the top cuvées. Impressive black raspberry fruits, white flowers, spice, and a subtle salty minerality all emerge from the glass, and it's beautifully textured, balanced, and just a joy to drink. It's well worth its going rate and should be snatched up by readers." (09/2020) 93 points Wine Enthusiast: "This blend from sites across the Central Coast carries all the expert hallmarks of the brand, from ripe fruit to earthy spice. Tightly wound aromas of pomegranate, berry, soil and star anise lead into a crisp yet savory palate of raspberry and deep cherry. Pinches of dried sage and thyme linger on the finish. *Editors Choice* (MK)" (05/2020) [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 22, 2020 Calera is one of the most legendary producers in California. After spending time exploring the wine regions of Europe (including a stint at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti or DRC) in the early 1970's, founder Josh Jensen returned to California determined to produce world-class Pinot Noir. He bought the high-elevation site on the slopes of Mt. Harlan for its limestone rich soils. The rest is history. Calera has produced some of the most high touted bottlings of Pinot Noir ever to be made in California. With the help of Mike Waller (winemaker for the past decade) the wines have seldom faltered in four decades. In 2017 a new chapter began for Calera when Josh sold the company to Duckhorn. Thankfully the Duckhorn folks know a thing or two about great vineyards and winemaking and the wines continue to flourish under new ownership and the seasoned Waller is still at the helm in the cellar. Now to this wine specifically, the first Pinot released in the new era, and what a stunner. This is hands down the best Central Coast bottling I've tasted from Calera in 10 years. The quality of the fruit from vineyards such as Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills and Garys' to name but a few, is all seamlessly woven into a very complete bottle of wine that has to be one of the best values in the WORLD of Pinot Noir. Our razor sharp price compounds that fact making this a true must buy. Very impressive stuff. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2019 Château la Coste Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé (Elsewhere $27)]( [2019 Château la Coste Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé (Elsewhere $27)]( ($19.99) 95 points Decanter: "Launched in 2008, this certified organic and biodynamic estate situated between Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon National Park houses not only vineyards and a modern winery designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, but a spa hotel complete with 28 villa suites, restaurants and an art gallery. The winery itself is made up of two large corrugated iron cylindrical buildings with a vast chamber 17m below ground containing all the vats and wine storage. This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Cinsault from the 208ha vineyard surrounding this beautiful luxury complex. Elizabeth Gabay MW: Strong pink. Good weight and structure - quite a serious rosé with lots of intense, wild red berry fruit, a few black berries, mineral core and firm phenolic finish. A lovely, serious, gastronomic rosé. Joanna Simon: Deep dayglow copper-pink. Peach and pear aromas, quite complex. Fleshy peach and peppery spice on the palate. Full-bodied, powerful, rich and leesy. Complex. Rod Smith: Mid-pale pink colour. Earthy cranberry and raspberry fruit aromas. Some spice. Fruity and flavoursome, with good depth and spice. Balanced acidity and some creaminess. (Decanter Panel Tasting)" (03/2020) K&L Notes: Just 15 miles outside the town of Aix en Provence lies Chateau la Coste, an organic and biodynamic producer specializing in some of the highest quality wines in the region. Nestled in the hills, the winery houses an exceptional art gallery as well as beautifully integrated ecological architecture. The vines are planted over a mix of limestone and clay soils, giving the grapes their depth and tension. The blend is primarily Grenache and Syrah with a little bit of Cinsault. [keithmabry.gif]( Mabry]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 04, 2020 Deep and rich, this a powerful Provencal rose. It has notes of orange marmalade, ruby red grapefruit and fresh thyme. It is extremely detailed and long on the palate. This is rose that has the stuffing and structure to age like some of the France's best - Tempier, Domaines Ott and Clos Cibonne. You would not fault finding some of this in your wine refrigerator over the next year or two. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2017 Walt Wines "La Brisa" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $40)]( [2017 Walt Wines "La Brisa" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $40)]( Price: Hidden 93 points Wine Spectator: "Rich and full of dense, concentrated dark plum, black currant, olive and dried savory herb flavors, featuring pencil shaving and cast iron notes. The pure-tasting finished is filled with baker's chocolate accents. Better than previously reviewed. (KM)" (11/2019) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2017 Pinot Noir La Brisa is medium to deep ruby-purple with a lovely nose of rose petal, tangerine peel and potpourri with spicy black and blue fruits at the core. Medium-bodied with a lovely silky texture, it offers intense, concentrated spicy fruit with soft framing tannins and juicy acidity on the finish. (EB) 92+" (04/2019) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2018 John Duval "Entity" Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia]( [2018 John Duval "Entity" Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia]( ($29.99) 97 points James Halliday: "Entity is always a complete, fabulous wine. Nothing out of place. Cherry picking fruit from sites off old vines across the Eden and Barossa Valleys. It is so polished, there's a sheen. Flavours of black fruits, licorice and woodsy spices all in sync. The key is beautifully shaped and plush tannins. Wonderful wine." (01/2020) [Thomas-Smith.jpg]( Smith]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 08, 2020 John Duval isan Australian winemaking legend. Entity is hisflagship wine, sourced from the bestsites in the Barossa and Eden Valleysthat only someone with his pedigreecan secure. Treated with minimaloak, this Shiraz perfectly balancesfruit with acidity, while blackplum, charcoal, and dark cherryliqueur abound. This is what thebest of Australian Shiraz tasteslike. An incredible value. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $75)]( [2015 Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $75)]( Price: Hidden 95 points Vinous: "A dense, succulent wine, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon captures all the raw power and density of the year. The 2015 is just starting to soften, but ideally it needs another few years in bottle to be at its finest. Readers should expect an especially opulent style, and yet the 2015 has more than enough depth to drink well for another 15+ years or more. (AG)" (09/2018) 95 points Wine Enthusiast: "This bottling reflects the past several years' fine-tuning the winery's vision in the vineyard and in the cellar. Including small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec, it's a rounded, concentrated wine that expresses the vintage with ripe, grippy tannins that beg for further resolution. Blackberry, clove and leather flavors rise to the fore. *Cellar Selection* (VB)" (12/2017) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Blended of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple colored and features a boisterous nose of blueberry pie, blackcurrant cordial and Black Forest cake with suggestions of chocolate mint, potpourri, baking spices and cedar chest. Full-bodied and concentrated in the mouth, it has a solid frame of chewy tannins and just enough freshness to lift the densely packed fruit to a long finish. (LPB)" (10/2018) [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 26, 2020 An exceptional release from this iconic, historic estate rooted in prime Rutherford real estate. This property has a long and storied history too convoluted for the purposes of this review, but the most important part is that the wines from this estate continue to grow from strength to strength, living up to such legendary wines as the 100 point 1941 Inglenook Cab named by Wine Spectator as one of the "Wines of the Century." The 2015 Inglenook Cabernet is a rich and powerful wine bursting with fresh blackcurrant, cassis liquor, ripe plum, rose petal, singed cedar, cocoa powder, and that classic note of "Rutherford dust." Full-bodied, with mouth-filling texture and fine grained tannin. Very impressive, powerful, intense, Cabernet that seems to be just entering its drinking window at five years of age and has the structure and concentration to last another 20. After being so impressed with this bottling we struck a deal with the winery to offer this very sharp special price that is almost unheard of for a Napa Cab of this pedigree with multiple 95 point scores. Make sure you have some in your cellar. You won't be disappointed. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Fattoria dei Barbi "Vigna del Fiore" Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere 100)]( [2015 Fattoria dei Barbi "Vigna del Fiore" Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere 100)]( ($66.99) 95 points James Suckling: "This is a very transparent and beautiful Brunello with black cherries and dark mushrooms on the nose and palate. Full body, round and juicy tannins that turn firm and lightly chewy at the end of the palate. Tight still. Give this two or three years to come together." (10/2019) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Fattoria dei Barbi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Fiore unfolds slowly to reveal a tight core of wild berry aromas, balsam herb and light touches of smoke and spice. This is a medium-weight expression that offers the carefully measured acidity and structure to ensure a healthy aging future ahead. Speaking of aging, Brunello is released five years after the harvest, and tertiary notes defined by cellar age are always an important characteristic of the wine. I notice that this Brunello has embraced its age with particular grace and elegance. You could wait to age it longer, or you could also enjoy this bottle in the near and medium term. (ML)" (01/2020) 94 points Wine Enthusiast: "Camphor, rose and new leather shape the nose along with whiffs of woodland berry and underbrush. Its full bodied and loaded with elegance, delivering mature Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against firm fine-grained tannins. (KO)" (05/2020) [gregstclair.gif]( St. Clair]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 14, 2020 The nose of this wine envelops you in a wave of deep, plum aromatics that are spiced with Marasca cherry and hints of sandalwood and sage. On the palate the density of this vintage is truly present, and while you could use the word "rich," for me, that conjures more of an amorphous, thick sweetness, none of which are present in this wine. This wine stands up on your palate, is focused, with great length, and has great lift in the finish. This is the best Vigna del Fiore that I have had to date, and its destined for a long life if you have the patience to wait! The first winery I ever visited in Montalcino was Fattoria dei Barbi, so I've always had a fond spot in my heart for them not just for the nostalgia, but because they were one of Montalcinos oldest wineries and carried that classic flavor and structure as their style. That was in 1982. A lot has happened since then, like better agricultural practices, and some slight changes in the winemaking, but all in all, Fattoria dei Barbi still stands for me as one of the classics in Montalcino especially in this vintage. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Chalumeaux" (Previously $100)]( [2016 Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Chalumeaux" (Previously $100)]( ($69.99) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The lovely 2016 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux wafts from the glass with an old-school nose of lemon oil, wet stones, iodine, mandarin and smoke, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and incisive palate, with brisk acids and a stony, saline finish. This is a bit more generous out of the blocks than some of Matrot's other 2016s, but it will still reward a few years' bottle age. (WK)" (01/2019) 92 points Jasper Morris for Inside Burgundy: "Very faint primrose tint, the complex nose reinforced with a little bit of agreeable reduction. Lovely smooth suave mouthful with excellent acid balance. Fine boned but still enough weight to it. Impeccable persistence with floral notes returning at the back." 92 points Wine Spectator: "Mineral, iodine and oyster shell aromas signal this sleek version. Racy in profile, with lemon, toasted oak and stone flavors that cling to the steely finish." (07/2018) --------------------------------------------------------------- [Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml)]( [Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml)]( ($119.99) 91 points Wine Enthusiast: "This golden, silky single malt mingles vanilla and honey with fresh apple and pear aromas. These notes are echoed on the palate alongside a wave of peat smoke. Add a splash of water to offset the modest but persistent alcohol heat and further coax out the fruity-smoky flavors. (KN)" (12/2015) K&L Notes: Suntory's Hakushu, known as the "forest distillery," was built in 1973 as a sister distillery to Suntory's Yamazaki (previously the only Japanese single malt available in the United States). The facility is located at a high-elevation site next to the pristine waters of the Ojira River, which are used to dilute the whisky itself. Hakushu distillery uses different styles of oak barrel to age their single malt, but mainly hogshead, which, according to the distillery is, "suitable to the clear air and cool humid climate." The 12-year old from Hakushu is lightly peated and very delicate in its flavor profile. The light and fruity style of the whisky is quite similar to the Yamazaki 12, but the smoke really makes up for any lack of richness. We've seen insane price increases over the last five years on Japanese whisky and inventory getting tighter and tighter, but for a limited time, we have Hakushu 12 in stock and available to sell, and at a fraction of the price you'll see at many other retailers across the country. [andrewwhiteley.gif]( Whiteley]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 27, 2019 Hakushu has always been my favorite of the Suntory malts. The sweet and elegant malt profile is rounded out beautifully by the gentle peat smoke giving the whisky more body and texture than its brothers. The "forest distillery" also produces a verdant whisky - it feels green and fresh, cool and earthy. Moist peat and cool mint gently hold up the bouquet of flowers and cereal notes. The palate is extremely balanced with pepper and cinnamon playing off of the sweeter grain notes. The smoke is more rich body than intense fire. A long and earthy finish is sweetened by a maple syrup and caramel note that leaves a very pleasant aftertaste. With Japanese whisky being so hard to get these days, you have to get while the gettin' is good. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Dudognon "Tres Rare" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Montils Cask Strength Grand Champagne Cognac (750ml)]( [Dudognon "Tres Rare" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Montils Cask Strength Grand Champagne Cognac (750ml)]( ($149.99) A bottling unique beyond even our own experience in this venerate region. This barrel from one of the region's very best producers, distilled in 1999 from the nearly extinct Montils varietal (not ugni as listed on the back label). It seems only one or two barrel were produced that year. We'd used much of the stock to juice up the extremely popular and delicious K&L Exclusive Napoleon & Napoleon II some years ago. When we arrived at the domaine in the spring of 2019, we tasted this component to our popular blend direct from cask. The brandy was sublime beyond belief. It's extremely rare that we locate a true single barrel of cognac. The reasons for that lie in the intricacies of production. The cateogry just doesn't really exist in the region. When we do find a quality single cask, the cost is often prohibitive. We've always believed there might be a true single cask of exceptional quality hidden at Dudognon and now we've found it. The family owned domaine makes cognac the way their grandparents did, without additives. Others might claim it, but dudognon lives it. Absolutely NOTHING was added before bottling here. Distilled by hand in wood burning stills and aged in new french limousin oak. Few cognacs on the market today can offer the unique depth and arresting complexity of this unprecedented bottling. Only 288 bottles exist and should be reserved for those wanting more than the typical sweet big house style. We're honored to be the sole source for this very special brandy. [David-otheningirard.jpg]( Othenin-Girard]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 27, 2020 We've spent the last decade trying to ferret out barrels from the great cellars of Cognac. These old chais are home to some absolute treasures, but the dream of finding amazing single barrel Cognac has been just that, a dream. The style doesn't truly exist in the region in the same way that we'd be able to pick out a barrel of whisky. Partly that has to do with how it's aged—rarely are single barrels left to age statically and often blending begins when the spirit is very young. Many of the products that are sold as "single barrel" Cognac are in fact blended many times before the barrel is bottled and while the contents of the run did indeed come from one single barrel, that brandy is not as unique as the single moniker would imply. There are maybe 5 or 10 barrels with the exact same liquid in the barrels surrounding it. In addition, Cognac seems to need this process of blending to achieve the complexity that we'd expect from the venerated category. Done properly the use of additives is NOT necessarily a bad thing in Cognac. It's often the additives themselves, cultivated from ultra-old Cognacs that have fallen under proof, that give a house its style and often add significantly to the quality. Done on an industrial scale, it's less romantic. But part of the dream of selecting a single cask is the honesty created by bottling without further processing. Which means that a house giving us a single cask won't really have the character of the house in the bottling because that's so reliant on what they do during blending to achieve. So we've been less able to bottle single barrel Cognac as we would Armagnac over the years and have instead focused on bringing unique expressions from various houses as exclusives rather than focusing on trying to bottle an entire cask as we do in Scotland. But every once in a while, we uncover something truly stunning, and it is only fitting that we did so this year at Dudognon. This is the only Cognac house I can guarantee doesn't use any additives. They once said frankly, "we don't use them because we don't know how. Not that we would need them." It's the most honest answer about additives I've ever heard. But for those who don't know why Dudognon is special, here's a quick review. This tiny family-owned domaine in the heart of the best terroir in Grand Champagne is run by a husband and wife team. They do everything themselves, with some help from their son during harvest. They simply follow the same steps as their parents and grandparents before them and put one of the most honest and authentic products into the bottle in any category. We sat over dinner in their tiny distillery when the cask sample of this old Montille was presented. It's an eau-de-vie we know well, having used it in our blends with them previously, but I hadn't tasted it raw in many years. What I found was profound. I couldn't believe we'd been using this to create a blend—it was so perfect and singular I knew we had to bottle. And we'd considered leaving it in barrel for longer and while we might have achieved some more complexity 10 or 20 years down the road, I feared we'd have lost the absolutely unique character that this rare varietal imparts. I believe this is the first true single cask Cognac we've ever bottled, and it's easily my favorite K&L exclusive today. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien]( [2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien]( ($179.99) 97 points James Suckling: "Terrific intensity of dark berries, almost peppery blackcurrants and violets with attractive and integrated, spicy oak and an earthy edge. The palate has a super powerful and long, linear core with plenty of fruit flesh strapped in tight for a long and thrilling ride into the finish." (02/2019) 97 points Wine Spectator: "This is so vivid as it brims with pastis-soaked plum, blackberry, black currant and blueberry paste flavors, all carried by a perfectly integrated brambly spine. Tar and ganache notes give the finish an extra kick while everything stays within the mouthwatering roasted apple wood frame. Both regal and rambunctious, this is St.-Julien to a T. *Highly Recommended* (JM)" (03/2019) 96 points Vinous: "The 2016 Léoville-Barton is fabulous. A wine of breadth and power, the 2016 has so much to offer. The black cherry, chocolate, gravel, smoke and licorice flavors are all boldly sketched. A host of expressive savory and mineral notes develop into the substantial finish. (AG)" (01/2019) 96 points Wine Enthusiast: "The Barton familys flagship wine benefits hugely from the age of the vines. This wine is ripe and concentrated, rich in tannins but with the wonderful black fruits that can be conjured from this vineyard. (RV)" (05/2019) 96 points Decanter: "I love this - there's concentrated cassis on the nose with a strong, smoky edging. On the palate the coffee and dark chocolate is clear, a little bitter in an extremely attractive way, leaning against the rich, sweet black fruits. There's no question those tannins are in full play. An excellent wine with a great life ahead. Matured in 60% new oak. (JA)" (10/2018) 96 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Deep purple-colored and a classic Saint-Julien with its pure crème de cassis, graphite, liquid rock, and essence of lead pencil shavings, the 2016 Château Léoville Barton is full-bodied, concentrated, and backward, with bright acidity and ripe yet certainly present and building tannins. This old-school, classic Léoville Barton has a fine thread of acidity keeping the wine focused and fresh. Its a beauty, but mostly potential at this point, although it does have beautiful fruit. Savvy readers will hide bottles at the back of their cellar, and I wouldnt start to think about opening bottles for a least a decade. Its going to be incredibly long-lived. The blend of the 2016 is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, brought up in 60% new French oak. 96+" (02/2019) --------------------------------------------------------------- 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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