K&L Top 10 Picks: May 2022

Hand-Picked, Over-Delivering Selections from Across the Globe... Monday May 23rd, 2022 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( K&L Top 10 Selections: May 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------- [May's Top Ten]( is mostly an ode to the world's most beloved wine producing country, with can't-miss offerings from nearly every major wine region in France, as well as a few gems from Spain, Italy, and Napa providing the icing on the cake. Top value buys from Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Châteauneuf lead the way, followed by collectible stunners from Hermitage, Champagne, and Armagnac. A Spanish value all-star blows the doors off with a stellar new release, an iconic single-vineyard Brunello shines in an epic vintage, and a pair of Napa Cabs at Insider's pricing are must-haves for any fan of California's best. [Billecart Cuvée Louis]( • [2019 Raúl Pérez "Ultreia St-Jacques" Mencía Bierzo]( ($18.99, WA94) — This new vintage release once again shows why the eccentric yet consistently excellent Raúl Pérez is one of Spain's best hidden-gem talents, with an impressive track record of critical acclaim to back up his reputation. This sub-$20 QPR champion routinely pulls in effusive praise, and the WA94 2019 vintage is "nothing short of spectacular" according to Luis Gutiérrez. • [2018 Château de L'Ou "Infiniment" Côtes Catalanes Rouge]( ($24.99, JD93, WA93) — The 2018 Infiniment “stands out as one of the great Syrah values produced anywhere in the world” according to buyer Keith Mabry, and Jeb Dunnuck calls it “a beautiful, round, soft, supple wine” that carries its considerable opulence with the utmost poise and class. If you're a fan of bold, luxurious reds of any kind, you owe it to yourself to experience the expert talent of winemaker Séverine Bourrier as expressed in the 2018 Infiniment. For a market-best, direct-import price of under $25, it’s the very definition of an overachiever. • [2018 Arnauld, Haut-Médoc]( ($29.99, DC93, V92, JS92, WE92) — From a property situated in the immediate vicinity of arguably the two best Crus Bourgeois in the Médoc (Chasse-Spleen and Poujeaux), the 2018 Arnauld Haut-Médoc makes a triumphant return to our shelves after an absence of over a decade. Capturing 93 points from Decanter, the 2018 likewise impressed even the notoriously rigorous Neal Martin, who called it “a contender for Cru Bourgeois of the vintage.” At our market-best, sub-$30 pricing, avid Bordeaux fans of all stripes can stock this one to the rafters and enjoy it to their hearts’ content for many years to come. • [2016 Sterling "Reserve" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $75)]( ($39.95) — With Sterling's deep history in Napa Valley and some of the finest estate vineyards in Calistoga, it's no surprise that this classically styled 2016 brings the goods. As buyer Ryan Woodhouse describes, "This is a bold, powerful style of Cabernet ... it's singing in harmony right now, showing just how great the 2016 vintage is." Indeed, this was a banner year, certainly one to look forward to. Anyone looking for unbeatable cellar potential for a killer, sub-$40 price should go big and load up while they can. • [2017 Domaine des Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape]( ($44.99, JD94, V93-94, WA93) — One of the undisputed standouts in terms of quality and value in our direct-import program is Châteauneuf’s Domaine des Sénéchaux. The 2017 is a modern wine in its flavor and aroma profiles, making it a luxurious and accessible option for the impatient. But the purity of the texture and the super-polished tannins give it the potential to evolve in graceful fashion. With 94 points from Rhône authority Jeb Dunnuck, plus a bevy of other solid praise, it’s “a classic beauty,” as K&L Rhône buyer Keith Mabry describes it. • [2016 Castello di Banfi "Poggio alle Mura" Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere $80)]( ($59.99, JS96, WA95, WS95) — Another absolute classic from an iconic Tuscan estate and an epic vintage, the 2016 Poggio all Mura shows its top-tier pedigree in spades. With 95+ points from Wine Advocate's Monica Larner, "the wine is symmetrical, tight and elegant with long, silky tannins. This is the full Banfi package." James Suckling’s 96-point review calls it “cool and perfumed … polished and very silky.” Considering the generational excellence of the 2016 vintage and the fact that this wine typically trades for upwards of $80 elsewhere, it's a can't-miss buy for collectors at our best-in-market, sub-$60 price. • [2019 Domaine des Remizières "Cuvée Emilie" Hermitage]( ($64.99, JD94-96, WA95) — Our most enthusiastic Rhône fans have long since caught on to what tremendous value the wines of K&L direct-import star Domaine de Remizières bring to the table. The 2019 Cuvée Emilie Hermitage Rouge offers one of the world’s great collectible Syrah values at a mere $64.99, a true steal for a potential 96-point wine that “has everything a young Hermitage should have,” according to Jeb Dunnuck. While collectors naturally gravitate hard toward names like Chave and Chapoutier, this exceptional effort can stand toe-to-toe with blue-chip cult bottlings many times its price. • [2019 Dakota Shy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Previously $120)]( ($99.95) — From one of the most compelling rising stars in boutique Napa Cab, the 2019 Dakota Shy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has been nearly impossible to find. What's more, it's available nowhere for under $100, except at K&L. With some absolutely top-tier fruit sources, including estate vines on the famed Pritchard Hill, it's an unequivocal classic in luxury Napa Cab. Vinous' Antonio Galloni calls the 2019 "rich, deep and explosive ... a great example of the year, and a superb value in the world of high-end Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon." • [2007 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (Previously $170)]( ($129.99, WA95, V95, WE95, DC95) — As a long-time partner and friend of this inimitable Champagne house, we can bring you one of Billecart-Salmon's most prestigious and collectible bottlings at an unbeatable best-in-market price. The 2007 “Cuvée Louis” Blanc de Blancs is a quadruple 95-point beauty that Wine Advocate’s William Kelley calls "seamless and complete ... a serious, built-to-age wine that will really reward patience.” Vinous' Antonio Galloni declares it "another stellar wine from Billecart-Salmon," and our own Gary Westby calls it "the ultimate elegant wine." • [1990 The Rare Armagnac Collection (Domaine de Pouchegu) K&L Exclusive Vintage Armagnac (750ml)]( ($139.99) — For those who aren't familiar, these sublime, aged beauties from Pouchegu have long been some of the most compelling spirits we get our hands on, as they were made by a true legend in his prime—the late Mr. Pierre Laporte. We cannot emphasize enough what these Armagnacs mean to our spirits team, as they are now treasured monuments to one of the great gentleman geniuses in the region's history. Spirits aficionados of all stripes should not hestitate to add this 1990 to their collections, as it is simply without a doubt one of the most outstanding buys in our entire inventory. --------------------------------------------------------------- [New Feed]( [Auction]( [Local]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [BORDEAUX]( | [NAPA]( | [BURGUNDY]( | [CHAMPAGNE]( | [ITALY]( | [RHÔNE]( | [SPIRITS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [My Account]( | [Wine Clubs]( | [Events]( |[Gift Cards]( | [Accessories]( | [Delivery]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Missed an offer? Check out recent opportunities at our [Email Archive]( page. 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