K&L Top Ten Picks: May 2023

Hand-Picked, Over-Delivering Selections from Across the Globe... Monday May 22nd, 2023 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( K&L's Top Ten Selections: May 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------- [Our monthly Top Ten]( represents our finest offerings that we believe deliver the absolute best character and style for their prices. No matter your tastes, preferences, or budget, you'll find something to capture your interest and take your wine and spirits experience to a new level. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Malartic-Lagravière]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2019 Bodegas Aleanna "El Enemigo" Chardonnay Mendoza (Elsewhere $26) 96 $19.99 [View]( 2021 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château" $24.99 [View]( 2019 Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac 94 $39.99 [View]( 2018 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Reserva Rioja 96 $44.99 [View]( 2017 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere $111) 97 $49.99 [View]( 2019 Domaine Benedetti "Larmes Papales" Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 $49.99 [View]( 2015 Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan 96 $64.99 [View]( 2019 Robert Mondavi "The Estates" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 94 $79.95 [View]( 2010 Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne $119.99 [View]( Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $215) $169.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [2018 Bodegas Aleanna "El Enemigo" Chardonnay Mendoza]( Bodegas Aleanna "El Enemigo" Chardonnay Mendoza]( ($19.99) 97 points James Suckling: "This is another rock-star Chardonnay from here with dried-apple, pear-skin, crushed-stone and peach-pit character. Full body. Creamy texture. Phenolic form and a long, flavorful finish." (02/2020) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The textbook 2018 El Enemigo Chardonnay had varietal aromas and notes from the barrel, giving it a very attractive profile. But there is a secret: the barrels develop some flor yeasts in the style of Jerez (or Jura) and this gives the wine a spicy twist, hints of curry and white pepper. The wine is silky and the very high acidity is not noticeable. This is a great commercial success, and at the price, it offers great value. (LG)" (10/2019) 93 points Vinous: "A Chardonnay from Gualtallary that underwent a carefully calibrated ageing process developed by the winemaker Alejandro Vigil: 500 liters French oak barrels, 35% new, mixed with increasing quantities of flor. Golden yellow in color, the 2018 Chardonnay El Enemigo combines aromas of pear and apple with hazelnuts, toffee and a touch of acacia. Creamy with intense flavors, the film lends a dryness in stark contrast to the ingenious structure that enhances the firm acidity and lengthy, hazelnut finish. A technical, original white inspired by the more forward thinking parts of Burgundy and California with more than a nod to Jura as well. (JH)" (06/2020) K&L Notes: A collaboration between longtime Catena winemaker Alejandro Vigil and the youngest Catena daughter, Adrianna, Bodegas Aleanna has been receiving a massive amount of critical acclaim over the past several years for their extraordinary wines. The "El Enemigo" Chardonnay is a powerful wine, with fruit, structure, and acidity all in balance. Interestingly enough, a little bit of flor resides in the barrels where this wine ages. Walker]( | K&L South America Buyer | Review Date: August 19, 2021 Deep, broad, and inviting with intriguing nuances. From the get-go, this wine delivers classic Chardonnay. The nose starts with apples and pears, then it transitions into hints of decadent hazelnuts and toffee, and hiding behind all of that are subtle, lifted aromatics of basil, mint, licorice, and pepper. The nose is almost like a tear drop; it starts big and round and then pulls you into a smaller finer point and then ... bang! The wine explodes on the palate. It is broad and rich with all of the fruit and a roundness that you can almost call lush, but the acid then pulls it back. With all of the big flavors, the wine is very clean. This wine is delicious, and it speaks to how good the high-elevation sites in Mendoza are for Chardonnay. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2021 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château"]( Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Vignes du Château"]( ($24.99) Pross]( | K&L Burgundy Buyer | Review Date: April 24, 2023 The nose on this wine is absolutely intoxicating with aromas papaya, guava, candied ginger and white flowers. The palate is bright and zippy with orchard fruit and spice notes with hints of oak and firm tannins. The acidity, tannins, and alcohol are all in such perfect harmony here that the wine feels bright and energetic. A sublime example of what Pouilly-Fuissé is capable of producing. [Zaitouna Kusto]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 23, 2023 Exploring Château Vitallis feels like an adventure, each wine offering something unique and special. The 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé 'Les Vignes Du Château' is classic white Burgundy at an approachable price point. It's toasty, creamy, and salty, with notes of white pepper, lemon pith, and fuji apples. Absolutely lovely on its own but it would really shine with a dover sole in a decadent butter sauce. McIntosh]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 22, 2023 Full-bodied and very mineral with lovely ripe fruit and brisk acidity to keep the palate vibrant and fresh. This wine definitely out performs most more expensive wines from Pouilly-Fuissé. It shows nearly perfect balance across all components and can be paired with chicken or salmon. Beckerley]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 22, 2023 Nicely tart with with dry green and yellow apple fruit, light hazelnut, and brilliant minerality. Long, lingering finish. Another delicious release after many years of equally impressive wines. Overby]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 22, 2023 The Pouilly-Fuissé "Le Vigne du Château" is unbelievably easy to drink. This has yellow apple, green pear, yellow cherry, and a slight note of pecan shells. The aromatics match the palate, and the mouthfeel is superb. Another great value that's worth every penny. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2019 Carbonnieux Blanc, Graves]( Carbonnieux Blanc, Graves]( ($38.99) 94 points Wine Enthusiast: "The estate is noted for white wine, and this latest release lives up to the reputation. This textured, mainly Sauvignon Blanc wine has tight acidity set against wood aging and ripe citrus and white-fruit flavors. *Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2022* (RV)" (05/2022) 93 points Decanter: "Apricot, pear and apple on the nose with a soft lime tang. Great persistence and energy, fruit has been well controlled and this delivers a round but fresh and lively glass of wine with subtle minerality on show too. Crunchy apple, candied lemon, some pineapple bitterness and a touch of marmalade or orange rind. Quie a tense, frank and linear style with definition and precision. Excellent winemaking. (GH)" (01/2022) 93 points Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux: "One of the great classics of Bordeaux dry whites, demonstrating its ability to consistently deliver polish and impact while retaining classic white Bordeaux minerality and freshness. There are touches of freshly cut grass on the attack, variety typicity although there is also a good amount of Sémillon in the blend adding structure and richness. The texture opens and widens through the mid-palate, and this is a wine with a deft touch and plenty of juice on the finish. Andréa Perrin, son of co-owner Eric Perrin, joined the team as the château's cellar master in January 2019. 25% new oak (with ageing taking place in a variety of barrels and wooden vats from 225h to 50hl)." (01/2022) 93 points James Suckling: "Dried lemon, beeswax, sage, pineapple and guava on the nose. Medium-bodied with tangy acidity. Vibrant citrus and tropical fruit. Compact, creamy and intense. 65% sauvignon blanc and 35% sémillon." (02/2022) 92 points Antonio Galloni - Vinous: "The 2019 Carbonnieux Blanc is bright and exquisitely sculpted. Lemon peel, white pepper, white flowers, mint and crushed rocks are beautifully delineated. Deceptively weightless in feel, this airy, understated white offers notable complexity. I especially like how the 2019 opens with a bit of aeration." (02/2022) 92 points Neal Martin - Vinous: "The 2019 Carbonnieux Blanc has developed nicely in barrel, offering orange pith, honeysuckle and jasmine scents, touches of quince and almond coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a zesty entry, fine weight, and some new oak lending sweetness toward the finish. Give this two or three years, as it is an accomplished dry white Pessac." (02/2022) 91 points Wine Spectator: "Has a nice chiseled feel, featuring sea salt, white asparagus and gooseberry notes, with a flash of oyster shell on the finish. This should open up and broaden out with brief cellaring. (JM)" (03/2022) 91 points Wine Advocate: "The 2019 Carbonnieux Blanc has turned out very nicely, offering up aromas of citrus oil, pear, fresh herbs, clear honey and crisp stone fruit, followed by a medium-bodied, elegantly satiny and incisive palate that's bright and precise, concluding with a saline finish. Bottled under Diam, this is already showing well in a tangy, Sauvignon-driven style. (WK)" (04/2022) 91 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2019 Château Carbonnieux Blanc is another solid white in the vintage. Subtle lime, chalky mineral, and some minty, floral notes define the bouquet, and it's medium-bodied, lightly textured, and balanced, with bright acidity and a clean, lengthy finish." (04/2022) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2018 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Reserva Rioja]( [2018 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Reserva Rioja]( ($44.99) 96 points Wine Enthusiast: "Deep ruby in the glass, this wine offers a bouquet of black cherry, blackberry and licorice. Flavors of black currant, pomegranate, anisette, dark chocolate and black truffle are supported by plush tannins that drift into a cherry-tobacco finish. (MD)" (03/2023) 95 points Wine Advocate: "2018 was a cooler vintage, with a fairly long maturation, which made the wines somewhat fresher and less alcoholic, as showcased by the 2018 Selección Especial, a classical blend of the four red varieties from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano with contained ripeness (14.05% alcohol) and good freshness. It fermented in oak casks with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels, 40% of them new, for 26 months. They were not very happy with the vintage and had to sort and discard, but as they didn't produce Prado Enea, Torre Muga or Haro, those grapes went into this wine. They are reluctant about 2018, but I think it was a vintage capable of the best and the worst, and this 2018 is floral, expressive and elegant. It's medium to full- bodied, with very fine, chalky tannins, combining power and elegance. Amazing! (LG)" (07/2022) 95 points Tim Atkin: "Always a comparative bargain in the Muga range, this Selección Especial benefited from the fact that Torre Muga, Prado Enea and Aro were not produced in 2018. Combining Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, most of it from the area around Haro, this is sweet, succulent, refreshing and comparatively forward, with scented French oak and layers of spicy dark berry fruit." (02/2023) 94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Muga Selección Especial is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and the rest Graciano and Mazuelo. It shows the fresher style of the vintage yet has good richness in its cassis and black raspberry fruit profile as well as notes of tobacco leaf, violets, and spicy oak. Straight-up gorgeous on the palate, it shines for its purity, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. I'm a fan." (06/2022) 94 points James Suckling: "Fresh and dried cherries, oyster shells, spice box and dried herbs on the nose. Flint stone, too. Structured, mineral and very fresh with tight and fine-grained tannins and a medium body. Vibrant and fragrant. Lightly austere at the end. Smaller production and greater selection this year—only Rioja Reserva and Selección Especial made." (05/2022) Walker]( | K&L Spain Buyer | Review Date: April 20, 2023 The Selección Especial is a standout Rioja from a standout producer. Why? This wine perfectly balances tradition and modernity, and I cannot think of another Rioja producer who does it so effectively. The tradition of this wine is in the blend of grapes and the additional aging. This is mostly Tempranillo with Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. It is sourced from vineyards in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria. The wine was aged for over two years in barrel and then a year and a half in bottle before it was released into the market. There is nothing more Rioja than that. The modernity is in the oak regimen and the ripeness of the fruit. This is all French oak from Muga's own on-site cooperage. The fruit is dark and ripe, but there is a juicy freshness that stands out considering how long this wine was aged. It comfortably stands next to Bordeaux and New World Cabernet blends—in fact, it is a perfect introduction to Rioja for enthusiasts of those wines. There is a savory spiciness to the nose and on the palate that just screams Rioja. But it has a polish and a sophistication to it. The fruit is dark and deep, but it has lift and energy. The oak is present, framing the fruit with spices while softening and sweetening the bigger tannins that Tempranillo brings. The finish is long. The fruit plays out with those polished tannins, fresh acidity, and the subtle limestone minerality. This really opened up with about an hour of decanting and will age beautifully for over a decade in your collection, if you can keep your hands off of it. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2019 Domaine Benedetti "Larmes Papales" Châteauneuf-du-Pape]( Domaine Benedetti "Larmes Papales" Châteauneuf-du-Pape]( ($49.99) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "With only 1,500 bottles produced, the 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape les Larmes Papales will be tough to find. From 100-year-old Grenache grown on la Crau (Ouest), vinified partly in demi-muids and aged entirely in them, it offers up intriguing scents of hickory smoke, cherries and red raspberries. There's more concentration here than in Benedetti's regular cuvée, plus complex oak notes and more tannins, yet this wine doesn't lose the essential elegance that is the hallmark of the vintage here. Lovely stuff. (JC)" (05/2022) 94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Pure Grenache brought up all in demi-muids, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Larmes Papales sports a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a wonderful core of ripe strawberry and cherry fruits as well as classic Provençal garrigue, peppery spice, and floral nuances. Beautifully textured, spicy, meaty, and complex, drink this medium to full-bodied 2019 over the coming 10-15 years." (11/2021) K&L Notes: Domaine Benedetti was founded in 1930 when Nicolas Benedetti emigrated from Italy to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and purchased land in his new region. Nicolas was followed by his son Noël and Noël's son, Christian. Christian was the first owner of the estate to stop selling wine to the cooperative and begin bottling and selling his own wines. In 2000, the domaine transitioned to organic farming and over the years has slowly expanded their holdings from just over a hectare each in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côte du Rhône, to four hectares of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and ten hectares of Côtes du Rhône vineyards. In 2004, Christian's son, Nicolas, joined the domaine after studying oenology and is now overseeing all the winemaking. And finally, in 2021, we struck up a relationship with the domaine and happily added them to our Direct Import portfolio. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2017 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino]( Costanti Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere $111)]( ($49.99) 97 points Wine Enthusiast: "Extremely elegant and focused, this compelling wine defies the heat of the vintage, starting with a heady fragrance of ripe dark-skinned berries, violet, camphor, dark spice and whiffs of crushed herbs. On the linear, elegantly structured palate, tightly woven but extremely polished tannins accompany juicy Marasca cherry, blood orange, licorice and white pepper while fresh acidity keeps it balanced and fresh. (KO)" (04/2022) 94 points Decanter: "Andrea Costanti has crafted an appetising and characterful 2017, expressive without being over-exuberant or pushed. He reports doing more extraction than usual, with extended post-fermentation macerations as skins were thick and healthy. The tannins are textured and gritty without being green or bitter. While this doesn't have the profoundness of 2016 or the silkiness of 2015, there is much charm in its vigour. Polished wood, subtle smoke, plum and bay leaf emerge from a backdrop of dry, dusty earth while concentrated acidity keeps it vibrant. One of the stars of the vintage. (MM)" (11/2021) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Conti Costanti 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is nicely layered and concentrated, with an immediate delivery of black fruit, spice and potting soil. This vintage shows a savory personality more than it shows a sweet one, and the tannins are quite soft and velvety. (ML)" (02/2022) 93 points Vinous: "An alluring, spicy and dusty mix of cherry and raspberry preserves, crushed stone and dusty flowers is lifted by cedar shavings and dried citrus peels as the majestic 2017 Brunello di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. This is fleshy yet delicate in feel, displaying pure ripe red berry fruit, nicely contrasted by salty mineral tones, and lacking only a bit of midpalate depth that might take it to the next level. It tapers off long while leaving the mouth watering for more, as a gentle tug of tannin slowly fades under rosy inner florals. Andrea Costanti didn't produce a Riserva in 2017, and so all of that juice was used to try to bolster the Brunello. From what I've tasted, I'd say he succeeded. (EG)" (12/2021) St. Clair]( | K&L Italy Buyer | Review Date: October 08, 2022 The nose of this wine is savory, full of those umami aromatics, dried mushrooms, soy, oyster shell, and leather, with hints of Tuscan brush and earth filling out the array. This isn't a fruit laden wine, but as my Italian friends always ask me when they taste the fruit in California wines, "do you have this for breakfast?" This is how a wine is supposed to smell, taste, and feel, I'm not sure I've seen a more complete version than this. I tasted in a Zoom call with Andrea Costanti, the owner and winemaker whom I've know for almost 40 years, and with the bottle in front of me I was just stunned. On the palate, this wine is the epitome of Brunello, it is savory, subtle and supple, and specifically this vintage is good to drink now. Truthfully, at my age I'm not thinking of laying anything down for 30 years, and even though this wine could go that long, why wait? Waves of salted plum, that haunting marasca cherry, bergamot, lilac, and so much more. This wine has unreal balance, supple intrigue, and a textural drive that makes it easy to drink now but will reward with cellaring to develop the aromatics, the 2017 is a wine that you must experience, truly a classic and thrilling bottle of Brunello. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan]( Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan]( ($64.99) 96+ points Vinous: "The 2015 Malartic-Lagravière is just as fabulous from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich, voluptuous and dramatic, it captures all of the natural intensity of the year. Black cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate, licorice and French oak build into a crescendo of stunning aromas, flavors and textures. This is in an especially dark, sumptuous style, but it all works beautifully. The 2015 was positively thrilling each of the three times I tasted it. (AG)" (02/2018) 96 points Decanter: "Displaying the more highly-charged, well-ripened character that you would expect from a 2015, this is rich and silky, showing incredible texture. It combines plump black fruits with the most gorgeous liquorice and dark chocolate in a coiled, restrained sexiness. It's totally more-ish without being over the top, with a lovely lift of acidity—although it was a hot vintage, there were cool nights. A brilliant effort. 5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. (JA)" (12/2018) 96 points James Suckling: "Deeper wine from the get-go with dark violets, mocha, cassis and blackberries. The palate has suave, smooth and sturdy tannins and terrific length. Very polished and seamless with flavors of fresh black cherries, blackcurrants and blue plums." (02/2018) 96 points Wine Enthusiast: "Full of black-currant flavor, this firm wine has structure and a rich texture. Its bolstering tannins and vibrant acidity mark out an age-worthy selection. Spice tones and a dry core set the stage for a slow development into an even more complex and fulfilling wine. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (04/2018) 94 points Neal Martin - Vinous: "The 2015 Malartic-Lagravière is bolder than its peers on the nose with blackberry, raspberry, iodine and light cedar aromas, quite upfront but nicely defined, pencil lead scents emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, and well balanced. Pencil lead again, and infused black fruit toward the finish … it is well crafted and it will reward bottle age. One for the patient among you." (07/2019) Beffa, Jr.]( | K&L Bordeaux Buyer | Review Date: September 25, 2020 The 2015 Bordeaux vintage saw the most success in the Margaux and Pessac-Léognan regions. This property was one of the stars of the vintage. In fact, this property has been on a roll for the last ten years, making great and near-great wines every year. Very fruity nose with some blackcherry aromas. On the palate, the wine is very minerally with bright, forward fruit nuances. Some toasty oak adds to the complexity. This will cellar well for at least ten years. If you drink it now, please decant for an hour. A complete Bordeaux from the nose to the long finish. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2019 Robert Mondavi "The Estates" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon]( [2019 Robert Mondavi "The Estates" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon]( ($79.95) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Throws off some pretty gorgeous aromas of violet, anise and sweet bay leaf, with a core of ripe, streamlined boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors following closely. The finish has a racy graphite edge, while the fruit and aromas just spill through. Approachable now, too. *Ranked #6, Top 100 Wines of 2022* (JM)" (11/2022) 94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "What was previously released as the Oakville Cabernet, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estates Tier comes all from To Kalon and was fermented in oak tanks and aged in 96% new French oak. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and the rest Malbec. Ripe black fruits, smoked herbs, graphite, and even a touch of minerality define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully textured on the palate. Drink it over the coming two decades." (03/2022) Woodhouse]( | K&L Domestic Buyer | Review Date: December 01, 2022 As most of you will know, when a wine hits the annual Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of the Year list, it typically sells out fast. If a wine happens to be in the top 10, it's typically gone in minutes! But when this wine hit the list at #6, we actually managed to secure a decent-sized allocation! The newly redefined "Estates" tier from Robert Mondavi represents a significant upgrade over previous years. The 2019 is reportedly entirely made from To Kalon Vineyard fruit! Yes, arguably the most famous vineyard in all of Napa Valley, which typically fetches prices well north of $150 and frequently over $300, is available here for under $90. This prize fruit is hand-sorted, fermented in open-top oak tanks, then matured in top-notch French oak cooperage. The results are stunning! Glistening black and blue fruits, cassis, blackberry, graphite, crushed rock, smoldering embers, pencil shavings, and toasted oak spice. Full-bodied, inky in the glass, but nicely dry and focused on the palate. It's pedigreed, structured, and classy, not over the top but certainly luxurious in its flavor profile. I enjoyed my bottle over three days to see how it developed with plenty of air, and it certainly gained breadth and volume after being open a while. I have no doubt that although delicious right now, this beauty will be do very well in the cellar for 15-20 years. With prices for Napa Cabernet steadily increasing, to get this To Kalon Vineyard wine, crafted by one of the best teams in the valley and boasting glowing press, seems almost unfathomable...but here we go. Grab it while it lasts! --------------------------------------------------------------- [2010 Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne]( Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne]( ($119.99) Westby]( | K&L Champagne Buyer | Review Date: March 10, 2023 The first-ever straight vintage rosé from the masters of the style at Billecart and one of the greatest vintage Champagnes I have tasted, pink or otherwise! This wine is composed of 55% Chardonnay from the grands crus Chouilly, Mesnil, and Cramant and 45% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, Mareuil, and Ludes. The red wine comes from ancient vines in the Valleofois vineyard just next to the Clos des Goisses in Mareuil. With a gorgeous strawberry/copper color and the most perfect, tiny bead of bubbles, the 2010 is just fun to look at. On the nose, it has the pastry crust aromas from over ten years aging on the lees, and subtle, detailed dark maraschino cherry from the ancient-vine Pinot Noir that gives the wine its color. This incredible wine has the pure, subtle fruit that this great house is famous for on a frame that is as delicate and fine as one could imagine. The easy-drinking, bright, light style of this wine belies the inner complexity of spice, dried fruit, and deep, chalky minerality in the glass—if you pay attention to it. The finish is nearly blanc de blancs-like, with excellent lift and great chalk character. This is a chance to obtain the unobtainable, and I will be putting a case in my cellar for the future—if I can keep my hands off of it! Schroeder]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 15, 2023 Crushed ripe wild strawberries, creamy, chalky minerality, layers of candied cherry and spice make up a redolent and concentrated core of fruit, lifted by creamy mousse and bright but time-tempered acidity. This is an unbelievable treat for the price, considering all the Grand Cru fruit that goes into it. Grab this one while it's still in stock. Beckerley]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 15, 2023 I had the extreme pleasure of tasting this beautiful Brut Rosé last fall, and it is wonderful to revisit it six months later to see how it has progressed. The complex nose has deep cherry scents, with compote notes, vanilla cake, and just a smidge of wet stone. On the palate, it starts out with and retains a very nice bright character with more dark cherry fruit, black raspberry, and a touch of orange marmalade. There is a very long finish that grips the back of the throat with crisp acidity and a small bit of sea salt. Extremely delicious now but will also cellar well. I see a bottle appearing soon with my Champagne tasting group! [Michael Benoit]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 14, 2023 If you love the non-vintage Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé, and I know many of our customers do, then do yourself a favor and take home at least one bottle of this beautiful Champagne. It pours a gorgeous, gold-flecked pink, and has aromas of Rainier cherry, fresh-baked brioche, and Chantilly cream. The very fine bead gives this Champagne a plush, velvety texture, and it has the classic delicate flavor profile that I love in the non-vintage bottling. But here, the cherry and raspberry flavors are deeper, with subtle exotic spice notes, and a hint of savory character. I love the freshness and zippy acidity, and the lovely, long finish of red raspberries and subtle chalk. A real treat for the Champagne lover who's had it all, and a crowd-pleaser for everyone else. I can't recommend this highly enough! --------------------------------------------------------------- [Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $213)]( Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $213)]( ($169.99) Othenin-Girard]( | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: April 05, 2023 Everybody is all over Yamazaki, but for me, Hakushu is the real gem in the Suntory portfolio. While Yama takes all the glory, Hakushu quietly produces some of Japan's most delicious whisky. Some people look at our description and are worried that the "peat" will be too much. This is in fact a lightly peated product distilled on Hakushu's narrow necked stills. The resulting spirit is full of vibrant complexity and the peat is so perfectly integrated that few would pick it out as the main attraction. Instead, expect a gorgeous nose of wet forest floor, candied stone fruit, citrus oils, clove oil, fresh herbs, jasmine flower, green tea, sweet malt, and tobacco leaf. On the palate, the freshness and vibrancy is paramount, offering sweet, almost candied malty character tempered with a zesty citrus note and an oily texture. The peat pops up on the finish in a lovely balancing way. In my opinion, this is the better of the two Suntory flagship single malts and certainly the one I'd hand to any expert or regular Scotch drinker who might be Suntory curious. Whiteley]( | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: April 05, 2023 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 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 and the price ever increasing, you have to get while the gettin' is good. Westby]( | K&L Champagne Buyer | Review Date: June 27, 2019 This expertly crafted single malt has extraordinary balance for a peaty style and a refreshing, salty lightness that makes me come back for more. I love that this has the smoke and complexity of peat but doesn't get bogged down with oily heaviness. To the contrary, this is a refreshing whisky that is fantastic to enjoy after a big meal! --------------------------------------------------------------- [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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