Domaine de la Colombe is based in the village of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, located at elevations between 900 and 1,300 feet. The terroir includes clay-limestone soils in combination with sandier soils in the valley. An exceptional vintage for the region, 2016 started with a pretty severe drought, with little to no water during the growing season. This led to very concentrated berries on the vines, high in extract but also acidity. Fortunately a little rain arrived just before the end of the growing season, keeping the vines from shutting down and al... Read More » 

Wine Enthusiast: "This is so crisp and fruity. It is refreshing, lively and with fine acidity that lifts the wine so attractively. The red currants and lemons present an extra tang at the end. Drink now. (RV)" (7/2017)  

92-94 points Vinous: "Building off the considerable success of their 2009 Beaune 150th Anniversary 1er Cru, Jadot has decided to make the wine again in top years. One of the highlights in this range, the 2012 boasts stunning power, depth and harmony. The lifted aromatics recall the Ursules, but here the fruit possesses more volume and creaminess. An explosive, layered finish rounds things out in style. Some of the parcels in the blend are Avaux, Cent Vignes, Pertuisots, Vignes Franches, Perrières, Toussaints and Chouacheux. (AG)" (1/2014) 92 points Allen Meadows - Burghound: "blend of 17 different owned 1ers plus a ...Read More » 

Whisky Advocate: "Although only two years older, this expression of Hakushu — the first to be launched in the U.S. — shows a fleshier side to the distillery’s wares. While it has retained the freshness of the 10 year old, it shows more pineapple and grapefruit on the nose, with a little fragrance of jasmine and osmanthus. On the palate, it’s fresh and lively with a hint of persimmon and a tickle of smoke. Recommended. (DB, Spring 2012)" Wine Spectator: "This Suntory distillery is located in a mountain forest in the southern Japanese alps. The whisky has cool, mint/basil, bamboo, kiwi and gr ...Read More » 

One of K&L's very finest buys from France. This is a reserve cuvée, made from Millet's chalkiest limestone soils. There is a long maceration at very low temperatures to extract as much flavor and character as possible. The resulting wine is intensely charged with stone fruit and minerality, with bright citrus notes. The wines of this family domaine have been a staple here at K&L since the 1994 vintage when Franck and Betty Millet drove a long way (to Beaune!) on Easter Sunday to meet Clyde and crew to present the wines. We love these wines for their fres... Read More » 

98 points James Suckling: "The aromas of this show an amazing freshness of flowers and herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and violet. Then it goes to raspberry, candy and currants. Black licorice too. A truly great wine on the nose. Full-bodied, racy and linear. So polished. It's like a red ruby. 86% Tempranillo and 14% Mazuelo in the blend. For release in September 2015. Great length and future. Give it three years or so. Or decant two hours in advance." (11/2015) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A worthy follow-up of the 2005, the 2007 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial will be released in late 2015. This is a cu ...Read More » 

100 points James Suckling: "The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure ...Read More » 

A delicious, higher-end Vinho Verde for those who would like to try something a step up from the under $10 examples in this emerging category. Made from 70% Alvarhinho and 30% Trajadura, it's just plain delicious, with snappy green fruits, citrus and just a hint of dissolved CO2 providing a refreshing, subtle effervescence. 

This is a filtered Munich lager brewed with floral hops and Pilsner and Munich malts. Close to an American lager, but not at all skimpy of flavor! Bold, smooth and refreshing. 4.5% abv 

Their first take on the Juicy NE style, this IPA is brewed with half wheat and halfpilsner malt, hopped with Ahtanum and Idaho 7 hops. 

100% Macabeu is fermented at low temperatures. Green walnuts, herbs and spices are sourced locally from the Matarrana area and macerated in the wine. The whole concoction is then aged for up to six months in a solera before being bottled in one of the coolest looking bottles on the market. The Spanish drink vermouth like it's going out of style, but we all know that there's nothing more stylish than pulling out a bottle of fine vermouth to pair with your tapas. What else are you going to do with all your canned fish? While designed primarily for straight... Read More » 

100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A perfect wine, that seems to have gone from one strength to another since I first tasted it, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 1 is absolutely amazing wine. It was aged 21 months in 87% new French oak, finished at 15.3% alcohol and was another abundant vintage, as this lot produced 850 cases, which is even more than 2012 and slightly less than 2003 and 2014. The wine has an inky purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, blueberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, blackberry, espresso roast, chocolate and graphite. Dense and incredib ...Read More » 

Sourced from some coveted Sonoma County growers, this jammy and exciting Zin offers a terrific value in a particularly strong vintage for the varietal. Good acidity props up the richness here, and tones of cinnamon, vanilla, and cocoa add interest to the cassis and boysenberry fruit. The wine was aged in French oak barrels before bottling. 

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Now at 30 years of age, there is a gulf between the two Pichons in this vintage that no longer exists. The 1986 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has long been one of the best wines from the estate alongside the 1982 (even if the first bottle was a little oxidized). The second bottle was representative. It has a classic pencil-lead, cedar-infused nose that rockets from the glass, a subtle floral note developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple red berry fruit, a pinch of white pepper and cedar, structured compared to coeval vintage ...Read More » 

96 points Bob Campbell: "Reasonably light in colour but there is nothing light about the aroma and flavour of this elegant and quite complex pinot noir. It’s a bright, high energy wine that’s rippling with light. A nice mix of berry and cherry and savoury, herb and baked earth flavours with a subtle mineral influence. Good now, better later." 94 points Wine Spectator: "The crisp cranberry and pomegranate flavors are juicy and vibrant, with details of green tea, fresh earth and white pepper. Cohesive and harmonious on the long finish. Drink now through 2030" K&L Notes: Felton Road, along with producers like Rippon and Qu... Read More » 

96 points Connoisseurs Guide: "*Three Stars* 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 lig ...Read More » 

Kermit Lynch has called André Ostertag a revolutionary winemaker, saying: "There is poetry to Ostertag’s practices. He looks for the nuance of terroir rather than the typicity of a grape varietal. In an act of rejection against the official classifications dictated by the A.O.C., he made up his own categories: Vins de Fruit that express fruit character rather than that of a specific vineyard site, Vins de Pierre reflecting the terroir from which they originate and Vin de Temps that rely on time and weather to encourage the development of botrytis. He fer... Read More » 

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The white of the vintage in Saint Joseph is the 2014 Saint Joseph les Granits Blanc. Coming all from one of the top terroirs in the region, the granite soils of the lieu-dit Saint Joseph, this 100% Marsanne release boasts terrific aromas and flavors of buttered citrus, poached pears, honeysuckle, spice and caramelized pineapple. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and textured, yet also elegant and silky, it should be a must buy by anyone who loves northern Rhône whites. (JD)" (12/2015) 92-94 points Vinous: "Limpid gold. A wild, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes fresh orchard and p ...Read More » 

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is an excellent special-occasion single malt from Suntory. Look for a bold, luscious butterscotch, note, enlivened by touches of stone fruit, lychee, and a faint hint of smoke. The buttery-soft texture and amber color with bright orange-gold highlights add to the luxe experience." (2/2013) 93 points Whisky Advocate: "Deep, mature in nature, and very complex. Notes of polished leather, maple syrup, and dark pit fruit, with suggestions of tobacco smoke, wood shavings, and unsweetened chocolate. References to fine old bourbon and ultra-matured pot-still rum provide intrigue. Proof ...Read More » 

95 points Bob Campbell: "From an 11-ha pinot noir-dedicated vineyard in Wanaka that produced its first wine in 2012. Made using 20% whole bunch. Quite a concentrated pinot noir, with a very appealing and rather perfumed aroma. Cherry, plum, spice and anise fruit flavours. The wine has a wonderful purity. Quite Burgundian." (2/2017) 93-94 points Raymond Chan: "Full, even, dark ruby-red colour with slight purple hues, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is full, powerful and well-concentrated with aromas of black cherry and berry fruit harmoniously entwined with dark herbs, spices, liquorice and subtle stalk ...Read More » 

The beast is awakening! Finally, Kentucky's largest bourbon distillery is using its size and scale to create a fantastic, value-oriented, high-quality whiskey that anyone can enjoy. For less than $20, this is my new go-to for mixing cocktails and making rocks drinks. It's Beam flavor through and through — creamy corn, sweet vanilla, and that spicy, grainy finish — just turned up to 100 proof. It's a no-brainer for the money. 

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A great sleeper of the vintage, this fully mature wine, made by Helene Garcin, has loads of deep raspberry and black cherry fruit with hints of licorice, toasty oak, and spice box. It is plush, succulent, and hedonistic, yet at the same time complex. I loved their 1998, and this wine seems to have turned out just as well. It has reached full maturity, where it should stay for at least a 10 to 15-year period. (RP)" (6/2010) 91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Good medium ruby-red. Explosive nose combines cherry liqueur, woodsmoke, flowers and smoke. Sweet, fat and pliant but juicy and perfume ...Read More » 

92 points Wine Spectator: "Focused and intense, this offers a burst of fresh mango and lime juice on a sleek and polished frame. Shows plenty of energy on the long finish. Drink now through 2022. (MW)" (10/2016) Jancis Robinson: "*Good Value* Gently creamy aroma, and then a attractive note of oatmeal and orange on the palate, underpinned by citrus freshness. More savoury on the palate, with a mealy lees quality adding texture and length. Beautifully balanced and long. (JH)" (10/2016) Wine & Spirits: "There’s fresh, oceanic acidity to this wine, its flavors of green lime, almonds and corn silk dominated by notes of bana ...Read More » 

Owner Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa is steadfast in her commitment to making traditional Chianti Classico in the town of Castelnuovo Berardenga. She uses 100% Sangiovese grown in alluvial soil with sand and pebbles, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in large oval barrels ("botti"). The result is soulful wines that stand the test of time. 

94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec, 14% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot, the 2013 De Compostella spent 24 months in barrel, 15%-20% new oak in the first year and then transferred into used barrel. It has a voluminous and very pure bouquet, ebullient red cherry and wild strawberry fruit, with just a touch of cassis. The palate is medium-bodied with sensual tannin, as usual, and with perfectly judged acidity; this is a more "sedate" and "relaxed" De Compostella that is not too worried about being "wine of the year." Rather, it is ...Read More » 

90 points Allen Meadows - Burghound: "*Outstanding, Top Value* Here the reserved nose plays right on the edge of reduction but it's not enough to mask the pretty floral, citrus and pear-scented nose. Once again there is plenty of energy to the solidly intense and well-detailed flavors that possess a really lovely mouth feel, all wrapped in a more complex and persistent finish where a trace of minerality arises." (6/2016)  

95 points Bob Campbell: "Taut, elegant and quite complex Pinot Noir, with an array of flavours including cherry, raspberry, violet, anise and spicy oak. The wine has a nice balance between alcohol and fruit sweetness, with fine tannins giving a drying and layered finish. It opened up as it sat in the glass and deserves to be decanted or aerated before serving." 93 points James Suckling: "The style of pinot that Cloudy Bay have set themselves up around is a bold, brassy and assertively oaked style but the bold and ripe brambly dark cherry fruits are up to the task. Then there's gentle citrus peel along with ...Read More » 

This bourbon started out as an experiment with just three bourbon barrels as Jefferson's CEO Trey Zoeller decided to see what would happen if Bourbon was left to age on a ship in extreme weather conditions. From the distillery: "The result was a thick, dark bourbon that showcases complex flavors reminiscent of other spirits; the almost black color and caramel flavors resemble a dark rum as the sugars within the barrels caramelized; the briny, savory taste from the barrels breathing the sea air is reminiscent of Islay Scotch; and at its core, it’s a true... Read More » 

You can't talk about Napa Valley wine, or any California wine for that matter, without mentioning the incredible debt owed to Robert Mondavi. His passion and ingenuity are synonmous with Napa's rise. The winery's Reserve Collection wines are designed to be the ultimate expression of terroir, using the finest fruit from the best blocks, and carefully fermenting them to create elegant, long-lived wines. Even at 30+ years old, a well-stored bottled of Mondavi Reserve Cab can show cherry and plum fruit, along with a cadre of secondary nuances. 

Wine Spectator: "Vivid if racy wild berry and blackberry fruit has a spicy tart edge. (Web-2008)" K&L Notes: The Rafanelli family is now in its fourth generation of growing grapes and making wine in the Dry Creek Valley. This winery is small and family operated, and the focus has always been on quality over quantity. The winery consistently makes among the finest Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon in Sonoma County! 

100 points Sam Kim: "When you combine exceptional winemakers, a stunning vineyard and a stellar vintage, the resulting wine is a compelling one. A glorious expression of the variety, this latest offering exhibits aromas of dark plum, spiced cherry, black olive, game and cedar on the nose, leading to a concentrated and richly fruited palate that is intense and formidable, while remaining perfectly poised and balanced. The wine offers layers of delectable flavours and rich texture, wonderfully framed by loads of polished tannins. This is not a huge monster, rather a stylish an ...Read More » 

95 points Connoisseurs Guide: "In this hit-and-miss vintage that was not much heralded after the seemingly awesome trio of 1984 to 1986, Spottswoode has come up with an absolute masterpiece and easily its best wine of the entire 1980s decade. At twenty years old, it still has good color, plenty of vigor and richness, evident currant and loam aromas and a deep, solid, balanced structure in support of its ripe yet refined flavors. This one has a decade of perfect service in front of it and may last for years beyond that point. Two stars when first reviewed." (4/2007) 91 points Vinous: "Full, deep red. More ...Read More » 

91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright red-ruby. Deep, aromas of sappy red berries and chocolatey torrefaction. Silky, suave and youthful, with a firm spine of acidity keeping the flavors in check. Firm structure should enable this reserved but strong wine to unfold slowly. Finishes subtle and long, with oaky sweetness. Should ultimately merit a higher score. 91+ Points (ST)" (3/2001) Allen Meadows - Burghound: "An odd nose of petroleum that cleared up with air followed by tight, slightly jammy and long flavors though for all the refinement displayed, the finish is marked by markedly rustic tannins. Very good if no ...Read More » 

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "This voluptuously seductive wine is also elegantly balanced. Citrus, wet stone and sea salt lift the minerality to pronounced levels, accented by a crispness of lemon peel and papaya wrapped in blossoming jasmine. Many of the vines on the site date back nearly 40 years, a demonstration that in age there is beauty. (VB)" (9/2016) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2014 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch is a rather complex blend of multiple heritage clones from California, such as the Wente, Robert Young, Rued, the U.C. Davis Clone 4, and the Spring Mountain Clone. The wine offers up plenty of whit ...Read More » 

90 points Wine Spectator: "Attractive creamy, toasty oak up-front, with supple currant and black cherry folding in beneath. Though it remains complex on the finish, it comes up shy in depth and added dimensions compared with previous vintages. Grapes are from the sources normally used for the Special Selection, which was not made in '96." (1/2000) K&L Notes: Robert Parker: "Few wineries in the world can boast such an enviable record of consistent excellence as that of Caymus." (10/1993) 

91 points Wine Spectator: "A fresh white, with a quinine edge giving the core of green fig, yellow apple and white peach flavors extra zip through the floral-edged finish." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Limestone Hill Chardonnay has a light patisserie-tinged bouquet with flecks of almond. The palate is smooth and rounded, unashamed of its tropical leanings—mango, tangerine and guava, leading to a soft and sensual finish. (NM)" (4/2017) K&L Notes: Another fantastic value from this K&L perennial pick. Juicy, rich, fruit forward but un-oaked Chard with subtle mineral tinges and clean bright acidity. Just so easy to dri... Read More » 

Jancis Robinson: "Dusty, chalky/stony nose and bright, almost steely, citrus fruit. Extremely crisp and direct but long and really quite powerful." (1/2016) K&L Notes: Jean-Paul and his son Benoît have five centuries and fourteen generations of winemaking behind them. Notes from Stephen Tanzer: "Some early impressions: The Vaillons showed lovely acid snap and tension and was perhaps more typically Chablis-like than the fruitier, more generous but less taut Montmains." (06/2015) 

93 points Wine Spectator: "A bit pungent and earthy in the aroma, but well-structured, with ripe, firm, vibrant black cherry, mineral, red currant and wild berry flavors that are lively and intense, with a tight focus and a long, complex aftertaste. The wine impresses with its purity of flavors and youthfulness. Shows some tannins on the finish... (Web Only—2005)" 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 1995 Cinq Cepages is tasting even better than it was prior to bottling. The wine, which spends 2 years in 50% new oak barrels, is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), with the other four varietals making up this blen ...Read More » 

While Bas-Armagnac gets all the press and the Haut-Armagnac gets completely ignored, the Tenareze region of Armagnac is quietly producing some of the best brandies in the world. Much like the Borderies region in Cognac, the Tenareze brandies seem to have more fruit and a bit more life than the more classic Armagnac style. Using only new or first-fill barrels for the beginning years of maturation, the Armagnacs have richness, weight, and spice. The 2001 vintage is going to be a bourbon-drinker's delight: there's a rich, round mouthfeel of charred oak and ... Read More » 

95 points Connoisseurs Guide: "In its brief history, Hewitt has already made a name for itself as a producer of big, massively extracted Cabernets and, while this most recent version adheres to the norms of muscle and mass, it does so with a little more polish than shown in the past. Very deep, very ripe and very full-bodied, it is bursting with wonderfully concentrated, curranty fruit and is further lifted by loads of sweet oak. Its sense of polish makes it remarkably approachable even now, but the wise choice is cellaring, and we would counsel five or six years of patience. ...Read More » 

In 1809, Napoleon and his troops identified Berliner Weisse as the Champagne of the North. He requested the beer be served w/syrup to cut its extreme level of acidity. This 1809 is a very traditional interpretation of the "Berliner Style" Weisse with an intense blend of lactic tartness and complex fruitiness. It is bottle-conditioned with lactobacillus delbrueckii, unfiltered and unpasteurized. "1809" will age beautifully in a dark and cool location. Its complex fruitiness and tartness will most likely develop in quite astonishing ways. 

While Bas-Armagnac gets all the press, and the Haut-Armagnac gets completely ignored, the Tenareze region of Armagnac is quietly producing some of the best brandies in the world. Much like the Borderies region in Cognac, the Tenareze brandies seem to have more fruit and a bit more life than the more classic Armagnac style. We visited Chateau Pellehaut on our first day in Armagnac last January and were completely overwelmed by the quality of spirit. Using only new or first fill barrels for the beginning years of maturation, the Armagnacs have richness, ... Read More » 

94 points Wine Spectator: "*Top 100 of 2012* Striking, rich and opulent, elegant and refined, with ripe, dense blackberry, melted black licorice and touches of cinnamon and baking spice. Ends with fine-grained, detailed tannins. Best from 2013 through 2027. (JL)" (12/2012) K&L Notes: Estate vineyards on hillside and valley floor sites of the Wooden Valley district of Napa Valley comprise Altamura's Cabernet Sauvignon. Altamura is the only winery in Wooden Valley. The dry-farmed vines were planted in 1986, and the wine was aged for 34 months in 70% new French oak. 

Chateau Pellehaut has been one of our top direct imports for the past year here at K&L. We've visited the Tenereze producer twice over the past few years, always finding something new to bring home for our brandy fans. Big, spicy, woody flavor explodes right off the bat from this 18 year old, 50.4% brandy. This is another crossover Armagnac, the one you'll want to buy if you like Bourbon and think Armagnac might be something you want to try. The raisiny fruit aspect of the Folle Blanche comes in on the finish, but this is all about the concentration of t... Read More » 

93 points Vinous: "The 2013 Chardonnay Cahill Lane is another beautiful, precise wine loaded with class and personality. As is the case in this vintage, the flavors are bright, but there is plenty of the signature Hansel texture underpinning the fruit. Lemon, pastry and brioche are some of the notes that meld into the racy, beautifully textured finish. Stephen Hansel is one of the most intelligent winery owners in Sonoma. More interested in getting people to drink his wines than in maximizing short-term profit, Hansel continues to offer some of the very best wines readers ...Read More » 

95 points James Halliday: "Interesting, very interesting. The colour, the freshness of the aromas and flavours, the finely sculpted tannins and the overall harmony suggest 13.5% alcohol, not 14.5%. All this conjecture is, of course, irrelevant: it is the outcome that matters - here a distillation of elegance." (2/2016) 93 points James Suckling: "Classic red fruits and chocolate here, boysenberry and bright cassis too. Really upbeat and bright, with a little gravel thread. Super refined palate with smooth and fleshy texture. The tannins spread fine and even and there is plenty of red berry fruit and chocolate ...Read More »