Our Top 10 Picks for October

2016 Amapola Creek "Cuvée Alis" Sonoma Valley Rhône Blend (Elsewhere $46) $19.95

93 points Wine Advocate: "Medium garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Cuvee Alis Estate Vineyard is a blend of 51% Grenache, 19% Syrah, 17% Mourvedre, 12% Petite Sirah and 1% Viognier. The nose sings of preserved Morello cherries, mulberries, fruitcake and Chinese five spice with touches of potpourri, black pepper and licorice. Full-bodied, rich and decadently fruited, the palate provides a solid structure of firm, velvety tannins and tons of freshness to lift all that opulent fruit to a very long, spicy finish. (LPB)" (04/2020)

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2024

Over the years we've had some fantastic deals from Amapola Creek up in Sonoma's Moon Mountain District. The Amapola Estate, now owned by B. Wise Vineyards, shares the incredibly rocky, red, volcanic soils as their famed immediate neighbor the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard. This terroir produces, big, powerful, opulent wines, with lots of bold dark fruit, scorched earth and dried mountain chaparral. That's exactly what you'll find here in this Châteauneuf-du-Pape-inspired "Cuvée Alis" from Amapola Creek. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, plus Petite Sirah and a dash of Viognier.

This is a ripe, rich wine with some really nice secondary development notes emerging from its time in bottle. The wild, dusty, mountain fruit is now interwoven with lots of leather, spice box, tobacco leaf, and cured meat. Soft and supple on the palate with iron-like mineral tinges running through into the finish. The wine still has lots of density and satisfying fruit, but the years of aging have made this something much more complex than your typical fruit-driven Cali Rhône Blend. The pedigree of these hallowed soils is on full display here, and it's an experience that typically comes with a much higher price tag! This bottle is also a piece of history in a way; in 2019 Amapola Creek founder Richard Arrowood retired after 54 vintages of crafting Sonoma wines, meaning this is one of the final vintages ever made by a truly legendary vigneron. Our last-of-vintage, Insider's Advantage price is too low to show publicly as the wine typically sells for more than twice the price! Limited availability.

2021 San Pedro Sideral, Cachapoal Valley ($19.99)

95 points Descorchados : "Sideral is something of a second wine after Altaïr. They share the same origin, but Sideral is a different selection, which this year is 73% cabernet sauvignon, 11% syrah, 9% carmenere, 4% petit verdot, and 3% cabernet franc. The wine was aged for 16 months in oak barrels, 20% of them new, as well as in 2,000-liter foudres. It's usually released a year before Altaïr, and this year, it's a juicy wine full of aromatic notes and flavors of red fruits and herbs (cabernet franc and carmenere undoubtedly put their signature on this vintage) in a body of firm acidity (very much in tune with a cool season like 2021) and fine, sharp tannins. An elegant and subtle wine that will gain in complexity with another four or five years in the bottle." (01/2023)

95 points Vinous: "The 2021 Sideral is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 9% Carménère, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc from Cachapoal Andes. 90% of it was aged for 16 months in barrels, a fifth of them new. A vivid purple hue. The aromas feature crystal clear blackberry and blackcurrant notes, mulberry, herbs and black tea over a bed of oak. In the mouth, the flavors are intense and juicy with grippy tannins before the languorous, fruity finish. This years more reductive style, thanks to the cold vintage, lays down an excellent marker for the future. (JH)" (03/2023)

Kirk Walker | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 05, 2024

I love that this wine is framed as a blend. It could legally be labelled Cabernet Sauvignon, and it might be easier to sell as such, but this wine is so much more than just another Cabernet Sauvignon. 2021 was a very good vintage in Chile and in the Central Valley in particular. It is a balanced vintage, there was a good amount of rain during the winter and the growing season was long and without any major heat spikes. This wine speaks to those climatic conditions.

The fruit is bright, deep, and complex. It is the fruit that captures my attention first. The heart of this wine is Cabernet, and it is that red fruited Cabernet. There are deeper layers to this, not only darker shades of red fruits but dark berries and fruits too. Those tones slowly shift and deepen the more time that is spent with this wine. That depth comes from the blend, the Carmenere and Syrah, not to mention the Petit Verdot. Along with the layers of fruit these varietals also give the wine a savory, spicy quality. They are not pronounced, but they do add additional layers, some intrigue, and present flavors that make the fruit pop in contrast to them. The balance of the vintage is seen in the balance of this wine, there is a verticality to it, a sleek and refined feel, without a sense of being over polished. The tannins are fine and present, they give the wine presence and a dry feeling, but not so much so that that this wine requires food, did have a hankering for flank steak the first time that I did try it though. This wine has more finish than a wine at this price point typically does, it is energetic, and fruit driven but there is a subtle earthy tone to it. The vineyards are located on the Andes side of the Cachapoal Valley where the soils are derived for the stony debris of the Mountains. Full bodied and complex, this wine has an easy charm and an understated elegance. A surprising and delicious wine.

2021 Alpha Estate "Hedgehog Vineyard" Xinomavro Amyndeon Greece ($22.99)

95 points Decanter: "A delicate feminine style with ripples of red berry, white tea and rose circling the nose and palate. Perfectly designed for endless sipping. Pure joy! (DWWA 2024)" (06/2024)

K&L Notes: Located in the heart of Amyndeon in northwestern Greece, winemaker Angelos Iatrides established Alpha Estate in 1997. Working with a mix of international and indigenous varieties, Angelos crafts some of the most desirable wines in the region using his precise winemaking style. The single-vineyard "Hedgehog" has become the calling card wine for Alpha Estate. The Xinomavro vines were planted in 2000 and are grown in sandy-clay over limestone soils. Vinification takes place in stainless steel and the wine is aged for 12 months in a mix of new and used French oak barriques. This is a silky and inviting Xinomavro that makes for a great introduction to the region and Angelos' deft style.

Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 25, 2024

Angelos Iatrides is one of the great winemakers of Greece. His experimentation and success with international varietals like Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc brought him renown, but for me his work with the native grape Xinomavro is what he will be best known for. We often call Xinomavro the Nebbiolo of Greece because they share some similar structural and flavor characteristics. With Angelos' version though, it's more reminiscent of a northern Italian Nebbiolo-Barbera blend. It has wonderful black plum and cherry fruit flavors, notes of herbs and spices that signify the character of Xino but it is the texture and balance of the wine where I find the comparison most applicable. It has a smoother less puckering texture than a bolder, chewier Xinomavro. This beauty is made for food. Ideal with grilled pork, herb roasted fowl or even a lightly marinated skirt steak. For the price this is a serious, and seriously fun, red to add to your weeknight wine rotation. And it will be from one of Greece's top producers!

2023 Xanadu "Estate" Chardonnay Margaret River Western Australia ($24.99)

95 points James Halliday: "At first, this offers hedonistic pleasure as its supple and inviting with layers of flavour deep and rich. Its savoury and quite plush with lots of texture via cashew-like creamy lees, but its also not overworked. It has restraint and detail. Theres a superfine line of acidity keeping all elements in there place, stitching them together harmoniously." (10/2023)

93 points James Suckling: "Sliced apples, green pears, saltines, lemons, thyme and sea shells on the nose. Sharp and saline with a medium body. Mouthwateringly fresh and precise. Drink now or hold." (10/2022)

Thomas Smith | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 20, 2024

Xanadu might just be the best undiscovered Chardonnay value out there. Hailing from Margaret River, this region is unequivocally Australias shining star of wine production. While this Napa-like climate only produces between 2-3% of Australian wine, it garners 25% of its awards. For nearly three decades now, Chardonnay has been the regions hallmark variety and Xanadu is one of its best. The 2023 Xanadu Estate Chardonnay is both powerful and focused. I love the brilliant fresh pineapple and the broad swing of acidity that curves across the palate, elevating the fruit. What struck me most about this wine is that it is less citrusy than stone-fruited. Peach and apricot play strong roles across its creamy texture that suggests a tasting note of creme fraiche. Nougat and granny smith apple resonate through a long, long finish. This is a wine that has all the hallmarks of classic, full-bodied Chardonnay with elegance and poise on the palate. A stunning value at $25.

Damien Hugot Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($37.99)

Damien Hugot is a 25th-generation grower, with 20 acres of estate vineyards, mostly in the Grand Crus of Cramant and Chouilly. The Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is composed entirely of Chouilly and Cramant, and mostly from old massal selected vines. This wine, which is 100% Chardonnay, has incredible richness and great toastiness for a Blanc de Blancs. We are very proud to import these wines directly, and offer them at such good prices. If you are looking for a bottle of Champagne that has both toast and the classy chalk of the best vineyards for Chardonnay, look no further! (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer)

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 15, 2023

This is no ordinary brut sans année. I tasted this with Damien at the maison this May, and three times this week, and I was impressed by the generous, creamy, white fruit character of the wine. This wine is entirely fermented in large oak barrels, and comes from vineyards tended to like a vanity garden. It is composed of 70% Chouilly Grand Cru and 30% Cramant Grand Cru, with 30% reserves from his solera-style foudre of older vintages. The back end not only has the chalk that one would expect but also a very nice chestnut flavor. This is top-class blanc de blancs, and no one that enjoys this style should miss it given the extraordinary price.

2022 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey 1er Cru "Clos des Myglands" ($59.99)

94 points Decanter: "Faiveley's monopole Clos des Myglands on the northern edge of the village has delivered a delightful wine in 2022, with a lovely raspberry and plum fruit character, and a hint of rose petals and earth. The wine has a pronounced sweetness and a gratifyingly silky texture on the palate. Jérôme Flous remarked that despite the lack of water in 2022, the vines of the Côte Chalonnaise had a noticeably lower pH than those of the Côte d'Or in general, which helps keep this lively and fresh. A genuinely delightful success.(CC)" (01/2024)

93-94 points James Suckling: "Enticing nose of black raspberries and sour cherries. Wonderful freshness and vitality. Silky tannins for this appellation. Long, clean and bright finish." (06/2024)

2019 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino ($74.99)

98 points Kerin O'Keefe: "The 2019 straight Brunello from Ciacci Piccolomini dAragona is a beauty, starting with its heady scents of red berry, dog rose, spice and Mediterranean scrub. Full-bodied and loaded with finesse, the smooth palate delivers juicy red cherry, cracked peppercorn and licorice alongside tightly-woven, refined tannins. Juicy acidity keeps it balanced and fresh. Drink 2027-2039. Kerin OKeefe" (09/2023)

95 points Wine Advocate: "There's no mistaking this wine for anything but Brunello. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows beautiful continuity, crescendoing on the nose and palate in synchronicity. There are aromas of grilled watermelon, red cherry, garden herb and violet, and there is a charred note that recalls the toasted oak. The bouquet balances out beautifully, but you do get considerably more power on the palate thanks to the oomph of 15% alcohol and young tannins that get under your gums. Give this wine a few more years of bottle age. Production is 66,915 bottles in addition to 4,500 smaller formats. (ML)" (12/2023)

2021 Ridge Vineyards "Estate" Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.95)

95+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes from a great vintage for Napa Valley and comes all from the Monte Bello Vineyard on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Pure crème de cassis, leafy tobacco, spring flowers, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, concentrated, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This Saint-Julien-like beauty needs 4-6 years of bottle age but will keep for 30 years. It's not far off the Monte Bello and should be snatched up. (08/2024)

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 16, 2024

If you love a beautiful bottle of classically styled, mountain grown Cab, but your wine budget won't stretch to $279.95 for the current release of the iconic Ridge Monte Bello, then this wine is the perfect option. I've said this before, but I'll say it again - this wine is truly a baby Monte Bello. Grown in the same vineyard, farmed with the same meticulous, organic protocols. Harvested, crushed, fermented, all in the exact same way as the flagship bottling. At the end of fermentation, the team at Ridge taste samples drawn from the tanks where each block of the diverse and parcellated Monte Bello site has been fermented separately. They select lots that have more structure, density, and potential longevity to be given extended maceration before draining / pressing and those go to Monte Bello. The ferments that have less tannin, more forward fruit and accessibility are selected for the Estate Cabernet program. The Estate Cabernet sees slightly less new oak than the Monte Bello (75% new vs 100% new) all very carefully selected, 3-year, air-dried, American oak as Ridge has used for many decades.

This is absolutely classic Santa Cruz Mountains Cab with mulberry, wild blackberry, Redwood forest, dry chaparral, a steak of stony mineral, some cigar box notes. Fine grained but notable tannins work great with the dark berry fruits. This quite raw and wild expression of place is beautifully framed with exotic oak spices and toasty notes. Long, vibrant, and linear on the palate. Decades of aging potential, and this is the approachable, more fruit-forward expression of the vineyard! The very low rainfall in 2021 led to small yields, and in turn that means the natural concentration and power of the wines is evident. I'd like to think I could taste the Monte Bello and Estate Cab apart in a blind tasting, but I certainly wouldn't bet on it! The quality of the Estate bottling is much closer to the flagship Monte Bello than the pricing might suggest. Even though this wine is designed for earlier consumption, this will age for 10-15 years comfortably.

2007 Glengoyne 16 Year Old "Old Malt Cask" K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (700ml) ($109.99)

The wonderful Glengoyne distillery is always one to keep an eye. Built in 1833, it was sold by Archiball Macllelan to the Lang Brothers where it remained until 1965 when it was purchased by a predecessor organization to Edrington Group. In 2003, it was sold to blenders and bottlers Ian Macleod and they've rightfully made Glengoyne a worldwide brand. They're famous for their sherried malt and it's rare to see a butt make it out of their warehouses under anyone else's label. That's why we were so excited to see this pop up and when we tasted it we knew we had a real winner. The Glengoyne distillery is located in tiny town of Dumgoyne on the road to Blairquhosh, just 13 miles north of central Glasgow. It sits just beyond the imaginary line that all Scots agree is the starting point of the highlands. Despite its proximity to the lowlands, it's very much in the classic highland style and has carved out a name for its self-providing nicely balanced sherry and rich malt character. We rarely see it bottled by independent bottlers and when we do its almost always in tired old hogsheads. This gorgeous 2nd fill butt, however, is so distinct and characterful, you might mistake it for first fill. We certainly did. A deep golden color and an explosive sherry nose filled with rich dried fruit, chocolate, and gorgeous malt. Many will second guess this one because it's not a traditional "sherry bomb," but one nosing is all it takes to see that this whisky is of exceptional quality.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 18, 2024

We've only bottled a handful of Glengoynes over the last 15 years and all but one have been 2nd or 3rd fill hogsheads. The last one we did was about the most controversial whisky we've ever bottled, a PX butt bottled by Old Particular. That whisky was so weird and wine-y, customers either loved it uncontrollably or were completely revolted by it. There was no in-between. This whisky, on the other hand, will almost certainly result in consensus across the board. This beautiful butt, which I assumed was first fill albeit not very dark due to its complexity and flavor, is so creamy and friendly. There may not be another more drinkable malt in the store.

Let's see! The color is a splendid burnished (1.1). Immediately on the nose we get roasted almonds, dried Seville orange peel, fresh mango with the skins, rich toffee syrup, exotic wood and a rich dried barley note. With air the sweetness and the toffee come forward, but it doesn't forget about the fruit. The palate has tons of sweet chocolate, beeswax, sandalwood, dried apricots, and a building spice -ginger root and cinnamon. The finish is very long with a big tingly spice that pushes the sweetness of the nose and front palate out of mind until the next sip. A tiny splash of water brings out the nuts and the fruit. Now there's tons of citrus and a strong almond butter character. The palate too has added tons of fruit, and the ginger is a lingering afterthought. This is just so good. Mostly when I'm wanting to drink scotch it's something like this, tons of complexity, but not overpowered by any one element. The perfectly balanced whisky especially with a dash of fresh spring water. Hard to argue that this isn't one of the best casks of the whisky season, especially for the seasoned sipper who craves balance and depth over power and intensity.

2019 Léoville-Poyferré, St-Julien ($109.99)

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Poyferré is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot. It's one of the bigger, richer wines in the vintage and has a gorgeous, thrilling, full-bodied style as well as notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, violets, and chocolate. While many estates seem to be playing it safe and focusing on so-called elegance and balance, I love that Poyferré continues to make a ripe, sexy, beautifully textured wine that always offers more opulence and sexiness than most in the vintage. Ranking with the crème de la crème of the vintage, this gorgeous Poyferré can be enjoyed any time over the coming 40-50 years. Bravo!" (04/2022)

97 points Decanter: "So aromatic with real complexity of notes on the nose, perfume and black fruits. Quite tannic on the palate, broad-shouldered and carefully detailed with a core of liquorice-edged black fruit, dark chocolate and slate giving it quite a serious, gourmet and savoury feel right now. Lovely poise though - that St-Julien class shining through with mouthwatering freshness. Feels well made with energy and elegance. A standout wine with absolute distinction and plenty on offer. (GH)" (01/2022)

97 points Vinous: "The 2019 Léoville-Poyferré has the quintessential "LP" bouquet of perfumed blackberry, black plum, perhaps less tobacco than last year but still those hints of desiccated orange peel. It opens beautifully in the glass. The palate has a satin-like texture, a fine bead of acidity and fine pixelation. It is perhaps less luxuriant than I found this last year from barrel and has become slightly more linear, displaying a touch more breeding and precision. It fans out wonderfully on the finish, completing a fabulous Saint-Julien with huge potential. (NM)" (02/2022)

Ryan Moses | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 24, 2024

Perfectly balanced, with deep cassis, fine minerality, and incredible texture, it is a wine of substance and depth. From the aromas to the mid-palate to the long finish, it goes from one nuance to the next. I can't wait to see how this ages, but it is a wine that has so much to give even at this young stage. I can easily imagine that this will go toe-to-toe with the estate's reference-point renditions from 2009 and 2010, but for now it looks like one of their best kept secrets. Don't miss it.