Our Top 10 Picks for January

2022 Chateau Gigognan "Bois des Moines" Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc ($17.99)

97 points Decanter: "A fantastic drive of oyster shell and crushed stone minerality navigates its way seamlessly through the gleaming lemon peel and white fruit purity. Generous, full and lavishly textured with a fine bead of acidity. Southern Rhône perfection. *Platinum Medal* (DWWA 2024)" (06/2024)

K&L Notes: 50% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Marsanne

Carlo Delgado | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 17, 2024

When a Rhone Blanc is really good, I can't stop drinking it. This is one of those wines. Lovely aromas and flavors of ripe lemons, quince, soft apricots, fresh ginger, chamomile, barley tea, and chalk. Plush on the palate, ample acidity, and a long smoky finish. Perfect with poultry and salads. A refreshing alternative to the usual white wines in constant rotation. Cheers!

Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 17, 2024

We don't get to talk too much about white Rhones because they represent just a fraction of the wine produced in the Southern Rhone. But, when you come across something as exemplary as the "Bois des Moines" from our friends at Gigognan, it's time to take a stand! The area of Bois des Moines are the vineyards around the estate just outside the village of Sorgues. If you were there a century ago, this area would be part of greater Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Since it was left out during the classification of the region, you get Chateauneuf quality but Chateauneuf adjacent pricing. And this drinks like a CDP blanc for sure. A blend of 50% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc and 20% Marsanne, it is brimming with stone fruit flavors. Nectarine with notes of dried pear, Myer lemon rind and wet stones, this is long and honeyed on the palate. I would love to see where this goes over the years and since it is so reasonably priced, I might just squirrel away a case to see how it evolves. Sumptuous and stunning now, this is a white Rhone that will bring in people who have never tried it and those who have had them, you'll most certainly be back for more.

2018 Eden Rift "Estate" Cienega Valley Chardonnay (Elsewhere $40) $19.95

95 points James Suckling: "This just takes off at the finish, with bright, tangy acidity and plenty of minerality. Full-bodied and so tangy and energetic. Fantastic chardonnay. Hints of aniseed and flint. Grows in the glass. Delicious now, but will age beautifully." (03/2022)

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Chardonnay Estate sports a medium gold hue to go with a gorgeous nose of white peach, stone fruits, honeysuckle, and toasted bread. Beautifully balanced, elegant, and with plenty of sweet fruit and great acidity, this is a killer Chardonnay I'd be thrilled to drink." (01/2021)

Carlo Delgado | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 01, 2024

Initial nose of Crème Brûlée, bruised yellow ginger, chamomile lemon tea, fresh laurel. On the palate, lemon rind, pink grapefruit, yellow pear, yellow apple, and a touch of white mushrooms. I love a well-aged Chardonnay like this one, showcasing layers of complexity, a kaleidoscope of flavors. My co-worker and I kept finding something new with every glass. Cheers!

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2024

I've been working on this deal for a long while and finally got it done. I've long been a huge fan of Eden Rift's wines from this truly special estate in Cienega Valley. Nestled in the valley right below the famed Mt Harlan AVA, home to California icon Calera, lies Eden Rift. The property is actually very historic being one of the oldest continuously producing vineyards in all of California originally planted in 1849. The estate is stunning with many steeply terraced blocks leading in to the Gabilan Mountains to the west. The soils here are decomposed limestone and granite. The region sees huge diurnal swings in temperature as the hot days are tempered by ocean breezes funneling through the mountain passes and descending into the valley over night. The limestone soils and dramatically contrasting day and nighttime temperatures aren't only things Eden Rift shares with it's illustrious neighbor Calera...the winemaker at Eden Rift is Cory Waller, brother of longtime Calera winemaker Mike Waller.

The 2018 Estate Chardonnay is really stunning. Very reminiscent of top notch Chablis with a pronounced oyster shell, salty minerality. The low yielding vines and few years in bottle have given the wine plenty of depth, power and intensity, yet the racy, mineral infused acidity has kept the wine so fresh and vibrant. Elegant stone fruit, baked golden apple, subtle hazelnut and toasted grains. Sea spray, wet stone, flint. Really beautiful length on the palate as the flavors unfurl showing layer after layer of complexity. At 50% off the original price, this is the most complex, engaging and multifaceted $20 Chardonnay I've tasted in some time. With the huge scores and massive discount I don't expect this one to be around for long. The quality here is really excellent, I'll be putting some in my own cellar for sure.

2019 Dominio de Atauta "La Celestina" Crianza Ribera del Duero ($21.99)

94 points Wine Enthusiast: "This wine has full-on aromas of blackberry, plum, black cherry and cassis, with a whiff of eucalyptus. It has flavors of ripe black and red fruits and a touch of black-olive paste and saddle leather. The tannins are bold but silky and the finish is persistent. (MD)" (09/2023)

91 points Penin Guide: "Colour: deep cherryAroma: ripe fruit, dried herbs, creamy oakFlavour: powerful, ripe fruit, spicy, round tannins" (05/2023)

91 points Wine Advocate: "The textbook 2019 La Celestina Crianza reveals smoky and toasty notes. It combines fruit from different parts of Ribera del Duero, Soria and Burgos and spent 12 months in French oak barrels, 20% of them new. It's ripe without excess, reflecting a warm and dry year, with 14.5% alcohol, mellow acidity, fine tannins and a soft mouthfeel from the fine-grained, chalky tannins. 102,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2022. (LG)" (01/2023)

91 points Tim Atkin: "Jaime Suárez, the talented winemaker at Dominio de Atauta, also makes wines under the La Celestina label. This Crianza is an equal mix of Tinto Fino grapes from Burgos and Soria that spends 12 months in 20% new French oak. Made in a classic meets modern style, it has subtle wood, blackberry and summer pudding flavours and a dusting of sweet spices. 2024-28" (09/2023)

K&L Notes: Dominio de Atauta makes singular Ribera del Duero. They are in the cooler, more elevated Eastern corner of the region near the village of Soria. They specialize in old vine wines, focusing on single vineyard bottlings, the youngest are 60 years old with several being centenary. These wines speak to the region with its various soils over limestone bedrock and the austere scrubland that surrounds them. Their wines are intense aromatically and structurally, with a fineness that is backed with plenty of polished tannins. These are expressions of soil and place, showing the uniqueness and potential of the region.

The Celestina line was created for Dominio de Atauta to express “Ribera del Duero” not just Soria. This is a blend of villages, a blend of fruit from old vines and younger vines, and terroir; sand and clay. This is a wine where they use their talents to create a wine that not only has focus, aromatic purity and complexity that Atauta is known for but a richer, more approachable structure and texture. A delicious everyday Ribera del Duero crafted by one of the new greats of the region.

Kirk Walker | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 19, 2024

Dominio de Atuata was the first nerdy Ribera del Duero that I had. It should not surprise you that I loved it. This was a wine that had such a pure expression of Tempranillo that I had to stop and pay attention. Not to mention that the wine making had more in common with avante garde wines that were being made in the Loire and the Rhone at the time. That was an exciting wine. It was one of the first wines that I had pointed to what was to come from Spain. That was 20 vintages ago! ******* The pleasure and the excitement that I felt when trying that wine all those years ago when trying wine from this producer still exists. What I love about this wine is how I was caught off guard with this wine. This wine is not challenging the status quo. Dominio de Atauta has been so successful for so long that they have changed what the status quo is. That being said, this is not avante garde, this is conventional, in the best possible way. This is a wine for everyone.

I love this expression of Tempranillo. Cooler climate, high elevation Tempranillo. What does that mean, this is that beautiful dark fruited Tempranillo, lifted blackberries, plums, dark cherries, a hint of dark chocolate, oak spice (sweet and savory), and with a dusty, floral, herbal backnote. This smells like what I want Ribera del Duero to smell like! On the palate the fruit really comes to the forefront. More cherries but plenty of dark fruit too. It is full bodied. The tannins are present, restrained, managed and polished. That fruit rests on top of them, there is a charming mid-palate roundness. There is a brightness and ease to it. Just beneath the tannins the terroir really jumps out. It has that distinct limestone minerality unique to Ribera del Duero. The wine finishes cleanly, you are left with fading dark fruits and a faint dusty windblown herbal quality. This is a Red that just wants to be drunk. It is a grab another bottle, we don’t need to leave just yet kind of red.

2018 Neely "Upper Picnic Block - Spring Ridge Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $60) $29.95

93 points Vinous: "The 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Upper Picnic Block is eminently charming in its sweet-fruited, exuberantly spiced, medium-weight build. Layers of kirsch, raspberry sauce, cinnamon, cardamom and iodine mark a wine of sexiness and sensuality. Again, this is a style reflective of a different era for Neely. Growing season differences notwithstanding, the 2018 checks in at 14.1% alcohol, nearly two full degrees higher than the 2021 tasted alongside. I prefer this edition, as its still finessed but has more stage presence and inner harmony. The finish is long, blue-fruited and caressing. (BN)" (09/2024)

K&L Notes: This wine comes from the organically-tended Spring Ridge Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a two-acre planting on an east-facing slope at about 600 feet above sea level. The site is dry-farmed, which makes for an inredible earth-driven Pinot with all of the Santa Cruz character you want and the balance, texture and deliciousness you'd expect from a wine made by Bob and Jim Varner.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 11, 2024

I've had a couple bottles of this beauty in the past two weeks and I must admit I'm quite smitten! From a 2-acre block of Dijon 777 clone grafted in 2006 onto older root stock planted in 1982. This is a very alluring, coy, elegant Pinot Noir that needs a minute or two to unfurl in the glass...but when it does it's all class. Wonderfully pure, precise wild forest berries, black raspberry, sandalwood, clove and other mulling spices. Hints of dried porcini and leaf litter, truffle, anise, clean soil (if that's even a thing!?) A magical wine that draws you in slowly. It's not bombastic and effusive, but the subtly and elegance here makes it all the more appealing as the layers slowly open. It really comes alive with roast chicken and herbed potatoes. Silky and elegant now, but still has plenty of poise and energy to cellar for another 5-8 maybe 10 years. Incredible pricing for our insider's Advantage members.

Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 11, 2024

There are so many interesting new Pinot Noir's coming in at this time. This Neely is certainly one of them. A strikingly original nose of dark raspberry, cranberry, baking Spices and light clove. In the mouth, dark cranberry and cherry, blood orange, new and clean oak. It finishes very clean. Light on its feet with very nice fruit and spice. A winner.

2019 Poggiarellino Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere $60) ($34.99)

91 points James Suckling: "Aromas of black cherries, potpourri and bitter roots, as well as a hint of tree bark. Medium body with chewy tannins. Subtly toasty aftertaste. A little austere. Compact and tight. Better after 2024." (09/2023)

K&L Notes: Exclusively imported in limited quantities, the 2019 Poggiarellino Brunello di Montalcino captures the essence of this extraordinary vintage. Crafted from 100% Sangiovese and aged traditionally, it showcases vibrant red cherry, plum, and earthy undertones, supported by firm tannins and balanced acidity. A standout wine from a historic year, ideal for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Orazio Campoli | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 18, 2024

The 2019 Poggiarellino Brunello di Montalcino is a classic, handcrafted version of Tuscany's signature Sangiovese Grosso grape. Poggiarellino is a small winery run by a small family. They are located in the north of Montalcino, emphasizing the tradition, this Brunello offers a blend of elegance, depth and authenticity. The wine opens with a lively red cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry. I feel a touch of dry rose petals, awesome spicy herbs and the classic touch of leather. Medium to full body. With refined tannins and bright acidity that highlight the purity of the fruit; red berry, spice and earthy tones lead to a long, balanced aroma. This wine expresses power the power of Montalcino, but you can tell it’s from the northern part of the region. Poggiarellino benefit from cooler temperatures that gives the wines outstanding freshness and precision. This Brunello is aged for 36 months in traditional Slavonian oak barrels. It maintains a classic style that honors Montalcino's winemaking heritage and at the same time, it presents an accessible and food-friendly profile.

Pair this brunello with traditional Tuscan dishes like Florentine Steak, wild boar ragu or wintery risotto. Remember that the 2019 vintage's structure can age gracefully for 10-15 years, providing greater depth and complexity over time, but at the same time it is super enjoyable now. For those looking for a Brunello that reflects the spirit of Montalcino at a great price, the 2019 Poggiarellino is an outstanding choice.

2021 Stringer Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $85) $39.95

94 points Int'l Wine Review: "This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterfully crafted blend, featuring fruit sourced from the renowned regions of Oakville, Howell Mountain, Yountville, Calistoga, and Pritchard Hill. The wine opens with captivating aromas of black fruits, dark cherry, and subtle floral notes, followed by layers of ripe black plum, raspberry, and wild berry bramble. Complex undertones of black pepper, mocha, and smoky oak further elevate the aromatic profile. On the palate, velvety tannins provide structure and elegance, seamlessly integrating with the rich fruit flavors. The well-balanced acidity adds vibrancy, leading to a long, polished finish with lingering notes of dark fruit, spice, and a hint of toasted oak. This Cabernet is both powerful and refined, offering depth and sophistication with the potential for graceful aging."

93 points The Wine Independent: "The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, with 4% Petite Sirah in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It features prunes, black cherries, mulberries, and plums with hints of spice box and dusty soil. The full-bodied palate is rich, plush, and pure, with great length. (LPB)"

93 points Wine Enthusiast: "Aromatics of tobacco and leather spin into flavors of bursting fresh berries, cherries, and plums. A lengthy finish reveals graphite and dark chocolate. Palate coating while silken tannins balance with brightening acidity for a satisfying Cabernet. (ECB)" (12/2024)

K&L Notes: The 2021 Stringer Napa Cabernet is sourced from incredible vineyards that span the top sub-AVAs of Napa: Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Yountville and Calistoga.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 11, 2024

Oh yeah, this one really hits the spot as we free-fall into the holiday season! A rich, powerful, polished Napa Cab with incredible pedigree of fruit sourcing combining top-tier fruit from Howell Mountain, Pritchard Hill, Oakville, Yountville and Calistoga. This wine is very opulent and rich, tons of black fruit, black currant, mulberry, creme de cassis, cherry liqueur and baking chocolate. Under the lush, ripe fruit the tannis are ample yet nicely polished. Some crushed rock and graphite notes (perhaps from the Howell Mountain and Pritchard Hill fruit) give a nice underpinning of savory, rocky mineral. Hedonistic and crowd-pleasing, but with plenty of stuffing and structure to go another 8-10 years in the cellar. *This wine was initially listed as being made by winemaker Kristi Koford, that was incorrect. This wine was made by founding owner / winemaker Casey Stringer*

Pierre Paillard "Les Parcelles" Grand Cru Extra Brut Bouzy Champagne ($49.99)

93 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Made from 80% Pinot and 20% Chardonnay, with the base 2019 and the rest reserve wine from the past couple of years, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Bouzy Les Parcelles is expressive and fruit-forward on opening, with notes of cherry blossom, fresh peach, and honeycomb. With zero grams per liter dosage, theres no lacking for ripeness and freshness. Long on the palate and quite inviting, its going to be wonderful drinking over the coming 8-10 years. (AF)" (11/2023)

91 points Decanter: "From the 2019 vintage-based edition, Pailllards popular entry-level wine will now be fermented entirely in second-use small oak barrels. 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from Bouzy, full of outgoing fruit red apples, cherry, stone fruit with some green almond, anise and gentle spiciness. Les Parcelles has enough structure and crusty-bread richness for the table, but retains a refreshing lightness of touch given the village, vintage and the oak usage. (TH)" (04/2023)

Vinous: "The NV (2019) Extra Brut Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay picked in Bouzy and barrel-fermented. A touch of smoky plum hits the nose first. This fruit is far more expressive on the palate, presenting crunchy blue plum flavors dispersed by frothy yet gentle mousse. Lovely saltiness and freshness give an edge to this youthful and fruit-driven wine. Zero dosage. Disgorged: November, 2022. (AG)" (11/2023)

K&L Notes: I am incredibly excited about the extraordinary quality of this top grower's Champagne. The name might sound familiar, as they are cousins with the négociant Bruno Paillard. But their production is completely separate, and unlike Bruno, all estate-grown. And what an estate they have - 28 acres exclusively in the Montagne de Reims Grand Cru top village of Bouzy. There they exclusively cultivate their own selection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - they do not have a single clone on the estate. Although labeled as extra-brut, this is still a rich wine from ripe, south-facing parcels in the Grand Cru of Bouzy. This wine is composed of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay with about 1/3 reserve wines. This wine has such power and presence it deserves a great pairing like lobster, but also has the elegance to enjoy as an aperitif. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer)

Dejah Overby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 31, 2024

The color takes on straw yellow but you can see a hue of pink. The aromas are of red Bartlett pear, caramelized ginger, pink grapefruit, clementine, plum tart and toasted sesame seeds, all expressed in a harmonious way. The mouthfeel is elegant and brimming with substantial minerality, chalk and medium plus acidity. For the price this over achieves in its category and over-exceeds in flavor. Enjoy with lump crab cakes with a drizzle of saffron aioli.

Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 03, 2024

This lower dosage, clean and linear Brut is one of the best that we carry. Green apples, bright cherries and lemon meringue notes on the nose. Granny Smith apple, cherry cream, caramel, and zippy lemon/lime and candied ginger flavors on the palate. Like it's Brut Rose counterpart, there is none of that overly harsh acidity that sometimes pops up with a no dosage Brut. This one is clean AND creamy!

Dulcinea Gonzalez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 15, 2024

Light, bright and golden on the eyes, this delicate champagne displays tight, creamy bubbles with the aroma of fresh, zesty citrus peel. On the mouth, the entry is marked with lively acidity, a hint of toast, wet stone, and green apple. Poised and pretty, this is a super treat and a perfect celebratory cuvée at a well-priced $50 mark. Super recommended!

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2022

Pierre Paillard is one of my favorite Champagne producers. This is a first class producer. The Les Parcelles is lively with exceptional finesse and flavor. It is very dry but not austere because the quality of the fruit used helps make a giving and delicious Champagne with mineral notes and wonderful balance. This is delicious and very enjoyable. Don't wait too long, it sells out quickly because this is a high quality producer.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 13, 2022

Non-vintage Champagne does not get much better than this. The Paillard family makes a statement with this great cuvee and show how very serious that they are about quality. All of the details have been studied and sweated over to make this wine, from planting only massal selected vines, to working towards an organic certification. This is Champagne that has power without losing its drinkability, and richness without sweetness. The Paillard's goal is to create terroir Champagne from the Grand Cru of Bouzy- and they have succeeded. If you are only going to try one new Champagne this year, this should be it!

Thomas Smith | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 28, 2022

One whiff of this exquisite Champagne and my mouth is already watering. I love Champagnes of Pierre Paillard, I honestly can't think of a time they haven't vastly exceeded my expectations. With a rich nose of lemon curd and smoked honey-crisp apple, the pallet follows through with beautiful chalky minerality hints of red fruit and substantive weight. Despite the dosage at extra brut, the full weight of this wine brings it fully into balance. Descriptors don't quite do it justice. There is so much fine detail here, with new aromas and flavors that continue to appear each time I revisit the glass. One of those Champagnes that evokes as much pleasure of contemplation as it does for sheer, delicious enjoyment. For Champagne, this is a total package. Ten out of ten.

2010 Langoa-Barton, St-Julien ($89.99)

95 points Vinous: "The 2010 Langoa-Barton has a very pure and quite intense bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and star anis aromas that are typically Langoa. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, impressive body and grip with a liquorice-tinged, saline finish that maybe just lacks a little flesh and needs more on the aftertaste. (NM)" (04/2020)

94 points Wine Enthusiast: "Fruity and juicy, this showcases the accessibility of this estate, while also highlighting some of the tannic structure of its big brother, Léoville-Barton. There is a classic black-currant note that's balanced by the firm tannins of the vintage. (RV)" (02/2013)

94 points Wine Spectator: "Tightly focused, with a beam of cassis and blackberry fruit framed by integrated espresso and charcoal notes. The ample structure drives the polished finish, allowing extra notes of plum sauce, pastis and blueberry coulis to stride through. Shows serious grip at the very end. (JM)" (03/2013)

94 points Decanter: "Lighter framed than Leoville, and while this is delicious, it is not quite at the level of its sibling. Not that anyone is going to complain, and this will be ready to crack out sooner. Opens up to show bramble berry fruits with confident tannins that provide a frame that is going to hold on tight for a good decade at least. Plenty of St-Julien character. (JA)" (01/2020)

93 points James Suckling: "Blueberry and blackberry aromas with hints of mint. Full body, with fine tannins and a chocolate, vanilla and berry aftertaste. This builds on the palate with fruit and tannins. Extremely polished." (02/2013)

92 points Wine Advocate: "Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Langoa Barton springs from the glass with notes of kirsch, black cherry compote and blueberry pie with touches of dried mint, pencil lead, tar and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and loads of freshness supporting the dense, muscular black and blue fruits, finishing with a minty kick. (LPB)" (05/2020)

Jancis Robinson: "Opulent, rich, expressive, cedar and woodspice. Finely tuned tannins with really appetizing grip. Modern and showy but not excessive. Very well made. 17.5/20 points (RH)" (11/2014)

K&L Notes: K&L's great friend Anthony Barton has headed both Leoville-Barton and Langoa-Barton since 1986, and both are made at the Langoa Chateau. Chateau Langoa-Barton is his 3rd growth St-Julien, and a spectacular performer from its 15 hectares of vineyards planted to 72% of Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% of Merlot, and 8% of Cabernet Franc (these percentages can be different in the final wine each year depending upon the ultimate decision in blending). For 2010, the blend was: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. 93+ points Robert Parker for Wine Advocate (02/2013)

Ryan Moses | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 31, 2024

While many consider Léoville-Barton the flagship of the Barton family, it is Langoa that is the original family estate, dating back over 200 years now. The Léoville side of the property, once holdings of Las Cases, surely makes astonishing wines that we adore, but the wines of Third Growth Langoa have always impressed us year after year for their elegance and classic profile, and this 2010 is certainly one of their greats. Beautiful red and black fruit aromas lead to a palate that speaks beautifully to St-Julien character, currant and cedar, with a pure red fruit note that I find in the Barton wines, year after year. There's a bit of grip still (this is a 2010 after all) but the tannins are fine. Wonderful now in its (almost) fifteenth year, 2010 Langoa will easily cruise through the next decade with character and class.

2021 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape ($99.99)

96 points Decanter: "A deep, quite herbal expression, with liquorice and crushed blueberries to the cassis fruit. Full-bodied, powerfully fruited, dense and deep. Really mouthcoating, intense fruit. The tannins are ripe, fine and plentiful, all saturated in blackberry juice on a long finish. Certainly one of the more successful Châteauneufs this year. Will age well. A Mourvèdre-led expression of Beaucastel - it contains more than usual, at least 35% and probably more. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre. (MW)" (09/2022)

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Including more Mourvèdre than usual (40%), the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as an utterly classic Beaucastel nose of ripe red and blue fruits, spice, game, truffly earth, and ground pepper. Reminding me of the 2012, it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, concentrated md-palate, sweet tannins, and a great finish." (10/2023)

94 points James Suckling: "Still a little closed, so the fruit is a bit reserved, but there are already meaty, lavender and rosemary aromas. Well-structured and crisp, the tannins building steadily as it flows over the palate. The concentrated and ripe red fruit is very deftly wrapped around the core. Long, spicy, and licorice finish. Drink from release. From organically grown grapes." (04/2023)

94 points Wine Advocate: "The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape ratchets up the intensity from the Coudelet, adding more pronounced Mourvèdre-derived notes of truffle and tree bark to go with ripe black cherries and plums, crushed stone and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied in the mouth, with ample concentration and richness, this gently tannic wine finishes long and velvety, with echoes of licorice and dark fruit. It's a standout from a difficult vintage. (JC)" (10/2023)

94 points Wine Spectator: "Toasty, meaty and inviting, this fresh red shows an understated, savory side, with notes of singed spices, mesquite, wet earth and fresh tobacco leaf flanking a silky range of plum and warm cherry compote flavors. Channels its terroir, with a round feel held in check by refined tannins. The finish is lined with cool minerality and heavy iron. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Blanc, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul de Pinet, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. *Collectible* (KB)" (12/2023)

Jancis Robinson: "Cask sample. Very inviting nose, liquorice, dark crushed cassis, leather, strawberry jam earthy dark spice. A supple and ripe palate with good freshness and acidity throughout. Tight and fine, firm tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, thyme and a ripe savoury-tinged finish. Wonderful. (AC)" (09/2022)

Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 09, 2024

The 2021 vintage offers up beautiful aromas of dried berries, potpourri and herbs de Provence. It is silky on the palate and shows the elegance and restraint of the vintage. Since the tannins are not as powerful, most would lean into this as a younger drinking vintage. That beautiful acid structure should still lend this Beaucastel a long and pristine life.

Sutherland Bottled By Thompson Bros. 5 Year Old Limited 2024 Release Blended Highland Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($99.99)

The incredible Dornoch Distillery is easily the most exciting new distillery operation in Scotland today. Run by brothers Phil & Simon Thompson, they understand the desires of true whisky lovers like few other distillers in the region. While their tiny distillery can only produce a handful of barrels a year, they're in the process of building a much more substantial plant and while we wait, they've built an excellent independent bottling operation known as Thompson Bros (Redacted Bros stateside.) This special whisky pays homage to their home region, a gorgeous slice of Scotland known as Sutherland. This windswept county stretches from just north of Tain over the Dornoch Firth to the tip of northwestern Scotland and the North Atlantic Sea. Every drop of malt in this blend is distilled in Sutherland county and there are only three distillers in the area - Dornoch, Clynelish, and Brora. With a rough breakdown of 1/3, 2/3 and 1%, all three are represented within this bottle. This is the first product commercially available featuring Dornoch's delicious own distillate yet to be released in the US. Widely sought-after in markets across the world and available exclusively at K&L. This release has completely sold out in other markets in a matter of minutes and the US pre-arrival is priced 20-30% below what it commanded in the UK.