Our Top 10 Picks for September

Maison Laudacius "Laudacius" Brut Nature Montlouis Methode Traditionnnelle ($17.99)

97 points Decanter: "Pure and precise with a fine bead and great balance. Classic Chenin pear and apple aromatics with a streak of lemon. Vibrantly textured with a lemony freshness and a hint of toast on the finish. (DWWA 2022)" (06/2022)

K&L Notes: Maison Laudacius is an association of farmers working in the small region of Montlouis-sur-Loire. Founded in 1961 it is made up of 18 of these growers, all farming sustainably across the three villages that make up the Montlouis appellation. The soils are primarily clay-silica over the famed Turonian chalk that makes up this part of the Loire. All practices are certified by Terra Vitis, an organization that recognizes sustainable practices. The Laudacius is made from 100% Chenin Blanc using the traditional method of secondary bottle fermentation. It ages for a minimum of 12 months on the lees before disgorgment and no dosage is added making this bone dry. There are also no added sulfites during the entire process. The wine has a light golden hue showing flavors of dried apple, pear, grilled bread and spice.

Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 06, 2024

The Laudacius came across my desk a few months ago. I love good sparkling Chenin Blanc and the dryer the better. Montlouis lies just across the Loire River from Vouvray, the more esteemed area, but there are many outstanding wines coming from this slightly more obscure region. The "Laudacius" is dry but not austere. The aromas of roasted apples, pear nectar and fresh baked biscuits emerge from the glass. I was so excited when I tried the wine, I had to pull in a half dozen of my colleagues to make sure I was not reading too much into it. They all agreed, this was a startlingly good bubbles! And when we factored in the pricing, it leveled-up to becoming one of the biggest no-brainers in our Direct Import program.

2022 Division "Un" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $30) $19.95

92 points James Suckling: " Tart red fruit on the nose with ripe strawberries and cherries. Medium- to full-bodied with firm tannins and outstanding balance. The palate displays dusty red fruit with dried flowers and mineral notes on the finish." (03/2024)

92 points Vinous: "The 2022 Pinot Noir Un is remarkably pretty, with a lifted blend of dusty rose and violet pastille accentuating dried strawberries. This model of purity is lifted and refined with crisp red and blue fruits swirling across a stream of brisk acidity. The 2022 leaves a coating of fine-grained tannins and a tart wild berry concentration, tapering off structured and remarkably fresh. (EG)" (01/2024)

92 points Wine Enthusiast: "Always one of Oregon's great Pinot Noir values, this latest "Un" packs a bit more body and tannic structure than usual. Don't worry, that signature snappy acidity hasn't gone anywhere. Look for aromas and flavors of tart raspberry, cherry, salty beach driftwwod, anise and black tea. (MA)" (03/2024)

Alexandre Tweedie | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 14, 2024

The pure, rocky, volcanic soils of Willamette Valley are front and center with this lovely bottling of Pinot Noir - Opening notes of lifted, juicy summer fruits - like freshly pressed & squeezed bramble juices with cherry jubilee drizzled on top - fruit forward but not heavy or underbalanced, the rocky terroir shines through this fresh fruit with great little dashes of dry spice with generously herbal + rocky corners, heartily compliment the deep fruit lining this wine. Balanced, delicious, completely ready today!

Ryan Moses | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 13, 2024

Aromas of cinnamon, cranberry, and hints of garrigue hit that wonderful balance of old world character with new world flair. On the palate, it plays out with elegance - fine tannin, cherry juice, raspberry, and a lingering white pepper spice. Acidity carries the textured, savory, and fruit-filled finish. Deftly crafted, it is a lot of wine for our current one-time price. For those looking for a village-level Red Burg ringer, this isn't far off. But what I really adore is seeing how it expresses Willamette with such clarity and precision. Either way, it's a superb value in restrained and mineral driven Pinot that will find a lot of fans.

2022 Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis "Sainte Claire Vieilles Vignes" ($26.99)

94 points Decanter: "Restrained on the nose, with a brooding, savoury character on the palate. Initially a bit more subdued than the 'straight' Chablis Sainte Claire, this has the potential for future development given the concentration on show; certainly pushing premier cru quality, if not even higher. Julien Brocard explains that the vines here age up to 75 years, reaching down 25m into the soil. (AH)" (10/2023)

91 points Vinous: "The 2022 Chablis Vieilles Vignes de Sainte Claire has a more backward, less articulate nose than the regular cuvée at this time. The palate has a pleasing lick of salinity on the entry. With fine depth, this linear and taut Chablis will appeal to those seeking a more classic style in this warmer vintage. Excellent. (NM)" (07/2023)

Burghound: "Moderate reduction overshadows the fruit so a quick aeration should be beneficial if you're going to open a bottle young. Otherwise the old vines are in evidence as there is both solid density and richness to the medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive mouthfeel, all wrapped in a lingering finale. While this could also be enjoyed young, it could use better depth so a few years of keeping should prove helpful. Worth checking out provided you intend to cellar it over the next 2 to 4 years. *Outstanding, Top Value*" (10/2023)

2022 Domaine Jean-Michel Giboulot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru "Aux Fournaux" ($39.99)

From K&L On the Trail blog: "Jean-Michel Giboulot took over the family business in 1982 and has put together one of the best bang-for-your-buck portfolios in all of Burgundy over the last three-plus decades. His wines from Burgundy's Savigny-lès-Beaune appellation are known as great values, and both the reds and whites are equally strong. Giboulot's wines straddle the line between traditional and modern, with reds that have crunchier fruit and fine tannins, but plenty of ripeness and purity. The whites are done in a feminine style with rounder fruit and a certain elegance that lingers long on the palate. His domaine holdings outside of Savigny are some of the best in the region with eastern exposures that allow for full ripeness and plumpness of flavor."

2015 Castellucci Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $200) $49.95

The Castelluci family farms 50 acres of pristine vineyards across Napa Valley, and their boutique wines are stunning. Made by winemaker Jac Cole, who's crafted standout Cabs at well-known estates like Spring Mountain Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and S. Anderson, this is a bold and powerful mountain Cabernet that is singing now after extra time in the cellar.

Alexandre Tweedie | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 28, 2024

Its not often that you run into pristinely aged, gorgeously mature Napa Cabernet like the wines weve recently acquired from Castellucci Winery - presented to us as a vertical of 2012 through 2015 vintage, with two unique bottlings of Spring Mountain and Rutherford designated AVAs. The final wine in this vertical is the Castellucci 2015 Spring Mountain Cabernet- landing between the herbs and savor of the 2012s with the rich ripeness of the 2014s, 2015 Spring Mountain is a bit of a goldilocks between both years. Opening youthful scents of a Mediterranean herb shop, with a lifted and lingering spice of Oregano in the oven. Herbal smoke, coffee bean roastery haze, and even more of the gorgeous Castellucci Leather shine through the nose, gliding greatly to the palate with pure blackberry fruit, hyper-polished tannin provide a little punch and sense of freshness to the richly laden fruit. Still feeling very fresh and incredibly lively, this bottling from 2015 could even benefit from a few extra years in the cellar, but is showing absolutely readily today as well. If youre looking for the best of both worlds between two style-oriented vintages of 12 & 14, reach for the 2015 bottling to find a little more youth, a little extra brightness, and a touch of extra freshness!

2018 La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino ($59.99)

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "The nose begins with a shooting star of sweet candied cherry and vanilla before it burns up and leaves behind a dark, savory sky of coffee, old leather and burnt caramel. The sun rises on the palate, with strawberry and blood orange notes joining the resurgent cherry. Compressed tannins and vigorous acidity provide structure. (DC)" (12/2023)

93 points Wine Spectator: "A juicy style for the vintage, boasting cherry, raspberry, floral, graphite and spice flavors. Balanced and lively, with bright acidity and refined tannins for support. Shows fine length. (BS)" (06/2023)

93 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino is attractively layered with spiced red plum, balsamic, and sweet cedar. Seamless and approachable, it is medium bodied, with a soft mineral texture and super-fine tannins. Fresh red cherry, orange rind, and delicate salty earth intertwine and find fantastic balance throughout. It is a beautiful wine to enjoy over the next 10-15 years. (AF) 93+" (03/2023)

Louis Roederer "Collection 244" Brut Champagne ($59.99)

94 points Jasper Morris: "Even though 2019 follows the modern trend for warm, ripe vintages, harvesting was a couple of weeks later than in 2018, translating into superior phenolic presence. An aromatic bouquet of flowery-acacia hints at the higher Meunier. The structure is firmer than the 2018 base; the pear-like fruit is streaked with dazzling acidity. With a bit of coaxing, the ubiquitous tangerine aroma (citrus with an added saline condiment) emerges with time in the glass (as the perpetual reserve makes itself known). A faint umami savouriness haunts the finish, an aroma that appears to be the signature of early-release 2019-based champagnes. This edition will take a year or so in bottle to relax, eschew the phenolic bitterness of recent disgorgement, and build fruit. Statistics: 41% Chardonnay, 26% Meunier, and 33% Pinot Noir. 54% 2019 vintage (5% vinified in oak), 36% Perpetual Reserve (2012-2018), and 10% Reserve wines (2009-2018, aged in oak). Disgorged in spring 2023 with a dosage of 7g/l. Drink from 2025-2032." (04/2024)

94 points James Suckling: "The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay of mirabelle, grapefruit and lychee fruit with minty freshness and waxiness from lees contact. And all this is welded to a beautifully proportioned palate with plenty of structure, the acidity bright and the mousse animating. Very salty finish that pulls you back for more." (07/2023)

93+ points Wine Advocate: "Based on the 2019 vintage, Roederer's NV Brut Collection 244 is the finest release of the house's reimagined non-vintage Brut to date. Offering up aromas of pear, peach and nectarine mingled with notions of white flowers, beeswax, freshly baked bread and buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with a pretty pinpoint mousse, racy acids and a long, chalky finish. The quality of the base vintage really shines through. (WK) 93+" (12/2023)

K&L Notes: The Collection 244 shows off the incredible quality of the 2019 vintage that makes up 54% of the blend. It also includes 36% of the ambitious perpetual blend that Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, Frédéric's cellarmaster adds to each year; in this blend it has 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 in it. The last 10% of the wine comes from back vintages in wood from the young vines on the Cristal estate. The champagne is meant to reflect the terroir of the whole region, and is a blend of 1/3 each of the Côte des Blancs, the Mountain of Reims and the Valley of the Marne. The final composition of the wine is 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 26% Meunier and the dosage is very low at just 7 grams per liter. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne buyer)

2000 Camensac, Haut-Médoc ($64.99)

Jancis Robinson: "Really very good indeed. Deep crimson. Meaty and savoury with just a hint of that velvety texture that so many 1990s exhibit. Quite a high tannin content but these are ripe, well-masked tannins. 17.5/20 points (JR)" (10/2003)

Wine Advocate: "A sleeper of the vintage, with a characteristic not dissimilar from a good St.-Julien, the medium-bodied 2000 offers up scents of vanilla intermixed with black currant and licorice. With moderately high tannin, excellent depth, purity, and overall harmony, it is certainly capable of considerable longevity. (RP)" (04/2003)

K&L Notes: The vineyards of Château Camensac are in the commune of St-Laurent-Médoc, just beyond the boundary of the St-Julien-Beychevelle appellation. As such it is entitled to only the Haut-Médoc appellation for its wines. The estate's 65 hectares of vines (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot) are planted at a dense 10,000 vines per hectare and have an average age of 35 years. The estate limits yields to 45 hectoliters per hectare and grapes are picked and sorted by hand.

Clyde Beffa Jr. | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 03, 2022

Twenty two years have been kind to this wine. When young it was tight and tannic. Now it is sweet and lovely with a bit of that 2000 power in it. Sweet core of red frits dominates the wine--prime rib perfect with this.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 20, 2022

Cinnamon and I had this with a Denver cut steak, and it was magnificent! The wine still has a dark purple color, and after 45 minutes in the decanter the bouquet was generous and full of the old school tobacco and earth that I love so much in aged Bordeaux. In the mouth, this 2000 still has plenty of dark cassis fruit and a great silky texture from resolved tannin. My wife said that this wine has an extra element that we dont often get with our Friday night claret, and I agreed. This wine not only still has the cut for a rich steak, but it also has the poised terre graveleuse of a classified growth. The finish is still bright and fresh, as well as long and complex. It is a great value in great vintage classified growth Bordeaux at the price. Dont miss it while it is still around!

Laphroaig 10 Year "Càirdeas Bottled 2024" Triple Wood & PX Aged Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($104.99)

The 2024 Càirdeas limited edition release is a 10-year-old Laphroaig with a bold combination of flavours from the casks of two popular previous releases: 2019’s Triple Wood and 2021’s PX Cask. Bottled at a fixed strength of 52.4% ABV for a memorable character to share with Friends. Tasting notes from the distillery, "Colour Dark, rich copper in colour Aroma of Laphroaig Scotch Whisky Nose: Brazil nut toffee brittle, with sweet vanilla custard notes and baking spice, followed by milk chocolate covered raisins and a suggestion of spiced orange. Palate. Rich, sweet and oily on the palate, with notes of smoked orange toffee, stewed peaches and smouldering campfire. Dried fruit notes balanced with hints of coffee grounds and liquorice root for a long lasting and slightly herbal finish. Finish Long, slightly sweet and dry with a long, slightly peppery peat-rich smoky finish."

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 02, 2024

Bottled to commemorate 30 years of Friends of Laphroaig, this is the first Cairdeas I can remember caring and aged statement and they've done aware with the iconic tube in favor of a smart looking cardboard box. Every year the Cairdeas comes out and the real heads jump on it immediately, but the rest of the Laphroaig guys sit back to see what style we'll end up with. I can unequivocally say that this one is for all the lovers of dark oaky wine-y Laphroaig. If you loved the 2021 PX release and always wondered what an older version with a healthy dollop of ex-bourbon American oak might feel like, you've finally arrived. Let's taste it! Holy DARK Laphroaig! This is teetering on 1.6/1.7 (mahogany/burn umber). The nose is absolutely massive powerful dried fruit, exotic wood (sandalwood and teak), the finest Cuban cigars, roasting herbs, licorice root, hints of eucalyptus and camphor. The peat here is truly the frame and doesn't push through on the nose like most laphroaigs, but is integrated nicely behind sweet ultra dense fruit, powerful wood aromas, and savory herbs and meats. On the palate though the singular dense kernel of peat stays smoldering on the center of the palate while the rest of the whisky expands into a bevy of wild flavors -0ld leather, whole mace, flinty cracked stones, dried leaves, more exotic woods dominated by candlewood. It's all at once extremely intense and very drinkable. Adding water somehow heightens the spice, but softens the w

Michael Pires | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 10, 2024

Laphroaig's Cairdeas releases are always special, and this one is spectacular! For those looking for a more complex and rounded version of Laphroag 10 cask strength, then this is for you. Laphroaig's classic flavor profile is still front and center, but the peat smoke is slightly muted than what is typically perceived. What makes this whisky stand out from other Laphroaig releases is the rich notes of aged pipe tobacco, dark fruit, and wet stone. Well worth grabbing a bottle while you can. These will not last long.

2009 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien ($119.99)

96 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2009 Branaire-Ducru is another killer wine from this vintage thats drinking spectacularly well at age 10. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its still ruby/purple color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedar box, and even a hint of forest floor. Full-bodied, broad, expansive, and layered on the palate, it builds nicely with time in the glass, has sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a blockbuster finish. Bravo!" (06/2019)

96 points Wine Advocate: "Haut couture becomes a wine! This dense purple wine has the tell-tale notes of flowers and pencil shavings, and its broad aromatics are intense and totally captivating. (RP)" (02/2012)

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "Very supple wine, with great richness and density. It is all so complete, a pleasure, powerful yet also with sweet opulent fruits layered with dark tannins. For long-term aging. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (02/2012)