World-Class Tuscan Wines - Exclusive K&L Pricing

2020 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Elsewhere $30) ($17.99)

Orazio Campoli | K&L Italian Wine Buyer

This wine comes from one of the benchmark estates in Montepulciano, a pioneer of biodynamic farming with a reputation for producing elegant, pure, and age-worthy Sangiovese. For this bottling, we were able to secure a few barrels from the generous 2020 vintage. The nose is a stunning expression of Prugnolo Gentile: ripe red cherry, plum, and violet, with the sweet spice and vibrant energy that is a hallmark of this iconic producer. The palate is polished and seamless, with silky tannins and a long, mineral-driven finish. Its a sophisticated and deeply authentic Vino Nobile.

Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 08, 2025

This gem was quite the singular surprise! A thoroughly pleasant treat that has both brightness and depth. Red fruits dominate both the nose and the palate with some very nice barrel spice and an upper palate hint of minerals. The mid-palate tannins are soft, and this is where darker red fruits (cherry) come forth. The finish is on the cleaner side with the barest hint of minerals. It is also a crazy good value. It tastes far more expensive than it is. A real delightful bottling!

Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 07, 2025

I really enjoy when I give a wine a really nice and deep first sniff and it just comes across as super friendly, like when you meet someone and get a good vibe off of them. Not to ruin the rest of the review, but that's how this wine came across, and unlike some people who tried to steal my social security card, it's actually super friendly and not just pretending. The nose has some touches of florality around the edges, but the core is still juicy bright red fruit with a little bit of barrel spice and cedar on the finish. The palate is just juicy and delicious with moderate tannins and a really nice line of acidity pushing through the whole thing. This is just such a perfect mid-week wine when you want something that's going to scratch the quality itch while not scratching too deep a groove into your wallet. Highly recommended.

John Downing | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 29, 2025

In recent years Vino Nobile has often taken a back seat to Chianti. It's not only lesser known but also has tended to be a bit pricier than Chianti on average. As it's produced from grapes cultivated along the hillsides of the town of Montepulciano, it's often mistaken for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo which is made from another grape varietal and hails from a completely different zone outside of Tuscany. This is a classic expression of Vino Nobile and the ideal introduction to this uniquely Tuscan wine. Soft, juicy and packed with delicious red fruit flavors, this very affordable red drinks nicely now.

Matthew Landau Hassan | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 28, 2025

This Vino Nobile shows a balance of rustic charm and Tuscan elegance. Aromas of sour cherry, dried herbs, and leather mingle with hints of earth and spice. On the palate, it leans medium-bodied with bright red fruit, lively acidity, and firm but approachable tannins. The finish is savory, with notes of tobacco and dried flowers that linger pleasantly. A classic example of Sangiovese from Montepulciano—versatile with food and offering great value for a traditional Tuscan red.

Kerry Kirkham | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2025

Composed of approximately 83% Sangiovese, 14% Merlot, and 3% Canaiolothe first sip of our 2020 Discovery Series Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano transports me to Montepulciano in late autumn—wild boar (cinghiale) root through fallen leaves for acorns—dreamy sous bois. Black currant as soft as cashmere dances with sweet pipe tobacco. Blood orange and comforting hints of baking spices linger on the finish. This is a big YES for me, even at its full $30 price tag.

Kirk Walker | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2025

The aromatics of this wine have a dynamic push/pull between just-ripe and perfectly ripe red fruits and berries with those classic earthy underbrush (sottobosco) tones that I love to find in Tuscany. The wine is rich and nicely textured. There is a fullness here without any of the edges that can accompany Sangiovese. Vibrant red berries and fruits, with leather, more of that sottobosco, and an intriguing minerality that speaks to the region. It finishes long, with a right mix of fruit and savory elements. This wine caught me off guard! It delivers a beautiful expression of Sangiovese without any of those classic edges that can be a challenge for people who cut their wine-teeth on Cabernet. This will be Autumn's Intro to Sangiovese wine for me in the shop.

Lacie Schwarz | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 16, 2025

Beautiful rustic red-fruit notes of dried cranberry and tart cherry in the foreground. The background brings leather and pepper spice with earthy notes of truffle and dried herbs. The silky texture and integrated tannin make this wine incredibly drinkable now. The acidity, though on the high-side, is not searing, so this wine works as a perfect solo-sipper or could easily pair with something like spaghetti or pizza.

K&L Notes: Long before its neighbors became famous, Vino Nobile was the toast of popes and presidents, the original "noble wine" of Tuscany. For our Discovery Series, we sought a bottle that lives up to that history—a wine of true Tuscan nobility. We looked for an expression that delivers the classic dusty red fruit and sandalwood notes that define this historic appellation. This is a wine of elegance, structure, and incredible value.

2022 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Super Tuscan (Elsewhere $110) ($39.99)

Orazio Campoli | K&L Italian Wine Buyer

I’ve long admired a particular estate in the heart of Bolgheri, renowned for its powerful and structured Bordeaux blends. In the hot 2022 vintage, their meticulous vineyard work yielded fruit of remarkable concentration and balance. We collaborated with them to craft this special cuvée, which carries all the hallmarks of a top-tier Bolgheri red. It’s rich with notes of blackcurrant, cassis, cedar, and Mediterranean herbs. The palate is full-bodied and intense, with powerful yet polished tannins and a freshness that defies the vintage. A true taste of Bolgheri’s “magic mile” at a fraction of the price.

Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 08, 2025

This full and lush Super Tuscan is stiff competition for the best Cabernet Sauvignon blends that California has to offer. It is quite dark in colour and fragrant with rich red/black fruits. Blackberry, boysenberry, a nice bit of red cassis. There is a counterbalance of dusty tannin, rosemary and cedar. The finish is very dry (and bright!), and it lingers for quite a while. Though immediately enjoyable, it will be interesting to see where it goes in the future. It is so darn good now, that keeping it in the cellar for a bit will probably prove difficult!

Kerry Kirkham | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 08, 2025

This is a sumptuous mouthful of wine for the price. Our 2022 Discovery Series Italy Super Tuscan is tall, dark, and handsome—black currant, blackberries, black plum—a real Casanova. A lush, plush mouthfeel brings notions of dried herbs and graphite. This is a wine to build a dinner around—steak, roasted pork, or venison would be natural pairings. For those who don't cookbreak out the sharp cheddar, aged dry cheese, prosciutto, Marcona almonds, and even dark chocolate for a pleasurable evening of indulgence.

Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 07, 2025

The nose has some of that creamy cassis, a mingling black cherry, some dried green herbs, and a good amount of toasty barrel spice. The palate is deep and a bit chewy, very dark fruited with a little bit of dustiness on it all, black cherry, pomegranate, and underripe blackberry lead into the lingering barrel finish. This is a really nice bottle of wine, something that anyone who likes a Bordeaux style blend, with a good amount of power and depth, but also a good amount of structure. There's a firm grip of tannin, but also a nice line of acidity through everything helping it all work together even better. Despite the youth, it's very approachable as long as you don't mind a little bit of tannin, which could easily be alleviated and worked with, just get a really nice richer steak and a fat potato and just go crazy. Mushroom ragout on buttery mashed potatoes if you're not a meat enjoyer.

John Downing | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 29, 2025

This is a truly impressive Cabernet based blend from Italy's Bolgheri region. Here the soils and Mediterranean climate create the ideal conditions to grow a wide range of varietals (including Cabernet and Sangiovese). I was surprised by the balance and overall depth of this wine. It's packed with concentrated black fruit, a fine tannic frame and a lengthy finish. Seamless! It's a uniquely Tuscan expression of Bordeaux varietals that's not to be missed.

Kirk Walker | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 18, 2025

Now this is a super Tuscan. I do not know what the exact blend is, but it is obvious that it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. It is also obvious that this wine is Tuscan. There is that sottobosco, and a Mediterranean Coastal scrub, this is not Bordeaux, this is not Napa, this is Tuscany! The nose is dark, rich, and intense. Cassis, Black Cherry, plums, and blackberries. The fruit is framed by restrained oak, there is just a hint of spice, all interwoven with those Tuscan notes. I would assume that this is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, but what shines for me on the palate is the Cabernet Franc. There is a depth and texture to this wine that speaks to the presence of the varietal. The way that this wine tastes and feels, you can tell that the inspiration was great Bordeaux. The fruit is vibrant; it shades a little more towards red fruits on the palate. You can feel the oak, but it is not intrusive, and there is a good amount of fine tannins. This is a substantial wine, but there is a liveliness to it. The fruit pops, then the flavors transition towards the oak and then to the earth, and the finish settles into a fine minerality that I associate with the limestone soils of Tuscany. I think that this wine definitely lives up to the super in Super Tuscan. Drink now or stash this for a few years.

Lacie Schwarz | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 16, 2025

This Super-Tuscan lets all three of the grapes in this blend sing. The Cabernet Sauvignon, making up the majority of this wine brings dark, black fruits of blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Petit Verdot gives a punch of dried violet and plummy purple fruits. The Cabernet Franc gives way to dust, white pepper and ripe pyrazines. The palate brings some intense structure - rich, but integrated tannin and powerful acidity. This wine could pair with a rare ribeye if the intention is drinking now but will absolutely benefit from some time in the cellar.

K&L Notes: Born from a spirit of rebellion, the "Super Tuscan" represents a pivotal moment in Italian wine. For our Discovery Series, we traveled to Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast—the epicenter of this movement—to find a wine that captures the polish and power of a world-class Bordeaux blend, but with an unmistakable Italian soul. This is a wine that punches well above its tier, delivering the depth and complexity that made this region famous.

2019 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere $110) ($59.99)

Orazio Campoli | K&L Italian Wine Buyer

The legendary 2019 vintage demanded a truly special Brunello for our series. I found it on the warmer, southern slopes of Montalcino, from a family estate renowned for its powerful, savory, and terroir-driven wines. This is a classic expression of the Castelnuovo dell'Abate subzone: deep aromas of black cherry, licorice, and balsamic herbs dominate the nose. The palate is structured and full-bodied, with firm, noble tannins and a long, savory finish that speaks to its warm terroir. This is a powerful, old-school Brunello built for the cellar, from a producer who truly captures the soul of southern Montalcino.

Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 08, 2025

This is the second wine that I tasted from our Discovery Series Italian selections. Like the first one, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, it combines excellent quality with a very affordable price. The nice thing about this particular release is that it quite supple and drinkable so early on. Dark and ripe cherry fruit dominate throughout, with very clean oak, dried orange peel and warm savory herbs. There is a very nice clean and brightish finish with a lightly salted tanginess. Mellow enough to drink now but, it should also age very well for years to come. This is a bottling that should appeal to many different kinds of Brunello enthusiasts.

Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 07, 2025

Having had most of the day to open up, there's just so much on the nose, it's so open and giving right now. Tons of cherries both black and sweet red, plum skin, a little hint of tomato leaf, and lots of barrel roundness on the nose. The palate is bursting with fruit on the front with really bright cranberry, pie cherry, and raspberry, before getting a little bit of saline olive savoriness on the midpalate and then just the lightest little touch of rose oil on the very finish, mingling with the firm grip of tannin. This is delicious and absolutely comparable to bottles half again as expensive without batting an eye, not only that but this is a more approachable style of Brunello, something that with a vigorous decant would be ready for dinner tonight.

John Downing | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 30, 2025

One of the hallmarks of our Italian Discovery series is the authenticity of the wines and their unmistakable character. Each is a true representation of their zone and this Brunello is no exception. It captures the essence of Sangiovese from a warmer section of Montalcino and offers both immediate pleasure and aging potential. Whether you already love Brunello and are looking for an excellent offering or are unfamiliar and interested in exploring the category, look no further.

Matthew Landau Hassan | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 26, 2025

This Brunello is rich and structured, with dark cherry and plum notes layered with dried herbs and a touch of spice. The tannins are firm but smooth, balanced by bright acidity that keeps the wine lively. The subtle earthiness and hint of leather add depth without being heavy. This Brunello is drinking well now with some air, but it has the structure to age beautifully.

Kerry Kirkham | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2025

Our 2019 Discovery Series Italy Brunello Di Montalcino charms and delights with juicy Marsca cherry, dark plum, luxurious cordovan leather, dried lavender, and a dried earth finish. It's ready to drink now, ideally with dinner or a charcuterie board with Parmigiano Reggiano, pecorino, Prosciutto di Parma, coppa, or spicy soppressata—dress a little nicer for this one—it deserves it.

Kirk Walker | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 17, 2025

This is the perfect Brunello for the Italian Discovery Series. It doesn't hurt that it is from the epic 2019 vintage. The nose demands your attention. It is deep and broad with many layers of mixed fruits, spice, earth, and wild herbs. With every sniff some new aroma jumps to the foreground. It is a wine that you just want to spend time with and see where it wants to go. It is full-bodied with that classic linear structure of the region. The tannins are polished and present. The acid brings just enough tension and pulls all of the layered flavors across the long mineral finish. With a little time, the wine opens and deepens, it takes on even more intensity with darker fruits, more sottobosco, more leather, and earth. Intense, long, and intriguing, this is everything that you can want from a Brunello!

K&L Notes: There are hundreds of Brunello di Montalcino wines. Our Italian buyer, Orazio Campoli, tastes them every year. He’s not just looking for quality—that’s a given. He’s hunting for something elusive: a wine that possesses the soul of the place it comes from. This is the bottle he found. It’s not the loudest or the most obvious. It’s the one that speaks with the clearest voice. This is our Discovery Series Brunello.