After traveling around the world and talking to one producer after another, you can tell the difference between a vintage that needs to be explained, and one that speaks for itself. The 2021s in both Sonoma and Napa seem to be the latter.
Read More
Vigneron Rudi des Pins is at the helm of Château de Montfaucon, an estate in Southern Rhône that represents one of the longest-running partners we’ve had in our Direct Import program. Long ago, when directly importing wines was just a twinkle in co-owner Clyde Beffa’s eye, he met Rudi and tasted his wonderful wines; the rest is history. The wines of Montfaucon are fan favorites year after year.
Read More
For many years, Ventoux was associated with thin, lackluster table wines. Yet in recent decades the potential for excellence has been tapped by skilled winemakers, and you now can find some exceptionally good wines from Ventoux on our shelves. The massive slopes of Mont Ventoux, famous for chewing up riders during the Tour de France, dominates the region of vines to the southwest, creating a natural amphitheater that allows for cooler nights and a longer growing season. And no one understands this climate differential more than Sebastien Vincenti, the inspired owner of Domaine de Fondrèche, whose balanced, flavorful range of appreciably affordable wines are stunning stars in our Southern Rhône portfolio.
Read More
In the five years since we added Château Gigognan to our Direct Import portfolio, I’ve watched this estate evolve into a truly impressive producer. When I last visited in 2022, I saw they’d made some exciting physical improvements: they’d added a new barrel-aging facility to augment their concrete fermenters, and they’d put the finishing touches on their new visitor center. Surrounded by the lovely Bois des Moines vineyards, whose fruit goes into their Côtes du Rhône, this is property that showcases the beauty of Provence in full force. But most importantly, its terroir really speaks through its wines.
Read More
Domaine Belle is located in the village of Larnage, just to the north of the famous winemaking cooperative of Tain l’Hermitage, which the original Louis Belle helped to found in 1933. Today, the third generation, Philippe, is at the helm, and his son Guillaume is in the process of learning the ropes. Today, they own 25 hectares covering six communes and three appellations in the Northern Rhône. We added this fantastic family-run estate to our Direct Import portfolio five years ago, and they have quickly become a fan favorite for their deep, soulful wines.
Read More
The wines of Jean-Louis Chave hold a special place atop the Rhône wine hierarchy. With an unbroken winegrowing lineage that dates back to 1481, not many other producers in the region (or even the world) can claim the heritage, the history, or the track record of superb craftsmanship that the Chave brand has evoked for centuries.
Read More
There’s no wine that is more closely aligned to Australia than Barossa Shiraz. And you’ll find it here in every style, shape, and form. From inexpensive, tasty bottles to world-class collectibles, Barossa runs the entire spectrum. And while there are plenty of tourist trap cellar doors, there are also plenty of spectacular, well-run tasting rooms where any serious wine lover would feel at home. The best of these was the Artisans of Barossa.
Read More
Shiraz has long been synonymous with Australian wine. As the most planted variety in the country, it consistently garners a significant share of international awards and accolades. Classic Aussie Shiraz, which reflects Australia's warm climate, is characterized by its intense concentration, deep color, and robust fruit profile. This truly unique wine style has earned its place in the international canon of distinguished wines. But here in the United States, Shiraz has had something of an image problem. Many wine enthusiasts assume Australian Shiraz is poor quality, excessively sweet, and dull–essentially describing Yellowtail. But I'm here to tell you that there is a whole world of Australian Shiraz characterized by extraordinary quality, ageability, and deliciousness, all while staying true to the wine's classic style.
Read More
Rutherglen is a wine and region of its own. For those who are not familiar, Rutherglen is a classic, legacy Australian wine. Since the 19th century, a small group of determined producers has been making this fortified dessert wine in the harsh, continental climate of North Central Victoria. Everything you want in a wine region is here: a unique and distinctive style, generational winemaking, and an honest, incredibly tenacious community of winemakers determined to show the world the beauty that they craft. Take one look at Rutherglen winemaker Steve Chambers’ hands, and they’ll tell you everything you need to know about the fortitude and hands-on work of this incredible wine region.
Read More
The first stop on my wine tour across Victoria was the Yarra Valley, located just an hour outside of Melbourne. The Yarra is a picturesque region where the suburban outskirts of the city give way to rolling green hills dotted with sheep and cattle. Creeks and rivers meander across the landscape, collared by eucalyptus and underbrush. The landscape features a blend of rural communities and opulent country estates with the occasional quaint, main-street towns that serve as centers for the winemaking communities.
Read More
This June, I got to experience the incredible diversity and quality of Australian wine firsthand. Spending two weeks in Australia, I managed to visit with 80 producers across Victoria and South Australia, tasting hundreds of wines and meeting the incredible people who craft them. Many of these producers have all the drive, attention to detail, and raw talent that you’d find anywhere in Burgundy, Napa, or Piedmont. So why does Australian wine make up less than 1% of the wines that we sell here at K&L?
Read More
Terah Bajjalieh of Terah Wine Co. is a queer woman of color who owns and operates one of the coolest natural wine companies in California right now. She has had a long and distinguished career, working 13 consecutive harvests around the world to hone her craft. She first started making wine in a friend’s garage, before starting Terah Wine Co. She only works with organic and biodynamic vineyards and focuses on a minimal intervention winemaking style.
Read More