Producer, producer, producer. In the ever-changing landscape of wine, it has become increasingly confusing for new collectors to find the right producers to invest in. With countless wineries to choose from across the globe, this challenge has become one of the more daunting aspects of wine collecting—but our extremely experienced team of wine buyers can help take the guesswork out of collecting wine. Whether you are collecting for investment or for decades of enjoyment ahead, there are certain tried-and-true benchmark producers that are always the wisest of bets for your wine cellar. I’m pleased to share a few thoughts on some of my personal favorite producers, all of whom I hold in the highest regard. These are among the finest in their regions and provide exceptional value at their level. If you are looking to start a wine collection, you absolutely cannot go wrong if you start with wines from any of these estates.

Krug

Photo thanks to K&L Champagne Buyer Gary Westby and to his wife, Cinnamon, for another epic feast.

K&L has championed Krug for many years now—and for good reason. They simply make one of the finest bottles of Champagne that money can buy. The emblematic Grande Cuvée bottling has long been a staple in the cellar of the of the wisest collectors, and, upon tasting, you will see why. The incredibly complex Grande Cuvée is also composed of at least 120 different wines coming from a minimum of 10 different vintages, and the result is a breathtaking Champagne experience that must be tasted to be understood. We currently have both the 170ème & 171ème editions in-stock, and while each having their unique character, both are equally divine on the palate.

Krug "Grande Cuvée" 170ème Édition Brut Champagne $259.99 96DC 96JS 96WE 95JD 95JG 95WA 95WS

Krug "Grande Cuvée" 171ème Édition Brut Champagne $259.99 99JS 97WE 96JG 96JS

Dönnhoff

When it comes to Riesling, there are few producers that can truly compare to Dönnhoff. Led by Cornelius Dönnhoff—who has decades of experience both under his famed father’s tutelage and at the helm—the family estate has flourished. With unmatched holdings in nine Grosse Lagen (Grand Cru) vineyards in Germany’s Nahe region, the family presents us with a bounty of delectable selections from the humblest bottlings to the treasured Grosses Gewächs at each new vintage. Hailing from what is quite possibly their finest vineyard holding, we are lucky to have plentiful stock of the 2022 Donnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese Nahe $59.99 98JS 95VN, which is a truly world class expression of the noble grape, with decades of life ahead in a cold cellar.

Mayacamas Vineyards

Photo thanks to K&L Domestic Buyer Ryan Woodhouse on last year’s staff visit to the famed Mayacamas estate in Napa Valley.

Built in 1889, the winery at Mayacamas Vineyards, which is still in use today, stands as not only a memory of Napa’s treasured past, but as the birthplace of some of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon ever made. Though it has changed hands a number of times, the famed mountain estate perched high up on the remains of a volcanic crater was first thrust into greatness by the immortal Bob Travers, who purchased the property in 1968 and crafted over 45 vintages in his traditional and uncompromisingly built-for-the-cellar style. Standing on the shoulders of Travers’ legacy, the wines under the current regime continue the estate’s stunning track record, still providing one of the finest values in Cabernet around the globe.

2019 Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon $184.95 97VN 96WS

Domaine Jamet

Iconic is the perfect word to describe Domaine Jamet. Along with Chave and E. Guigal, Domaine Jamet has been responsible for many of the greatest Syrahs the world has ever seen. Based in the prestigious region of Côte-Rôtie, Jean-Paul, Corinne, and Loïc Jamet, through unparalleled effort in the vineyard and cellar, have widely become known for making some of the best wines in France for some time now.

The core Côte-Rôtie is a staple collectible that is fabulous in every vintage, and any well-stocked cellar of the world’s greatest reds is not complete without this cherished wine. And for those with the means, Jamet’s absurdly rare single-vineyard "Côte-Brune" Côte-Rôtie is a true unicorn wine—we are elated to currently have this in stock.

2020 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie $229.99 97DC 97VN 95-97JD

2020 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie (1.5L) $469.99 97DC 97VN 95-97JD

2020 Domaine Jamet "Côte-Brune" Côte-Rôtie $799.99 98-100WA 99DC 98VN 96-98JD

- John Christensen, K&L Key Account Specialist