Welcome to the Discovery Series
The K&L Discovery Series is a curated collection of wines selected by our expert buying team to spotlight what we believe are the hidden gems, overlooked vintages, and exceptional expressions worth discovering in today’s wine world. The aim of this new collection is to showcase wines that are both quintessential and exemplary representations of their region and/or vintage— and are brought to life through labels designed to educate and inspire discovery. Each bottle in the series is the product of K&L’s 49 years of deep, trusted relationships with wineries and growers, crafted in collaboration with partners we know and respect. Each wine in this series must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup.
2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol $24.99
The debut label of our Discovery Series has arrived. At the core of this program is a mission to showcase wines of impeccable quality, unmistakable regional typicité, and exceptional value. As I often say, we’re not just placing a label on someone’s latest release—we’re curating standout selections from our deep, trusted network of sources. Each wine must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup. 2005 Bordeaux is more elusive by the day, now that it has hit its twentieth anniversary. Well, for a dollar per year, you can experience a brilliant example of this famed vintage, only with K&L's Discovery Series. The boldness of the vintage is apparent, but there's a softer, mature edge to this rendition that will thrill classic claret fans and those looking for a bit more of an aromatic and earthy expression, while the abundant fruit of the '05 vintage takes center stage. There's good structure here too—I find myself thinking of food pairings immediately when tasting this wine. This bottling was created not only as a great value and an exemplary version of St-Emilion, but one that puts the growing season center stage. And what a season it was, as the 2005s have become some of the region's greats over the years. Now that we finally have it in bottle and on our shelves, I couldn't be more excited with how our 2005 bottling turned out. It is examples like these, wines you'll find nowhere else, at simply stunning prices, that are at the heart of our Discovery Series.
The 2019 Vintage in Bordeaux
Read our report from the trail on 2019 Bordeaux
The 2019 vintage in Bordeaux is widely regarded as a modern classic, offering a balance of power, freshness, and precision—and it was especially successful in Pomerol. The growing season saw a warm, dry summer with well-timed rain in late July and mid-August that relieved vine stress and helped complete ripening, followed by a sunny, dry September that allowed for a leisurely and optimal harvest. In Pomerol, where Merlot dominates, the wines are plush yet focused, showing deep, ripe black fruit, velvety tannins, and vibrant acidity, with floral and mineral nuances that reflect the appellation’s famed clay and gravel terroirs. Top estates like Château Lafleur, Château Pétrus, and Vieux Château Certan produced outstanding wines that combine the richness of a warm year with the finesse and structure of a cooler one. Across Bordeaux, both Left and Right Bank appellations performed well, but the Right Bank—especially Pomerol and parts of St-Émilion—stood out for their consistency and charm. The 2019s have excellent aging potential (20–30+ years for top wines) and are praised by critics for their precision, purity, and expression of terroir, often rivaling or even surpassing the highly regarded 2016s.
Pomerol
Pomerol, one of Bordeaux’s most esteemed yet smallest appellations, holds a unique and almost mythical status among wine lovers for its luxurious, Merlot-dominated wines. Unlike other Bordeaux regions, Pomerol has no official classification system, yet its top estates—such as Château Pétrus, Le Pin, Vieux Château Certan, and Château Lafleur—routinely produce some of the most coveted and expensive wines in the world. The region’s distinctive blue clay soils, particularly in the central plateau, are ideal for Merlot, allowing it to achieve remarkable depth, silkiness, and aromatic complexity. Pomerol wines are known for their opulent texture, deep plum and black cherry fruit, hints of truffle, chocolate, and spice, and a plushness that makes them seductive even when young, though the best examples age gracefully for decades. The combination of scarcity, consistent excellence, and immediate appeal makes Pomerol one of the most prized and collectible regions in Bordeaux.