When it comes to finding the perfect gift, a truly exceptional bottle is often the way to go. While we take great care every day to ensure that everything we bring in meets the highest standards, these are some of the wines I would go to first. Each one is sure to make a memorable impression and offer an experience that will be appreciated by any wine lover.
Read MoreThis week, we’re officially kicking off our Thanksgiving planning. Halloween is in the rearview mirror; Hannukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa are just far enough away that we don’t have to wrap our brains around gifting quite yet… No elves on the shelves, but our rally bird is out in Redwood City—it’s the perfect time to talk turkey.
Read MoreThere is no better way to explore the style and terroir of Champagne than drinking vintage-declared wines. Since Champagne houses only declare a vintage when the season produces fruit of the highest quality, it is truly special to experience a vintage bottling.
Read MoreI think it’s worth mentioning that the magic of the holiday happens during the times that aren’t the meal itself. Wednesday night cocktails when everyone first arrives and catches up, or the chaos of too many cooks in the kitchen on Thursday as everything comes together. These are the moments where wines can come from anywhere—they just need to bring smiles to faces. Here are the wines I would pick for my Thanksgiving—selections that will make any wine enthusiast feel at home, but are also easy to enjoy for anyone just looking to grab a glass.
Read MoreGenerations of wine lovers, K&L employees, and folks all around Bordeaux are better for having Clyde in their lives. Having this kind of impact on the world around us is rare—something we all aspire to, but few can accomplish. As we bid farewell to Clyde, we celebrate not just his achievements but the lasting legacy of friendship and passion he leaves behind. Read more from Clyde here, and join us in raising a glass to one of the legends of Bordeaux.
Read MoreI can safely assume that I speak for everyone at K&L when I say that there’s no proper tribute to encapsulate the magnitude of Clyde’s impact on K&L. Notwithstanding the fact that there would be no K&L without Clyde, there’d also be a much different company. The warmth and friendship that Clyde has brought echoes throughout. He practices what he preaches: we get to sell really cool, rare, aged, allocated, and special wines—but, thanks to Clyde, we’ve gotten to taste those too. Never has there been an event where Clyde is present without some exciting bottle he’d dug up from the cellar. He’s showed us the joy of collecting wine: it’s saving a bottle for the perfect moment, and then sharing it with people who will enjoy it too. In doing so, he brought us together, off of the sales floor and around a table over good food, good drink, good company. That is Clyde’s presence in a nutshell.
Read MoreThe 2023 campaign was particularly fascinating, showcasing a more classic expression than we’ve seen in a long time, along with downward pricing pressure and production that supported broad offerings. It also exists amid several outstanding vintages currently on the market, including the superlative 2019s, the long-term 2020s, and the ripe, resilient 2022s. No other vintage in Bordeaux faces as much competition in terms of quality.
Read MoreOne of our core beliefs that will not change is that you should be able to walk into K&L any day and find a perfectly aged Bordeaux direct wine at a reasonable price. The wines we’re featuring today speak volumes to this, with perfectly mature examples, including an epic 75-year-old Cantemerle with ideal provenance.
Read MoreThis curated set highlights some brilliant wines from recent vintages that clearly demonstrate the remarkable collectible value of Bordeaux’s finest. Leading the way is Bellefont-Belcier, recently acquired by the Kwok team and quickly becoming one of the must-visit estates in the region. Occupying enviable terroir in the heart of St-Émilion, Bellefont-Belcier hit a home run with their 2020, a wine that competes with its neighbors at multiples of the price. On the Left Bank, Phélan-Ségur and Marquis d’Alesme are producing their best-ever wines at an impressively reasonable price point.
Read MoreIt’s a bit of a fool’s errand to try to follow in Clyde’s footsteps. But my years working with him have inspired me to realize that the biggest challenges are often the most worthwhile. I’ve also been fortunate to learn from Clyde how to run a rewarding and compelling Bordeaux program, and my main goal is to continue that legacy, ensuring that the remarkable depth and selection at K&L remain fundamental to our organization’s future.
Read MoreIt’s simply beyond me to imagine the number of amazing bottles that have found their way onto tables or into cellars because of Clyde Beffa’s passion for wine and the people behind it. But Clyde’s story is only partly about the wines themselves—his leadership, impact on those around him, and the excitement he brings to the world of fine wine are qualities for which we are all grateful.
Read MoreI don't know where to start, but I will be brief here as I am sure there are a lot of great Bordeaux wines to get to in this newsletter. As some of you already know, I have retired from K&L after starting it with my partner Todd on December 31, 1976!
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