There’s something about Northern Rhône that unites wine lovers. It happens to present perfect conditions to really understand terroir—that is, how different places can affect the same grape’s profile in the final wine. Northern Rhône is to Syrah lovers what Burgundy is to Pinot lovers: an intellectual playground for the grape.
Read MoreToday is the worldwide release for one of the best of the great 2012 vintage in Champagne, and we are lucky to have an allocation. We had a preview of the 2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne before today’s release, and. after tasting it in the morning with Clément from Billecart, I knew that I had to make something special to have with it at dinner. This is a Blanc de Blancs that has it all—and promises to develop well for at least a generation.
Read MoreChâteauneuf-du-Pape still remains the most recognized region in the Rhône Valley, which is a hub for fantastic values across the spectrum of its offerings. As with the everyday value that Côtes-du-Rhône provides, the cost-to-quality ratio for the higher-end wines from Châteauneuf is nearly insurmountable by any other region.
Read MoreI’ve worked in the wine trade for over 45 years and have tasted well over 100,000 wines. But last year I drove to the train station, took the hour ride into San Francisco, and grabbed an Uber to our store, and then back home—all to taste just two wines. That’s a lot of travel and a long day, but Mr. Lorenzo Pasquini was in San Francisco, and for the chance to taste the young wines of Château d'Yquem with its director, I would have walked!
Read MoreI first visited Montalcino in the summer of 1982. It was scorchingly hot when I arrived at the Fattoria dei Barbi, and upon entry to the cellar, there was a unique calmness—ok coolness as well—it was a serene silence among barrels of a size I’d never seen before. The 1982 vintage turned out to be a great year for Brunello di Montalcino and marked the beginning of Brunello di Montalcino’s entrance on the world stage as a wine to be reckoned with.
Read MoreFrom the heart of Chianti Classico in Panzano, one of Chianti Classico’s best growing areas, Le Cinciole produces wines of incredible concentration and depth of flavor, while still being so decidedly elegant—nothing clumsy about the power here.
Read MoreI was mostly interested in the 2002 vintage because I knew it was an extremely difficult year in Montalcino (they never say bad), and I knew if their 2002 was solid then everything else would take care of itself. I was amazed at the freshness, purity, and supple weight of the wine! The other vintages, too, were unbelievably good. I said, OK I’ll be your importer.
Read MoreIt’s nearly time for the Academy Awards! If you’ve managed to see any of the movies, even those that clock in at under 3½ hours long (thanks for pointing that out, Hugh Grant!), you’ll have seen some very deserving technicians and artists. My favorite thing to have while watching the show is either fried chicken with French fries and a salad (which I use to fool myself into thinking that I’m eating semi-healthily), or Kung Pao chicken, rice, and steamed asparagus with sliced almonds and a clear sauce… No matter what foodstuffs you are planning, there is only one beverage that matches perfectly with this event...Champagne!
Read MoreLast June while touring the wineries of Victoria, Australia, and I had an experience that was as close as you can come to Lopez: Tahbilk. About forty minutes outside Melbourne, as the suburbs and development communities give way to the marshlands of the Murray River, Australia’s most iconic vineyards lie surrounded by swamp land of the Nagambie Lakes, with history everywhere you look.
Read MoreThis past Thursday I was invited to the residence of the French Consul Général for a showcase of the Villa Albertine, a charity that the Roederer Foundation supports. There I met with Frédéric Rouzaud, the president of Champagne Louis Roederer, and he premiered his Louis Roederer "Collection 244" Brut Champagne, which should be coming to K&L soon.
Read MoreWhether your cellar takes up an entire room or you've got your first few bottles stashed away as you start your collecting journey, K&L will be there for you every step of the way. Our industry-leading Key Accounts and Auction departments are ready to guide you to all the latest, greatest releases and library stunners, so dive head-first into this comprehensive guide to the joys of wine collecting.
Read MoreScott Shulsinger wasn’t born into the wine business. Instead he honed his palate and knowledge of the world’s most rare and collectible wines by inspecting private cellars from coast to coast. His sneak peeks into incredible collections (and tens of thousands of miles on the road) let Scott see and taste incredible wines while becoming an expert on which bottles deliver significant ROI… while learning first hand which practices might disappoint collectors and wine enthusiasts down the line.
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