2016 Cristal: The Best Since the 2008 Vintage

When I read that the team at Roederer were comparing their newly released 2016 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne to the 2008, I have to admit that I was very skeptical. I love it when great wine proves my skeptical heart wrong. Last night, Cinnamon and I drank this great vintage of Cristal with homemade sashimi bowls, and while I was very impressed from just tasting the wine for this video, now I am a complete convert—this is definitely the best Cristal for me since the 2008; it has an energy, a sheen, a brilliance that reminds me so much of that great vintage.

Holiday Buying Guide: Our Top Picks for the Season

The K&L Holiday Wine Buying Guide is your ultimate resource for selecting the perfect wines to elevate your holiday celebrations. Whether you're searching for the ideal bottle to pair with festive meals, a special gift for a wine lover, or simply a standout wine to enjoy with loved ones, our curated guide offers expert recommendations across all price points and styles. From rich reds and elegant whites to sparkling wines and rare finds, our team of experienced sommeliers and wine buyers has handpicked a selection that embodies the spirit of the season, ensuring your holiday table is stocked with exceptional wines. Let us help you make this holiday season even more memorable with the perfect bottle for every occasion!

‘Tis the Season: Wine and Whisky Gifts

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.

Thanksgiving Buying Guide: Find Your Perfect Pairing

This 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.

Splurge-Worthy Wines for Your Thanksgiving Feast

There 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.

Champagnes and White Wines to Steal the Holiday Show

As the holiday season swiftly approaches, a familiar anxiety emerges: what should you bring as a beverage to all these gatherings? How do you unite with close friends and family, who may or may not appreciate your "best stuff," while still feeling thrilled to uncork a bottle? F

A Thanksgiving Feast So Nice He Does It Twice

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I like it so much that it is worth doing twice—the first time to “test out my recommendations for the year”… or at least that is my excuse to get a preview of the main event. Everything about Thanksgiving is perfect for me: I love the sentiment of gratefulness; the opportunity to gather friends and family; the traditional spread of roast turkey, gravy, stuffing, and mashed potatoes; and double fisting with rosé Champagne and Burgundy at the table. This weekend we did just that, and I am happy to report that I have two great Champagnes and one great bottle of Burgundy that have been thoroughly tested and vetted chez Westby by me and my wife Cinnamon!

A Tale of Three Thanksgivings... And Their Wines

I love to cook so I was also an early adopter of Friendsgiving. For many years, I have been hosting them at my home (or at friends’ homes) where I prepare a meal. I usually plan a themed meal around my Friendsgiving since I already get to do all the traditional stuff on regular Thanksgiving. I always deconstruct turkeys for my Friendsgivings and make a variety of dishes using various turkey parts. I always make a turkey Bolognese and have made other things like tom kha gai turkey soup or a turkey paitan ramen (that’s like Tonkotsu ramen but with a creamy turkey broth). I even served turkey stuffing gyoza as an appetizer for the ramen dinner! Last year, I did a brunch themed Friendsgiving which I now call Brunch-giving—maybe it will stick.

At Thanksgiving, Wines Accompany So Much More Than Just the Meal

I 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.

Burgundy Buying Guide: Direct Import Values and Remarkable Finds

The Burgundies are landing fast and furiously at K&L, offering a bevy of amazing values from the fantastic 2022 vintage! With pricing finally stabilized and a good-sized crop contributing to robust supply, now is the perfect time to stock up on these bargains. We’ve just received several containers from many of our most popular direct import producers, including Domaine Jean Michel Giboulot, Domaine de la Charrière, Domaine Renaud, Château de la Maltroye, Domaine Bart, and Domaine Pernot-Belicard.

Finding the Values in the Mâconnais with Domaine Renaud

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: the Mâconnais is where the preponderance of white wine values in Burgundy resides. Luckily we are flush with many great producers in Mâconnais, and one of our greatest is Domaine Renaud. The family team of Mirielle (mother) and Pascal (father) along with their children Guillaume (son) and Amandine (daughter) makes incredible value-oriented whites that fit any budget—especially when we’re talking about the under $20 space. The Renaud family draws from their impressive vineyard holdings that run from humble Mâcon-Village all the way up to 1er Cru Pouilly-Fuissé.

Savigny Is Where It Is At with the 2022 Vintage Domaine Jean-Michel Giboulot

We have been working with Domaine Jean-Michel Giboulot for a long time, and the most exciting and rewarding part of this relationship is seeing the wines get better-and-better each vintage. This set of wines from Giboulot’s 2022 vintage is excellent. The wines definitely shine a light on the emerging quality and diversity of vineyards in Savigny-lès-Beaune. His wines come from an impressive list of vineyard holdings, and we currently carry four fantastic 2022 1er Cru Savigny-lès-Beaunes that and Burgundy lover will not want to miss.

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