The wait is over: customer tastings are back! As we head into the end of 2022, we are celebrating with a full roster of tastings, with lineups that reach high into the top shelf. All tastings are walk in, with details when you click through to this post.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter is a feast in more ways that one, but the centerpiece theme is value, including our favorite domestic Insider's deals of the year, hand-picked holiday pairing selections from buyer Kaj Stromer, and a duo of stunning library buys from a pioneering Napa icon. These are but a few of the many spectacular offerings that are at your fingertips, just in time for your holiday planning and preparations to kick into high gear.
Read MoreChampagne Buyer Gary Westby and his team have assembled a lineup of Champagnes that range from everyday values to the height of luxury. No matter the occasion, we have a Champagne to pair with it!
Read MoreWe have such a wonderful abundance of Bordeaux on our shelves, as our fearless Bordeaux Buyer Clyde Beffa explains in this week’s newsletter. Just in time for the weather to turn toward fall (in California, we’re still waiting…), we have favorite collectibles, everyday values, and perfectly aged gems for every palate. Bordeaux may be known for its regal Classified Growths, and we do adore those—but Clyde’s keen eye and long history in the region mean that we also can bring you amazing value wines, many of which are perfectly aged. Whether you like a mature claret, a bright and modern burger wine, or a longterm cellar-worthy classic, our Bordeaux shelves are the place to look!
Read MoreToday's Newsletter takes us back to Burgundy with K&L buyer Alex Pross. We kick things off with a survey of Alex's personal favorite value buys that may have gone under most radars, until now. While Burgundy may seem like a price-prohibitive hunting ground for many wine lovers, these selections disprove that perception by offering world-class winemaking craftsmanship and terroir expression for prices that invite any and all Burgundy fans to the table.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter takes us on a triumphant return to one of our all-time favorite regions, France's Rhône Valley. After three long years, K&L buyer Keith Mabry hit the wine road to check in on some of our longtime direct-import partners, and he was thrilled to find them producing some of their best wines ever. A hand-picked trio of overperforming stars leads things off, followed by showcase profiles of DI standouts Fondrèche, Clos de la Bonnette, and Guy Farge. Finally, a jaw-dropping line-up from the universally acclaimed 2019 Châteauneuf vintage highlights the incomparable collectible value that this treasured region offers. With breadth and depth that few other regions can match, the Rhône Valley truly offers something for any and all wine lovers.
Read MoreLast night, Clément Calleja of Champagne Billecart-Salmon kicked off our annual staff Champagne Summit with a big bang. He hosted a comprehensive tasting of their line paired with sushi from Kanpai at Cinnamon’s and my home in Menlo Park. The wines were unforgettable.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter shines the spotlight on arguably the most diverse and complex wine-producing country in the world. By volume and variety, nowhere tops Italy, which can make this ancient wine landscape somewhat difficult to navigate for the average consumer. Thankfully, K&L's Greg St. Clair is here to distill all these incredible styles and traditions into his absolute favorite picks, starting with three under-the-radar, off-the-beaten-path value gems from some lesser-known regions. Our direct-import portfolio continues to grow with a stable of must-have Montalcinos that will appeal to collectors and casual consumers alike. Finally, we survey Italy's white wine scene with hand-selected stunners that run the gamut from everyday, go-to performers to superb boutique gems that can stand with the finest collectible examples anywhere.
Read MoreThis Friday, Cinnamon and I enjoyed our traditional steak and claret dinner with a bottle of the 2000 Château Camensac Haut Médoc—on Clyde’s recommendation. As usual, his advice was golden, and the wine was magnificent with the food. For the first time, we had a Denver Steak from Five Mary’s Farms, a cut from under the front shoulder blade of the cow, which Cinnamon cooked on our charcoal hibachi. This flat cut cooks up like a skirt steak but is tender like a New York and very flavorful. It was a good night!
Read MoreToday’s newsletter takes us on a tour of some of the best vineyard sites in California. Our staff members in all three locations hit the road this summer to visit wineries and learn from some of the phenomenal winemakers that call California home.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter is an ode to summer in its dog days. Since we all know most of California has plenty of summer left, our buyers reflect on their favorite go-to winners that shine the brightest during the warm weather.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter takes us to two of the world's most traditional yet dynamic wine countries—Spain and Portugal. K&L buyer Kirk Walker brings his trademark indefatigable enthusiasm for these inimitable wines and producers in this highlight tutorial of his favorite current releases.
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