Burgundy: Trip Notes, Vintage Tips, and New In Stock

I have just returned from a nine-day trip to Burgundy where I was able to taste the 2023 vintage from bottle as well as many 2024 wines from barrel. I also spent a lot of time discussing economic global trends with our winery partners. Going over to taste is an annual trip, and I always appreciate re-tasting a vintage in bottle that I had previously tasted from barrel as well as tasting the next vintage we’ll be selling. 2023s are excellent: loaded with fruit and very fresh and energetic, though a tad less rich and complex than their 2022 counterparts. The whites excelled once again while the reds are delicious with wonderful aromas and pure red fruits cores across the board.

An Amazing Marsannay Trio from Audoin

With some of the most northern vineyards in all of Burgundy, the appellation of Marsannay has been benefiting from the warmer vintages of late. Previously known for making tight, less-forgiving wines, the wines of Marsannay are now beautiful expressions of red fruit, spice, and mineral notes. There are many top prodcuers making wines in Marsannay, including Bruno Clair, Denis Mortet, Louis Jadot, Domaine Faiveley, Domaine Bart—and one of our longtime direct import producers, Charles Audoin. The wines of Charles Audoin deserve particular note because we have just received a terrific trio of 2022s.

Pernot-Belicard’s 2023s: The Domaine’s Best-to-Date

If you’re in the market for impeccably well-made white Burgundy that is also affordable then the set of 2023s from Pernot-Belicard should definitely fit the bill. I have been lucky enough to visit this property multiple times and taste the 2023s from both barrel and from bottle and see the wines evolve from potential to reality in terms of how good they are. These are easily the best set of wines produced from Pernot-Belicard to date, and they represent stellar values from the entry-level Bourgogne Blanc all the way to the top 1er Cru Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault offerings.

A Cloudy Forecast in Bordeaux

We’re back on the trail, getting ready to taste the 2024s in Bordeaux, while catching up with our friends in the region. It is one of the great traditions in the world of fine wine—and quickly becoming an indispensable part of my year. The exhausting (trust me…) trek through the region will give us a wonderful perspective on the wines that will be released for sale as soon as next week—another chapter in the storied history of Bordeaux.

Honoring Bill Blatch, an Icon in Bordeaux and a Dear Friend

Bordeaux, the wine world, and K&L Wine Merchants lost a very special friend and mentor a few weeks ago with the passing of Mr. Bill Blatch.

Meet Steve Birer, Director of Spirits Auctions

We’re thrilled to announce the next chapter in our auction journey—K&L Spirits Auctions, launching on May 1! We’ve spent the last 15 years refining our fine wine auction platform, focusing on curation and bringing compelling lots to the most heavily visited online retail and auction site in the U.S. Now we’re applying that experience to collectible spirits.

Touring Champagne at the Burgundy Border with Lamoureux

All my French friends always ask me if I am going to the south of France on my trip. I tell them yes—I am going to Les Riceys! It is just three miles away from the northern border with Burgundy here, and has the same soil as in Chablis, the famous Kimmeridgian clay. Not only is the soil different than the chalk of the Marne, so is the climate—here it is far more continental with colder winters and warmer summers. Luckily today was picture-perfect French spring weather, and I hope that I’ll just be carrying around my winter clothes and not wrapping up in them.

The Brilliant 2022 Vintage from Burgundy’s Domaine Parent

I always look forward to my annual visit to Domaine Parent and my sit-down tasting with Anne Parent. We tasted her 2022 wines from bottle, and they were absolutely singing! 2022 was an exceptional vintage for red Burgundy, and the set of wines from Domaine Parent showcase both the quality of the vintage as well as the signature style of Domaine Parent. With premier holdings scattered mostly across Pommard, Corton, and Beaune, Domaine Parent has created wines of incredible freshness with enviable fruit and impressive structure and depth. Domaine Parent exemplifies the perfect synergy of Burgundian classicism with the new world order in Burgundy.

Spring Is Offically Time for Rosé All Day

Spring has sprung and with it the official start of rosé season. As I’ve said before, personally I like to drink rosé all year, but here at K&L we definitely start to see an uptick in demand as the lighter evenings draw out and temperatures rise.

Anthill Farms’ Coastal California Pinot: In-Stock at Sharp Pricing

We have a phenomenal selection of Anthill Farms wines right now at incredible prices. Having worked very closely with the winery for many years, we were able to negotiate some excellent deals on the last few cases of the 2022 vintage before the new 2023 releases hit the market. And, we’re passing those savings on to you! It’s a fantastic chance to get your hands on these stunning single vineyard releases at a huge saving!

The Magic of the Santa Cruz Mountains

If I was forced to pick a favorite wine region in California, I think it would have to be the Santa Cruz Mountains. These rugged coastal mountains are a truly special place to produce wine. First of all, the diversity of micro-climates within the AVA allows for an almost endless range of possibilities for grape growing. The generally warmer interior (SF Bay side) of the mountains is perfect for growing Bordeaux varietals as illustrated by the iconic wines of Ridge Monte Bello and close neighbors such as Fellom Ranch and Mount Eden. On the coastal side of the mountains the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay provide enormous tempering effects on temperature as well as persistent fog. This makes great conditions for growing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Tenuta di Carleone: The New Frontier of Sangiovese in Chianti Classico

Thirty years ago, after completing winemaking school in Germany, Sean O’Callaghan set off with his motorcycle throughout Italy. He landed in Chianti and never looked back—and if you’ve ever had the chance to visit there, you probably can understand. It is just such a perfect wine region; the proximity to Florence and the beauty of the hills are something that will stay in your heart forever. And let’s not forget about the wine—I mean, it’s Chianti after all!

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