Across the vintage releases so far, the wines show wonderful purity of fruit, classic varietal character, powerful structure, and an excellent balance of richness and natural acidity. Many have enough mid-palate fruit and polish to be enjoyed young, yet 2023 will also be a vintage with exceptional aging potential for those with deep cellars and patience.
Read More99% no. Today's yes is a Syrah.
When people hear "private label," they think corner-cutting. Anonymous is the opposite.
The wines come from top-tier California producers under NDA so we don't undercut their flagship pricing. You're paying 2-3X less for the same wine.
Ryan Woodhouse, our longtime CA buyer, turns down 99% of what crosses his desk. Bottles from winemakers he respects, brokers he's known for years, rockstar names. If the price isn't right or the wine isn't ready, the answer is no. I check in with him regularly to find out what, if anything, has cleared his bar. Usually nothing has.
When K&L Domestic Buyer Ryan Woodhouse stops a tasting and says "keep an eye on this winemaker," you listen. That was six years ago, and Samuel Louis Smith has been one of our favorite producers ever since. He makes about 1,300 cases a year across Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, and cool-climate Syrah from some of the most compelling sites on the Central Coast — all organically farmed, all minimal intervention, all genuinely outstanding. We've visited him in the vineyards, poured his wines at our tent events, and we're re-running our 2019 interview now that new vintages are in stock.
Read MoreTo mark the first anniversary of the Anonymous Wine Collective, we’re releasing two extraordinary Sonoma Coast sparkling wines—both crafted by a longtime California sparkling specialist and aged far beyond the norm. From seven years on the lees to extended élevage in oak, these limited‑production wines deliver Champagne‑level pedigree at a fraction of the price.
Read MoreWe landed early: caffeinated and on a mission.
Premier week in Napa Valley is not a casual affair. Sunrise departure out of LAX, a Sacramento pickup, a quick team rendezvous—and suddenly we were off to two tightly packed days of tastings, sub-appellation deep dives, and enough Cabernet to recalibrate the palate for weeks.
Read MoreFebruary offers a fresh look at the depth and range of American wine, and this month’s domestic lineup at K&L shows just how compelling and approachable the category has become. From sharply priced, high-scoring Napa Valley Cabernet to small-production Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a real sense of place, these bottles highlight the sweet spot where pedigree meets value. We’ve also taken on one of our favorite challenges: just how well can you drink for under $30? Very well, as it turns out. Alongside those everyday standouts, you’ll find a selection of luxurious 97–100-point whites and reds suited for collectors and special occasions alike. Whether you’re refilling the cellar, discovering new producers, or hunting for benchmark bottles without benchmark prices, this newsletter will guide the way. And don’t miss our upcoming in-store tastings and events, where many of these wines come to life in the glass.
Read MoreThe Holocene wines are some of the most exciting wines I’ve seen out of Oregon in the past few years. They’re very small production wines, typically only a few hundred cases of each bottling. The wines are made with precision and poise but without too much winemaking input. Native yeasts, minimal intervention, modest use of oak. The purity of all the wines is compelling, as is their vibrancy and transparent sense of place.
Read MoreOur selection of fantastic Domestic Sparkling wines continues to grow from strength to strength and as we approach 2026 we have over 70 options in stock. So, what to choose? Well we have the classics: Roederer Estate, Schramberg, J Vineyards. But we also have a beautiful selection of small production sparkling wines that are very much following the boutique, Grower Champagne type model with unwavering focus on quality, complexity and expression terroir. So, as we get ready to ring in another new year (my 15th here at K&L) I decided to highlight a few very special wines that are on my short list for popping when the ball drops (likely at NY time)! Wishing you all a wonderful New Year and health and happiness for 2026 and beyond! Cheers!
Read MoreOur new private label programs represent some of the most exciting, high-value bottles on our shelves. Sourced directly by our buyers and crafted in partnership with top producers based on relationships spanning decades, they deliver serious quality at incredible prices. This week, we’re spotlighting giftable Discovery Series wines, in-stock Anonymous selections, K&L Scotch exclusives, a new Rhône wine, a preview of our new Maison 76 project, and where to taste these wines in-store with Somm Services.
Read MoreThis month in Domestic Wine, we’re celebrating everything from pioneering icons to hidden gems. Join us as we explore the groundbreaking work at Stolpman Vineyards, discover one of our buyer’s favorite small producers in MarBeso, and revisit the historic role of Farella in shaping Coombsville. We’ve also lined up tastings from Napa to the Central Coast that showcase California’s incredible breadth and depth. And for those who love a true K&L exclusive—keep an eye out for the next chapter of our Anonymous Wines project, releasing soon.
Read MoreA recent K&L staff trip to Napa Valley saw the NorCal sales team explore the cooler parts of the region with a day in Carneros and Coombsville, two of the southernmost sub-AVAs of Napa, with lots of moderating influence from the nearby San Pablo Bay. We started off the day with an incredible 8:30am visit with Steve Matthiasson at his Cressida Vineyard in the upper Carneros, right at the foot of the Mayacamas range as it descends towards the bay. The weather in Carneros behaved perfectly with thick morning fog slowly receding back to the bay as our crew walked up into the vineyard with the first patches of blue sky being revealed.
Read MoreHere at K&L we've long been huge fans of Ian Brand's wines. Right after I took the reins of the Domestic wine department in 2018, Ian was recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle as their Winemaker of the Year. This award shone a bright light on wines that were already considered “insider” here at K&L. In the years since, Ian has been generous enough to host our sales team on several occasions both at his winery in Salinas and at several vineyards from which he sources fruit.
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