What I'm Excited About This Week: Loire Valley Edition

This week Keith Mabry, who probably has one of the most diverse buying portfolios at K&L, poured some amazing wines from the Loire Valley for us. We tasted 26 different wines this morning, done at the usual breakneck pace due to the 45 minutes we have to do the tasting. Now, while I say 45 minutes, we're definitely able to go back to the wines through the day and sometimes even the next day and retaste. This lets us see how they're evolving, so our time with the wine is not merely confined to that quick little jaunt in the morning.

Anthony Girard – A Sancerre Original

Anthony Girard remains one of my favorite "characters" in Sancerre. Years ago, he struck out on his own, leaving the family domaine to create La Clef du Récit in the southern part of the appellation. The name, which translates to “the key to the story,” is intriguingly ambiguous—there’s no castle here, despite the imagery. But maybe it’s more about the keys to his own imaginative mind-palace… which brings us back to that "character" part.

“Overall quality has never been more consistent.” Discover Bordeaux’s next chapter…

From top-performing sub-$50 values to cellar-worthy icons from benchmark vintages, this Bordeaux roundup showcases the full depth and diversity of the region. You'll find Left Bank stars from 2016 and 2019, rare mature releases, a compelling new discovery in Bordeaux Blanc, and a powerful case for the greatness of 2022. We've also released our 2024 Bordeaux Vintage Report, highlighting the most recent growing season's challenges and charms. There’s never been a better time to rediscover Bordeaux’s dynamic landscape—both on the page and in your glass.

2024 Vintage Report and Newly Arrived Bordeaux

While the 2024 Bordeaux vintage had its challenges, we went to taste and are excited to share our annual vintage report. The '24s reflect both the difficulties of the year and today’s complex market, but beyond that, we truly believe it’s a great time to rediscover Bordeaux—or find new favorites. Several recently arrived containers have brought in some of the region’s top values and collectibles, and overall quality has never been more consistent. There’s a wealth of world-class wines under $50, each showing remarkable character and a strong sense of place.

David’s Top Spirits Picks for Father’s Day

Let’s be honest—Dad’s going to tell you he doesn’t want anything. What he really means is: “Don’t make me decide.” Forget grill gadgets, novelty socks, or golf lessons. What he actually wants is something that belongs on the top shelf of his bar.

That’s where we come in.

We’ve pulled together a list of the most exciting bottles in the world—many of which are exclusive to us. Whether he’s a bourbon nerd, a mezcal-sipping surfer, or the dad who already has everything, we’ve got the perfect bottle for him at a price that can’t be beat.

Giuseppe Quintarelli – A Legacy Bottled in Time

During the last hundred years the Quintarelli family has established its reputation through their estate located on the eastern slope of the Negrar Valley in the middle of Valpolicella. Silvio Quintarelli established the winery in 1924. It was his son, Giuseppe, also known as Bepi, however, who helped the winery achieve worldwide recognition. The winery has maintained its dedication to traditional methods and patient winemaking since Silvio’s era, but Bepi’s influence is incalculable. His manual label writing became an unmistakable signature for the brand, showing what a labor of love each and every bottle is. Combined with his use of ten-year Slavonian-oak barrel aging, Bepi developed a signature Amarone style that established itself as the reference point for many Italian winemakers.

The Power of Terroir: Alsatian, German, & Austrian Whites You Need to Try

Alsace, Germany, and Austria continue to be some of the most dynamic and rewarding regions in the world of wine—regions that offer not just pedigree and history, but thrilling new releases year after year. What ties them together is a relentless pursuit of precision and purity, whether it’s the mineral drive of Dönnhoff’s 2023 Grosses Gewächs, the sculpted power of FX Pichler’s latest Wachau bottlings, or the quiet excellence of back-vintage Alsatian whites from Trimbach, Hugel, and Charles Baur. These are wines that don’t just deliver in the glass today—they age gracefully, deepen with time, and offer a glimpse into the soul of each region. This collection reflects the kind of craftsmanship that keeps me coming back vintage after vintage, and I’m excited to share it with you.

2023 FX Pichler-Reference Point Wines of Austria

Austria is known as one of the old-world wine producers with an impressive stable of world-class Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings. FX Pichler is easily one of the greatest winemakers in Austria. His wines are stunning examples of what Grüner Veltliner and Riesling can achieve from the best vineyard sites in his capable hands.

Ancient Vines, Fresh Voices: Europe’s Island Wine Revolution

For millennia the Mediterranean and Aegean islands were way-stations for traders and conquerors, each wave planting vines in their wake. Today those same outposts are buzzing with fresh energy. From Santorini’s volcano to Sicily’s lava soils, wind-lashed Corsica, and sun-soaked Sardinia, a new generation is pairing ancient bush vines with precision farming and low-intervention cellars—yielding mineral-charged whites, perfumed reds, and inventive blends that rival Europe’s mainland classics while staying refreshingly affordable and true to place.

Inside: Assyrtiko’s meteoric rise, under-the-radar Greek whites, high-altitude Xinomavro, Etna’s fiery reds, and Sardinia & Corsica’s boundary-breaking blends. Stock up and taste how brightly these island stars shine.

Greek Red Wines Are Better Than Ever

Reds definitely took a back seat to their white counterparts when Greek wines reemerged on the international wine scene a decade ago. The red grapes’ popularity suffered from difficult-to-pronounce names and a decided rusticity at the time. So much has advanced over the last decade, and I now find myself just as excited for the reds that are arriving as I was for the whites that were hitting our shores those short 10 years ago.

White Hot Greek White Wines

Assyrtiko may be Greece’s most famous vinous export now (aside from retsina; we will not speak of that here), but there are so many other exciting whites that I have to bring them to your attention. Historically, the Savatiano and Roditis grapes were the workhorses. For decades they made simple white wines that were crowd-pleasing café staples for easy mezza pairings. There has been a lot of focus on leveling up these grapes, and we will continue to see more exciting ones to come over the next few years.

Santorini’s Sun-Kissed Wines from Its Star Grape: Assyrtiko

Assyrtiko has become so important and in demand that the grape has been planted well outside its native viticultural confines. Several producers have embraced it on mainland Greece, and it has become a core wine in many top Greek wine programs. The grape has become so popular that we are now seeing it emerge from other new world regions like California and South Australia.

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